Vaporizer utilizing a 3d heating element

Abstract

A heating element for use in an electronic vaporizer includes a heating element base extending radially and having a central axis, a heating element wall portion extending circumferentially and axially from the heating element base along the central axis, the heating element base and the heating element wall portion appearing to be unitarily formed from a solid material, a heating circuit including a base heating circuit encapsulated within the heating element base and a radial element heating circuit encapsulated within the heating element wall portion, the radial element heating circuit being electrically coupled to the base heating circuit, and a temperature sensing circuit including a base temperature sensing circuit encapsulated within the heating element base and a radial element temperature sensing circuit encapsulated within the heating element wall portion, the radial element temperature sensing circuit being electrically coupled to the base temperature sensing circuit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating element for use in an electronic vaporizer, comprising:
 a heating element base extending radially and having a central axis;   a heating element wall portion extending circumferentially and axially from the heating element base along the central axis, the heating element base and the heating element wall portion appearing to be unitarily formed from a solid material;   a heating circuit including a base heating circuit encapsulated within the heating element base and a radial element heating circuit encapsulated within the heating element wall portion, the radial element heating circuit being electrically coupled to the base heating circuit; and   a temperature sensing circuit including a base temperature sensing circuit encapsulated within the heating element base and a radial element temperature sensing circuit encapsulated within the heating element wall portion, the radial element temperature sensing circuit being electrically coupled to the base temperature sensing circuit.   
     
     
         2 . A heating element, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating element radial portion is in a form of a wall positioned along, and extending from, an outer edge of the heating element base and forming a cup. 
     
     
         3 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the cup has one of a circular, oval, rectangular, and other geometric shape cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating element radial portion is in a form of a wall positioned radially inward, and extending from, an outer edge of the heating element base and forming a rod. 
     
     
         5 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the rod is one of solid and hollow. 
     
     
         6 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the rod has one of a circular, oval, rectangular, and other geometric shape cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the rod is centered on the heating element base. 
     
     
         8 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating element includes a first side and a second side, the base heating circuit defines a first plane between the first and second sides of the heating element base. 
     
     
         9 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating element base and the heating element radial portion are made of a ceramic material. 
     
     
         10 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the ceramic material includes at least one of alumina oxide ceramic, alumina nitride ceramic, zirconia carbide ceramic, tungsten carbide ceramic, and silicon nitride. 
     
     
         11 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating element base and the heating element radial portion are made of a high temperature resistance non-ceramic material. 
     
     
         12 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the high temperature resistance non-ceramic material includes at least one of silicon dioxide, high temperature resistance composites, and high temperature resistance polymers. 
     
     
         13 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating circuit comprises a wire embedded in the heating element base and the heating element radial portion. 
     
     
         14 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating circuit is printed into the heating element base and the heating element radial portion. 
     
     
         15 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensing circuit comprises a wire embedded in the heating element base and the heating element wall portion. 
     
     
         16 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensing circuit is printed into the heating element base and the heating element wall portion. 
     
     
         17 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is configured such that the heating circuit is positioned adjacent to a surface that is in contact to a crucible. 
     
     
         18 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating element base and radial portions have predefined cross-sections, wherein the base heating circuit is configured to provide uniform heating across the predefined cross-section of the heating element base, and the radial heating circuit is configured to provide uniform heating across the predefined cross-section of the heating element radial portion. 
     
     
         19 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the predefined cross-section of the heating element base is generally circular, and the base heating circuit includes a series of pathways comprised of a plurality of arcuate segments. 
     
     
         20 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating element base and radial portions have predefined cross-sections, wherein the base temperature sensing circuit is configured to measure temperature uniformly across the predefined cross-section of the heating element base, and the radial temperature sensing circuit is configured to measure temperature across the predefined cross-section of the heating element radial portion. 
     
     
         21 . A heating element as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the predefined cross-section of the heating element base is generally circular, and the base temperature sensing circuit includes a series of pathways comprised of a plurality of arcuate segments. 
     
     
         22 . An atomizer for use in an electronic vaporizer comprising:
 an atomizer base;   a heating electrode coupled to the atomizer base; and   a heating element electrically coupled to the heating electrode and a temperature sensing electrode; the heating element including:
 a heating element base extending radially and having a central axis; 
 a heating element wall portion extending circumferentially and axially from the heating element base along the central axis, the heating element base and the heating element wall portion being unitarily formed from a solid material; and 
 a heating circuit including a base heating circuit encapsulated within the heating element base and a radial element heating circuit encapsulated within the heating element wall portion, the radial element heating circuit being electrically coupled to the base heating circuit. 
   
     
     
         23 . An electronic vaporizer, comprising:
 a main unit;   an atomizer coupled to the main unit;   a mouthpiece removably coupled to the atomizer, the atomizer including an atomizer base, a heating electrode coupled to the atomizer base, a temperature sensing electrode coupled to the atomizer base, and a heating element electrically coupled to the heating electrode and the temperature sensing electrode, the heating element including:
 a heating element base extending radially and having a central axis; 
 a heating element wall portion extending circumferentially and axially from the heating element base along the central axis, the heating element base and the heating element wall portion being unitarily formed from a solid material; and, 
 a heating circuit including a base heating circuit encapsulated within the heating element base and a radial element heating circuit encapsulated within the heating element wall portion, the radial element heating circuit being electrically coupled to the base heating circuit.