Distance estimation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12480786-B2
Application number	US-202118254713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2021
Priority date	Dec 1, 2020
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program are disclosed and can include applying a pulse edge to a resonant circuit including an inductive element (for inductively heating a susceptor) and a capacitor, wherein the applied pulse edge induces a pulse response between the capacitor and the inductive element of the resonant circuit, wherein the pulse response has a resonant frequency; determining a period or frequency of the resonant frequency of the pulse response; and converting the determined period or frequency into a distance based, at least in part, on a distance gradient and a first calibration measurement. The distance is based on a separation between the inductive element and the susceptor and the first calibration measurement includes the separation between the inductive element and the susceptor at a calibration temperature.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
applying a pulse edge to a resonant circuit comprising an inductive element for inductively heating a susceptor, and a capacitor, wherein the applied pulse edge induces a pulse response between the capacitor and the inductive element of the resonant circuit, wherein the pulse response has a resonant frequency; determining a period or a frequency of the resonant frequency of the pulse response; and converting the determined period or the determined frequency into a distance based, at least in part, on a distance gradient and a first calibration measurement, wherein the distance is based on a separation between the inductive element and the susceptor and the first calibration measurement comprises the separation between the inductive element and the susceptor at a first calibration temperature.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the distance gradient comprises a rate of change of distance with respect to apparent temperature.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first calibration temperature is room temperature.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein converting the determined period or the determined frequency into a distance estimate comprises:
converting the determined period or the determined frequency into an apparent temperature based on a temperature gradient and a temperature calibration measurement; and converting the apparent temperature into the distance estimate based on the distance gradient and the first calibration measurement.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the temperature gradient comprises a rate of change of the resonant frequency of the pulse response with respect to temperature.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the temperature calibration measurement defines a first period of the resonant frequency of the pulse response and a first temperature.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , the said temperature calibration measurement is obtained by subtracting a product of the temperature gradient and a second calibration temperature from a period or a frequency of the pulse response at the second calibration temperature.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the first calibration measurement.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising determining the distance gradient.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pulse edge forms part of an off-resonance pulse.

11 . A non-combustible aerosol generating device comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 10 .

12 . The non-combustible aerosol generating device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the aerosol generating device is configured to receive a removable article comprising an aerosol generating material.

13 . The non-combustible aerosol generating device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the aerosol generating material comprises an aerosol generating substrate and an aerosol forming material.

14 . The non-combustible aerosol generating device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the removable article includes a susceptor arrangement.

15 . An apparatus comprising:
a resonant circuit comprising an inductive element and a capacitor, wherein the inductive element is for inductively heating a susceptor; a circuit for applying a pulse edge to the resonant circuit, wherein the applied pulse edge induces a pulse response between the capacitor and the inductive element of the resonant circuit, wherein the pulse response has a resonant frequency; and a processor for determining a period or a frequency of the resonant frequency of the pulse response and converting the determined period or the determined frequency into a distance based, at least in part, on a distance gradient and a first calibration measurement, wherein the distance is based on a separation between the inductive element and the susceptor and the first calibration measurement comprises the separation between the inductive element and the susceptor at a first calibration temperature.

16 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the distance gradient comprises a rate of change of distance with respect to apparent temperature.

17 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the processor is for:
converting the determined period or the determined frequency into an apparent temperature based on a temperature gradient and a temperature calibration measurement; and converting the apparent temperature into a distance estimate based on the distance gradient and the first calibration measurement.

18 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the processor is for determining the distance gradient.

19 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the inductive element and the capacitor are connected in series.

20 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the inductive element and the capacitor are connected in parallel.

21 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the circuit is an H-bridge circuit.

22 . A kit of parts comprising an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol generating system, wherein the non-combustible aerosol generating system comprises the apparatus as claimed in claim 15 .

23 . The kit of parts as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the article is a removable article comprising an aerosol generating material.

24 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus comprising the processor to perform at least the following:
applying a pulse edge to a resonant circuit comprising an inductive element, for inductively heating a susceptor, and a capacitor, wherein the applied pulse edge induces a pulse response between the capacitor and the inductive element of the resonant circuit, wherein the pulse response has a resonant frequency; determining a period or a frequency of the resonant frequency of the pulse response; and converting the determined period or the determined frequency into a distance based, at least in part, on a distance gradient and a first calibration measurement, wherein the distance is based on a separation between the inductive element and the susceptor and the first calibration measurement comprises the separation between the inductive element and the susceptor at a first calibration temperature.

Assignees

• Nicoventures Trading Ltd

Inventors

• Korus Anton

Classifications

• H02M3/335

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title

• Y02B70/10

  Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes · CPC title

• H05B2206/02

  Induction heating · CPC title

• H05B1/0252

  Domestic applications · CPC title

• A24F40/50

  Control or monitoring · CPC title