Protection of aperture plate during aerosol generation
US11839891B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 23, 2018 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 11, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2205/50
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An aerosol delivery system has an aerosol generator with a vibrating aperture plate (10) and an actuator (11, 16, 17, 19), a controller (18, 19). The controller in real time monitors (201) the aerosol generator as it is driven for vibration of the aperture plate, and detects (202) a change in an electrical characteristic in response to a transition from a wet state to a dry state of the aperture plate. It automatically modifies (203, 205, 206), during the transition, operation of the aerosol generator in response to the detected change. The modification includes reducing applied power (203). The controller continues (204) to monitor during the transition, including monitoring the aperture plate for presence of residual liquid on the aperture plate first surface. The controller monitors at a number of drive frequencies and maintains data representing trends in a combination of the electrical characteristic signals at the different frequencies, and identifies a start of a transition if a calculated value rises above a threshold. There is one threshold for triggering a check scan for residual volume and a higher threshold to trigger an immediate shut down.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.