Refilling Device Lost Aerosol System Locator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes, often face challenges in locating lost devices due to their small size and lack of built-in location determination mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A refilling device equipped with a communications interface and control circuitry that can receive requests to locate lost aerosol provision systems, determine their identifiers, broadcast identification requests, and determine if the lost device is within the broadcast range by comparing received identifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If aerosol provision systems are made small and portable, then ease of carrying and portability is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring location worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a refilling device as an intermediary tool that contains location determination circuitry and a communications interface. This external device enables location tracking of the portable aerosol provision system without adding complexity to the system itself. The refilling device broadcasts identification requests and receives responses, acting as a mediator between the user and the lost device to determine its location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical/mechanical location determination methods with electromagnetic communication. Instead of relying on physical tags or visual identification, the system uses wireless communications interfaces to broadcast identification requests and receive coded responses, enabling electronic detection and location of the portable device through electromagnetic fields.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If location determination mechanisms are added to portable devices, then ability to locate lost devices is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refilling device serves as an intermediary that contains the location determination circuitry and communications interface, rather than embedding these complex components directly in the portable aerosol provision system. This separates the complexity of location determination from the portability requirements of the main device.
Solution Approach 2:
The refilling device is designed to serve multiple functions: it refills the aerosol-generating material reservoir and simultaneously determines the location of lost devices through its communications interface and location determination circuitry. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by combining features in a single device.
3Loss of substance
If refilling capability is added to articles, then loss of substance is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The article is designed with a refillable reservoir that can be refilled using the refilling device, allowing the system to service itself by replenishing consumable materials. This self-service capability reduces waste and the need to discard articles after single use, while the separate refilling device manages the complexity of the refilling mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A refilling device for an article of an aerosol provision system comprises a communications interface and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to receive a request to locate a lost aerosol provision system, determine an identifier for the lost aerosol provision system, broadcast, via the communications interface, an identification request, receive, from one or more aerosol provision systems via the communications interface, a response comprising an identifier for the aerosol provision system, and determine, by comparing the received identifiers to the identifier for the lost aerosol provision system, whether the lost aerosol provision system is within a broadcast range of the refilling device.