Electronic cigarette

Abstract

This invention relates to an electronic cigarette having L.E.D. indicators to indicate the usage of the electronic cigarette as well as memory devices for storing and generating data and charts on the usage of the electronic cigarette. The invention also relates to an improved cartomizer as well as a method of monitoring the inhalation of smoke from an electronic cigarette.

1 ) An electronic cigarette having:
 (a) a power means;   (b) heating means;   (c) a fluid;   (d) electronic circuitry means for sensing a negative pressure in the electronic cigarette for heating the fluid to produce a vapour when a user puffs on the electronic cigarette; and   (e) an indicating means associated with the circuitry means to indicate the usage of the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         2 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the indicating means comprises an L.E.D. display. 
     
     
         3 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the L.E.D. display comprises a bar indicator disposed along the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         4 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the L.E.D. display comprises a number of L.E.D. lights disposed along the cigarette 
     
     
         5 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 4  further including memory means associated with an electronic circuitry means for recording usage of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         6 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the memory means stores the time and duration of the puffs 
     
     
         7 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the memory means generates charts featuring usage of the electronic cigarette 
     
     
         8 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the memory means is associated with the indicating means so as to store and display usage of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         9 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the heating means comprises circuitry and a cartomizer. 
     
     
         10 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the cartomizer comprises:
 (a) a tube shape having an inlet and outlet; 
 (b) a foam substrate for receiving the fluid, the foam substrate defining an atomizing cavity; 
 (c) a fiberglass member disposed within the atomizing cavity and in contact with the foam substrate to draw fluid into the cavity; 
 (d) a heating element disposed within the atomizing cavity and about the fiberglass member to vapourize the fluid in the atomizing chamber. 
 
     
     
         11 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the fiberglass member acts as a wick to draw the fluid into the atomization cavity. 
     
     
         12 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the fluid comprises propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, or other vaporizing liquids. 
     
     
         13 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the electronic circuitry means comprises a microcontroller along with a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         14 ) An electronic cigarette has claimed in  claim 13  wherein the pressure sensor comprises a micro-controller. 
     
     
         15 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the heating element is enabled by a MOSFET once a drop in pressure is detected in the chamber. 
     
     
         16 ) A method of monitoring the inhalation of smoke from an electronic cigarette comprising in:
 a) sensing a negative pressure in the electronic cigarette when a user puffs on the electronic cigarette;   b) heating a fluid in the electronic cigarette upon sensing of the negative pressure so as to vapourize a portion of the fluid in the electronic cigarette;   c) storing data regarding the usage of the electronic cigarette in a memory device; and   d) generating charts from the memory device featuring usage of the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         17 ) A method as claimed in  claim 16  further providing indicating means on the electronic cigarette associated with the memory device to provide a visual indication of the usage of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         18 ) A method as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the indicating means comprises a L.E.D. display for recording the number of puffs of a cigarette. 
     
     
         19 ) An electronic cigarette comprising:
 (a) a first hollow cylindrical member disposed along a first longitudinal axis having:
 (i) a battery; 
 (ii) electronic circuitry including:
 1. a micro-controller and pressure sensor for sensing a pressure drop in the electronic cigarette; and 
 2. electronic switch activated by the micro-controller upon sensing of the pressure drop; 
 
   (b) a second hollow cylindrical member having a second longitudinal axis for coaxial alignment with the first longitudinal axis of the first hollow cylindrical member having:
 (i) a cartomizer with:
 1. a tube shape having an inlet and outlet; 
 2. a foam substrate for receiving the fluid; and 
 3. a heating element for vapourizing the fluid when the microcontroller senses a pressure drop to activate the switch to heat the heating element upon a user puffing on the electronic cigarette; 
 
   (c) indicating lights for indicating the usage of the electronic cigarette;   (d) a memory device associated with the indicating lights and electronic circuitry for recording the usage of the electronic cigarette   
     
     
         20 ) An electronic cigarette as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the memory device generates a selected report on the usage of electronic cigarette.