Patent Publication Number: US-2023144127-A1

Title: Atomizer control circuit and electronic cigarette

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202122714255.2 filed Nov. 8, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In existing technology, during the use of some dual-flavor electronic cigarettes, flavors are changed by removing and inserting atomizers. This manner may cause inconvenience in actual use, and frequent replacement of parts tends to cause damage to the parts, to further affect the service life of products. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of electronic cigarettes, and more particularly, to an atomizer control circuit and an electronic cigarette. 
     The present disclosure resolves at least one of the technical problems in the existing technology. For this, the present disclosure provides an atomizer control circuit, which controls different atomizers to perform atomization through touching of a trigger key, so as to avoid damage to parts due to repeated removal and insertion of the parts. 
     The present disclosure further provides an electronic cigarette having the foregoing atomizer control circuit. 
     An atomizer control circuit according to an embodiment of a first aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first atomization module, configured to control a first atomizer; a second atomization module, configured to control a second atomizer; a detection module, configured to turn on the first atomizer or the second atomizer according to an operation action of a user, and output a turn-on signal; a main control module, separately connected to the detection module, the first atomization module, and the second atomization module, and configured to obtain the turn-on signal, and output a detection signal according to the turn-on signal, where the detection module is further configured to detect the first atomizer or the second atomizer according to the detection signal; and a touch module, connected to the main control module, and configured to generate a trigger signal, where the main control module is further configured to, if it is detected that the first atomizer or the second atomizer is normal, control the first atomization module or the second atomization module to operate according to the trigger signal. 
     The atomizer control circuit according to the embodiment of the present disclosure at least has the following beneficial effects. Two atomizers are disposed, and different atomization modules are selected to operate according to an operation action of a user to make different atomizers perform atomization, thus avoiding damage to parts due to repeated removal and insertion of the parts. 
     According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the turn-on signal includes a first connection signal and a second connection signal, and the detection signal includes a first test signal and a second test signal. 
     The detection module is further configured to turn on the first atomizer according to the operation action of the user, and output the first connection signal. The main control module is further configured to obtain the first connection signal, and output the first test signal according to the first connection signal. The detection module is further configured to detect the first atomizer according to the first test signal. The main control module is further configured to, if it is detected that the first atomizer is normal, control the first atomization module to operate according to the trigger signal. Alternatively, the detection module is further configured to turn on the second atomizer according to the operation action of the user, and output the second connection signal. The main control module is further configured to obtain the second connection signal, and output the second test signal according to the second connection signal. The detection module is further configured to detect the second atomizer according to the second test signal. The main control module is further configured to, if it is detected that the second atomizer is normal, control the second atomization module to operate according to the trigger signal. 
     According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch module includes a first resistor and a touch key. The touch key includes a power terminal, a ground terminal, and a touch signal output terminal. One end of the first resistor is connected to the power terminal, and the other end of the first resistor is connected to a power supply. The ground terminal is grounded. The touch signal output terminal is connected to the main control module. 
     According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the main control module includes a main control chip which is connected to the detection module, the touch module, the first atomization module, and the second atomization module, respectively. 
     According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the detection module includes a first detection unit and a second detection unit. The first detection unit is configured to turn on the first atomizer according to the operation action of the user, and output the first connection signal. The first detection unit is further configured to detect the first atomizer according to the first test signal. 
     The second detection unit is configured to turn on the second atomizer according to the operation action of the user, and output the second connection signal. The second detection unit is further configured to detect the second atomizer according to the second test signal. 
     According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first detection unit includes a second resistor, a third resistor, a fourth resistor, a fifth resistor, a sixth resistor, a seventh resistor, an eighth resistor, and a bipolar junction transistor. 
     One end of the second resistor is connected to a base of the bipolar junction transistor, and the other end of the second resistor is connected to the main control chip and is configured to obtain the first test signal. One end of the third resistor is connected to the base of the bipolar junction transistor, and the other end of the third resistor is connected to an emitter of the bipolar junction transistor. One end of the fourth resistor is connected to a collector of the bipolar junction transistor, the other end of the fourth resistor is connected to one end of the fifth resistor and is configured to turn on the first atomizer according to the operation action of the user, and the other end of the fifth resistor is connected to a power supply. One end of the sixth resistor is connected to the other end of the fourth resistor, the other end of the sixth resistor is connected to the main control chip, and the other end of the sixth resistor is configured to output the first connection signal to the main control chip. One end of the seventh resistor is connected to the collector of the bipolar junction transistor, and the other end of the seventh resistor is connected to the main control chip. One end of the eighth resistor is connected to the other end of the fourth resistor, and the other end of the eighth resistor is connected to the main control chip. 
     According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first atomization module includes a ninth resistor and a field effect transistor. One end of the ninth resistor is connected to a source of the field effect transistor, and the other end of the ninth resistor is connected to a gate of the field effect transistor. A drain of the field effect transistor is connected to the first atomizer, and the gate of the field effect transistor is connected to the main control chip. 
     According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the main control chip is configured to, when the first atomizer is normal, control the field effect transistor according to the trigger signal to be turned on. 
     According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch key is further configured to generate a power on-off signal according to multiple consecutive touches of the user, and the main control module is further configured to perform child lock power off or on according to the power on-off signal. 
     The electronic cigarette according to an embodiment of a second aspect of the present disclosure includes the foregoing atomizer control circuit in the foregoing embodiment of the first aspect. 
     Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure are provided in the following description. Further additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be understood and become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art upon obtaining an understanding of the present disclosure or through the practice of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. 
         FIG.  1    is a module diagram of an embodiment of an atomizer control circuit according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a touch module in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a main control module in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a detection module in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a first atomization module and a second atomization module in  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     The following elements correspond to the following reference numerals as listed: touch module  100 , touch key  110 , main control module  200 , detection module  300 , first detection unit  310 , second detection unit  320 , first atomization module  400 , and second atomization module  500 . 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below in detail. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings. The same or similar numerals represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout the specification. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary, and are only used to explain the present disclosure but should not be construed as a limitation to the present disclosure. 
     In the description of the present disclosure, “several” means more than one, “a plurality of” means more, “greater than a number”, “less than a number”, “exceed a number” and the like indicate that the number is excluded, and “above a number”, “below a number”, “within a number”, and the like indicate that the number is included. “First”, “second”, and the like described herein are used only for distinguishing the technical feature, but are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify a quantity of indicated technical features or implicitly specify an order of indicated technical features. 
     In the description of the present disclosure, unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms such as “disposed”, “mounted”, and “connected” should be understood in a broad sense. For persons of ordinary skill in the art, specific meanings of the terms in the present disclosure may be appropriately determined with reference to the specific content in the technical solution. 
     In some embodiments, referring to  FIG.  1   , an atomizer control circuit includes a first atomization module  400 , a second atomization module  500 , a detection module  300 , a main control module  200 , and a touch module  100 . The first atomization module  400  is configured to control a first atomizer The second atomization module  500  is configured to control a second atomizer. The detection module  300  is configured to turn on the first atomizer or the second atomizer according to an operation action of a user, and output a turn-on signal. The main control module  200  is connected to the detection module  300 , the first atomization module  400 , and the second atomization module  500 , respectively. The main control module  200  is configured to obtain the turn-on signal, and output a detection signal according to the turn-on signal. The detection module  300  is further configured to detect the first atomizer or the second atomizer according to the detection signal. The touch module  100  is connected to the main control module  200 . The touch module  100  is configured to generate a trigger signal. The main control module  200  is further configured to, if it is detected that the first atomizer or the second atomizer is normal, control the first atomization module  400  or the second atomization module  500  to operate according to the trigger signal. 
     The atomizer control circuit in the embodiment of the present disclosure at least has the following beneficial effects. Two atomizers are disposed, and different atomization modules are selected to operate according to an operation action of a user to make different atomizers perform atomization, thus avoiding damage to parts due to repeated removal and insertion of the parts. 
     In some embodiments, when the atomizer control circuit of the present disclosure is applied to a dual-flavor electronic cigarette, the operation action of selecting different atomization modules to operate by the user may be rotating a top cap of a mouthpiece of the electronic cigarette to connect the mouthpiece to different e-liquid chambers or may be toggling a switch to select different atomization modules. Only one atomization module operates at one moment. 
     In some embodiments, the turn-on signal includes a first connection signal and a second connection signal, and the detection signal includes a first test signal and a second test signal. 
     The detection module  300  is further configured to turn on the first atomizer according to the operation action of the user, and output the first connection signal. The main control module  200  is further configured to obtain the first connection signal, and output the first test signal according to the first connection signal. The detection module  300  is further configured to detect the first atomizer according to the first test signal. The main control module  200  is further configured to, if it is detected that the first atomizer is normal, control the first atomization module  400  to operate according to the trigger signal. 
     Alternatively, the detection module  300  is further configured to turn on the second atomizer according to the operation action of the user, and output the second connection signal. The main control module  200  is further configured to obtain the second connection signal, and output the second test signal according to the second connection signal. The detection module  300  is further configured to detect the second atomizer according to the second test signal. The main control module  200  is further configured to, if it is detected that the second atomizer is normal, control the second atomization module  500  to operate according to the trigger signal. 
     In some embodiments, referring to  FIG.  2   , the touch module  100  includes a first resistor R 1  and a touch key  110 . The touch key  110  includes a power terminal (No. 1 pin), a ground terminal (No. 3 pin), and a touch signal output terminal (No. 2 pin). One end of the first resistor R 1  is connected to the power terminal. The other end of the first resistor R 1  is connected to a power supply. The ground terminal is grounded. The touch signal output terminal is connected to the main control module  200 . In some examples, the touch key  110  may be replaced with a mechanical button. The trigger signal is sent to the main control module  200  by pressing the mechanical button. 
     In some embodiments, referring to  FIG.  3   , the main control module  200  includes a main control chip U 1 . The main control chip U 1  is connected to the detection module  300 , the touch module  100 , the first atomization module  400 , and the second atomization module  500 , respectively. The selection of the main control chip U 1  is determined by the user in conjunction with a specific use scenario. 
     In some embodiments, referring to  FIG.  4   , the detection module  300  includes a first detection unit  310  and a second detection unit  320 . The first detection unit  310  is configured to turn on the first atomizer according to the operation action of the user, and output the first connection signal. The first detection unit  310  is further configured to detect the first atomizer according to the first test signal. 
     The second detection unit  320  is configured to turn on the second atomizer according to the operation action of the user, and output the second connection signal. The second detection unit  320  is further configured to detect the second atomizer according to the second test signal. 
     A quantity of the detection units is the same as a quantity of the atomization modules, and corresponds to a quantity of atomizers. For example, when more than three atomizers need to be controlled, the quantity of the detection units and the quantity of the atomization modules may also be greater than 3, and are the same as the quantity of the atomizers. 
     In some embodiments, referring to  FIG.  4   , the first detection unit  310  includes a second resistor R 2 , a third resistor R 3 , a fourth resistor R 4 , a fifth resistor R 5 , a sixth resistor R 6 , a seventh resistor R 7 , an eighth resistor R 8 , and a bipolar junction transistor Q 1 . 
     One end of the second resistor R 2  is connected to a base of the bipolar junction transistor Q 1 . The other end of the second resistor R 2  is connected to the main control chip U 1  and is configured to obtain the first test signal. One end of the third resistor R 3  is connected to the base of the bipolar junction transistor Q 1 , and the other end of the third resistor R 3  is connected to an emitter of the bipolar junction transistor Q 1 . One end of the fourth resistor R 4  is connected to a collector of the bipolar junction transistor Q 1 . The other end of the fourth resistor R 4  is connected to one end of the fifth resistor R 5  and is configured to turn on the first atomizer according to the operation action of the user. The other end of the fifth resistor R 5  is connected to a power supply. One end of the sixth resistor R 6  is connected to the other end of the fourth resistor R 4 . The other end of the sixth resistor R 6  is connected to the main control chip U 1  and is configured to output the first connection signal to the main control chip U 1 . One end of the seventh resistor R 7  is connected to the collector of the bipolar junction transistor Q 1 , and the other end of the seventh resistor R 7  is connected to the main control chip U 1 . One end of the eighth resistor R 8  is connected to the other end of the fourth resistor R 4 , and the other end of the eighth resistor R 8  is connected to the main control chip U 1 . 
     In an example, the atomizer includes a heating wire, and therefore may be considered as a resistive load. When the first detection unit  310  turns on the first atomizer, there is a change in a value of a voltage across two ends of the sixth resistor R 6 , which is equivalent to the sixth resistor R 6  outputting a voltage signal to the main control chip U 1 . The signal is the first connection signal. After receiving the first connection signal, the main control module  200  changes a voltage at a pin connected to the second resistor R 2  to turn on the bipolar junction transistor Q 1 , which is equivalent to outputting a voltage signal for turning on the bipolar junction transistor Q 1 . The signal is the first test signal. After the bipolar junction transistor Q 1  is turned on, in the atomizer control circuit, it may be considered that the atomizer is connected to a battery power source by the fourth resistor R 4 , and the seventh resistor R 7  and the eighth resistor R 8  are respectively connected to two ends of the fourth resistor R 4 . Therefore, the main control chip U 1  may obtain a difference between voltages at the two ends of the fourth resistor R 4  through the seventh resistor R 7  and the eighth resistor R 8  in this case, and determines, according to a voltage division principle of a resistor and an internal determination program, that the first atomizer is in a normal, damaged or burnt down state. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the circuit structure and working principle of the second detection unit  320  are the same as those of the first detection unit  310 . Details are not described again herein as the following pairs of elements conduct the same action in the two separate detection units (e.g., first detection unit  310  and second detection unit  320 ): Q 1  and Q 9 ; R 3  and R 43 ; R 2  and R 27 ; R 7  and R 41 ; R 4  and R 38 ; R 5  and R 37 ; R 8  and R 39 ; and R 6  and R 40 . Only one atomizer is connected to the detection module  300  at one moment. 
     In an example, when the quantity of the detection units is  3 , the circuit structure and working principle of the third detection unit are also the same as those of the first detection unit  310 . 
     In some embodiments, referring to  FIG.  5   , the first atomization module  400  includes a ninth resistor R 9  and a field effect transistor Q 2 . One end of the ninth resistor R 9  is connected to a source of the field effect transistor Q 2 , and the other end of the ninth resistor R 9  is connected to a gate of the field effect transistor Q 2 . A drain of the field effect transistor Q 2  is connected to the first atomizer, and the gate of the field effect transistor Q 2  is connected to the main control chip U 1 . 
     In some embodiments, the main control chip U 1  is configured to, when the first atomizer is normal, control the field effect transistor Q 2  to be turned on according to the trigger signal. When it is detected that the first atomizer is normal, the main control chip U 1  changes a voltage at a pin connected to the gate of the field effect transistor Q 2  according to the trigger signal generated when the user presses the touch key  110 , to turn on the field effect transistor Q 2 . In this case, this is equivalent to the first atomizer being directly connected to a battery power source. A battery directly supplies power to the first atomizer, to make the first atomizer perform an atomization operation. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , the circuit structure and working principle of the second atomization module  500  are the same as those of the first atomization module  400 . Details are not described again herein as the following pairs of elements conduct the same action in the two separate atomization modules (e.g., first atomization module  400  and second atomization module  500 ): Q 2  and Q 8 ; and R 9  and R 28 . It needs to be noted that only one atomizer is connected to the battery power source at one moment. 
     In some embodiments, the touch key  110  is further configured to generate a power on-off signal according to multiple consecutive touches of the user. The main control module  200  is further configured to perform child lock power off or on according to the power on-off signal. The circuit may be controlled to be turned on or off by touching the touch key  110  a plurality of times. The specific number of touches is customized by the user. 
     In an example, when the atomizer control circuit of the present disclosure is applied to an electronic cigarette, if it is set that the power on-off signal is generated when the touch key  110  is continuously touched five times, the electronic cigarette can be powered on or off by continuously touching the touch key five times. In this way, power on or off caused by a mistouch can be avoided, and a child can be prevented from accidentally using an electronic cigarette product. 
     In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette includes the foregoing atomizer control circuit in the foregoing embodiment. 
     The electronic cigarette according to the embodiment of the present disclosure at least has the following beneficial effects. Different atomization modules are selected to operate according to an operation action of a user, and a trigger key is touched to control different atomizers to perform atomization, so that damage to parts due to repeated removal and insertion of the parts is avoided, and different e-liquid flavors can be conveniently switched. In addition, a child lock power on and off function is provided, so that power on or off caused by a mistouch can be avoided, and a child can be prevented from accidentally using the electronic cigarette. 
     In the description of the present disclosure, the description with reference to terms “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “exemplary embodiments”, “an example”, “a specific example” or “some embodiments”, and the like indicate that specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described with reference to the embodiments or examples are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In the specification, the schematic descriptions of the foregoing terms do not necessarily involve the same embodiments or examples. In addition, the described specific features, structures, materials or characteristics may be combined in an appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure are described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. Within the knowledge of a person of ordinary skilled in the art, various changes may further be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, the embodiments in the present disclosure and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other without causing any conflict.