Segmented Heater Control Circuit for Precise Aerosol Vaporization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol delivery devices, such as electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn cigarettes, lack improved electronics for enhanced usability and control over heating elements to efficiently vaporize aerosol precursor compositions.
Innovation Solution
The aerosol delivery device incorporates a segmented heater with multiple heating elements that can be separately powered and controlled by a logic circuit and processor, allowing precise control over heating through a waveform of high and low voltage levels to vaporize specific components of the aerosol precursor composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single heating element is used in aerosol delivery devices, then the device structure is simple, but the heating control precision and energy efficiency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is divided into multiple segmented heating elements (first heating element, second heating element, etc.) that can be independently controlled. Each segment can be activated separately based on the required heating zone, enabling precise thermal control while maintaining a modular structure that balances complexity with functionality.
2Productivity
If multiple heating elements are powered simultaneously, then the vaporization efficiency is improved, but the energy consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically selects and activates only the heating elements that are currently needed based on real-time operating conditions. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain high vaporization efficiency when multiple elements are required while minimizing energy consumption by activating only the necessary segments, avoiding unnecessary power consumption from simultaneously powering all heating elements.
3Ease of operation
If advanced electronics are added to aerosol delivery devices, then the usability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control electronics are designed to perform multiple functions using a unified control architecture. The same control circuitry manages heating element selection, power regulation, and operational modes, reducing the need for separate dedicated circuits for each function. This multi-functional approach improves usability while limiting the increase in overall device complexity and manufacturing cost.
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
This solution enables efficient and controlled vaporization of aerosol precursor compositions, enhancing the usability and user experience by mimicking traditional smoking rituals without significant combustion, and allowing for varied flavor delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a segmented heater including a plurality of heating elements that are separately powerable to heat and thereby vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition
Implementation Method 2
heat and thereby vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a segmented heater including a plurality of heating elements that are separately powerable to heat and thereby vaporize components of an aerosol precursor composition, and a control component for the segmented heater. The control component includes a logic circuit with a data input and a plurality of outputs each output of which is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of heating elements of the segmented heater. A processor produces and provides a logic signal including at least a high voltage level to the data input of the logic circuit and causes the logic circuit to provide the high voltage level at one or more outputs of the plurality of outputs of the logic circuit, and thereby powers respective one or more heating elements of the plurality of heating elements of the segmented heater to heat and thereby vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition.