Electronic cigarette with mass air flow sensor

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic smoking device comprising a flow channel and an atomizer. The flow channel can comprise an incoming airflow opening, an incoming airflow pathway, a sensor assembly, and an outgoing airflow opening. The atomizer can be fluidly coupled to the flow channel. The flow channel can be configured to direct an airflow from the incoming airflow opening, through the incoming airflow pathway, over the sensor assembly, and through the outgoing airflow opening. The electronic smoking device can further be configured to pass the airflow over the atomizer.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An electronic smoking device comprising:
 a flow channel comprising an incoming airflow opening, an incoming airflow pathway, a sensor assembly, and an outgoing airflow opening;   wherein the flow channel is configured to direct an airflow from the incoming airflow opening, through the incoming airflow pathway, over the sensor assembly, and through the outgoing airflow opening;   wherein the sensor assembly comprises a support structure, at least one layer, and a sensor, and wherein the sensor is directly disposed on the support structure.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one layer extends along an outer surface of the support structure and extends along a portion of the incoming airflow pathway. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1  wherein the flow channel is configured to create a laminar flow of air in the incoming airflow pathway before the airflow reaches the sensor assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1  wherein the sensor and the at least one layer are coupled to the support structure. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1  wherein an upper surface of the least one layer is above the support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1  wherein the flow channel further comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall, and wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the bottom wall, and the top wall define the incoming airflow opening. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one layer comprises a first layer and a second layer coupled to the support structure. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 7  wherein the first layer comprises copper. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 8  wherein the second layer comprises a solder mask. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 7  wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a silkscreen material deposited on top of the second layer. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1  wherein the support structure comprises a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         12 . Electronic smoking device comprising:
 an atomizer and a flow channel comprising an incoming airflow opening, an incoming airflow pathway, a sensor assembly, and an outgoing airflow opening;   the flow channel configured to direct an airflow from the incoming airflow opening through the incoming airflow pathway, over the sensor assembly, and through the outgoing airflow opening, to the atomizer,   the sensor assembly comprises a support structure, at least one layer, and a sensor, wherein the at least one layer extends along an outer surface of the support structure and extends along a portion of the incoming airflow pathway, wherein the sensor is directly disposed on the support structure.