Semiconductor Heaters for Aerosol Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol-generating devices lack precise control over heating of aerosol-generating articles, leading to inefficient aerosol release and uniformity, particularly when using metallic or ceramic resistive heating elements.
Innovation Solution
The use of a plurality of semiconductor heaters with continuous heating layers, positioned within a cavity structure, allows for accurate temperature and duration control, and includes integrated gas sensors to monitor gas presence, enabling adaptive power management and optimized heating geometry matching the aerosol article.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If metallic or ceramic resistive heating elements are used, then the device structure is simple, but the control over heating temperature and duration is imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent semiconductor heater elements (first semiconductor heater, second semiconductor heater, third semiconductor heater) positioned at different locations within the cavity. Each heater can be controlled independently, allowing precise temperature and duration control for different regions of the aerosol-generating article, thereby resolving the contradiction between control precision and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different semiconductor heaters are positioned at specific locations (first heater at first location, second heater at second location, third heater at third location) to provide localized heating zones. This allows different regions of the aerosol-generating article to be heated with different temperature profiles and durations, achieving precise control while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a single heating element is used, then the device structure is simple, but the aerosol release uniformity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The single heating element is segmented into multiple semiconductor heaters positioned at different locations within the cavity. This segmentation allows simultaneous heating of multiple regions of the aerosol-generating article, ensuring uniform aerosol release across the entire article while maintaining a configuration that is not overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system transitions from a single-point heating approach to a distributed multi-point heating approach by positioning heaters at different locations (first location, second location, third location) within the cavity. This spatial distribution across multiple dimensions enables uniform heating and aerosol release throughout the aerosol-generating article.
3Quantity of substance
If heating control is not optimized, then the device structure is simple, but the total aerosol delivery is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system dynamically controls the operation of multiple semiconductor heaters based on real-time requirements. The controller can activate different heaters (first, second, third semiconductor heaters) with different power levels and durations, optimizing the total aerosol delivery by adapting the heating profile to the specific aerosol-generating article and user demands, while keeping the power control system manageable.
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 provides improved control over heating, leading to enhanced aerosol release uniformity and increased total aerosol delivery, with the semiconductor heaters' geometric distribution and integrated gas sensing capabilities ensuring efficient and uniform heating of aerosol-generating articles.
Implementation Method 1
a heating layer on the substrate layer, the heating layer being a continuous layer
Implementation Method 2
The controller is configured to measure an electrical resistance of the combined heating and gas sensing layer to determine an amount of at least one gas within the cavity structure
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating device includes an electrical power supply, a cavity structure configured to receive an aerosol-generating article, and a plurality of semiconductor heaters within the cavity structure. Each of the plurality of semiconductor heaters includes a substrate layer and a heating layer on the substrate layer. The heating layer is a continuous layer. The aerosol-generating device includes a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply to each of the plurality of semiconductor heaters.