Refillable Vaping Pod With PID Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern disposable vaping devices are wasteful and environmentally harmful due to their single-use nature, lack of temperature control, and potential for harmful emissions, leading to bans and negative environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid disposable vaping device that is refillable and rechargeable, featuring a closed-loop temperature control system with a PID controller to manage heating element temperature, ensuring safety and consistent delivery of inhalable substances, and a system for automatic refilling and charging without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If modern disposable vaping devices are designed as single-use units, then ease of operation and device simplicity are improved, but environmental harm and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle to the heating element and liquid reservoir components, which are designed as single-use replaceable units. This allows the main device body (containing the battery and control electronics) to be reused multiple times, reducing overall waste while maintaining ease of operation. Users simply replace the consumable pod when liquid is depleted, rather than discarding the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into replaceable consumable components (heating element, liquid reservoir) and a reusable main body. This segmentation enables selective replacement of only the components that deplete or degrade, extending the device lifecycle and reducing environmental impact while preserving operational simplicity.
2Device complexity
If fixed power delivery is used in conventional vaping devices, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system that continuously monitors the resistance of the heating element and adjusts the power delivery accordingly. The controller measures resistance changes and modulates the power output to maintain a target temperature, enabling precise temperature control while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through integrated control electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the electrical parameters (voltage, current, power) delivered to the heating element based on real-time resistance measurements. This parameter adjustment allows the device to compensate for resistance variations and maintain consistent temperature control without requiring overly complex control mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If heating element resistance varies due to temperature changes, then temperature control becomes more challenging, but this provides an opportunity for indirect temperature measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct temperature measurement (which would require thermal sensors) with an electrical resistance-based measurement system. By monitoring the heating element's resistance changes, the controller can infer temperature without adding complex thermal sensing hardware, simplifying the measurement system while achieving adequate temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element's resistance serves as an intermediary parameter that indirectly indicates temperature. Instead of directly measuring temperature, the system uses resistance as a proxy measurement, which simplifies the measurement system while providing sufficient control accuracy for vaping applications.
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
Reduces environmental impact by allowing multiple uses, enhances safety and consistency of inhalable substance delivery, and prevents harmful emissions, making it compliant with regulations.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element; when the user inhales, a small pressure switch is activated, which in turn cause current to heat the heating element and generate an aerosol
Implementation Method 2
a small wick and a heating element in contact with the wick
Data Source
AI summary
A vaping system includes: (a) a disposable vaping device that includes the following non user-replaceable items: (i) a heating element; (ii) a rechargeable battery, and (iii) a liquid reservoir that provides liquid to the heating element; and (b) an automatic liquid filling device, including (i) a first aperture or port configured to receive a liquid bottle or container containing atomisable liquid; (ii) a second aperture or port configured to receive the vaping device; (iii) an electronic liquid level sensing sub-system; (iv) a liquid filling sub-system configured to pump liquid from the liquid bottle or container to the liquid reservoir in the vaping device and (v) a battery charging sub-system.