Electronic Cigarette

Abstract

An electronic cigarette comprises a control circuitry, a vaporizing unit, and a liquid store. The vaporizing unit is a unitary element comprising a plurality of fluidic channels configured to receive liquid from the liquid store. The fluidic channels are separated into a plurality of groups and each group of fluidic channels is thermally connected to a separate heating element. The control circuitry is configured to selectively operate one or more of the heating elements to selectively heat one or more corresponding groups of fluidic channels).

1 . An electronic cigarette comprising a control circuitry, a vaporizing unit, and a liquid store, wherein:
 the vaporizing unit is a unitary element comprising a plurality of fluidic channels configured to receive liquid from the liquid store, the fluidic channels are separated into a plurality of groups, each group of fluidic channels is thermally connected to a separate heating element, and the control circuitry is configured to selectively operate one or more of the heating elements to selectively heat one or more corresponding groups of fluidic channels.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic channels are heated along their entire length. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic channels are heated at their outlets. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic cigarette according to  claims 1 , wherein the fluidic channels are formed in a block-shaped substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic channels are formed by plates arranged side by side to form a plurality of capillary channels. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic channels have a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the vaporizing unit is a micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) vaporizing unit. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the vaporizing unit comprises a first, a second and a third heating element, each heating element being associated with a separate group of fluidic channels, and the control circuitry is configured to selectively and independently operate the heating element associated with each group of fluidic channels to provide different operating states including activation, standby and deactivation. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry further comprises a timer and a memory storing a program, wherein the program contains instructions regarding the selection of the operating state and a duration thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to select a heating profile according to the type of liquid. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive heating profile data from a cartridge detection unit and to determine the heating profile. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to calibrate the vaporizing unit to determine which heating element, or group of heating elements, should be activated. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to measure electrical current supply to the heating elements. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate at least two heating elements to simultaneously heat at least two corresponding groups of fluidic channels to different temperatures. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , further comprising a switch connected to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to disable a first heating element and activate a second group of heating elements based on a measurement of one or both of the electrical current supplied to the first heating element and the electrical resistance of the first heating element.