Patent Application
20250000167
The present disclosure relates to measurement of temperature of a heater element for an aerosol-generating device. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device which is configured to determine the temperature of a heater element of the device based on a relationship between a measured voltage and temperature. The present disclosure also relates to a method of determining a temperature of such a heater element of an aerosol-generating device.
Aerosol-generating devices which generate an aerosol by heating rather than burning an aerosol-forming substrate are known. Such aerosol-generating devices employ an electrically-powered heater element which is controlled in accordance with a heating profile defining a target operating temperature for the heater element over a usage session. To provide a satisfactory user experience, it is important to control the heater element such that its temperature tracks the target operating temperature defined by the heating profile as accurately as possible. Such accurate tracking requires correspondingly accurate determination of the heater element temperature in or close to real time. The aerosol-generating device includes temperature sensing circuitry including a temperature sensor positioned in close proximity to the heater element, in which the temperature sensor has a temperature-dependent resistivity. During use of the aerosol-generating device, a known voltage is provided to the temperature sensing circuitry and a voltage associated with the temperature sensor is measured. The measured voltage will be dependent on the resistivity of the temperature sensor, and ultimately upon the temperature to be measured. However, the correlation between measured voltage and temperature is complex and non-linear. Accordingly, the accurate determination of heater element temperature imposes computational complexity in order to enable the heater element temperature to be accurately determined at or close to real-time.
It is therefore desirable to provide an improved methodology for more efficiently determining the temperature of a heater element of an aerosol-generating device.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device comprises: an electrically-powered heater element for heating the aerosol-forming substrate; a temperature sensor coupled to the heater element, the temperature sensor having a resistivity dependent on the temperature of the heater element; a power source configured to supply power to the heater element and the temperature sensor; and control electronics. The control electronics are configured to measure a voltage associated with the temperature sensor, the voltage being dependent on the resistivity of the heater element. The control electronics comprise or are communicably coupled to a memory storing pre-configured data. The pre-configured data comprise a plurality of voltage values and a corresponding plurality of temperature values. The control electronics are further configured to correlate the measured voltage with the pre-configured data and determine a value for the heater element temperature based on the correlation.
The correlation of the measured voltage with the pre-configured data of voltage and corresponding temperature values may allow the value of the heater element temperature corresponding to the measured voltage to be determined with reduced computational burden and complexity, relative to the methodology employed by existing aerosol-generating devices.
The pre-configured data may be in the form of a look-up table. The look-up table may comprise the plurality of voltage values and corresponding plurality of temperature values. The control electronics may be configured to associate the measured voltage to the voltage value in the look-up table closest in magnitude to the measured voltage, and to the temperature value in the look-up table corresponding to that voltage value. The control electronics may then use the temperature value in the look-up table associated with the measured voltage as the value of the heater element temperature. In this manner, the control electronics may efficiently determine the value of the heater element temperature.
The heater element may be an electrically resistive heating element. By way of example, the heating element may comprise one or a plurality of heating tracks. The heating tracks may be made from stainless steel having a thickness of about 50 micrometres, or preferably about 25 micrometres. Alternatively, the heating tracks may be made from inconel having a thickness of about 50.8 micrometres, or about 25.4 micrometres. In further alternatives, the heating tracks may be made from copper having a thickness of about 35 micrometres, or from constantan having a thickness of about 25 micrometres, or from nickel having a thickness of about 12 micrometres, or from brass having a thickness of about 25 micrometres.
The temperature sensor may be a resistance temperature detector, such as a Pt100 or Pt1000 temperature sensor. However, other forms of temperature sensor/resistance temperature detector may be employed.
Preferably, each of the voltage values of the pre-configured data is associated with a corresponding one of the temperature values of the pre-configured data. The association of each of the voltage values with a corresponding one of the temperature values allows for improved correlation of the measured voltage with the pre-configured data. The improved correlation may also improve the speed at which the control electronics is able to determine the value of the heater element temperature corresponding to the measured voltage.
Advantageously, the control electronics is further configured to compare the determined value of the heater element temperature with a target temperature for the heater element. The control electronics may further be configured to adjust the supply of power from the power source to the heater element so as to reduce any difference between the determined value of the heater element temperature and the target temperature for the heater element. In this manner, the heater element temperature may better track the target temperature for the heater element. A feedback loop or similar means may be employed to perform this comparison.
Preferably, the control electronics is configured to control the supply of power to the heater element according to a heating profile, in which the heating profile defines the target temperature for the heater element over a usage session. The heating profile may be stored in a memory forming part of or communicably coupled to the control electronics; this memory may be the same as or different to the memory which stores the pre-configured data of voltage and temperature values.
The plurality of temperature values of the pre-configured data encompasses a temperature range of between 0 degrees Celsius and 425 degrees Celsius, or between 0 degrees Celsius and 400 degrees Celsius, or between 0 degrees Celsius and 375 degrees Celsius. These exemplary ranges encompass the temperatures commonly used in aerosol-generating devices configured for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate through heating rather than burning of the aerosol-forming substrate. By limiting the temperature range encompassed by the pre-configured data to the range of temperatures likely to be used by the heater element during use of the aerosol-generating device, the data storage requirements for the pre-configured data are reduced and the speed of correlating the measured voltage with the pre-configured data may be improved for a given level of granularity of the pre-configured data.
The plurality of temperature values of the pre-configured data may have a granularity between successive ones of the plurality of temperature values of between 0.5 degrees Celsius and 5 degrees Celsius, or between 0.5 degrees Celsius and 3 degrees Celsius, or between 0.5 degrees Celsius and 1.5 degrees Celsius. Reducing the spacing between successive ones of the plurality of temperature values of the pre-configured data may provide improved correlation of the measured voltage with the pre-configured data and improve the accuracy of the determined value for the heater element temperature.
The temperature sensor may be electrically coupled to a resistor, the resistor having a resistivity substantially invariant with temperature over a predetermined temperature range. The temperature sensor and the resistor may collectively form at least part of a resistor divider. The predetermined temperature range may be between 0 degrees Celsius and 425 degrees Celsius, or between 0 degrees Celsius and 400 degrees Celsius, or between 0 degrees Celsius and 375 degrees Celsius. Preferably, the resistivity being substantially invariant with temperature over the predetermined temperature range corresponds to the resistivity varying by no more than 15%, or by no more than 10%, or by no more than 5% over the predetermined temperature range.
The temperature sensor and the heater element may be disposed on opposed surfaces of an electrically-insulative substrate layer. The electrically-insulative substrate layer may be made from polyimide. The electrically-insulative substrate layer may be configured to withstand between 220 degrees Celsius and 320 degrees Celsius, preferably between 240 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celsius, preferably around 280 degrees Celsius. The electrically-insulative substrate layer may be made from Pyralux. The electrically-insulative substrate layer may be flexible, with a flexible substrate layer having an advantage that the layer can be rolled or formed into a desired shape; by way of example, the desired shape may be a tubular shape. The electrically-insulative substrate layer may comprise two or more sub-layers. Preferably, the electrically-insulative substrate layer comprises a first portion and a second portion, the electrically-insulative substrate material rolled into a tubular shape such that the heater element is disposed between the first and second portions of the electrically-insulative substrate layer. Conveniently, the temperature sensor is disposed on an outward-facing surface of the electrically-insulative substrate layer.
The heater element may be disposed between distinct first and second electrically-insulative substrate layers. The temperature sensor may be disposed between the second electrically-insulative substrate layer and a third electrically-insulative substrate layer. The first electrically-insulative substrate layer, the heater element, the second electrically-insulative substrate layer, the temperature sensor and the third electrically insulative substrate layer are successively laid over each other. Conveniently, an adhesive may be provided between each of the successive layers. A through hole may be provided through the thickness of the third electrically-insulative substrate layer to provide access to the temperature sensor. The first, second and third electrically-insulative substrate layers may be made from the same or different electrically-insulative materials; for example, polyimide as described in the preceding paragraph.
In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of determining a temperature of an electrically-powered heater element of an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the heater element, the temperature sensor having a resistivity dependent on the temperature of the heater element. The method comprises: measuring a voltage associated with the temperature sensor, the voltage being dependent on the resistivity of the heater element; correlating the measured voltage with pre-configured data comprising a plurality of voltage values and a corresponding plurality of temperature values; and determining a value for the heater element temperature based on the correlation.
Preferably, the method further comprises comparing the determined value of the heater element temperature with a target temperature for the heater element; and adjusting a supply of power to the heater element so as to reduce any difference between the determined value of the heater element temperature and the target temperature.
Preferably, each of the voltage values of the pre-configured data is associated with a corresponding one of the temperature values of the pre-configured data.
The plurality of temperature values of the pre-configured data may encompass a temperature range of between 0 degrees Celsius and 425 degrees Celsius, or between 0 degrees Celsius and 400 degrees Celsius, or between 0 degrees Celsius and 375 degrees Celsius.
The plurality of temperature values of the pre-configured data may have a granularity between successive ones of the plurality of temperature values of between 0.5 degrees Celsius and 5 degrees Celsius, or between 0.5 degrees Celsius and 3 degrees Celsius, or between 0.5 degrees Celsius and 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Preferably, the correlating comprises associating the measured voltage with a voltage value of the plurality of voltage values of the pre-configured data closest to the value of the measured voltage.
As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating device” is used to describe a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol. Preferably, the aerosol-generating device is a smoking device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user's lungs thorough the user's mouth. The aerosol-generating device may be a holder for a smoking article. Preferably, the aerosol-generating article is a smoking article that generates an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user's lungs through the user's mouth. More preferably, the aerosol-generating article is a smoking article that generates a nicotine-containing aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user's lungs through the user's mouth.
As used herein, the term “aerosol-forming substrate” denotes a substrate consisting of or comprising an aerosol-forming material that is capable of releasing volatile compounds upon heating to generate an aerosol.
Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate. However, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may be a liquid aerosol-forming substrate.
Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises nicotine. More preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises tobacco. Alternatively or in addition, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco containing aerosol-forming material.
If the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may comprise, for example, one or more of: powder, granules, pellets, shreds, strands, strips or sheets containing one or more of: herb leaf, tobacco leaf, tobacco ribs, expanded tobacco and homogenised tobacco.
Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may contain tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavour compounds, which are released upon heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may also contain one or more capsules that, for example, include additional tobacco volatile flavour compounds or non-tobacco volatile flavour compounds and such capsules may melt during heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate.
Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may be provided on or embedded in a thermally stable carrier. The carrier may take the form of powder, granules, pellets, shreds, strands, strips or sheets. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be deposited on the surface of the carrier in the form of, for example, a sheet, foam, gel or slurry. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be deposited on the entire surface of the carrier, or alternatively, may be deposited in a pattern in order to provide a non-uniform flavour delivery during use.
In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises homogenised tobacco material. As used herein, the term “homogenised tobacco material” refers to a material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises a gathered sheet of homogenised tobacco material. As used herein, the term “sheet” refers to a laminar element having a width and length substantially greater than the thickness thereof. As used herein, the term “gathered” is used to describe a sheet that is convoluted, folded, or otherwise compressed or constricted substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises an aerosol former. As used herein, the term “aerosol former” is used to describe any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds that, in use, facilitates formation of an aerosol and that is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the aerosol-generating article.
Suitable aerosol-formers are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyhydric alcohols, such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and glycerine; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. Preferred aerosol formers are polyhydric alcohols or mixtures thereof, such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and, most preferred, glycerine.
The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a single aerosol former. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a combination of two or more aerosol formers.
As used herein, the term “usage session” refers to a period in which a series of puffs are applied by a user to extract aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate. The usage session may be a finite usage session; that is a usage session having a start and an end. The duration of the usage session as measured by time may be influenced by use during the usage session. The duration of the usage session may have a maximum duration determined by a maximum time from the start of the usage session. The duration of the usage session may be less than the maximum time if one or more monitored parameters reaches a predetermined threshold before the maximum time from the start of the usage session. By way of example, the one or more monitored parameters may comprise one or more of: i) a cumulative puff count of a series of puffs drawn by a user since the start of the usage session, and ii) a cumulative volume of aerosol evolved from the aerosol-forming substrate since the start of the usage session.
The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.
Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures, in which:
It is to be understood that the above figures are schematic representations and are not to scale.
The heating element 141 is an electrically-resistive heating element and is provided as a sheet comprising a plurality of electrically conductive heating tracks (not shown). The heating element 141 is arranged on the first portion 144 of the substrate layer 143. First heating element contact area 146a and second heating element contact area 146b are arranged on the first portion 144 adjacent to and electrically coupled to the heating element 141. A first electrical contact 131a is provided contacting the first heating element contact area 146a. A second electrical contact 131b is provided contacting the second heating element contact area 146b. The first and second electrical contacts 131a, 131b are formed from electrical wire and are coupled to the controller 13. The controller 13 is coupled to the heating element 141 through contact between the first electrical contact 131a and the first heating element contact area 146a, and also through contact between the second electrical contact 131b and the second heating element contact area 146b. As shown in
A first temperature sensor contact area 147a and a second temperature sensor contact area 147b are arranged on the second portion 145 of the substrate layer 143. A third electrical contact 131c is provided contacting the first temperature sensor contact area 147a. A fourth electrical contact 131d is provided contacting the second temperature sensor contact area 147b. The third and fourth electrical contacts 131c, 131d are formed from electrical wire and are coupled to the controller 13. Third and fourth temperature sensor contact areas 147c, 147d are arranged on the surface of the second portion 145 of the substrate layer 143. The third temperature sensor contact area 147c is electrically connected to the first temperature sensor contact area 147a. The fourth temperature sensor contact area 147d is electrically connected to the second temperature sensor contact area 147b. The temperature sensor 142 is coupled between the third and fourth temperature sensor contact areas 147c, 147d. The temperature sensor 142 is a resistance temperature detector, such as a Pt100 or Pt1000 temperature sensor. However, in other embodiments, other forms of temperature sensor/resistance temperature detector may be employed.
The heating assembly 14 of
Although not shown in the Figures, a glue layer or adhesive layer may be provided between the first portion 144 of the substrate layer 143 and the metal tube 16 to improve the connection between the substrate layer 143 and the tube 16. A further glue layer or adhesive layer may be provided between the first portion 144 of the substrate layer 143 and the second portion 145 of the substrate layer 143.
Once the heating assembly 14 is formed into the tubular shape shown in
The aerosol-generating article 50 is inserted into the cavity 15 so that the tubular heating assembly 14 substantially encloses the entire length of the aerosol-forming substrate 51 of the article 50. The controller 13 is coupled to the power source 12 and the heating assembly 14 by electrical wiring. The controller 13 includes a memory module 131 containing a heating profile for a usage session of the aerosol-generating device 10. The heating profile defines a target operating temperature for the heating element 141 over the usage session. In use, the controller 13 controls the supply of electrical energy from the power source 12 to the heating element 141 in accordance with the heating profile stored in the memory module 131. The heating element 141 operates, under the control of controller 13. so as to heat the aerosol-forming substrate 51 of the aerosol-generating article 50 received in the cavity 15 and thereby generate an inhalable aerosol. A user draws directly on a mouth end 52 of the aerosol-generating article 50 to inhale the aerosol generated by the heating of the aerosol-forming substrate 51.
As shown in
So, by knowing voltages V and VT and the temperature invariant resistance R149 of the resistor 149, the resistance R142 of the temperature sensor 142 may be determined. In turn, knowledge of the relationship between the resistance R142 and temperature for the temperature sensor 142 means that it is possible to formulate pre-configured data correlating the measured voltage value, V, with the temperature of the temperature sensor 142.
As shown in
During operation of the aerosol-generating device 10, the controller 13 measures the voltage, V (as indicated in
The first electrically insulative substrate layer 143a, a first adhesive layer 31, and the tracks of the heating element 141 are sequentially laid over each other to form the first heating sub-assembly 1401.
A second adhesive layer 32, the second electrically insulative substrate layer 143b, a third adhesive layer 33, and the temperature sensor 142 are sequentially laid over each other to form the second heating sub-assembly 1402.
The first and second heating sub-assemblies 1401, 1402 are brought together and adhere to each other by the adhesive action of the second adhesive layer 32, thereby forming the heating assembly 14′.
The heating assembly 14′ is wrapped around and adheres to the stainless steel tube 16 by the use of a fourth adhesive layer 34 there-between.
For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number “A” is understood as “A” ±10% of “A”. Within this context, a number “A” may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number “A” modifies. The number “A”, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which “A” deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2021/131159 | 11/17/2021 | WO |
