Electronic smoking article comprising one or more microheaters

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.

1 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A smoking article comprising:
 a first unit formed of a shell that defines an interior space, the first unit having a distal end and an opposing, proximate end that includes a mouthpiece with an opening;   a second unit having a closed end and an opposing, connecting end configured to engage the distal end of the first unit in a press-fit engagement;   a reservoir in the interior space of the first unit, the reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition;   a heater chamber and a heater in the interior space of the first unit, the heater chamber configured to receive the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir through an opening in the heater chamber;   an electrical power source positioned in the second unit, wherein when the first unit is engaged with the second unit, the electrical power source is in electrical connection with the heater; and   an air flow path in the first unit, the air flow path opening into the mouthpiece and being configured to provide for passage of aerosol formed by heating in the heater chamber into the mouthpiece;   wherein a fill status of the liquid aerosol precursor composition is visible through at least a portion of the shell of the first unit.   
     
     
         63 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the second unit includes one or more control components that actuate or regulate flow of an electrical current from the electrical power source. 
     
     
         64 . The smoking article of  claim 63 , wherein the one or more control components are configured to permit uninterrupted current flow through the heater for up to a defined period during draw on the smoking article. 
     
     
         65 . The smoking article of  claim 63 , wherein the one or more control components are configured to cut off flow of electrical current from the electrical power source in response to a predefined condition of the electrical power source. 
     
     
         66 . The smoking article of  claim 63 , wherein the one or more control components are configured to regulate flow of the electrical current based at least in part on a resistance associated with the heating element. 
     
     
         67 . The smoking article of  claim 63 , wherein the heater comprises a resistive heating element. 
     
     
         68 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the second unit includes one or more indicators of active use of the article. 
     
     
         69 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the heater is a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based heater. 
     
     
         70 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the heater comprises a patterned, electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         71 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the heater has a length of up to about 3 mm and a width of up to about 3 mm. 
     
     
         72 . The smoking article of clam  62 , wherein the heater has a length of about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm and a width of about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm. 
     
     
         73 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the heater chamber includes an opening adapted for the exit of vapor from the heater chamber. 
     
     
         74 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the heater chamber has a volume of about 0.2 ml to about 1 ml. 
     
     
         75 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the smoking article comprises charging contacts for interaction with corresponding contacts in a charging unit. 
     
     
         76 . The smoking article of  claim 75 , wherein the charging unit includes a USB connection. 
     
     
         77 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the smoking article comprises a USB connection configured to enable recharging of the electrical power source. 
     
     
         78 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the electrical power source is configured for inductive charging from an external power source. 
     
     
         79 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the first unit includes a transport element that extends between the reservoir and the heater such that the aerosol precursor composition passes from the reservoir to the heater for aerosolization in the heater chamber. 
     
     
         80 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the first unit includes an air intake. 
     
     
         81 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the second unit includes one or more control components configured to determine that a defined time lapse has occurred since the end of a draw on the smoking article and, in response, to deactivate a function of the smoking article. 
     
     
         82 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the second unit includes one or more control components configured to:
 detect draw on the smoking article;   provide power from the power source to the heater in response to the draw on the smoking article;   determine cessation of the draw on the smoking article and, in response to the cessation of the draw on the smoking article, discontinue provision of power to the heater; and   determine that a defined time lapse has occurred since cessation of the draw and deactivate a function of the smoking article.   
     
     
         83 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , further comprising an accelerometer, wherein the smoking article is configured to provide a function in response to motion detected by the accelerometer. 
     
     
         84 . The smoking article of  claim 83 , wherein the function comprises illumination of an indicator light. 
     
     
         85 . The smoking article of  claim 84 , wherein illumination of the indicator light comprises illumination of the indicator light in one of a plurality of available colors selected based on a status of the smoking article. 
     
     
         86 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the second unit includes on or more control components configured to:
 detect engagement of the first unit with the second unit; and   perform a function in response to engagement of the first unit with the second unit.   
     
     
         87 . The smoking article of  claim 86 , wherein the one or more control components are configured to detect a property of the first unit in response to engagement of the first unit with the second unit. 
     
     
         88 . The smoking article of  claim 86 , wherein the one or more control components are configured to cause illumination of an indicator light in response to engagement of the first unit with the second unit. 
     
     
         89 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the liquid aerosol precursor composition comprises a polyhydric alcohol, nicotine, a flavorant, and an acid. 
     
     
         90 . The smoking article of  claim 62 , wherein the second unit has a substantially quadrilateral-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         91 . A smoking article comprising:
 a first unit formed of a shell that defines an interior space, the first unit having a distal end and an opposing, proximate end that includes a mouthpiece with an opening;   a second unit having a closed end and an opposing, connecting end configured to engage the distal end of the first unit with a magnetic engagement;   a reservoir in the interior space of the first unit, the reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition;   a heater chamber and a heater in the interior space of the first unit, the heater chamber configured to receive the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir through an opening in the heater chamber;   an electrical power source positioned in the second unit, wherein when the first unit is engaged with the second unit, the electrical power source is in electrical connection with the heater; and   an air flow path in the first unit, the air flow path opening into the mouthpiece and being configured to provide for passage of aerosol formed by heating in the heater chamber into the mouthpiece;   wherein a fill status of the liquid aerosol precursor composition is visible through at least a portion of the shell of the first unit.