US 2019/0098934 A1 · THERMAL PROFILING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A thermal measurement system includes a thermocouple configured to couple to a location of a heating element of an electronic smoking article. The thermocouple is structured to measure a surface temperature of the location. A thermocouple data module is operatively connected to the thermocouple and is structured to receive data of the surface temperature from the thermocouple. A pneumatic system is configured to connect to an end of the electronic smoking article and draw an air flow through the electronic smoking article. The pneumatic system includes a solenoid valve having an open state that causes air to flow through the electronic smoking article. The solenoid valve has a closed state that prevents air flow through the electronic smoking article. An infrared camera is disposed over the viewing window. The infrared camera is configured to measure a wire temperature of a heating element wire of the electronic smoking article.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A thermal measurement system comprising:

a thermocouple configured to couple to a location of a heating element of an electronic smoking article, the thermocouple structured to measure a surface temperature of the location;
a thermocouple data module operatively connected to the thermocouple, the thermocouple data module structured to receive data of the surface temperature from the thermocouple;
a pneumatic system configured to connect to an end of the electronic smoking article and draw an air flow through the electronic smoking article, the pneumatic system comprising a solenoid valve having an open state and closed state, wherein the open state causes air to flow through the electronic smoking article, and wherein the closed state prevents air flow through the electronic smoking article;
and
an infrared camera disposed over a viewing window of the electronic smoking article, the viewing window disposed over a heating element wire of the electronic smoking article, the infrared camera configured to measure a wire temperature of the heating element wire of the electronic smoking article.

2 more elements

A method for thermal measurement of an electronic smoking article, the method comprising:

activating a pneumatic system in accordance with a determined puff regimen, the determined puff regimen associated with testing one or more characteristics of the electronic smoking article, wherein the pneumatic system includes a vacuum pump configured to pull air through the electronic smoking article via a tubing system and a solenoid valve, and wherein the solenoid valve has an open state and closed state, wherein the open state causes air to flow through the electronic smoking article, and wherein the closed state prevents air flow through the electronic smoking article;
adjusting the vacuum pump to a determined target flow rate, the determined target flow rate associated with simulating a puff of the electronic smoking article;
opening the solenoid valve for a puff duration of the puff regimen;
capturing a surface temperature of a location of the electronic smoking article using a thermocouple coupled to the location of the electronic smoking article;
and
capturing a wire temperature of a heating element wire of the electronic smoking article using an infrared camera.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermal profiling system and method

Life of this patent

Thermal profiling system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22