E-Vaping Reservoir Temperature Sensing for Accurate Depletion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically operated aerosol-generating systems face inaccuracies in determining the depletion of liquid aerosol-forming substrate, leading to inconsistent aerosol quality and potential waste due to insufficient liquid supply.
Innovation Solution
An electrically operated aerosol-generating system that includes a temperature sensor to monitor the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, compensating for temperature variations to accurately determine depletion by using electric circuitry with a lookup table and power measurements, and optionally incorporating a second temperature sensor for the heating element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temperature-based depletion detection is used, then depletion determination can be performed, but accuracy is insufficient due to temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring temperature and using it to adjust depletion determination. The temperature sensor provides real-time temperature data to the control circuitry, which then adjusts the depletion assessment based on the actual temperature conditions, creating a closed-loop system that improves accuracy while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter used for depletion detection from simple power consumption to temperature-based measurements. By monitoring temperature variations in the heating element and correlating them with liquid substrate depletion, the system achieves more accurate and reliable detection that accounts for environmental temperature fluctuations and operational conditions.
2Productivity
If power consumption-based depletion determination is used, then depletion can be estimated, but accuracy deteriorates due to temperature variations affecting power-temperature relationship
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical/electrical power consumption-based depletion determination with a thermal field-based approach using temperature sensing. Instead of relying on electrical power measurements that are affected by temperature variations, the invention uses direct temperature measurements from the heating element to determine depletion, substituting one measurement domain for another more accurate domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element serves multiple functions: it heats the liquid substrate for aerosol generation and simultaneously acts as a temperature sensor for depletion detection. This multi-functionality allows the system to obtain accurate temperature-based depletion information without adding separate sensing hardware, maintaining productivity while improving measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If temperature sensor is added to liquid storage portion, then temperature monitoring accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is designed to serve dual purposes: as the primary heating component for aerosol generation and as a temperature sensor for monitoring both the liquid substrate and heating element temperatures. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate temperature sensors in many configurations, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through the existing thermal field.
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
Enhances the accuracy of liquid aerosol-forming substrate depletion detection, reducing waste and cost by optimizing liquid usage and informing users when refilling or replacing the storage portion is necessary.
Implementation Method 1
a first temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of liquid aerosol-forming substrate held in the liquid storage portion
Implementation Method 2
one or more capillary wicks configured to transfer liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the aerosol generator
Implementation Method 3
an aerosol generator configured to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion
Data Source
AI summary
The method includes establishing at least one first wick to transfer a pre-vapor formulation from a first location within a reservoir to a heater, arranging a first temperature sensor to sense a first measured temperature of the pre-vapor formulation at a second location within the reservoir, the first location and the second location being spaced apart to mitigate an increase in the first measured temperature during an activation of the heater, and configuring circuitry to determine depletion information for the pre-vapor formulation in the reservoir based on the first measured temperature.