Virtual Smoke Rendering Synced to Aerosol Device Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices lack the capability to effectively output virtual smoke images synchronized with the user's smoking actions, particularly in augmented or virtual reality environments, without the need for actual smoke generation.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with a dongle that communicates with an aerosol generating device to receive sensing information, processes it, and generates a virtual smoke image based on this information, outputting it through a display, synchronized with the user's smoking actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If actual smoke is used in VR/AR environments, then realism is improved, but safety and cleanliness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverealismVSAvoidsafety and cleanliness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of smoke behavior using computer-generated images that replicate the visual characteristics of real smoke (grayish-white color, billowing motion, particle distribution) without using actual physical smoke. The virtual smoke image is generated based on sensing information from the aerosol generating device and displayed through the electronic device's display, providing photorealistic smoke effects without the harmful byproducts of real smoke.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the physical smoke generation mechanism with a computational system. Instead of using chemical combustion to produce physical smoke particles, the system uses sensors to detect user actions, processes this information through a controller, and generates virtual smoke representations through software algorithms, substituting mechanical/chemical processes with computational ones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If virtual smoke is generated without sensing information, then device complexity is reduced, but synchronization with user actions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback loop where the aerosol generating device continuously transmits sensing information (detected user actions) to the electronic device, which then adjusts the virtual smoke generation in real-time based on this feedback. The controller receives sensing information, determines appropriate virtual smoke characteristics, and generates synchronized images that respond to user actions, creating an adaptive system that maintains accuracy without requiring overly complex hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12614333B2Method and apparatus for outputting virtual smoke image

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 KT&G CO LTD

AI summary

To output a virtual smoke image, an electronic device may install a communication driver and a virtual smoking program stored in a dongle connected to the electronic device from the dongle, execute the virtual smoking program, receive sensing information about a state of an aerosol generating device establishing a wireless communication channel with the dongle from the aerosol generating device through the dongle, generate a virtual smoke image based on the sensing information, and output the virtual smoke image through the display of the electronic device.