Protective Layer for Electronic Device in Tobacco Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hybrid packages for storing tobacco or tobacco substitute materials face issues with electronic device components leaking or diffusing substances into the stored product, affecting its properties, and protective layers can block external stimuli needed for sensor function.

Innovation Solution

A product with an electronic device covered by a protective layer that prevents substance egression into the storage environment while allowing external stimulus reception and output signal transmission, using a flexible substrate with input and output means, digital processing, and circuitry, and a barrier layer for selective interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a protective layer is introduced to prevent egression of compounds from the electronic device, then the harmful factors affecting the stored product are reduced, but the reception of external stimulus by the sensor is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveegression of compounds from electronic deviceVSAvoidsensor function effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer is segmented into different regions: a first region covering the electronic device components (substrate, circuitry, power supply) and a second region covering the sensor. This segmentation allows the first region to prevent compound egression while the second region permits external stimulus reception, resolving the contradiction between protection and sensor functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the protective layer have different properties: the first region has barrier properties to prevent compound egression, while the second region has stimulus-permeable properties to allow sensor operation. This local differentiation of protective layer properties resolves the contradiction by providing both protection and sensor access where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the protective layer completely covers the electronic device, then substance egression is prevented, but the transmission of output signal is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstance egression into storage environmentVSAvoidoutput signal transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer is divided into a first region covering substance-prone components and a second region covering the output signal interface. This segmentation allows complete coverage for substance prevention while maintaining signal transmission capability in the second region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective layer exhibits different properties in different regions: the first region provides substance barrier properties while the second region provides signal transmission properties, resolving the contradiction between complete coverage and signal transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If a protective layer is added to seal the electronic device, then the reliability of product storage is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct storage integrityVSAvoidprotective layer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer is segmented into two functional regions that can be integrated into a single packaging structure. This segmentation provides the necessary protection and sensor access functions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not significantly increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3422878B1Product for storing materials such as tobacco materials or tobacco substitute materials having electronic device

Publication Date: 2020.02.12 JT INTERNATIONAL SA

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Figure 4A~4C

AI summary

A product for holding a tobacco material or a tobacco substitute material comprising a body defining a storage environment for holding a tobacco material or a tobacco substitute material, and an electronic device. The electronic device comprising an input means to generate an input signal from an external stimulus; an output means to generate an output signal in response to the input signal; wherein at least the output means is arranged on a substrate; and wherein a protective layer is arranged to at least cover the substrate and the output means so as to prevent egression of compounds therefrom to the tobacco material or tobacco substitute material within the storage environment. The electronic device including an appropriately adapted protective layer prevents the egression of compounds from the electronic device to the storage environment of the product for holding a tobacco material, whilst permitting the reception of an external stimulus by the input means and the transmission of an output signal by the output means. A user may therefore assess the freshness and quality of a tobacco material within the product, without any risk or altering the properties of the tobacco material via egression from the electronic device to the storage environment.