Atomization system for electronic cigarette

Abstract

An atomization system for an electronic cigarette comprises a liquid ejection unit, which comprises a housing having a first end and a second end and a vaporization chamber; a vaporization element in the vaporization chamber; and an ejection plate proximal to the first end and comprising a plurality of micro-openings. An electronic cigarette comprises the atomization system disclosed herein. The atomization system may further comprise a liquid supply unit coupled with the ejection unit.

1 . An electronic smoking device, comprising:
 a vaporization chamber in a housing;   a vaporization element inside of the vaporization chamber; and   an ejection plate at a first end of the vaporization chamber, the ejection plate having a plurality of micro-openings.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The electronic smoking device,  claim 1  wherein each micro-opening has an area of 0.5 μm 2  to 20 μm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1  wherein the vaporization element is at a second end of the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1  wherein the vaporization element comprises a heating element in the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 6  wherein the second end of the vaporization chamber has a one-way which prevents flow of liquid out of the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1  further comprising a liquid-supply unit having
 a liquid-storage chamber; and 
 a liquid transfer element in the liquid-storage chamber, the liquid transfer element comprising a porous material; and 
 the liquid transfer element extending to the vaporization chamber. 
 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 7  further comprising a liquid in the vaporization chamber and a battery
 electrically coupled to the heating element. 
 
     
     
         15 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 14  wherein the heating element operates to pressurize the liquid in the vaporization chamber, forcing the liquid through the micro-openings to form an aerosol. 
     
     
         22 . An electronic smoking device comprising:
 a vaporization chamber in a housing, the vaporization chamber containing a liquid;   a heating element in contact with the liquid in the vaporization chamber;   an ejection plate at an end of the vaporization chamber, the ejection plate having a plurality of micro-openings; wherein   the heating element operates to pressurize the liquid in the vaporization chamber, forcing the liquid through the micro-openings to form an aerosol.   
     
     
         23 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 22  wherein substantially each of the micro-openings has an area of 0.5 μm 2  to 20 μm 2 . 
     
     
         24 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 22  wherein the ejection plate is at an end of the housing. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 22  further including a liquid transfer element comprising a porous material, the liquid transfer element extending from a liquid storage chamber to the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 24  further including a one-way valve at the vaporization chamber which allows liquid in the liquid storage chamber to flow in only one direction and into the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 22  wherein the vaporization chamber is defined by the housing and the vaporization chamber has a fixed volume. 
     
     
         28 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 27  wherein the vaporization chamber is filled entirely with the liquid. 
     
     
         29 . A method for creating an aerosol for inhalation, comprising:
 providing a liquid in a vaporization chamber;   heating the liquid to increase the pressure in the vaporization chamber; and   the increase in pressure forcing a portion of the liquid through a plurality of micro-openings at a first end of the vaporization chamber, with the movement of liquid through the micro-openings dividing the liquid into particles of liquid forming an aerosol.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising pressurizing the vaporization chamber by heating liquid in the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising maintaining a volume of bulk liquid against the micro-openings in the vaporization chamber so that only bulk liquid passes through the micro-openings.