Electronic smoking article comprising one or more microheaters
First Claim
1. A smoking article comprising an electrical power source, an aerosol precursor composition within a reservoir, an atomizing chamber comprising an entry adapted for receiving aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir and an exit adapted for passage of formed vapor therefrom, a controller adapted to control active flow of the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition into the atomizing chamber, and a microheater in electrical connection with the electrical power source and in thermal connection with the atomizing chamber, the microheater comprising an electrically conductive material overlying a supporting layer and being configured to vaporize the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition, wherein the atomizing chamber is defined by a wall, a cover, and a protective layer overlying the microheater.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, the article comprises one or more microheaters. In various embodiments, the microheaters provide for improved control of vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition and provide for reduced power requirements to achieve consistent aerosolization. The present disclosure further relates to methods of forming an aerosol in a smoking article.
477 Citations
43 Claims
- 1. A smoking article comprising an electrical power source, an aerosol precursor composition within a reservoir, an atomizing chamber comprising an entry adapted for receiving aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir and an exit adapted for passage of formed vapor therefrom, a controller adapted to control active flow of the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition into the atomizing chamber, and a microheater in electrical connection with the electrical power source and in thermal connection with the atomizing chamber, the microheater comprising an electrically conductive material overlying a supporting layer and being configured to vaporize the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition, wherein the atomizing chamber is defined by a wall, a cover, and a protective layer overlying the microheater.
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19. The smoking article of clam 1, wherein the microheater has a length of about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm and a width of about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm.
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37. A method of forming an aerosol in a smoking article, the method comprising:
- providing a smoking article comprising an electrical power source, an aerosol precursor composition within a reservoir, an atomizing chamber comprising an entry adapted for receiving aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir and an exit adapted for passage of formed vapor therefrom, a controller adapted to control active flow of the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition into the atomizing chamber, and a microheater in electrical connection with the electrical power source and in thermal connection with the atomizing chamber, the microheater comprising an electrically conductive material overlying a supporting layer and being configured to vaporize the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition, wherein the atomizing chamber is defined by a wall, a cover, and a protective layer overlying the microheater;
initiating active flow of the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition into the atomizing chamber; and initiating current flow from the electrical power source to the microheater so as to cause heating of the microheater and the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition within the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
- providing a smoking article comprising an electrical power source, an aerosol precursor composition within a reservoir, an atomizing chamber comprising an entry adapted for receiving aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir and an exit adapted for passage of formed vapor therefrom, a controller adapted to control active flow of the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition into the atomizing chamber, and a microheater in electrical connection with the electrical power source and in thermal connection with the atomizing chamber, the microheater comprising an electrically conductive material overlying a supporting layer and being configured to vaporize the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition, wherein the atomizing chamber is defined by a wall, a cover, and a protective layer overlying the microheater;
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43. A smoking article comprising:
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an electrical power source; an aerosol precursor composition comprising a plurality of separate components and being in the form of a liquid or gel at ambient conditions; a plurality of reservoirs separately containing the separate components of the aerosol precursor composition; and a plurality of chambers adapted to receive aliquots of the separate components of the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoirs through openings in the chambers, the chambers each having a microheater in thermal connection therewith and in electrical connection with the electrical power source, the microheaters being separated from the aerosol precursor composition.
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Specification