KR20160008510A - Electronic smoking article - Google Patents

Abstract

The electronic smoking device includes a first capillary aerosol generator and a second capillary aerosol generator. The first capillary aerosol generator produces an aerosol having a first particle size distribution and the second capillary aerosol generator produces an aerosol having a second particle size distribution.

Description

Electronic smoking products {ELECTRONIC SMOKING ARTICLE}

The present invention relates to an electronic smoking article.

This application claims the benefit of 35 U.S.C. Priority is claimed on U.S. Provisional Application (Application No. 61 / 798,010, filed on March 23, 2013), U.S.A. 119 (e), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Many of the embodiments disclosed herein include an electronic smoking article comprising a heated capillary aerosol generator. The heated capillaries volatilize the liquid in the same manner as taught in U.S. Patent No. 5,743,251, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention provides an electronic device comprising an electronic device comprising a first capillary aerosol generator for generating a first aerosol of a first liquid material comprising flavor material and a second capillary aerosol generator for producing a second aerosol of a second liquid material comprising nicotine, Smoking product.

The electronic smoking article includes a first capillary aerosol generator for producing a first aerosol of a first liquid material comprising an aroma material and a second capillary aerosol generator for producing a second aerosol of a second liquid material comprising nicotine . The first aerosol has a first particle size distribution and the second aerosol has a second particle size distribution.

A method of producing an aerosol comprising two particle size distributions comprises the steps of: supplying a first liquid comprising a flavor material to a first capillary; supplying a second liquid comprising nicotine to a second capillary; Simultaneously heating the first capillary and the second capillary to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the liquid and the second liquid to form the first vapor and the second vapor, mixing the first vapor with air to produce a first aerosol Mixing a second vapor with air to produce a second aerosol, and combining the first and second aerosols in the mixing chamber. Heating of the first capillary and heating of the second capillary can occur in the puff cycle at different times within the puff cycle. In addition, heating of the first capillary and heating of the second capillary can occur within the puff cycle and achieve different temperatures within the puff cycle.

The present invention provides an electronic device comprising an electronic device comprising a first capillary aerosol generator for generating a first aerosol of a first liquid material comprising flavor material and a second capillary aerosol generator for producing a second aerosol of a second liquid material comprising nicotine, Provide smoking products.

1 is a side view of an electronic smoking article.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic smoking article of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a view of a capillary having a narrow constriction adjacent to the outlet of the capillary.
4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an electronic smoking article comprising two capillary aerosol generators.

Electronic smoking articles such as electronic cigarettes or electronic cigars described herein produce aerosols having two different particle size distributions. The first particle size distribution is formed using a first capillary aerosol generator having a first liquid supply reservoir comprising a liquid material. The second particle size distribution is formed using a second capillary aerosol generator having a second liquid supply tank comprising a liquid material. The first liquid material may comprise a flavor material and the second liquid material may comprise nicotine. The first liquid supply vessel and the second liquid supply vessel may comprise liquids having different viscosities.

Preferably, by providing an aerosol having two different particle size distributions, the aerosol can be tailored to provide the desired flavor and / or therapeutic compositions. For example, a flavor compound may have larger median particle size particles to deposit in the mouth and throat, while functional compounds such as nicotine or therapeutic compounds may have a respiratory tract, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI > particle size.

1, the electronic smoking article 60 includes a replaceable cartridge (or first portion) 70 and a reusable device (or first portion) 72, which may be threaded joints Or by other convenient things such as snug-fit, snap-fit, detent, clamp, and / or clasp.

The first portion 80 includes two heaters 19a and 19b for heating at least a portion of the capillary tubes 18a and 18b, two capillaries 18a and 18b, (Which may include heating portions 19a, 19b of the respective liquid supply chambers 18a, 18b), and two liquid supply tanks 14a, 14b. The second portion 72 may receive the power supply 12, the control circuitry 11, and the puff sensor 16. The threaded portion of the portion 72 may be connected to the battery charging portion for battery charging when not connected to the first portion 70 for use.

Preferably, the first portion 70 and the second portion 72 may include an outer cylindrical housing 22 extending along the length of the electronic smoking article 60. Preferably, the outer tube 6 is formed of metal and is part of an electrical circuit. In another embodiment, the outer tube 6 may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials. Examples of suitable materials include metals, alloys, plastics, or composite materials containing one or more of these materials, or thermoplastic resins suitable for food or pharmaceutical applications, such as polypropylene, polyetheretherketone , PEEK), ceramics, and polyethylene. Preferably, the material is light and does not break well.

In one embodiment, the first portion 70 is disposable and the second portion 72 is reusable. In yet another embodiment, the first portion 70 and the second portion 72 are both disposable. The portions 70, 72 may be attached by threaded connection.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the liquid supply vessels 14a, 14b is a tubular, elongate body and holds a predetermined amount of liquid material. Preferably, each of the liquid supply vessels 14a, 14b presses the liquid material therein to a certain pressure or less. 2, each of the liquid supply tanks 14a and 14b is provided with a pressing device such as an external or internal spring and plate device for applying a constant pressure to each of the liquid supply tanks 14a and 14b, a pressurization arrangement 50a, 50b. For example, each of the liquid supply vessels 14a, 14b may be compressible and may be positioned between two plates connected by a spring. Alternatively, each of the liquid supply vessels 14a, 14b can be compressible and can be positioned between the outer housing and the plate, and the plate and outer housing can be connected by a spring, , 14b.

Preferably, each of the liquid supply vessels 14a, 14b has discharge ports 16a, 16b in fluid communication with the capillaries 18a, 18b. Valves 40a and 40b connect respective outlets 16a and 16b to respective capillaries 18a and 18b to prevent leakage of the liquid material when the electronic smoking article 60 is not in use. When each of the valves 40a and 40b is opened, each of the liquid supply tanks 14a and 14b can supply a large amount of liquid material to one of the capillaries 18a and 18b. While the liquid is supplied to the capillaries 18a and 18b, the power supply 12 is activated and each capillary 18a and 18b is heated to form a heated portion where the liquid material is volatilized. Two streams of volatilized material are released from the heated capillaries 18a and 18b and are mixed with the air entering the electronic smoking product 60 through the air inlet 44, To form two aerosols.

Preferably, each of the liquid supply vessels 14a, 14b extends in the longitudinal direction within the outer cylindrical housing 22 of the first portion 70. Moreover, each of the liquid supply vessels 14a, 14b may comprise different liquid materials that volatilize when heated to form an aerosol. Each aerosol has the same or different particle size distribution. For example, the liquid supply tank 14a may include a flavor material, while the liquid supply tank 14b may include a tobacco derived ingredient such as nicotine.

Each capillary 18a and 18b includes inlet ends 62a and 62b in fluid communication with the outlets 16a and 16b of the liquid supply vessels 14a and 14b and outlet ends 63a and 63b Emit volatilized liquid material from each capillary tube 18a, 18b. In some embodiments, both or both of the capillaries 18a and 18b may have a constriction 101a (shown in Figure 3) at the outlet ends 63a and 63b of the capillaries 18a and 18b . Unless theoretically limited, reducing the cross-sectional area of the outlet end by adding a narrowed portion at the outlet of the capillary can produce a high shear force sufficient to break apart the thick droplets, Can be increased.

Preferably, each capillary 18a, 18b has a different internal diameter to assist in facilitating the formation of aerosols having a particular particle size distribution. For example, each capillary 18a, 18b may have an internal diameter of 0.01 to 10 mm, preferably 0.05 to 1 mm, more preferably 0.05 to 0.4 mm. For example, the capillary 18a may have an inner diameter of about 0.05 mm, and the capillary 18b may have an inner diameter of about 0.4 mm. Capillaries with smaller diameters may provide more efficient thermal conduction to the fluid because the distance to the center of the fluid is shorter and require less energy and time to evaporate the liquid.

Also preferably, each capillary 18a, 18b can have a length of from about 5 mm to about 72 mm, more preferably from about 10 mm to about 60 mm, or from about 20 mm to about 50 mm. For example, each capillary 18a, 18b can be about 50 mm long, and a downstream portion that is about 40 mm long of the capillaries 18a, 18b forms a coiled heating portion and capillaries 18a, 18b may be provided so as to remain relatively unheated when the heaters 19a, 19b are activated.

In one embodiment, each capillary 18a, 18b may be generally straight. In other embodiments, one or both of the capillaries 18a, 18b may be coiled to save space and / or include one or more curved portions.

In the preferred embodiment, each capillary 18a, 18b is formed of a conductive material and thus functions as its own heater 19a, 19b by passing a current through the tube. The capillaries 18a and 18b can be any electrically conductive material that can be resistively heated while maintaining the necessary structural integrity at the operating temperatures of the capillaries 18a and 18b and are non-reactive to the liquid material. Suitable materials for forming the capillaries 18a and 18b are stainless steel, copper, copper alloy, porous ceramic material coated with a film resistive material, nickel-chromium alloy and Inconel < ( ^R) > Nichrome which is also a nickel-chromium alloy, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, each capillary 18a, 18b is a stainless steel capillary tube 18a, 18b, some of which function as heaters 19a, 19b. The heaters 19a and 19b may be installed between the electrical connections 110 and the electrical leads 26a and 26b adjacent the outlet ends 63a and 63b of the capillaries 18a and 18b. Thus, the direct current or alternating current passing along the length of the capillaries 18a, 18b forms the heaters 19a, 19b. The first and second capillaries are electrically connected in series, such that the first and second capillaries are connected to the first capillary along the first capillary from the power supply, as in the U.S. Patent No. 6,715,487, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Through an electrical connection connecting the first and second capillaries, and through a second capillary, which current heats the capillary to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the liquid material contained therein It is efficient. In an alternative embodiment, the capillaries 18a, 18b may be connected in parallel.

Thus, the stainless steel capillaries 18a, 18b can be heated with resistance heat. The stainless steel capillaries 18a and 18b are preferably circular in cross section. The capillaries 18a and 18b may be tubing used as hypodermic needles of various gauges. For example, the capillaries 18a, 18b may include a 32 gauge needle having an inner diameter of 0.11 mm and a 26 gauge needle having an inner diameter of 0.26.

In yet another embodiment, the capillaries 18a, 18b may be non-metallic, such as, for example, glass tubes. In this embodiment, the heaters 19a and 19b are formed such that a resistive heatable conductive material such as stainless steel, nichrome, or platinum wire is provided along the glass tube. When the heater provided along the glass tube is heated, the liquid material in the capillaries 18a, 18b is heated to a temperature sufficient to at least partially volatilize the liquid material in the capillaries 18a, 18b. In another embodiment, one capillary 18a can be stainless steel and one capillary 18b can be a glass tube.

Preferably, the electrical leads 26a, 26b and the electrical connection 110 may be coupled to the metal capillaries 18a, 18b, as shown in Fig. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical leads 26a, 26b are soldered to the capillaries 18a, 18b. Preferably, one electrical lead 26a is first soldered to the upstream portion of the first capillary tube 18a and the second electrical lead 26b is soldered to the upstream portion of the second capillary tube 18b, .

In use, when each capillary 18a, 18b is heated, the liquid material contained in the heating portion of each capillary 18a, 18b is volatilized and discharged to the outlets 63a, 63b to be withdrawn from the at least one air inlet 44 Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 46 < / RTI >

Preferably, the electronic smoking article 60 includes at least one air inlet 44 that is operative to deliver air to the mixing chamber 46. Preferably, the air inlets 44 to the mixing chamber 46 are provided downstream of the capillaries 18a, 18b to minimize the air drawn along the capillaries, thereby cooling the capillaries 18a, 18b during the heating cycle prevent. In use, the volatilized materials expand from each capillary 18a, 18b into the mixing chamber 46 to form an aerosol, which is drawn through the mouth-end insert 20. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one air inlet 44 comprises one or two air inlets. Alternatively, there may be three, four, five, or more air inlets 44. Adjusting the size and number of the air inlets 44 may be for setting the resistance to draw (RTD) of the electronic smoking article 60.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the liquid supply vessels 14a, 14b may include valves 40a, 40b that are electrically or mechanically actuated as shown in FIG. Each valve 40a, 40b is actuated to hold the liquid material in the liquid supply tank, but is opened when the electronic smoking article 60 is activated. Preferably, the electronic smoking article is manually activated by pressing a button (pressure switch) 100 (shown in Figure 1), which opens the valves 40a, 40b and simultaneously activates the heaters 19a, 19b . The valves 40a and 40b and the heaters 19a and 19b allow the puff sensor 16 to interact with the control circuit 11 when the smoker sucks the electronic smoking article 60, May be puff activated, such as by activating valves 19a, 19b and opening valves 40a, 40b.

Preferably, if the button 100 is used to passively activate the electronic smoking article 60, the valves 40a, 40b are opened when a critical, minimum voltage is reached, Thereby preventing the dispensing of the liquid material from the tanks 14a and 14b or the activation of the heaters 19a and 19b. Preferably, the pressure required to depress the button 100 is high enough to prevent such sudden heating. This arrangement prevents activation of the heaters 19a, 19b in the absence of liquid to be pumped through the capillary.

Preferably, the use of valves 40a, 40b also limits the amount of liquid drawn back from each capillary when the pressure from liquid supply tank 14 (and / or switch 44) is released The purpose. It is preferred that liquid is removed from the capillary when the puff (or activation) is finished. The presence of residual liquid in the capillary at the beginning of a new puff cycle may cause undesirable sputtering of liquid from the heated capillary when activation is initiated. Valves 40a and 40b may be formed to cause a desired, limited amount of drawback to occur so that backflow of liquid occurs without air being drawn into liquid supply tanks 14a and 14b.

Preferably, each capillary 18a, 18b stops when the smoker has stopped sucking in the smoking article 60, because all the liquid residues in the tube disappear (volatilize) during heating, 100 is paused when depressed.

In a preferred embodiment, the power supply 12 includes a battery disposed within the electronic smoking article 60. [ The heaters 19a and 19b may be connected to the battery through the electrical leads 26a and 26b. The power supply 12 is configured to apply a voltage across the heaters 19a and 19b coupled to the capillaries 18a and 18b and to apply a predetermined time interval or button 100 (pressure switch) And is operated to volatilize the liquid material according to the power cycle of any of the pressure applied to the liquid material. The control circuit 11 may comprise and be programmed with a microprocessor programmed to perform functions such as heating the capillary and / or actuating the valve. In another embodiment, the control circuit 11 may comprise an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Preferably, the electrical contacts or connections between the heaters 19a, 19b and the electrical leads 26a, 26b have high conductivity and temperature resistant, while the heating portions 19a, b of the capillaries 18a, 19b have a high resistance so that heat generation occurs first along the heaters 19a, 19b rather than the contact portion.

The battery may be a lithium-ion battery or a variant thereof, for example a lithium-ion polymer battery. Alternatively, the battery can be a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a lithium-manganese battery, a lithium-cobalt battery or a fuel cell. In this case, preferably, the electronic smoking article 60 is reusable by the smoker until the energy of the power supply is exhausted. Alternatively, the power supply 12 may be rechargeable and includes a circuit that allows the battery to be charged by an external charging device. In this case, preferably, when the circuit is charged, a pre-determined number of puffs is provided, after which the circuit must be re-connected to the external charging device.

Preferably, the electronic smoking article 60 also comprises control circuitry that may be formed on the printed circuit board 11. [ When the button 100 (pressure switch) is pressed, the power supply 12 is activated and supplies power to the heaters 19a and 19b. The control circuit 11 may also include heater activation light 27 that is activated to illuminate when the heaters 19a and 19b are activated. Preferably, the heater activation light 27 comprises at least one LED, and at the upstream end 5 (shown in Fig. 1) of the electronic smoking article 60, the heater activation light 27 is emitted during the puff It shows the shape of burning coal. Further, the heater activation light 27 can be provided so that the smoker can see it. In addition, the heater activation light 27 may be used for smoking product system diagnosis. The light 27 may also be formed to enable the smoker to activate and / or deactivate light when desired, such that light 27 is not activated during smoking if desired.

Preferably, when activated, the heaters 19a, 19b heat some of the capillaries 18a, 18b to about 10 seconds or less, more preferably about 7 seconds or less. Thus, the power cycle (or maximum puff length) may range from about 2 seconds to about 10 seconds (e.g., from about 3 seconds to about 9 seconds, from about 4 seconds to about 8 seconds, or from about 5 seconds to about 10 seconds) About 7 seconds).

In a preferred embodiment, the liquid supply tanks 14a, 14b may each comprise a liquid material having a boiling point suitable for use in the electronic smoking product 60. [ If the boiling point is too high, the heaters 19a, 19b will not be able to vaporize the liquid in the capillaries 18a, 18b. However, if the boiling point is too low, the liquid can be evaporated without activation of the heaters 19a, 19b.

Preferably, the liquid supply vessels 14a, 14b contain a liquid material, each having a different viscosity. The first liquid supply tank 14a may include at least one flavor material. The second liquid supply tank 14b may include at least one tobacco component such as nicotine. Preferably, the liquid material in the second liquid supply tank 14b may be more viscous at room temperature than the liquid material in the first liquid supply tank 14a. Moreover, the capillary 18b coupled with the second liquid supply tank 14b preferably has an inner diameter larger than that of the capillary 18a associated with the first liquid supply tank 14a. Accordingly, the first capillary tube 18a produces an aerosol having particles in the range of about 0.4 microns to about 2 microns in size, depending on the flavor material and the viscosity thereof contained in the first liquid feed tank 14a. The second capillary 18b produces an aerosol having particles ranging in size from about 0.5 microns to about 1 micron. Preferably, the electronically smoking article can be set if desired to form a first aerosol having larger particles to be delivered to the mouth, and a second aerosol having smaller particles to be delivered to the lower lower airway.

The second liquid supply tank 14b may include nicotine. The first liquid supply tank 14a may comprise flavor material, non-tobacco and / or nicotine-free material. For example, the liquid material in the first liquid supply tank 14a may comprise water, a solvent, ethanol, plant extracts, and natural or artificial flavors. Preferably, the liquid in each of the first liquid supply tank 14a and the second liquid supply tank 14b may include an aerosol former. Examples of suitable aerosol formers include glycerin and propylene glycol.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, the electronic smoking article 60 includes an inlet-end insert (not shown) having at least two off-axis, preferably diverging, 20). Preferably, the inlet-end insert 20 is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber 46 and includes at least two branched outlets 21 (e.g., 3, 4, 5, or preferably, 6 to 10 outlets or more) Preferably, the outlets 21 of the mouth-end insert 20 are located at the end of the off-axis passage and are located outside of the electronic smoking article 60 (For example, to divide). As used herein, the term "off-axis" refers to an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the electronic smoking article 60. Also preferably, the mouth-end insert (or flow guide) 20 includes four outlets uniformly dispensed into the mouth-end insert 20, so that the mouth of the smoker in use, To be uniformly distributed. Thus, compared to an electronic smoking product with an on-axis single orifice that sends the aerosol in a single direction in the mouth of a smoker, the aerosol passes through the mouth of the smoker and the aerosol enters the mouth, To provide a full mouth feel.

In addition, water droplets of the non-aerosolized liquid material carried on the aerosol may impinge on the inner surface 25 of the mouth-end insertion portion 20 and / or the inner surface of the off-axis passage 23, A discharge port 21 and an off-axis passage 23 are provided. In the preferred embodiment, the outlets 21 of the mouth-end insert 20 are located at the end of the off-axis passage 23 and are positioned at an angle of 5 to 60 degrees relative to the central longitudinal axis of the electronic smoking article 60 So that during use the aerosol is more fully dispersed through the mouth of the smoker and water drops are removed.

Preferably, each outlet 21 has a diameter of from about 0.015 inches to about 0.090 inches (e.g., from about 0.020 inches to about 0.040 inches, or from about 0.028 inches to about 0.038 inches). The size of the off-axis passage 23 and outlet 21 according to the number of outlets 21 may be selected for resistance to draw (RTD) control of the electronic smoking article 60, if desired.

Preferably, the mouth-end insert 20 is attached within the outer cylindrical housing 22 of the cartridge 70.

In a preferred embodiment, the electronic smoking article 60 is approximately the same size as a conventional cigarette. In some embodiments, the electronic smoking article 60 is about 80 mm to about 110 mm long, preferably about 80 mm to about 100 mm long, and can have a diameter of about 7 mm to about 8 mm. For example, in one embodiment, the electronic smoking article is about 84 mm long and has a diameter of about 7.8 mm.

The outer cylindrical housing 22 of the electronic smoking article 60 may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials. Preferably, the outer cylindrical housing 22 may be formed of metal. Examples of suitable materials include metals, alloys, plastics, or composites containing one or more of these materials, or thermoplastic resins suitable for food or pharmaceutical applications, such as polypropylene, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), ceramics , Low density polyethylene (LDPE), and high density polyethylene (HDPE). Preferably, the material is light and does not break well. The outer cylindrical housing 22 may be any suitable color, and / or may include graphics or other indicia printed thereon.

When the word "about" is used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that the numerical value involved includes an error of about 10% in the stated numerical value. Moreover, when the reference is made to percentages herein, it is intended that the percentages are based on weight, for example a weight percentage.

Furthermore, when the words "generally" and "substantially" are used in connection with geometric shapes, it is understood that precision of geometric shapes is not required, but that an acceptable range of shapes is within the scope of the present invention . When used in conjunction with geometric terms, the words "generally" and "substantially" are intended to include forms that meet strict definitions as well as forms that are reasonably close to strict definition.

As will now be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it will be apparent that new, improved, and non-obvious electronic smoking products are described in sufficient detail herein. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, changes, substitutions, and equivalents exist for features of the electronic smoking articles without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, all such modifications, changes, substitutions, and equivalents as are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims are expressly intended to be included in the scope of the claims.

Claims (25)

A first capillary aerosol generator for generating a first aerosol of a first liquid material comprising flavor material; And
A second capillary aerosol generator for generating a second aerosol of a second liquid material, the second liquid material comprising nicotine,
Wherein the first aerosol has a first particle size distribution and the second aerosol has a second particle size distribution.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first capillary aerosol generator comprises:
A first capillary having a first capillary inlet and a first capillary outlet; And
A first heater operative to heat the first capillary to a temperature sufficient to cause the first liquid material contained in the first capillary to volatilize,
The first capillary inlet being in communication with the first liquid material.
3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the second capillary aerosol generator comprises:
A second capillary having a second capillary inlet and a capillary outlet; And
And a second heater operative to heat the second capillary to a temperature sufficient to cause the second liquid material contained in the second capillary to volatilize,
Said second capillary inlet being in communication with said second liquid material.
The method of claim 3,
Wherein the first liquid material and the second liquid material have different viscosities at room temperature.
The method of claim 3,
Wherein the first liquid material comprises a flavor material,
Wherein the second liquid material comprises nicotine.
The method of claim 3,
Wherein an inner diameter of the first capillary is smaller than an inner diameter of the second capillary.
The method of claim 3,
A power supply operable to apply a voltage across the first heater and the second heater;
A mixing chamber of the first capillary and the second capillary downstream portion; And
Further comprising at least one air inlet for delivering air into the mixing chamber while the electronic smoking article is being sucked.
The method according to claim 6,
Wherein each of the first capillary and the second capillary has an inner diameter of about 0.05 to 0.4 mm and a length of about 5 mm to about 72 mm, or about 10 mm to about 60 mm.
The method according to claim 6,
Wherein each of the first capillary and the second capillary comprises a stainless steel tube or a non-metallic tube.
8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the power supply comprises a battery.
11. The method of claim 10,
The first heater is connected to the battery by two spaced electrical leads,
Wherein the second heater is connected to the battery by two spaced electrical leads.
11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the first heater and the second heater are connected in series.
8. The method of claim 7,
Further comprising a control circuit operable to control supply of power from the power supply to the first heater and the second heater.
14. The method of claim 13,
The control circuit comprising:
Further comprising heater activation light at an upstream end of the electronic smoking article,
Wherein the heater activation light is operated to illuminate when the first heater and the second heater are activated.
The method of claim 3,
Further comprising a first valve between the first pressurized liquid supply and the first capillary inlet.
16. The method of claim 15,
And a second valve between the second outlet of the second pressurized liquid supply and the second capillary inlet.
17. The method of claim 16,
Wherein the first valve and the second valve are electrically actuated valves,
Wherein the electronic smoking article further comprises a pressure switch,
Wherein the pressure switch is operative to transmit a signal to open the first valve and the second valve and to transmit a signal to the control circuit that supplies power to the first heater and the second heater.
The method of claim 3,
Further comprising a puff sensor operative to sense that the electronic smoking article is being sucked.
8. The method of claim 7,
Said electronic smoking article comprising a first portion and a second portion,
Wherein the first portion comprises the first capillary aerosol generator and the second capillary aerosol generator,
The second portion including the power supply, and a control circuit operative to control heating of the first and second heaters.
20. The method of claim 19,
Wherein the first portion is replaceable and the second portion is reusable.
As a method of producing an aerosol comprising two particle size distributions,
Supplying a first liquid comprising a flavor material to a first capillary;
Supplying a second liquid comprising nicotine to a second capillary;
Simultaneously heating the first capillary and the second capillary to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the first liquid and the second liquid to form a first vapor and a second vapor;
Mixing the first vapor with air to produce a first aerosol;
Mixing the second vapor with air to produce a second aerosol; And
And combining said first and second aerosols in a mixing chamber.
22. The method of claim 21,
Wherein the first aerosol comprises particles ranging in size from about 0.4 micron to about 2 microns.
22. The method of claim 21,
Wherein the second aerosol comprises particles ranging in size from about 0.5 microns to about 1 micron.
22. The method of claim 21,
Wherein heating the first capillary and heating the second capillary occur at different times within the puff cycle, within the puff cycle.
22. The method of claim 21,
Heating the first capillary and heating the second capillary occur within a puff cycle and achieve different temperatures within the puff cycle.

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