Electronic cigarette

• US 20050016550A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Katase, Makoto
• Application Number:
  US10/886,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20050016550A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/194
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/48 Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/025 Bubble jet droplet ejection devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus

Abstract

An electronic cigarette is provided. The electronic cigarette includes a casing having an inhalation hole and a substantially cylindrical configuration, ejection means (first ejection means) provided in the casing and at least one ejection head. Pressure in a cavity filled with a liquid flavor generating medium is changed by driving an actuator to eject the flavor generating medium as droplets from a nozzle in communication with the cavity. Control means provided in the casing controls the driving of the ejection means.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette comprising:

a casing having an inhalation hole;

an ejector provided in the casing, the ejector having at least one ejection head and which changes a pressure in a cavity filled with a liquid flavor generating medium by driving an actuator to eject the flavor generating medium as droplets from a nozzle in communication with the cavity; and

a controller provided in the casing, the controller controlling driving of the ejector.

2. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, comprising an atomizer provided in the casing, the atomizer atomizing droplets of the flavor generating medium ejected from the ejector.

3. The electronic cigarette according to claim 2, wherein the atomizer comprises a heater, the heater heating droplets of the flavor generating medium ejected from the ejector to atomize them.

4. The electronic cigarette according to claim 2, wherein the atomizer comprises a vibrator, the vibrator vibrating droplets of the flavor generating medium ejected from the ejector to atomize them.

5. The electronic cigarette according to claim 2, wherein the atomizer is removably mounted to the casing.

6. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, comprising a mounting portion to which a cartridge having a containing portion containing the liquid flavor generating medium is removably mounted.

7. The electronic cigarette according to claim 6, wherein the ejector is provided at the cartridge.

8. The electronic cigarette according to claim 7, comprising a power supply switch which turns a power supply on/off when the cartridge is mounted and removed in and from the mounting portion.

9. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is provided in the casing.

10. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, comprising detector which detects a quantity of a gas flowing through the casing.

11. The electronic cigarette according to claim 10, wherein the controller controls the driving of the ejector based on a result of the detection by the detector.

12. The electronic cigarette according to claim 10, wherein a light-emitter is provided at a tip end of the casing, the controller controlling the driving of the light-emitter based on a result of the detection by the detector.

13. The electronic cigarette according to claim 10, comprising a smoke generator, the smoke generator generating simulated smoke from a tip end of the casing, the controller controlling the driving of the smoke generator based on a result of the detection with the detector.

14. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, comprising a heater which heats at least one of air and a gaseous mixture including air and flavor components flowing through the casing.