METHOD, SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A HEATING ELEMENT

• US 20160057811A1
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fontem Ventures BV (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Fontem Holdings 2 B.V.
• Inventors: Alarcon, Ramon, Starman, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,201,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0227 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0252 Domestic applications

Abstract

A system, a method, and a device for controlling a heating element in electronic articles, and more particularly for controlling a heating element in electronic cigarettes. In one embodiment A system for controlling a heater can comprise a power source, a memory configured to store programming, an MCU, a solution, a heater configured to heat the solution, and a sensor. The power source, the memory, the MCU, the heater, and the sensor can be electrically coupled. The MCU can receive signals from the sensor and control the heater, and the MCU can be configured to use programming stored in the memory to control the heater.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a heater comprising:

a power source;

a memory configured to store programming;

an MCU;

a solution;

a heater configured to heat the solution; and

a first sensor configured to detect a smoking action;

wherein the power source, the memory, the MCU, the heater, the first sensor, and the transmitter are electrically coupled, wherein the MCU can receive signals from the first sensor, control the heater, and communicate with the transmitter, and wherein the MCU is configured to use programming stored in the memory to control the heater.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second sensor, the second sensor comprising one of a current sensor, a thermistor, a thermocouple, and a resistance temperature detector.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the heater is a first heater and the system further comprises a second heater electrically coupled to the MCU.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured to determine a type of solution being heated by the heater.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the MCU is further configured to determine ideal values for temperature for the determined type of solution.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured to control a temperature of the heater by pulse width modulation or cycle length.

7. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a field effect transistor electrically coupled to the MCU and wherein the field effect transistor is configured to source a current to the heater and wherein the MCU is configured to control the field effect transistor by pulse width modulation.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured to determine a temperature of the heater by measuring a voltage.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the voltage is measured across a field effect transistor.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured to operate within a predicted algorithm.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the predicted algorithm is configured to utilize an air flow rate.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the predicted algorithm is configured to determine a type of the heater and to utilize the type within the predicted algorithm.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured to control an amount of power delivered to the heater through a pulse width modulation.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the pulse width modulation is configured to vary depending on a detected voltage of the power source.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the pulse width modulation is configured to be reduced when the battery voltage is higher and is configured to be higher when the battery voltage is lower.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the pulse width modulation is configured to keep the heater at a constant temperature as a flow rate of air.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the pulse width modulation is configured to increase a temperature of the heater in a linear manner as a flow rate of air increases.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the pulse width modulation is configured to increase a temperature of the heater in a exponential manner as a flow rate of air over the heater increases.

19. A method for heater compensation in an electronic smoking device, comprising:

detecting whether a sensor is activated;

reading a voltage of a battery if the sensor is activated;

reading a memory for at least one heater parameter;

determining a pulse width modulation for a heater control from the battery voltage and the at least one heater parameter;

driving a heater at the determined pulse width modulation;

detecting whether the sensor is activated; and

changing to sleep mode when the sensor is no longer activated.

20. A method for heater compensation in an electronic smoking device, comprising:

detecting whether a sensor is activated;

turning on a heater;

reading a current or temperature signal;

determining a pulse width modulation for the heater; and

driving the heater at a desired pulse width modulation.