Electronic cigarette

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.

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.