(19)
(11) EP 4 309 523 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC

(43) Date of publication:
24.01.2024 Bulletin 2024/04

(21) Application number: 22770514.2

(22) Date of filing: 15.03.2022
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A24F 40/40(2020.01)
A24F 40/50(2020.01)
A24F 40/46(2020.01)
(52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
A24F 40/40; A24F 40/46; A24F 40/50
(86) International application number:
PCT/CN2022/080990
(87) International publication number:
WO 2022/194161 (22.09.2022 Gazette 2022/38)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME
Designated Validation States:
KH MA MD TN

(30) Priority: 16.03.2021 CN 202110284535

(71) Applicant: Shenzhen First Union Technology Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000 (CN)

(72) Inventors:
  • CHEN, Hanliang
    Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000 (CN)
  • XU, Zhongli
    Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000 (CN)
  • LI, Yonghai
    Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000 (CN)

(74) Representative: Proi World Intellectual Property GmbH 
Obermattweg 12
6052 Hergiswil, Kanton Nidwalden
6052 Hergiswil, Kanton Nidwalden (CH)

   


(54) ELECTRONIC ATOMIZING DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY MECHANISM, AND RECOGNITION METHOD FOR ATOMIZER


(57) This application provides an electronic vaporization device, a power supply mechanism, and a method for identifying a vaporizer. The electronic vaporization device includes a vaporizer configured to vaporize a liquid substrate to generate an aerosol, and a power supply mechanism configured to supply power to the vaporizer. The vaporizer includes a heating element configured to heat and vaporize the liquid substrate. The power supply mechanism includes: a core, configured to supply power to the heating element; and a controller, configured to identify the vaporizer based on electric power provided by the core to the heating element and a resistance change generated by the heating element. Through the electronic vaporization device, the vaporizer can be automatically identified by detecting the resistance change of the heating element under electric power.




Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS



[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202110284535.6, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on March 16, 2021 and entitled "ELECTRONIC VAPORIZATION DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY MECHANISM, AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING VAPORIZER", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD



[0002] Embodiments of this application relate to the field of electronic vaporization technologies, and in particular, to an electronic vaporization device, a power supply mechanism, and a method for identifying a vaporizer.

BACKGROUND



[0003] Tobacco products (such as cigarettes, cigars, and the like) burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts are made to replace these tobacco-burning products by manufacturing products that release compounds without burning tobacco.

[0004] An example of this type of products is an electronic vaporization product, which vaporize a liquid substrate by heating to produce an inhalable vapor or aerosol. The liquid substrate may contain nicotine, and/or aromatics, and/or aerosol-generation substances (such as glycerin). Such frequently used electronic vaporization product is a modular construction and usually includes a replaceable vaporizer. The replaceable vaporizer has a storage component configured to accommodate the liquid substrate. The liquid substrate stored in the vaporizer may vary significantly in composition, taste, concentration, or another property, and consumers may wish to interchange the vaporizer at will. However, an optimal vaporization condition may depend on composition of the liquid substrate stored in the vaporizer. Therefore, it is desirable to include an automatic identification device in the vaporizer that can identify the replaceable vaporizer or the liquid substrate stored therein, to automatically change control settings for a vaporization device accordingly.

SUMMARY



[0005] An embodiment of this application provides an electronic vaporization device, including a vaporizer configured to vaporize a liquid substrate to generate an aerosol, and a power supply mechanism configured to supply power to the vaporizer. The vaporizer includes a heating element configured to heat and vaporize the liquid substrate. The power supply mechanism includes:

a core, configured to supply power to the heating element; and

a controller, configured to identify the vaporizer based on electric power provided by the core to the heating element and a resistance change generated by the heating element.



[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to:

determine a TCR value of the heating element based on electric power provided by the core to the heating element and a resistance change generated by the heating element; and identify the vaporizer based on the TCR value of the heating element.



[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the resistance change includes a change curve of a resistance of the heating element with time.

[0008] In a preferred implementation, the resistance change includes a resistance change rate of the heating element.

[0009] In a preferred implementation, the resistance change includes a resistance value when the resistance of the heating element rises to be substantially constant, or a difference between the resistance value and an initial resistance value.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to:
compare the resistance change of the heating element with a threshold range and change the electric power provided by the core to the heating element based on a comparison result.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to:
compare a resistance change rate of the heating element or a resistance variation within a preset time with a threshold range, and prevent the core from supplying power to the heating element when the resistance change rate or the resistance variation is greater than a maximum value of the threshold range or less than a minimum value of the preset threshold range.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to:
raise a resistance of the heating element to a substantially constant resistance value or compare a difference between the resistance value and an initial resistance value with a threshold range, and prevent the core from supplying power to the heating element when the resistance value or the difference is greater than a maximum value of the threshold range or less than a minimum value of the preset threshold range.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the core is configured to provide predetermined electric power to the heating element.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the core is configured to supply power to the heating element in a manner of constant power output.

[0015] Another embodiment of this application further provides a power supply mechanism, configured to supply power to a vaporizer of an electronic vaporization device, where the vaporizer includes a heating element configured to heat and vaporize a liquid substrate to generate an aerosol; the power supply mechanism includes:

a core, configured to supply power to the heating element; and

a controller, configured to identify the vaporizer based on electric power provided by the core to the heating element and a resistance change generated by the heating element.



[0016] Another embodiment of this application further provides a method for identifying a vaporizer, where the vaporizer includes a heating element configured to heat and vaporize a liquid substrate to generate an aerosol; and the method includes following steps of:
supplying power to the heating element, and identifying the vaporizer based on an electric power provided to the heating element and a resistance change generated by the heating element.

[0017] Through the electronic vaporization device, the vaporizer can be automatically identified by detecting the resistance change of the heating element under electric power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



[0018] One or more embodiments are exemplarily described with reference to the corresponding figures in the accompanying drawings, and the descriptions are not to be construed as limiting the embodiments. Elements in the accompanying drawings that have same reference numerals are represented as similar elements, and unless otherwise particularly stated, the figures in the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic vaporization device according to an embodiment of this application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a vaporizer in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a porous body in FIG. 2 from a perspective.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a porous body in FIG. 2 from another perspective;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a vaporizer in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a resistance detection circuit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a curve showing a resistance change of a heating element of a vaporizer during continuous inhalation representing that a user inhales once according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a curve showing a resistance change of heating elements of a plurality of vaporizers during continuous inhalation representing that a user inhales once according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a resistance change rate of heating elements within a predetermined time of a plurality of vaporizers in FIG. 8.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION



[0019] For ease of understanding of this application, this application is described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementations.

[0020] This application provides an electronic vaporization device. Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic vaporization device includes: a vaporizer 100, configured to store a liquid substrate and vaporize the liquid substrate to generate an aerosol; and a power supply mechanism 200, configured to supply power to the vaporizer 100.

[0021] In an optional implementation, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the power supply mechanism 200 includes a receiving cavity 270, arranged at an end in a length direction and configured to receive and accommodate at least a part of the vaporizer 100; and a first electrical contact 230, at least partially exposed on a surface of the receiving cavity 270, and configured to be electrically connected to the vaporizer 100 to supply power to the vaporizer 100 when at least a part of the vaporizer 100 is received and accommodated in the power supply mechanism 200.

[0022] According to a preferred implementation shown in FIG. 1, a second electrical contact 21 is arranged on an end portion of the vaporizer 100 opposite to the power supply mechanism 200 in the length direction, so that when the at least a part of the vaporizer 100 is received in the receiving cavity 270, the second electrical contact 21 is in contact with and abuts against the first electrical contact 230 to form an electrical connection.

[0023] A seal member 260 is arranged in the power supply mechanism 200, and at least a part of an internal space of the power supply mechanism 200 is separated by the seal member 260 to form the receiving cavity 270. In the preferred implementation shown in FIG. 1, the seal member 260 is configured to extend along a cross section direction of the power supply mechanism 200, and is preferably prepared by a flexible material such as silica gel, so as to prevent the liquid substrate seeping from the vaporizer 100 to the receiving cavity 270 from flowing to a controller 220, a sensor 250, and another component inside the power supply mechanism 200.

[0024] In the preferred implementation shown in FIG. 1, the power supply mechanism 200 further includes a core 210, configured to supply power and facing away from the receiving cavity 270 along a length direction; and a controller 220, arranged between the core 210 and an accommodating cavity, where the controller 220 operably guiding a current between the core 210 and the first electrical contact 230.

[0025] The power supply mechanism 200 includes the sensor 250, which is configured to sense an inhalation flow generated by the vaporizer 100 during inhalation, so that the controller 220 controls the core 210 to output the current to the vaporizer 100 based on a detection signal of the sensor 250.

[0026] Further, in the preferred implementation shown in FIG. 1, a charging interface 240 is arranged on another end of the power supply mechanism 200 facing away from the receiving cavity 270, and is configured to supply power to the core 210.

[0027] Embodiments in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 are schematic structural diagrams of an embodiment of the vaporizer 100 in FIG. 1, which includes a main housing 10, a porous body 30, and a heating element 40.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the main housing 10 is substantially in a flat cylindrical shape, and certainly, a hollow interior of the main housing is a necessary functional device configured to store and vaporize the liquid substrate. A suction nozzle A configured to inhale an aerosol is arranged on an upper end of the main housing 10.

[0029] A liquid storage cavity 12 configured to store the liquid substrate is arranged on an interior of the main housing 10. In a specific embodiment, a vapor-gas transmission pipe 11 in an axial direction is arranged inside the main housing 10, and the liquid storage cavity 12 configured to store the liquid substrate is formed in a space between an outer wall of the vapor-gas transmission pipe 11 and an inner wall of the main housing 10. An upper end of the vapor-gas transmission pipe 11 opposite a proximal end 110 is in communication with the suction nozzle port A.

[0030] The porous body 30 is configured to obtain the liquid substrate in the liquid storage cavity 12 through a liquid channel 13, and the liquid substrate is transmitted as indicated by arrow R1 in FIG. 2. The porous body 30 includes a flat vaporization surface 310. The vaporization surface 310 is formed with the heating element 40 that heats at least part of the liquid substrate absorbed by the porous body 30 to generate the aerosol.

[0031] Specifically, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a side of the porous body 30 facing away from the vaporization surface 310 is in fluid communication with the liquid channel 13 to absorb the liquid substrate, and then transfer the liquid substrate to the vaporization surface 310 to heat and vaporize.

[0032] After assembly, two ends of the heating element 40 abut against the second electrical contact 21 to conduct electricity, and the heating element 40 heats at least part of the liquid substrate of the porous body 30 to generate the aerosol during electrification. In an optional implementation, the porous body 30 includes flexible fibers, such as cotton fibers, non-woven fabrics, glass fiber ropes, or includes porous ceramics with a microporous structure, such as porous ceramics in shapes shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, and the specific structures can be found in patent CNCN212590248U.

[0033] The heating element 40 may be combined onto the vaporization surface 310 of the porous body 30 through printing, deposition, sintering, physical assembly, or the like. In some other variant embodiments, the porous body 30 may have a flat or curved surface for supporting the heating element 40, and the heating element 40 is formed on the flat or curved surface of the porous body 30 through mounting, printing, deposition, and the like.

[0034] The heating element 40 is made of a metal material with an appropriate impedance, a metal alloy, graphite, carbon, conductive ceramic, or another composite material of a ceramic material and a metal material. A suitable metal or alloy material includes at least one of nickel, cobalt, zirconium, titanium, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy, zirconium alloy, titanium alloy, nickel-chromium alloy, nickel-iron alloy, iron-chromium alloy, iron-chromium-aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, iron-manganese-aluminum based alloy, or stainless steel. The resistive material of the heating element 40 can select a metal or alloy material having a suitable resistance temperature coefficient, such as a positive temperature coefficient or a negative temperature coefficient, so that a heating circuit can be configured to generate heat and can be configured as a sensor for sensing real-time temperature of a vaporization component.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a schematic structural diagram of a vaporizer 100a according to another embodiment. The porous body 30a is configured in a shape of a hollow columnar extending in a longitudinal direction of the vaporizer 100a, and the heating element 40a is formed in a columnar hollow of the porous body 30a. In use, as represented by arrow R1, the liquid substrate of the liquid storage cavity 20a is absorbed along an outer surface of the porous body 30a in a radial direction, and then transmitted to the heating element 40a on an inner surface to heat and vaporize to generate an aerosol; and the generated aerosol is outputted from the columnar hollow of the porous body 30a along a longitudinal direction of the vaporizer 100a.

[0036] In order to distinguish whether the replaced vaporizer 100/100a is an adaptive type, the resistance change of the heating element 40/40a in operation is detected by the controller 220 in an embodiment of this application, to identify and determine the vaporizer 100/100a.

[0037] Generally, different vaporizers 100/100a have heating elements 40/40a with different materials or models. Therefore, during heating, due to different initial resistance values and the respective material TCR (temperature coefficient of resistance), the resistance changes during heating are significantly different. In this way, the vaporizer 100/100a can be identified and determined based on the resistance change.

[0038] Further, in order to enable the power supply mechanism 200 to detect the resistance change of the heating element 40/40a in real time, the power supply mechanism 200 further includes a resistance detection circuit for detecting the resistance value of the heating element 40/40a. A structure of the resistance detection circuit in a conventional embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, including:
a standard resistor R1, configured to construct a voltage dividing circuit connected in series with the connected heating element 40/40a, where the voltage dividing circuit connected in series is turned on and grounded by a switch tube Q1 to form a circuit. In this case, the controller 220 may calculate the resistance value of the heating element 40/40a by sampling a voltage to ground Vabc of the standard resistor R1 and then through a formula of a partial pressure.

[0039] Certainly, other resistors R2, R3, and R4 in the circuit shown in FIG. 6 are normal basic conventional functions such as voltage reduction and current limiting.

[0040] In another variant embodiment, the resistance detection circuit may further use a constant current source. When the vaporizer 100/100a is coupled to the power supply mechanism 200 to couple the heating element 40/40a to the circuit, the constant current source provides a constant current detection current to the heating elements 40/40a. The controller 220 samples the voltage of the heating element 40/40a at the constant current through a sampling pin, and then obtains the resistance value of the heating element 40/40a after calculation.

[0041] For example, FIG. 7 shows a curve showing a resistance change of a heating element 40 of a vaporizer 100 during continuous inhalation representing that a user inhales once according to an embodiment. According to the test curve, each unit of the time axis is 60 ms, and the total detected data sampling time is 60 × 60 = 3600 ms = 3.6 s. During the test, an initial resistance value of the heating element 40 is 1.1 ohms, and the power output of the power supply mechanism 200 to the heating element 40 is constant at 10 W (generally, the output voltage of the core 210 in the electronic vaporization device in the art is 3.5 V after being fully charged. Combined with an actual output effective voltage of about 3.2 V and a heat loss, setting the output power to be constant at 10 W is the most commonly used constant power output value). In the curve of FIG. 7, the resistance value change of the heating element 40 includes three stages.

[0042] S1 first stage: It is an initial heating stage. The heating element 40 starts to heat up rapidly from a room temperature, and at the same time, the temperature has not been raised above a boiling point of the liquid substrate; and most of the heat at this stage is absorbed by the heating element 40, and correspondingly, the resistance value of the heating element 40 also increases rapidly due to the TCR.

[0043] S2 second stage: During this stage, the heating element 40 continues to heat up, and part of the heat of the heating element 40 is absorbed by a low-boiling component (such as propylene glycol, and a flavor component) in the liquid substrate to form the aerosol. In this stage, a resistance raising efficiency of the heating element 40 gradually decreases.

[0044] S3 third stage: In this stage, since the temperature of the heating element 40 rises to the temperature at which the liquid substrate is vaporized in large quantities, the heating efficiency of the heating element 40 is balanced with a vaporization efficiency of the liquid substrate; and in this stage, the resistance value of the heating element 40 is substantially constant and fluctuates in a generally small range until an end of the inhalation.

[0045] In the above changes in the actual resistance detected in conjunction with specific embodiments, a significant increase in resistance can be expressed as the resistance variation per unit time (that is, a slope of a tangent of the curve) or the increase in the resistance value beyond a certain reference threshold, that is, the resistance is considered to have risen significantly.

[0046] In order to identify and distinguish different vaporizers 100, the following show the sampling results of the resistance value of the heating element 40 in the power supply test performed by the power supply mechanism 200 to five different vaporizers 100 at a constant power of 7 W, respectively. Certainly, to eliminate an error of a single sampling of the sampling detection result of the vaporizer 100 of each embodiment, the sampling of the vaporizer 100 in each embodiment is performed in two repetitions, which are denoted as "sample 1" and "sample 2" respectively. The specific sampling results are as follows, and the sampling results of each embodiment in the following table are averaged, and the resistance change curve with time is obtained by fitting as shown in FIG. 8.
Table 1
Sampling time/ms Sampling resistance value/mΩ
Embodiment 1 Embodiment 2 Embodiment 3 Embodiment 4 Embodiment 5
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 1 Sample 2
0 752 758 757 760 750 754 717 724 710 713
20 916 911 860 859 856 851 814 830 801 810
80 912 919 870 869 852 859 806 821 798 816
140 913 929 884 882 853 868 821 839 806 824
200 915 928 885 889 855 867 834 848 810 827
260 933 933 888 889 872 872 831 844 813 836
320 923 933 893 895 863 872 841 849 817 836
380 938 942 897 897 877 880 842 858 832 831
440 942 945 898 895 880 883 850 852 836 842
500 941 941 900 912 879 879 849 846 826 843
560 943 956 910 907 881 893 855 853 837 839
620 954 950 911 914 892 888 847 848 838 844
680 945 945 907 907 883 883 854 865 830 847
740 957 950 911 917 894 888 860 863 836 847
800 949 959 912 915 887 896 852 860 834 848
860 964 964 916 918 901 901 861 864 843 844
920 959 954 918 918 896 892 860 870 844 845
980 950 956 917 916 888 893 852 860 838 855
1040 961 963 924 920 898 900 853 869 845 842
1100 956 957 915 929 893 894 859 868 837 842
1160 963 962 920 929 900 899 856 877 846 843
1220 970 967 919 921 907 904 858 864 843 852
1280 964 972 927 931 901 908 869 869 844 846
1340 965 970 922 923 902 907 858 869 848 852
1400 961 974 923 927 898 910 859 868 841 858
1460 958 961 932 925 895 898 864 876 846 857
1520 966 969 928 924 903 906 866 871 844 858
1580 968 974 928 924 905 910 869 881 844 852
1640 977 979 926 932 913 915 871 877 852 855
1700 969 976 923 923 906 912 872 880 845 852
1760 968 972 936 934 905 908 864 872 840 850
1820 969 974 938 923 906 910 867 883 844 852
1880 966 980 936 929 903 916 859 884 848 854
1940 974 975 934 927 910 911 862 873 851 849
2000 969 967 927 927 906 904 874 876 850 846
2060 976 968 933 931 912 905 868 866 850 844
2120 972 979 934 930 908 915 871 877 852 848
2180 979 968 931 931 915 905 869 868 847 850
2240 972 978 926 923 908 914 864 872 857 853
2300 962 984 930 925 899 920 867 878 842 858
2360 978 984 933 935 914 920 872 864 853 846
2420 981 973 930 929 917 909 875 874 850 851
2480 973 977 927 925 909 913 868 873 858 846
2540 973 980 936 929 909 916 867 873 856 847
2600 974 970 933 937 910 907 866 867 855 849
2660 972 980 932 935 908 916 874 874 850 845
2720 972 973 927 929 908 909 869 871 857 843
2780 985 975 932 929 921 911 864 876 842 852
2840 980 969 934 933 916 906 869 871 853 855
2900 980 979 926 932 916 915 866 879 842 843
2960 976 976 935 935 912 912 862 877 845 846
3020 969 977 926 931 906 913 866 873 845 852
3080 982 977 929 926 918 913 868 877 841 841
3140 989 966 928 934 924 903 873 868 854 850
3200 987 980 934 926 922 916 876 870 844 849
3260 984 968 932 934 920 905 869 869 845 853
3320 973 972 922 926 909 908 873 879 844 850
3380 973 976 935 929 909 912 871 879 852 855
3440 976 967 938 931 912 904 874 865 849 849
3500 985 979 924 933 921 915 875 877 848 841
3560 980 975 929 936 916 911 882 873 845 850
3620 975 978 925 928 911 914 884 871 847 844
3680 983 970 928 925 919 907 888 872 849 848
3740 968 980 929 930 905 916 880 869 854 848
3800 982 978 925 929 918 914 881 878 846 844
3860 970 970 931 932 907 907 873 870 845 845
3920 969 980 924 926 906 916 887 880 854 853
3980 988 982 929 927 923 918 889 873 844 848
4040 974 974 932 928 910 910 872 878 852 844
4100 978 985 929 933 914 921 877 867 846 847
4160 983 973 937 930 919 909 865 878 848 849
4220 981 972 931 924 917 908 878 868 841 847
4280 979 979 927 932 915 915 874 869 852 846
4340 969 972 929 936 906 908 872 874 854 843
4400 978 980 934 928 914 916 878 875 848 856
4460 983 980 930 928 919 916 867 872 852 844
4520 975 972 924 934 911 908 874 869 842 843
4580 968 976 937 934 905 912 871 878 845 847
4640 976 970 938 936 912 907 874 871 853 847
4700 982 980 937 923 918 916 864 875 843 855
4760 978 973 925 932 914 909 878 875 853 848
4820 975 973 927 929 911 909 869 874 851 841
4880 970 978 937 929 907 914 877 871 847 855
4940 967 970 924 928 904 907 871 869 852 849
5000 972 966 927 921 908 903 869 875 849 846
5060 972 981 931 925 908 917 866 868 848 848
5120 979 972 927 930 915 908 878 867 845 851
5180 976 979 931 930 912 915 869 863 854 860
5240 967 969 930 925 904 906 871 865 842 856
5300 974 979 935 934 910 915 872 875 845 851
5360 980 972 929 924 916 908 880 876 851 856
5420 984 972 933 933 920 908 873 879 849 846
5480 972 985 936 936 908 921 881 879 851 857
5540 972 973 927 935 908 909 871 871 851 856
5600 972 984 936 931 908 920 877 878 847 849


[0047] As can be seen from Table 1 and FIG. 8 above, the difference between the two replicates of the vaporizer 100 and the "sample 1" and "sample 2" in each embodiment is less than 1% of the sampled data, and the sampling error can be considered to meet the requirements. If the data is required to have high accuracy, more sampling times can be added, and then it is desirable to combine the above "sample 1" and "sample 2" data to take the average value as the detection result.

[0048] Further, according to Table 1 above, an average initial resistance value of the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 of Embodiment 1 is 0.75 mQ, an average initial resistance value of the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 of Embodiment 2 is 0.75 mQ, an average initial resistance value of the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 in Embodiment 3 is 0.75 mΩ, an average initial resistance value of the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 in Embodiment 4 is 0.71 mQ, and an average initial resistance value of the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 in Embodiment 5 is 0.71 mQ. The initial values of the heating element 40 in Embodiment 1 to Embodiment 3 are basically the same; and the initial values of the heating elements 40 of Embodiment 4 and Embodiment 5 are basically the same.

[0049] Further, the material of the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 in Embodiment 1 is prepared by FeSi15 (FeSi alloy containing Si15%) with the TCR value of 1443 ppm; the material of the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 in Embodiment 2 is prepared by FeSi 10 with the TCR value of 1245 ppm; the material of the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 in Embodiment 3 is prepared by a stainless steel 304 with the TCR value of 1038 ppm; the material of the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 in Embodiment 4 is prepared by a stainless steel 317L with the TCR value of 956 ppm; and the material of the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 in Embodiment 5 is prepared by NiCr30Si1.45 alloy with a TCR value of 890 ppm.

[0050] FIG. 8 shows the resistance value-time curve of the samples from Embodiment 1 to Embodiment 5. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 8, the vaporizer 100 in each embodiment has different TCR values for the heating elements 40 in the inhalation test, so that in the process of vaporizing the liquid substrate to generate the aerosol in the constant power output mode normally used in the art, the resistance varies differentially. As a result, the above resistance value-time curve or the rate of the resistance value can be used for identifying and distinguishing different vaporizers 100.

[0051] Further, during testing the vaporizer 100 in each embodiment, the electric power supplied to the electric power by the core 210 is predetermined; and at the same time, in order to ensure that the detection results are not affected due to the different electric power supplied, the predetermined electric power supplied to the vaporizers is the same.

[0052] Further, the controller 220 stores a threshold range that is most adaptive for the resistance change of the heating element 40 in the vaporizer 100; and the sampled value of the resistance change obtained by sampling is compared with the stored threshold range based on the detection process, and it can be identified and determined whether the currently replaced vaporizer 100 is the most suitable vaporizer 100 by the comparison result. At the same time, when the above comparison results are inconsistent, the controller 220 prevents the core 210 from providing power to the vaporizer 100.

[0053] Further, in a preferred embodiment, the controller 220 can further calculate and obtain the TCR value of the heating element 40 based on the resistance change of the heating element 40 during operation, and then identify and determine whether the currently replaced vaporizer 100 is a suitable or adaptive vaporizer 100 based on the TCR value.

[0054] Further, according to the sampling data of FIG. 8 and the table above, it can be seen that for different vaporizers 100 at constant power, the resistance value of the heating element 40 is raised to be substantially constant, and/or the difference between the resistance value and the initial resistance value when the heating element 40 is raised to be substantially constant is different, which is caused by different TCRs. Further, in another embodiment, the controller 220 may identify and distinguish different vaporizers 100 based on the resistance value and/or the rise amplitude or difference when the heating element 40 is raised to substantially constant.

[0055] Further, as can be seen from the sampling data in FIG. 8 and the table above, at constant power for different vaporizers 100, the resistance change rate is also different due to the different TCRs, and the resistance change rate of the heating element 40 within a predetermined time is different. As a result, the controller 220 can identify and distinguish different vaporizers 100 according to the resistance change rate of the heating element 40 during a predetermined time. For example, FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of identifying a vaporizer 100 by a period of time from 0 ms to 2000 ms at a predetermined time. According to FIG. 9, the resistance change curves corresponding to the vaporizer 100 of different embodiments during this time period correspond to those shown in L1 to L5, respectively. In addition, slopes of the resistance change curve L1 to L5 of the vaporizer 100 in different embodiments when being raised from the initial value to basically stable are significantly different, and then different vaporizers 100 can be identified and distinguished by calculating the slopes.

[0056] In another optional embodiment, the above predetermined time may also select another time period such as 500 ms to 1600 ms, 300 ms to 1200 ms, and the like.

[0057] Based on the above, another embodiment of this application further a method for identifying and distinguishing different vaporizers 100, which includes the following steps.

[0058] S 10: Determine, based on a relationship between the power supplied to the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 and a resulting change in the resistance value of the heating element 40, information of the vaporizer 100.

[0059] In the process of providing the above power, according to the conventional embodiments of the products in the art, in a more preferred embodiment, the power is supplied to the heating element 40 in a constant power output manner. In a more preferred embodiment, the power provided to the vaporizer 100 in the process of identifying and distinguishing different vaporizers 100 above is the same as the output power set by the power supply mechanism 200 during the inhalation process, such as a constant power of 7 W or 10 W as described above.

[0060] Further, in a preferred embodiment, the detection method and step as described above are performed during a first puff after the user connects the vaporizer 100 to the power supply mechanism 200, which avoids a case in which the step as described above is automatically performed during a non-puffing process to supply power to the vaporizer 100 so that smoke generated is not inhaled by the user.

[0061] Further, the resistance temperature coefficient of the heating element 40 is determined based on the relationship between the power supplied to the heating element 40 of the vaporizer 100 and the resulting change in the resistance value of the heating element 40, the temperature coefficient of the resistance value is compared with the stored threshold range, and the vaporizer 100 is determined based on the comparison result.

[0062] The content of Identifying and distinguishing the vaporizer 100 includes: a liquid substrate type, a heating mode, an anti-counterfeiting information, and the like. Further, the power supply mechanism 200 may prevent the core 210 from outputting power when the content identified above does not match the vaporizer 100 acceptable to the power supply mechanism 200.

[0063] Further, based on comparing the change in the resistance value generated by the heating element 40 within a predetermined time with the preset threshold, the power provided by the core 210 to the heating element 40 is changed or adjusted based on the comparison result. In an optional embodiment, changing or adjusting the power provided by the core 210 to the heating element 40 may prevent power to the vaporizer 100 when the comparison result exceeds a maximum or minimum value of a preset threshold. Alternatively, in a further optional embodiment, a plurality of preset thresholds are included, and each preset threshold corresponds to a different optimal heating curve or power; and According to the comparison results, the core 210 can be further changed or adjusted accordingly to supply power to the vaporizer 100 with an optimal heating curve or power, respectively.

[0064] It should be noted that the specification and the accompanying drawings of this application provide preferred embodiments of this application, but is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. Further, a person of ordinary skill in the art may make improvements or modifications according to the foregoing descriptions, and all the improvements and modifications shall fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of this application.


Claims

1. An electronic vaporization device, comprising a vaporizer configured to vaporize a liquid substrate to generate an aerosol, and a power supply mechanism configured to supply power to the vaporizer, wherein the vaporizer comprises a heating element configured to heat and vaporize the liquid substrate, and the power supply mechanism comprises:

a core, configured to supply power to the heating element; and

a controller, configured to identify the vaporizer based on electric power provided by the core to the heating element and a resistance change generated by the heating element.


 
2. The electronic vaporization device according to claim 1, wherein the resistance change comprises a change curve of a resistance of the heating element with time.
 
3. The electronic vaporization device according to claim 1, wherein the resistance change comprises a resistance change rate of the heating element.
 
4. The electronic vaporization device according to claim 1, wherein the resistance change comprises a resistance value when the resistance of the heating element rises to be substantially constant, or a difference between the resistance value and an initial resistance value.
 
5. The electronic vaporization device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:
compare the resistance change of the heating element with a threshold range and change the electric power provided by the core to the heating element based on a comparison result.
 
6. The electronic vaporization device according to claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to:
compare a resistance change rate of the heating element or a resistance variation within a preset time with a threshold range, and prevent the core from supplying power to the heating element when the resistance change rate or the resistance variation is greater than a maximum value of the threshold range or less than a minimum value of the preset threshold range.
 
7. The electronic vaporization device according to claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to:
raise a resistance of the heating element to a substantially constant resistance value or compare a difference between the resistance value and an initial resistance value with a threshold range, and prevent the core from supplying power to the heating element when the resistance value or the difference is greater than a maximum value of the threshold range or less than a minimum value of the preset threshold range.
 
8. The electronic vaporization device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the core is configured to provide predetermined electric power to the heating element.
 
9. The electronic vaporization device according to claim 8, wherein the core is configured to supply power to the heating element in a manner of constant power output.
 
10. A power supply mechanism, configured to supply power to a vaporizer of an electronic vaporization device, wherein the vaporizer comprises a heating element configured to heat and vaporize a liquid substrate to generate an aerosol, and the power supply mechanism comprises:

a core, configured to supply power to the heating element; and

a controller, configured to identify the vaporizer based on electric power provided by the core to the heating element and a resistance change generated by the heating element.


 
11. A method for identifying a vaporizer, wherein the vaporizer comprises a heating element configured to heat and vaporize a liquid substrate to generate an aerosol, and the method comprises following steps of:
supplying power to the heating element, and identifying the vaporizer based on an electric power provided to the heating element and a resistance change generated by the heating element.
 




Drawing






















Search report
















Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description