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 cigarette comprising:
 a power supply housing having a first and second end,   a subassembly housing holding a battery;   a first circuit board at the first end of the power supply housing,   the first circuit board having a plurality of LEDs, the first circuit board connected to a second circuit board by an electrical connection extending along a length of the battery;   the second circuit board at the second end of the power supply housing;   an air flow sensor on the second circuit board; and   a light guide at the first end of the power supply housing.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1  wherein the light guide illuminates the power supply housing when the LEDs are on. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1  having five LEDs. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1  wherein LEDs provide a plurality of visual indications by varying the brightness, color, and on/off time of the LEDs. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 4  wherein the indications reflect a functional aspect of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 5  wherein the functional aspect is one or more of remaining battery life, battery charging, and/or sleep mode. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1  further including controller circuitry on the second circuit board. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1  further including a tip diffuser at the first end of the power supply housing. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1  further including a locking element locking the subassembly housing with the power supply housing. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1  further including one or more keying features on the subassembly housing for preventing rotation of the subassembly housing about a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1  wherein first circuit board comprises is a printed flex circuit. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 11  wherein printed flex circuit extends over the battery and around an end of the battery. 
     
     
         13 . An electronic cigarette power supply assembly comprising:
 a power supply housing having a first and second end,   a subassembly housing holding a battery a first printed circuit board positioned at the first end of the power supply housing,   the first printed circuit board having a plurality of LEDs, the first printed circuit board connected to a second printed circuit board by an electrical connection extending alongside of the battery;   the second printed circuit board located at the second end of the power supply housing;   an air flow sensor attached to the second printed circuit board; and   a light guide at the second end of the power supply housing.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic cigarette power supply assembly of  claim 13  further including a connector port in the power supply housing. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic cigarette power supply assembly of  claim 14  further including an airflow gasket in the connector port. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic cigarette power supply assembly of  claim 13  further including control circuitry on the second printed circuit board. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic cigarette power supply assembly of  claim 16  further including contacts on the second printed circuit board electrically coupled to the controller circuitry, the contacts extending toward apertures within the upper sub-assembly housing.