Vaping Reservoir Level Indication Using Heating Duty Cycle Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic vaping devices lack an efficient mechanism to accurately indicate the remaining pre-vapor formulation level and adjust power delivery to the heating element based on the formulation's properties, leading to inconsistent vapor production and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The e-vaping device incorporates a vaporizer assembly with a pre-vapor formulation reservoir, a level indicator comprising discrete segments, and a processor that determines the difference between initial and adjusted power duty cycles to the heating element, allowing for real-time adjustment of the indicator based on the formulation's properties and remaining quantity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a heating element is used to vaporize pre-vapor formulation, then vapor production is achieved, but the formulation level cannot be accurately indicated and power delivery cannot be adjusted based on formulation properties
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator is divided into multiple discrete segments that can independently indicate different levels of pre-vapor formulation remaining in the reservoir. This segmentation allows for precise level indication while keeping each individual segment simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary indicator system is introduced between the heating element and the user to provide information about formulation level. This intermediary component enables accurate formulation level indication without requiring direct measurement complexity in the heating element itself.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fixed power is supplied to the heating element, then device operation is simple, but vapor production consistency deteriorates due to varying formulation properties
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the indicator segments about formulation level to automatically adjust the power duty cycle supplied to the heating element. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent vapor production by adapting power delivery to the current formulation state without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The power duty cycle is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to change based on the formulation level indicated by the segments. This dynamic adjustment maintains vapor production consistency as the formulation is consumed, while the overall system remains relatively simple.
3Productivity
If duty cycle adjustment is implemented based on formulation level, then vapor production consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processor automatically determines the duty cycle adjustment based on feedback from the indicator segments about formulation level. This self-service capability allows the system to optimize vapor production efficiency without requiring complex external control systems or user intervention.
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 a precise indication of the pre-vapor formulation level and optimizes power delivery to the heating element, enhancing vapor production consistency and user experience by ensuring the appropriate power is applied based on the formulation's characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element, which vaporizes a pre-vapor formulation to produce a vapor
Data Source
AI summary
The e-vaping device includes a vaporizer assembly, which includes a heating element, a pre-vapor formulation reservoir, a pre-vapor formulation level indicator including a plurality of discrete indicator segments, and at least one processor. The pre-vapor formulation reservoir may be configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation and the at least one processor may be configured to determine a difference between a first duty cycle of power supplied to the heating element and a second duty cycle of power supplied to the heating element; and adjust the indicator based on the determined duty cycle difference.