Pressure-Controlled Vaporisation Chamber for Precise Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vaporisation devices struggle with unpredictable temperature control, variable dosing, and inefficient energy use, requiring user activation, and are unable to accurately predict volatile material consumption, especially when multiple components are involved.
Innovation Solution
A vaporisation device with a pressure chamber, controller, and pressure sensor that maintains choked flow conditions to ensure predictable vaporisation, allowing for accurate dosing and component ratio control, and includes temperature and pressure monitoring for reservoir depletion alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If temperature monitoring is used to control power supply to heater, then temperature control is attempted, but temperature measurement accuracy deteriorates due to significant temperature fluctuations within the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces pressure as an intermediary parameter to indirectly control and monitor temperature. By controlling pressure within the pressure chamber, the system achieves temperature control without directly measuring temperature, thus avoiding the measurement accuracy problem caused by temperature fluctuations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal measurement system with a pressure measurement system. Instead of using temperature sensors to monitor and control heating, the system uses pressure sensors to monitor and control the state of volatile material vaporization, which indirectly controls temperature.
2Productivity
If conventional vaporisation methods are used, then vapor generation is achieved, but dosing precision deteriorates due to variable and unpredictable evaporation rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where pressure sensors continuously monitor the pressure within the pressure chamber, and the controller adjusts power supply to the heater based on pressure readings. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent vaporization rates and precise dosing by maintaining pressure within a target range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from temperature to pressure. By controlling pressure rather than temperature, the system achieves more predictable and precise vaporization rates, leading to accurate dosing. The pressure-based control allows for consistent vapor generation while improving dosing precision.
3Productivity
If entire gas/vapour/mist inhaled by user is heated to same temperature, then vaporisation is achieved, but energy consumption increases and user comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by heating only the volatile material within the pressure chamber to the temperature required for vaporization, rather than heating the entire gas/vapor/mist mixture. The pressure chamber confines the heating zone, and only the necessary amount of volatile material is heated, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective vaporization.
4Ease of operation
If user's inhalation action is required to vaporise volatile material, then active user participation is achieved, but device usability deteriorates when user is incapacitated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by making the device automatically activate and operate without requiring user inhalation actions. The controller continuously monitors pressure and automatically controls the heater to maintain vaporization, allowing the device to serve itself. This eliminates the need for user activation while maintaining precise control over the vaporization process.
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
Enables precise dosing of volatile materials with known concentrations and ratios, reduces energy consumption, and provides user-friendly operation by maintaining consistent vaporisation conditions and indicating component depletion.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor for measuring an internal pressure within the pressure chamber
Implementation Method 2
controlling the heater in dependence on the measured internal pressure to cause vaporisation of the volatile material
Implementation Method 3
a heater electrically coupled to the controller
Implementation Method 4
a choked flow outlet for allowing vapour to exit the pressure chamber under choked flow conditions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
A vaporisation device (2) comprising a pressure chamber (4), a controller (6), and a pressure sensor (22) for measuring an internal pressure within the pressure chamber, wherein: the pressure chamber comprises a reservoir of volatile material (30), a heater (14) electrically coupled to the controller and a choked flow outlet (12) for allowing vapour (32) to exit the pressure chamber under choked flow conditions; and, the controller is configured to control the heater in dependence on the measured internal pressure to cause vaporisation of the volatile material for the internal pressure to be sufficiently high that, in use, vapour exiting the pressure chamber through the choked flow outlet does so under choked flow conditions.