Electronic smoking article comprising one or more microheaters
First Claim
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1. An aerosol forming article comprising:
- an electrical power source;
an atomizing chamber defined by a plurality of walls, the atomizing chamber including at least one entry adapted for passage of aliquots of an aerosol precursor composition into the chamber and at least one exit adapted for passage therefrom of vapor formed within the atomizing chamber;
a controller adapted to control active flow of the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition into the atomizing chamber;
a microheater that forms at least a portion of one of the plurality of walls defining 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 and form a vapor within the atomizing chamber; and
an airflow passage passing at least partially around the atomizing chamber;
wherein the at least one exit of the atomizing chamber is in fluid communication with the airflow passage passing at least partially around the atomizing chamber such that the vapor formed within the atomizing chamber passes from the at least one exit of the atomizing chamber into the airflow passage to mix with air in the airflow passage and form an aerosol.
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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.
322 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An aerosol forming article comprising:
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an electrical power source; an atomizing chamber defined by a plurality of walls, the atomizing chamber including at least one entry adapted for passage of aliquots of an aerosol precursor composition into the chamber and at least one exit adapted for passage therefrom of vapor formed within the atomizing chamber; a controller adapted to control active flow of the aliquots of the aerosol precursor composition into the atomizing chamber; a microheater that forms at least a portion of one of the plurality of walls defining 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 and form a vapor within the atomizing chamber; and an airflow passage passing at least partially around the atomizing chamber; wherein the at least one exit of the atomizing chamber is in fluid communication with the airflow passage passing at least partially around the atomizing chamber such that the vapor formed within the atomizing chamber passes from the at least one exit of the atomizing chamber into the airflow passage to mix with air in the airflow passage and form an aerosol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification