RU2792665C2 - Heating element - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: tobacco industry.

SUBSTANCE: evaporation device includes a cartridge having a reservoir, which retains evaporated material, and a sprayer chamber, which includes a heating element. The heating element can heat evaporated material. The heating element may include two rigid parts, which are located at a distance from each other for an interval, which defines a capillary gap. The capillary gap can draw evaporated material from the reservoir to a heating area for evaporation.

EFFECT: obtainment of a heating element for an evaporation device.

20 cl, 32 dwg

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application claims priority in US Provisional Application No. 62/742,554 entitled "HEATING ELEMENT SYSTEM", filed October 8, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, to the extent permitted.

Technical field

[0002] The subject matter described herein relates to evaporative devices, including heating elements for evaporative devices.

Prior Art

[0003] Vaporizers, which may be referred to as vaporizers, electronic vaporizers, or e-vaporizers, may be used to deliver an aerosol (e.g., vapor phase and/or condensed phase material suspended in a stationary or moving body of air or some other gaseous carrier) containing one or more active ingredients, by inhalation of the aerosol by the user of the evaporation device. For example, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) include a class of battery powered vaporizer devices that can be used to simulate the sensation of smoking but without burning tobacco or other substances. Vaporizers are gaining increasing popularity both for medical applications, for drug delivery, and for the consumption of tobacco, nicotine and other plant-based vaporizable materials, including solid and/or liquid materials, and pre-filled containers (cartridges, sealed containers, etc.). e) such materials. Evaporative devices can be portable, self-contained and convenient to use.

[0004] When using a vaporizer, the user inhales an aerosol, commonly referred to as "vapour," which may be generated by a heating element that vaporizes (e.g., causes at least partially liquid or solid to gas phase) volatilized material, which may represent liquid, solution, solid, paste, wax, or any other form suitable for use with a particular evaporator device. A vaporizable material used with a vaporizer may be provided within a cartridge (eg, a detachable portion of a vaporizer device that contains the vaporized material) that includes an outlet (eg, mouthpiece) for inhalation of the aerosol by a user.

[0005] To receive the inhalable aerosol generated by the vaporizer, the user may, in some instances, activate the vaporizer by puffing, pressing a button, and/or some other method. Puff, as used herein, refers to inhalation (inhalation) by the user such that it causes a volume of air to be drawn into the vaporizer such that an inhalable aerosol is generated by the combination of the vaporized vaporizable material with the air volume.

[0006] The method by which the vaporizer device generates an inhalable aerosol from a vaporized material includes heating the vaporizable material in a vaporization chamber (eg, a heater chamber) to cause the vaporized material to convert to a gas (or vapor) phase. Vaporization chamber generally refers to the region or volume in an evaporator device within which a heat source (e.g., conductive, convective, and/or radiant) causes evaporative material to be heated to produce a mixture of air and evaporative material to generate vapor for inhalation of the evaporative material by the user of the evaporator devices.

[0007] In some embodiments, vaporizable material may be drawn out of the reservoir and into the vaporization chamber through a wick element (eg, a wick). The evacuation of the volatilized material into the evaporator chamber may be at least in part due to the capillary action provided by the wick as the wick draws the volatilized material along the wick towards the evaporator chamber.

[0008] Evaporative devices may be controlled by one or more controllers, electronic circuits (eg, sensors, heating elements) and/or the like on the evaporator. Evaporative devices may also communicate wirelessly with an external controller (eg, a computing device such as a smartphone).

The essence of the invention

[0009] Aspects of the present invention relate to a heating element for use in a vaporizer.

[0010] According to some implementations, a vaporizer cartridge includes a reservoir and a heating element. The reservoir may contain vaporizable material. The heating element can heat the vaporized material. The heating element may include a capillary structure that includes a plurality of rigid parts. Pairs of multiple rigid parts may be spaced apart to form a capillary gap between them. The capillary gap can draw vaporized material from the reservoir into the heating area of the heating element to be heated. The aerosol may be generated by heating vaporizable material drawn into the heating region of the heating element.

[0011] In some implementations, the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure includes an upper rigid portion and a lower rigid portion formed integrally with the upper rigid portion and separated from the upper rigid portion by a gap that defines a capillary gap.

[0012] In some implementations, the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure includes an upper end portion in fluid communication with the reservoir, a lower end portion including a heater, a lower rigid portion, and an upper rigid portion formed integrally with the lower rigid portion. The upper rigid portion may include a plurality of upwardly extending elements. The capillary gap may be formed between adjacent upwardly extending elements of the plurality of upwardly continuing elements.

[0013] In some implementations, the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure includes an inner rigid portion defining a channel and an outer rigid portion surrounding the inner rigid portion and separated from the inner rigid portion by a gap that defines a capillary gap.

[0014] In some implementations, the heating element is located at least partially within the tank.

[0015] In some implementations, the upper rigid portion of the plurality of rigid portions may include an upper evaporation portion having a plurality of upper gaps and a lower rigid portion of the plurality of rigid portions. The lower rigid portion may include a lower evaporation portion having a plurality of lower gaps. The plurality of upper gaps may be positioned with a lateral offset relative to the plurality of lower gaps.

[0016] In some implementations, the cartridge may include an air inlet. The air inlet can direct the air flow through the heated area such that when the heating element is activated, vaporized material drawn into the capillary gap in the heated area is vaporized into the air flow.

[0017] In some implementations, the heating element includes an electrically conductive layer. The electrical conductive layer may include a conductive track pattern.

[0018] In some implementations, the heating element contains nichrome.

[0019] In some implementations, the cartridge includes an atomizer chamber housing that surrounds at least a portion of the heating element. The atomizer chamber housing may include a cut-out area. The cut-out area may receive a porous material configured to absorb volatilized material.

[0020] In some implementations, the heating element forms a single rigid portion that is folded to define an upper rigid portion and a lower rigid portion. In some implementations, the upper rigid portion is parallel to the lower rigid portion.

[0021] In some implementations, the heating element includes a plurality of perforations to allow vaporizable material to vaporize through them.

[0022] According to some implementations, the method includes drawing, through a capillary gap formed between two rigid parts of the heating element, volatilized material from a reservoir of the evaporative device into a heating region. The heating element may be partially located inside at least part of the reservoir. Each of the two rigid parts may have an evaporation section. The method may also include heating at least the vaporization portion of the two rigid portions to cause vaporization of the material to be vaporized. The method may further include providing the vaporized vaporizable material to be introduced into the airflow along the airflow path to the mouthpiece of the vaporizer.

[0023] Details of one or more embodiments of the claimed subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and in the description below. Other features and advantages of the claimed subject matter disclosed herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, as well as from the claims. The claims that follow this disclosure are intended to define the scope of protection of the claimed subject matter.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are included in and form a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the claimed subject matter disclosed herein, and together with the description, contribute to explaining some of the principles associated with the disclosed implementations. On the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1A shows a block diagram illustrating features of a cartridge based evaporator consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0026] FIG. 1B is a schematic representation of an evaporator and an evaporator cartridge;

[0027] FIG. 1C is a front view of an evaporator and an evaporator cartridge embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 1D is a front view of an evaporator cartridge connected to an evaporator;

[0029] FIG. 1E is a perspective view of an evaporator cartridge;

[0030] FIG. 1F is a perspective view of another embodiment of an evaporator cartridge coupled to an evaporator;

[0031] FIG. 2A illustrates a diagram of a heating element and reservoir consistent with implementations of the claimed subject matter;

[0032] FIG. 2B illustrates a diagram of a heating element and reservoir consistent with implementations of the claimed subject matter;

[0033] FIG. 2C illustrates a diagram of a heating element and reservoir consistent with implementations of the claimed subject matter;

[0034] FIG. 2D illustrates a diagram of a heating element in an unfolded configuration consistent with implementations of the claimed subject matter;

[0035] FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of an evaporator cartridge into which a heating element has been inserted consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0036] FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective view of the atomizer chamber of an evaporator cartridge into which a heating element is inserted consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an evaporator cartridge into which a heating element is inserted consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0038] FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of a heating element consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0039] FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of a heating element consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0040] FIG. 5C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a heating element consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an evaporator cartridge into which a heating element is inserted consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0042] FIG. 7A illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an evaporator cartridge into which a heating element has been inserted consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0043] FIG. 7B illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an evaporator cartridge into which a heating element has been inserted consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0044] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of an atomizer chamber of an evaporator cartridge into which at least a portion of a heating element consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter is inserted;

[0045] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a heating element consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0046] FIG. 10A illustrates a perspective view of a heating element circuit consistent with implementations of the claimed subject matter;

[0047] FIG. 10B illustrates a diagram of a heating element and reservoir consistent with implementations of the claimed subject matter;

[0048] FIG. 11A illustrates a perspective view of a heating element consistent with implementations of the claimed subject matter;

[0049] FIG. 11B illustrates a heating element consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0050] FIG. 11C illustrates a bottom view of a heating element consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0051] FIG. 12A illustrates a perspective view of an evaporator cartridge into which a heating element is inserted consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0052] FIG. 12B illustrates a perspective view of an evaporator cartridge into which a heating element has been inserted consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter;

[0053] FIG. 13A illustrates a diagram of a heating element and reservoir consistent with implementations of the claimed subject matter;

[0054] FIG. 13B illustrates a diagram of a heating element and reservoir consistent with implementations of the claimed subject matter;

[0055] FIG. 13C illustrates a diagram of a heating element and reservoir consistent with implementations of the claimed subject matter; And

[0056] FIG. 14 shows a flowchart illustrating the features of a method for drawing in volatilized material and causing vaporization of volatilized material in an evaporator consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0057] Embodiments of the claimed subject matter include methods, devices, products, and systems relating to the vaporization of one or more materials for inhalation by a user. Exemplary implementations include evaporators and systems including evaporators. The term "evaporator device" as used in the following description and claims refers to any of a stand-alone device, a device that includes two or more separable parts (for example, an evaporator body that includes a battery and other hardware, and a cartridge that includes vaporizable material), and/or the like. "Evaporation system", as used here, may include one or more components, such as an evaporation device. Examples of vaporizer devices consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter include electronic vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and/or the like. In general, such evaporative devices are portable devices that heat (eg, by convection, thermal conduction, radiation, and/or some combination thereof) a volatilized material to provide an inhalable dose of the material. The vaporizable material used with the vaporizer may be provided within a cartridge (e.g., the portion of the vaporizer that contains the vaporizer in a reservoir or other container) that can be replenished when empty or replaced with a new cartridge containing additional vaporizer of the same or different type. . The vaporizer may be a cartridge vaporizer, a cartridgeless vaporizer, or a reusable vaporizer capable of being used with or without a cartridge. For example, a reusable vaporizer may include a heating chamber (e.g., a furnace or other area in which material is heated by a heating element) configured to receive vaporized material directly into the heating chamber and/or a reservoir or the like to contain the vaporized material. In some implementations, the vaporizer may be configured for use with a liquid vaporizable material (e.g., a carrier solution in which the active and/or inactive ingredient(s) are suspended or held in solution, or a liquid form of the vaporizable material itself), paste, wax, and /or solid vaporizable material. The solid vaporizable material may include plant material that releases some of the plant material as vaporizable material (e.g., so that some of the plant material remains as waste after the vaporizable material is vaporized for inhalation by a user), or optionally may be the solid form of the vaporizable material itself, so that all of the solid material can eventually be vaporized for inhalation. The liquid vaporizable material may also be completely vaporizable, or may include some of the liquid material that remains after all of the inhalable material has been vaporized.

[0058] With reference to the block diagram in FIG. 1A, the vaporizer 100 may include a power supply 8 (eg, a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery) and a controller 19 (eg, a processor, circuitry, etc. capable of executing logic) to control the supply of heat to the atomizer 26. to cause the volatilized material to be converted from a condensed form (eg, solid, liquid, solution, slurry, part of the at least partially untreated plant material, etc.) to the gas phase. The controller 19 may be part of one or more printed circuit boards (PCB), according to some implementations of the claimed subject matter. After the vaporizable material has been converted to the gas phase, and depending on the type of vaporizer, the physical and chemical properties of the vaporizable material, and/or other factors, at least a portion of the vaporizable material in the gas phase may condense to form particulate material in at least partial local equilibrium. with the gas phase as part of the aerosol, which may form part or all of the inhaled dose provided by the vaporizer 100 to puff or inhale the user on the vaporizer 100. It should be appreciated that the interaction between the gaseous and condensed phases in the aerosol generated by the vaporizer can be complex and dynamic, since factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, chemical composition, flow conditions in the airflow channels (both within the vaporizer 100 and in the respiratory tract of a person or animal) and/or mixing of the vaporized material in the gas phase or ae rosol phase with other air streams, etc., can affect one or more of the physical parameters of the aerosol. In some vaporizers, and in particular vaporizers configured to deliver volatile vaporized materials, the inhalation dose may exist predominantly in the gas phase (i.e., formation of condensed phase particles may be very limited).

[0059] Aspects of the present claimed subject matter may include the use of nebulizer elements with a structure that need not be porous, but instead may include a narrow, wetted gap between the structural elements such that capillary pressure draws liquid vaporizable material from the reservoir into the heated zone heating element for evaporation. Such structures can provide advantages in terms of more easily controlled capillary pressures, ease of manufacture, and the like.

[0060] Vaporizers 100 for use with liquid vaporizable materials (e.g., pure liquids, suspensions, solutions, mixtures, etc.) may include an atomizer 26 in which a wick element (e.g., a wick (not shown in FIG. 2), which may include any material capable of inducing fluid movement under capillary pressure, carries some liquid vaporizable material to the portion of the atomizer that includes the heating element (also not shown in Fig. 2). The wick element is typically configured, to draw liquid vaporizable material from a reservoir configured to contain (and which may in use contain) liquid vaporizable material such that the liquid vaporizable material can be vaporized by heat supplied from the heating element The wick element may also optionally allow air to enter the reservoir and replace the volume of liquid removed.In some implementations of the claimed pre meta, capillary action may draw liquid vaporizable material into the vaporization wick by the heating element, and air may be returned to reservoir 140 through the wick to at least partially equalize reservoir pressure.

[0061] Other methods of providing air to the pressure equalization tank 140 are also within the scope of the claimed subject. For example, evaporative devices use a wick formed from silica, cotton, or glass fiber material. The silica wick material can be formed by stacking fine continuous fibers, such as quartz glass, first into filaments, which are then tied together to form a cord or cord used as a wick. A cord may be specified by a nominal outer diameter, a number of threads, and/or a value indicating linear density.

[0062] As used herein, the terms "wick" or "wick element" include any material capable of inducing fluid movement under capillary pressure.

[0063] The heating element may be or include one or more of a conductive heater, a radiant heater, and a convective heater. One type of heating element is a resistance heating element, which may comprise a material (e.g., a metal or an alloy, such as a nickel chromium alloy, or a non-metal resistor) configured to dissipate electrical power in the form of heat when an electrical current is passed through one or more of the resistive segments of the heating element. element. In some implementations of the claimed subject matter, the atomizer may include a heating element that includes a resistive coil or other heating element wrapped around, located inside, integrated into a three-dimensional shape, molded into thermal contact, or otherwise adapted to provide heat to the wick element. to cause the liquid vaporizable material drawn by the wick element from the reservoir to vaporize for subsequent inhalation by the user in a gaseous and/or condensed phase (eg, aerosol particles or droplets). Other configurations of the wick element, heating element and/or atomizer assembly are also possible.

[0064] However, nebulizer systems in which liquid is drawn into a fibrous wick from a reservoir may be limited in that liquid may be predominantly drawn at or near end points of the string that are in contact with liquid in the reservoir (e.g., end points continuous fibers of silicon dioxide or other fibrous material used as a wick) and then transported along the main axis of the wick to the heated region of the wick from which evaporation occurs. During use of the evaporator device, liquid may not be replenished in the heated area as quickly as desired by the user as liquid evaporates from the heated area of the wick and more liquid must move along the length of the wick to be replenished. Improvements in the fluid delivery rate of such designs may be desirable. In addition, some materials used in wick construction, such as fiberglass, can break easily and create dust, which can be undesirable and/or harmful.

[0065] In one example of a wick-based atomizer design, a typical wick may have a diameter of approximately 1.5 mm and a surface area of approximately 4.7 mm ² per mm of length. Increasing the length of the heated section may increase the heated area, but any evaporating liquid would need to travel farther to reach the center of the heater. Such configurations may limit the total power that can be used for evaporation without increasing the power density. This can increase the risk that an incremental increase in power results in fluid loss rather than more efficient evaporation.

[0066] Further improvements may be possible with respect to a conventional atomizer system in which liquid is drawn into the wick from a reservoir. For example, a traditional atomizer system can be quite complex with many components, and there can be considerable variability in the manufacture and use of the wick and coil components. In addition, a wick formed as described above by bundling fine continuous fibers first into threads which are then tied together to form a cord or cord used as a wick may be brittle and its non-rigid structure may require precise and careful placement, increasing the complexity of production. Some material properties (such as capillarity) of traditional wicks can be difficult to accurately measure without exposing the material to a liquid. Some material properties may be estimable but difficult to predict due to the high compressibility of materials.

[0067] In other atomizer designs, the traditional wick and coil design is modified to introduce a cylindrical ceramic wick, which overcomes some of the design problems associated with a non-rigid wick and also eliminates the drawbacks caused by longitudinal liquid draw. However, such designs tend to have a large number of parts, which also leads to manufacturing complexity and may have other disadvantages.

[0068] In yet another design of the atomizer, an "in-chimney" helix design is implemented. This design uses a ceramic wick formed in a hollow tube with a heating coil on the inside of the hollow tube. Instead of pulling the liquid out of the reservoir along the wick axis, the liquid surrounds the perimeter of the coil, resulting in a large wicking area and a short wick distance. However, this design tends to have a large number of parts, which leads to manufacturing difficulties.

[0069] Each of the atomizers described above may include the additional problem that the structures may not always be volumetrically compact, and may instead occupy a significant portion of the evaporator device in which they are incorporated. Reducing the volume of the nebulizer, and thereby diverting more volume to the vaporized material, can be a key design challenge for the evaporator.

[0070] Some vaporizer devices may additionally or alternatively be configured to create an inhalable dose of vaporizable material in the gas phase and/or aerosol phase by heating non-liquid vaporizable material, such as, for example, solid phase vaporizable material (e.g., wax or the like). ) or plant material (eg tobacco leaves and/or parts of tobacco leaves). In such evaporative devices, a resistive heating element may be integral to, or otherwise be in thermal contact with, the walls of an oven or other heating chamber in which the non-liquid volatilizable material is placed. Alternatively, a resistive heating element or elements may be used to heat air passing through or past the non-liquid evaporable material to cause convective heating of the non-liquid evaporable material. In other examples, the resistive heating element or elements may be positioned in close contact with the plant material such that direct conductive heating of the plant material occurs within the mass of plant material (eg, as opposed to conduction-only heating inward from the furnace walls).

[0071] A heating element may be activated (e.g., a controller, which is optionally part of a vaporizer housing, as described below, may cause current from a power source to pass through a circuit including a resistive heating element, which is optionally a part of a vaporizer cartridge, as described below), in association with the user's puff (e.g., inhalation, inhalation, etc.) on the vaporizer mouthpiece 21 to cause air to flow from the air inlet along the airflow path that passes through the atomizer (e.g., wick and heating element). element). Optionally, air may flow from the air inlet, through one or more condensation zones or chambers, to the air outlet in the mouthpiece. The incoming air passing through the air flow channel passes through the atomizer, where the vaporized material in the gas phase is carried into the air. As noted above, the trapped vaporized material in the gas phase may condense as it passes through the remainder of the airflow channel, so that an inhalable dose of vaporized material in the form of an aerosol may be delivered from an air outlet (e.g., in the inhalation mouthpiece 21 by the user).

[0072] Heating element activation may be triggered by automatic puff detection based on one or more signals generated by one or more sensors 29. These sensors 29 may include one or more of: a pressure sensor or sensors positioned to detect pressure along an airflow channel relative to ambient pressure (or optionally for measuring changes in absolute pressure), one or more motion sensors (eg, accelerometers) of the vaporizer 100, one or more vaporizer 100 flow sensors, and/or a capacitive vaporizer lip sensor; in response to detecting user interaction with one or more input devices 41 (eg, buttons or other tactile control devices of vaporizer 100), receiving signals from the computing device in communication with vaporizer 100; and/or through other methods to determine if tightening is occurring or pending.

[0073] As discussed herein, vaporizer 100 corresponding to embodiments of the claimed subject matter may be configured to communicate (eg, wirelessly or via a wired connection) with a computing device (or, optionally, two or more devices) in communication with the vaporizer. 100. To do this, the controller 19 may include communication hardware 49. The controller may also include memory 41. Communication hardware 49 may include firmware and/or may be controlled by software to execute one or more cryptographic protocols for communication.

[0074] The computing device may be a component of a vaporizer system that also includes vaporizer 100, and may include its own communications hardware that may establish a wireless communication channel with communications hardware 49 of vaporizer 100. For example, a computing device, used as part of an evaporator system may include a general purpose computing device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, personal computer, some other portable device such as a smart watch, or the like) that executes software to create a custom interface to allow the user of the device to interact with the evaporation device. In other embodiments of the claimed subject matter, such a device used as part of a vaporizer system may be a specialized piece of hardware such as a remote control or other wireless or wired device having one or more physical or programmable interface controls (e.g., configurable on screen or other display device and selectable through user interaction with a touch screen or some other input device such as a mouse, pointer, trackball, cursor buttons, or the like). Evaporative device 100 may also include one or more output elements or devices 37 for providing information to the user. For example, output elements 37 may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to provide feedback to the user based on the status and/or mode of operation of vaporizer 100.

[0075] A computing device that is part of a vaporizer system as defined above may be used for any of one or more functions such as dosing control (e.g., dose control, dose adjustment, dose limitation, user tracking, etc.) , session management (e.g., session control, session establishment, session restriction, user tracking, etc.), nicotine delivery management (e.g., switching between nicotine and non-nicotine vape, adjusting the amount of nicotine delivered, etc.) , obtaining location information (e.g. location of other users, retail/commercial locations, vaping locations, relative or absolute location of the vaporizer (vaporizer) itself, etc.), vaporizer personalization (e.g. vaporizer name, blocking/protection evaporator password, regulation of one or more parent controls, association sharing the vaporizer with a group of users, registering the vaporizer with the manufacturer or after-sales service organization, etc.), engaging in social activities with other users (e.g. gaming, social media communications, interacting with one or more groups, etc.) or the like. The terms "session", "session", "evaporator session" or "evaporation session" are used, in General, to refer to the period related to the use of the vaporizer. The period may include a period of time, number of doses, amount of material vaporized, and/or the like.

[0076] In an example where the computing device provides signals related to the activation of a resistive heating element, or in other examples of communication between the computing device and the vaporizer to implement various control functions or other functions, the computing device executes one or more sets of computer instructions to provide user interface and basic data processing. In one example, the computing device's detection of user interaction with one or more user interface elements may cause the computing device to signal vaporizer 100 to activate a heating element either to full operating temperature to provide an inhalable dose of vapor/aerosol, or to a lower temperature to begin heating the heating element. element. Other functions of the evaporator may be controlled by user interaction with a user interface on a computing device in communication with the evaporator.

[0077] The temperature of the evaporator resistance heating element may depend on a number of factors, including the amount of electrical power supplied to the evaporative resistance heating element and/or the duty cycle in which the electrical power is applied, conductive heat transfer to other parts of the electronic evaporative device and/or to the environment. environment, latent heat loss due to evaporation of vaporizable material from the wick element and/or the nebulizer as a whole, and convective heat loss due to air flow (for example, air passing through the heating element or nebulizer as a whole when the user inhales on the evaporative device). As noted above, in order to reliably activate the heating element or heat the heating element to the desired temperature, in some embodiments of the claimed subject matter, the vaporizer may use signals from a sensor (eg, a pressure sensor) to determine when the user is inhaling. The sensor may be located in the airflow path and/or may be connected (for example, through a passage or other duct) to an airflow duct containing an air inlet for entry into the device and an outlet through which the user inhales the resulting vapor and/or aerosol so that the sensor senses changes (eg pressure changes) simultaneously with air passing through the evaporator from the air inlet to the air outlet. In some embodiments of the claimed subject matter, the heating element may be activated in association with a user's puff, for example, by automatic puff detection by a pressure sensor detecting a change (eg, pressure change) in the airflow channel.

[0078] Sensor(s) 29 may be mounted on or coupled (eg, electrically or electronically, either physically or wirelessly) to controller 19 (eg, a printed circuit board assembly or other type of circuit board). In order to accurately take measurements and maintain the durability of vaporizer 100, it may be useful to provide a resilient seal 60 to separate the airflow path from other parts of vaporizer 100. Seal 60, which may be a gasket, may be configured to at least partially surround the sensor( i) 29 so that the connections of the sensor(s) 29 to the internal circuitry of the evaporator 100 are separated from the part of the sensor(s) 29 open to the airflow channel. In the example of a cartridge based vaporizer, seal 60 may also separate portions of one or more electrical connections between vaporizer body 50 and vaporizer cartridge 52. Such seal arrangements 60 in evaporator 100 may be useful in mitigating potentially damaging effects on evaporator components from interactions with environmental factors such as water in the vapor or liquid phases, other fluids such as evaporator material, etc., and /or to reduce the release of air from the air flow channel in the evaporator 100. Unwanted air, liquid or other fluid passing through and/or contacting the circuit of the evaporator 100 can cause various undesirable effects such as changes in pressure readings, and/or may lead to the formation of undesirable material such as moisture, excess evaporative material, etc., in parts of the evaporator where it may cause an incorrect pressure signal, degradation of the sensor(s) or other components and/or lead to a reduction in the life of the evaporator 100. Leaks in seal 60 can also cause the user to inhales the air that has passed over parts of the vaporizer 100 containing or made of materials that may be undesirable for inhalation.

[0079] In some implementations, the evaporator body 50 includes a controller 19, a power source 8 (e.g., a battery), one or more sensors, charging contacts (e.g., to charge the power source 8), a gasket, or a sealing mechanism (or seal) 60 and a cartridge seat 69 configured to receive a vaporizer cartridge 52 for connection to the vaporizer body 50 via one or more of a plurality of connection structures. In some examples, vaporizer cartridge 52 includes a reservoir 55 for storing liquid vaporized material and a mouthpiece 21 having an aerosol outlet for delivering an inhaled dose to a user. The vaporizer cartridge may include an atomizer 26 having a wick element and a heating element, or alternatively, one or both of the wick element and the heating element may be part of the vaporizer body 50. In implementations in which any portion of the atomizer 26 (e.g., heating element and/or wick element) is part of the vaporizer housing 50, the vaporizer may be configured to supply liquid vaporizable material from a reservoir in the vaporizer cartridge to the atomizer portion(s) included (s) into the evaporator housing.

[0080] Vaporizer cartridge configurations that generate an inhalable dose of non-liquid vaporizable material by heating the non-liquid vaporizable material are also within the scope of the claimed subject matter. For example, a vaporizer cartridge may include a body of plant material that has been processed and shaped to be in direct contact with portions of one or more resistive heating elements, and such vaporizer cartridge may be configured to couple mechanically and electrically to a vaporizer housing that includes controller, power supply and socket contacts for connection with the corresponding contacts of the cartridge to complete the circuit with one or more resistance heating elements.

[0081] In evaporator devices in which the power source 8 is part of the evaporator body 50 and the heating element is located in the evaporator cartridge 52 configured to couple to the evaporator body 50, the evaporator 100 may include electrical connection features (e.g., means for terminating circuit) to complete a circuit that includes a controller (eg, a printed circuit board, a microcontroller, or the like), a power supply, and a heating element. These features may include at least two contacts (referred to herein as cartridge contacts 65) on the bottom surface of vaporizer cartridge 52 and at least two contacts (referred to herein as socket contacts 62) located proximate the base of the cartridge socket of vaporizer 100, so that the contacts 65 of the cartridge and the contacts 62 of the socket form electrical connections when the evaporator cartridge 52 is inserted into and connected to the socket 69 of the cartridge. The circuit terminated by these electrical connections can provide electrical current to the heating element and can additionally be used for additional functions such as measuring the resistance of the heating element for use in detecting and/or controlling the temperature of the heating element based on the thermal resistivity coefficient of the heating element,​ to identify the cartridge based on one or more electrical characteristics of the resistive heating element or other vaporizer cartridge circuitry, etc.

[0082] In some implementations of the present invention, at least two cartridge contacts and at least two socket contacts may be configured for electrical connection in any of at least two orientations. In other words, one or more of the circuits required for the operation of the vaporizer can be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 52 into the cartridge seat 69 in a first rotational orientation (about the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 52 is inserted into the cartridge seat 69 of the vaporizer housing 50) such that the first cartridge contact of at least two cartridge contacts 65 is electrically connected to the first socket contact of at least two socket contacts 62, and the second cartridge contact of at least two cartridge contacts 65 is electrically connected to the second socket contact of at least two contacts 62 nests. In addition, one or more of the circuits required to operate the vaporizer can be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 52 into the cartridge socket 69 in a second rotational orientation such that the first cartridge contact of the at least two cartridge contacts 65 is electrically connected to the second contact of the cartridge socket. at least two socket contacts 62, and a second cartridge contact of at least two cartridge contacts 65 is electrically connected to a first socket contact of at least two socket contacts 62.

[0083] In one example of a connecting structure for connecting the vaporizer cartridge 52 to the vaporizer body, the vaporizer body 50 includes one or more retainers (e.g., recesses, protrusions, etc.) protruding inwardly from the inner surface of the cartridge seat 69, additional a material (eg, metal, plastic, etc.) molded to include a portion protruding into cartridge seat 69, and/or the like. One or more of the outer surfaces of the vaporizer cartridge 52 may include appropriate recesses (not shown in FIG. 1A) that may fit, receive, and/or otherwise snap onto such retainers or protrusions when the vaporizer cartridge 52 is inserted into the cartridge slot 69. on the body 50 of the evaporator. When the vaporizer cartridge 52 and the vaporizer housing 50 are connected (for example, by inserting the end of the vaporizer cartridge 52 into the cartridge slot 69 of the vaporizer housing 50), retainers or projections in the vaporizer housing 50 may be received within or otherwise retained in the recesses of the vaporizer cartridge 52 to hold the cartridge. 52 evaporators in place when assembled. Such an assembly may provide sufficient support to hold the vaporizer cartridge 52 in place to ensure good contact between the at least two cartridge pins 65 and the at least two socket pins 62, while allowing the vaporizer cartridge 52 to be released from the vaporizer body 50 when the user pulls. with the application of rational force to the evaporator cartridge 52 to disconnect the evaporator cartridge 52 from the socket 69 of the cartridge.

[0084] In some implementations, cartridge seat 69 may have a non-circular section transverse to the axis along which vaporizer cartridge 52 is inserted into cartridge seat 69. For example, a non-circular cross section may be approximately rectangular, approximately elliptical (e.g., approximately oval), non-rectangular but with two sets of parallel or approximately parallel opposite sides (e.g., shaped like a parallelogram), or other shapes having rotational symmetry of at least measure of the second order. In this context, the approximate shapes show that a basic resemblance to the described shape is obvious, but the sides of the shape in question need not be completely linear, and the vertices need not be completely sharp. The rounding of both or any of both edges or vertices of the cross-sectional shape is assumed in the description of any non-circular cross-section referred to here.

[0085] The at least two cartridge contacts 65 and the at least two socket contacts 62 may have various shapes. For example, one or both sets of contacts may include conductive pins, tabs, poles, pin or pole receptacles, or the like. Some types of contacts may include springs or other elements to facilitate better physical and electrical contact between the contacts on the evaporator cartridge and the evaporator body. The electrical contacts may optionally be gold plated and/or may include other materials.

[0086] An atomizer component for a vaporizer consistent with the features of one or more embodiments of the claimed subject matter may provide benefits and improvements over existing vaporizer configurations, manufacturing methods, and the like, while also introducing additional benefits as described herein. document.

[0087] FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of a vaporizer body 50 having a cartridge seat 69 into which a vaporizer cartridge 52 can be releasably inserted. In FIG. 1B is a plan view of the vaporizer 100 illustrating the vaporizer cartridge 52 positioned for insertion into the vaporizer housing 50. When a user takes a puff on the vaporizer 100, air can pass between the outer surface of the vaporizer cartridge 52 and the inner surface of the cartridge seat 69 on the vaporizer body 50. Air may then be drawn into the insertion end of the cartridge 52 through a vaporization chamber which includes or contains a heating element and a wick and exits through the outlet of the mouthpiece 21 to deliver an inhalable aerosol to the user. The reservoir 55 of the evaporator cartridge 52 may be formed wholly or partly of a translucent material such that the level of volatilized material is visible within the evaporator cartridge 52. The mouthpiece 21 may be a detachable component of the vaporizer cartridge 52 or may be integral with other component(s) of the vaporizer cartridge 52 (eg, integrally formed with reservoir 55 and/or the like).

[0088] In addition to the above, regarding the electrical connections between the vaporizer cartridge 52 and the vaporizer body 50 being reversible so that at least two rotational orientations of the vaporizer cartridge 52 are possible in the cartridge receiver 69, in some vaporizer devices, the shape of the vaporizer cartridge 52 or at least the shape of the end of the vaporizer cartridge 52 that is configured to fit into the cartridge seat 69 may have at least a second order of rotational symmetry. In other words, the vaporizer cartridge 52, or at least the insertion end of the vaporizer cartridge 52, can be symmetrical when rotated through 180° about the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 52 is inserted into the cartridge seat 69. In such a configuration, the evaporator circuitry 100 can maintain the same operation regardless of which symmetrical orientation of the evaporator cartridge 52 takes place.

[0089] FIG. 1C-1D show exemplary features that may be included in evaporative devices consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter. In FIG. 1C and 1D are plan views of an exemplary evaporator device 100 before (FIG. 1C) and after (FIG. 1D) the evaporator cartridge 52 is connected to the evaporator body 50.

[0090] FIG. 1E illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge 52 holding liquid vaporizer material 51. Any suitable vaporizer material 51 may be contained in vaporizer cartridge 52 (eg, within reservoir 140), including solutions of nicotine or other organic materials.

[0091] FIG. 1F is a perspective view of another example of a vaporizer 100 including a vaporizer body 50 coupled to a detachable vaporizer cartridge 52. As shown, vaporizer 100 may include one or more output elements 37 (eg, LEDs) configured to provide information to a user based on the status, mode of operation, and/or the like of vaporizer 100. In some aspects, one or more output elements 37 may include a plurality of LEDs (eg, two, three, four, five, or six LEDs). One or more output elements 37 (eg, each individual LED) may be configured to display light in one or more colors (eg, white, red, blue, green, yellow, etc.). One or more output elements 37 may be configured to display different light patterns (eg, by lighting individual LEDs, changing the light intensity of one or more LEDs over time, lighting one or more LEDs with a different color, and/or the like) to indicating various statuses, modes of operation, and/or the like for the vaporizer 100. In some implementations, one or more output elements 37 may be proximal to and/or at least partially located in the lower end region 43 of the vaporizer 100. The vaporizer 100 may additionally or alternatively include externally accessible charging contacts 47, which may be located near and/or at least partially located in the lower end region of the vaporizer 100.

[0092] FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic view of a heating element 120 and reservoir 55 consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter. Heating element 120 may define and/or include a capillary structure such as one or more capillary gaps, channels, and the like.

[0093] Heating element 120 may include one or more (eg, two or more) rigid portions that are separated to define a capillary structure. For example, one or more rigid portions may include a first plate portion 124 and a second plate portion 126 that are separated by a gap 128 (eg, capillary gap, channel, etc.). The gap 128 includes the distance that the first and second plate portions 124, 126 are separated. In other words, the size of the gap 128 is the distance between the first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126. The gap 128 may allow fluid, such as vaporizable material, to be held between rigid parts and/or be drawn into the space between the rigid parts in various orientations. For example, rigid portions (eg, first plate portion 124 and second plate portion 126) may be desirably spaced apart by space 128 to allow fluid (eg, volatilized material) to be transported and/or drawn from reservoir 55 of cartridge 52 of the evaporator to the evaporation section 122 (eg, evaporation sections 122A, 122B) (in which the fluid is heated and/or evaporated to form an aerosol) of the heating element 120, for example, by capillary action.

[0094] Interspace 128 may preferably be narrow to maintain strong and/or sufficient capillary forces to draw and/or otherwise retain fluid between the rigid portions. For example, the size of gap 128 may control the rate at which fluid replenishment occurs in gap 128. In some implementations, gap 128 may be desirably selected and/or dimensioned to limit or prevent evaporative material from leaking into or out of gap 128 too quickly. rapidly and/or retain vaporized material within gap 128. In some implementations, gap 128 may preferably be sized and/or sized to allow sufficient vaporized material to be retained in gap 128 such that gap 128 does not need to be refilled during a puff. and/or can be easily refilled during and/or after tightening.

[0095] In some implementations, the size of the gap 128 (for example, the distance between the first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126) is approximately 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, from 0.1 mm to 1 mm, 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm, 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm, 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm, 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm, 2.0 mm to 2.5 mm, 2.5 mm to 3.0 mm and/or other ranges between them. In some implementations, the size of gap 128 is approximately equal to the thickness of each of the first and second plate portions 124, 126. In some implementations, the size of gap 128 is approximately equal to the thickness of heating element 120 at evaporation site 122. In some implementations, the size of the gap 128 is greater than the thickness of the first and second plate parts 124, 126. In other implementations, the size of the gap 128 is less than the thickness of the first and second plate parts 124, 126. In some implementations, the size of the gap 128 along the first length of the gap 128 greater than the thickness of the first and second plate portions 124, 126, and the size of the gap 128 along the second length of the gap 128 is less than the thickness of the first and second plate portions 124, 126.

[0096] In some implementations, the length of the gap is approximately equal to the length of the first and second plate portions 124, 126. In some implementations, the length of the gap is approximately equal to the length of the evaporation section 122 of the heating element 120. In some implementations, the length of the gap 128 is greater than the size of the gap 128 .

[0097] In some implementations, the dimensions of the rigid parts of the heating element 120 (for example, the first and second plate parts 124, 126) can be chosen to help minimize the maximum hydrostatic potential between the rigid parts (for example, the first plate part 124 and/or the second plate part 126). The size of the gap 128 may also vary in one or more parts of the heating element 120, such as parts of the heating element 120 located inside the reservoir 55, to selectively draw in a certain amount of volatilized material (and/or return to the reservoir and/or replace the volatilized material in the reservoir, equalizing backpressure) and/or allowing a certain amount of air to pass through, over and/or around the heating element 120. In some implementations, the size of the gap 128 in the area of the heating element 120 to receive the flow of vaporized material into the heater may be the same and/or different from the size of the gap 128 in the area of the heating element 120 to allow the flow (eg, return) of air into the tank 55 and/or out of it.

[0098] Thus, the heating element 120 consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter can effectively control the amount of vaporizable material heated and vaporized by the vaporizer 100. The heating element 120 may additionally and/or alternatively allow the vaporizer 100 to heat and vaporize the vaporizable material to create aerosol without the use of a wick element such as a fibrous wick element.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 2A-2D, the heating element 120 (e.g., a capillary structure) includes a first plate portion 124 and a second plate portion 126. As noted above, the first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126 define one or more rigid portions. Each of the first and second plate portions 124, 126 extends from the proximal end portion 193A to the distal end portion 193B. The proximal end portion 193A may be located within the reservoir 55, and the distal end portion 193B may be located outside and/or away from the reservoir 55. For example, FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic side view of a heating element 120 and reservoir 55 with an exemplary air flow path 118 and liquid flow path 117, and FIG. 2C illustrates a schematic bottom view of a heating element 120 and reservoir 55 with an exemplary airflow channel 118.

[0100] FIG. 2D illustrates an example of a heating element 120 in an unfolded configuration. For example, the first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126 may be integrally formed into a single structure that is folded along a central transverse axis. In some exemplary manufacturing methods, heating element 120 may be formed into a single plate by stamping, moulding, laser cutting, punching, injection molding, draw molding, and/or other manufacturing processes.

[0101] The heating element 120 may form a resistive heating structure that may be heated to draw vaporizable material from the reservoir 55 through, for example, capillarity due to non-porosity. For example, heating element 120 may be formed from a conductive material. In some implementations, at least a portion of the heating element 120 may be coated with a conductive material before or after the formation of the heating element 120 by any of the processes listed above and others. After the heating element 120 is molded, the heating element 120 may be folded along the central transverse axis between the first and second plate portions 124, 126 so that at least the evaporation portions 122A, 122B of the first and second plate portions 124, 126 are approximately parallel. to form a gap 128 (eg, capillary gap) and/or induce capillary action. In some implementations, the first and second plate portions 124, 126 are at an angle to each other. In some implementations, heating element 120 may also include a separate heater 120A or heating element traces 120A for heating heating element 120, as explained in more detail below.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 2C, the first and second plate portions 124, 126 may be formed to have one or more gaps to allow vaporizable material to escape from the capillary gap into the air passage 118. The gaps may be surrounded by edges of adjacent sections of the first and second plate portions 124, 126, to allow vaporized material to exit the capillary gap into air passage 118.

[0103] In general, when a user draws on the mouthpiece 21 of the vaporizer cartridge 52, air flows into the vaporizer cartridge 52 and along the air passage 118. In association with the user's puff, the heating element 120 may be activated as explained below. When the heating element 120 is activated, the temperature rise is due to the current flowing through the heating element 120 to generate heat. Heat is transferred to some of the vaporizable material by conductive, convective, and/or radiant heat transfer such that at least a portion of the vaporizable material is vaporized. The heat transfer can take place in the volatilized material in the reservoir and/or in the volatilized material located within the capillary gap. The air passing into the evaporator cartridge 52 flows along the air passage 118 to remove the vaporized vaporizable material from the heating element 120 as shown in FIG. 2C. In such implementations, waste heat may be limited because heat will not be freely conducted to reservoir 55 and/or other portions of vaporizer cartridge 52.

[0104] FIG. 3A-9 illustrate an example of an vaporizer cartridge 52 (or a portion thereof) that may incorporate a heating element 120 compatible with some implementations of the current subject matter. A vaporizer cartridge 52 may be used and/or otherwise connected to a vaporizer housing 50 (not shown) having a battery and control circuitry configured together to generate inhalable vapor by heating the vaporized material before and/or as the vaporized material enters the heating element 120 from which it can evaporate.

[0105] The vaporizer cartridge 52 may include a reservoir (or container) 55 for holding vaporized material (such as an oil, solution, or some other fluid or liquid), a mouthpiece 21, an air inlet 106, and an atomizer chamber 110 disposed within or in contact with the fluid contained in reservoir 55. As shown in FIG. 3B, atomizer chamber 110 may include a heater body 112, a cartridge contact 65 (such as a socket, terminal, etc.), an atomizer chamber air inlet 116, and a heating element 120. Atomizer chamber 110 may at least partially surround and/or support the heating element 120. The atomizer chamber 110 may, in some aspects, be secured to the vaporizer cartridge 52 by, for example, ultrasonic welding, radio frequency (RF) welding, snap-on connection, or any other secure connection method. In some implementations, the atomizer chamber 110 is removable from the vaporizer cartridge 52.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 3A, cartridge 52 may include at least two cartridge contacts 65, which may include any shape and/or structure that accepts and/or contacts an electrical connector and/or power supply 8. In some implementations, cartridge contact 65 includes at least four cartridge contacts 65 for additional temperature, electrical resistance, and/or sensor readings or measurements.

[0107] The contacts 65 of the cartridge can be configured to receive or contact corresponding contacts 62 of the socket of the vaporizer body 50 when the cartridge 52 is inserted into the vaporizer body 50. Cartridge contacts 65 may extend inwardly from the bottom surface of the atomizer chamber 110 toward the inside of the atomizer chamber 110. In some implementations, the top end portion of cartridge contacts 65 may contact and/or otherwise be connected to at least a portion of heating element 120, such as contact portions 130, in contact region 109 (see FIG. 6). In some embodiments, cartridge contacts 65 are attached to contact portions 130 by, for example, spot welding, ultrasonic welding, radio frequency (RF) welding, snap-on bonding, or any other secure connection method. In some implementations, the contact area 109 may overlap with at least a portion of the heating area 108. In some implementations, cartridge contacts 65 may extend into heating region 108 to contact a portion of heating element 120.

[0108] The contacts 65 of the cartridge can provide an electrical connection between the power source 8, such as a battery, and the contact parts 130 of the heating element 120, for example, through the socket contacts 62 of the evaporator body 50. The electrical connection between the power source 8 and the contact portions 130 of the heating element 120 may allow heating of at least the evaporation portion 122, as described in more detail herein.

[0109] FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of a heating element 120. According to some implementations, the heating element 120 may be formed as a pair of connected or opposing plates or rigid parts. The heater element 120 includes a first plate portion 124 and a second plate portion 126. The first plate portion 124 and/or the second plate portion 126 may include a respective contact portion 130 (which may electrically connect or otherwise communicate with, for example, a respective one of the contacts 65 of the cartridge), an evaporation portion 122 consisting of opposing teeth 123A, 123B (eg, metal teeth), an upper connector 132, upper heater holders 134, and lower heater holders 136.

[0110] The first plate portion 124 and/or the second plate portion 126 may include an evaporation section 122. Plot 122 evaporation may have an approximate sinusoidal shape (or cross-sectional shape). In some implementations, vaporization portion 122 may have an approximately rectangular, oval, or other shape (or cross-sectional shape). Evaporation section 122 may be shaped to have one or more gaps in the evaporation section to allow vaporized material to pass from the capillary gap into air passage 118. For example, the gaps may be surrounded by edges of adjacent sections of evaporation section 122 to allow vaporized material to pass from the capillary gap to the air channel 118.

[0111] The first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126 of the heating element 120 may be integrally formed. For example, the first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126 may be formed by a single plate that is folded along the central transverse axis of the plate. Fig. 5B illustrates a perspective view of the atomizer component 120 highlighting an example of the first plate portion 124. In other implementations, the first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126 may be separately formed and connected in a connector 132. In other embodiments, the first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126 may remain separate after formation, but electrically connected in a different manner.

[0112] FIG. 5C illustrates a top cross-sectional view of a heating element 120 consistent with certain implementations. As shown in FIG. 5C, the first plate portion 124 may have an upper evaporation portion 122A, and the second plate portion 126 may have a lower vapor portion 122B. The distance between the upper and lower evaporative portions 122A and 122B can be adjusted depending on the desired capillary forces to draw volatilized material and/or retain volatilized material in the gap 128 between the first and second plate portions 124, 126. In some implementations, the size of the gap 128 (for example , capillary gap) may be constant from the fluid region 107 (shown in FIG. 6) all the way through the heating region 108 (shown in FIG. 6). Additionally and/or alternatively, the size of the gap 128 may vary along the channel 117 of the fluid. For example, the size of the gap 128 may narrow as fluid is drawn from the proximal fluid region 107 into the distal heating region 108, thereby creating a greater capillary pressure differential along the fluid channel 117.

[0113] With reference to FIG. 5C, the upper evaporation portion 122A may have gaps 152A formed between adjacent heater teeth 123A of the upper evaporation portion 122A. The lower evaporation portion 122B may have gaps 152B formed between adjacent heater teeth 123B of the lower evaporation portion 122B. The upper and lower evaporation portions 122A, 122B may be sized and offset such that the upper and lower heater teeth 123A and 123B at least partially overlap each other in an upward direction. In this configuration, the upper gaps 152A may generally be opposed to the respective lower heater teeth 123B. The bottom gaps 152B may generally be opposed to the respective top heater teeth 123A, for example, in the longitudinal direction. Such implementations may desirably allow vaporizable material 194 to be retained within a gap 128 at least along the length of the heating element 120 (e.g., a substantial portion), such as across the entire cross section of the heating element 120, between the first and second plate portions 124 and 126. As shown in exemplary heating element 120 in FIG. 5C, the cross-section of the volatilized material retained in the capillary gap between these opposing and offset heater teeth 123A, 123B may have an approximately sinusoidal shape due, at least in part, to tooth-to-tooth surface tension of the liquid. This cross-sectional shape of the capillary evaporable material may be desirable to limit air gaps located in the capillary gap and/or to maximize the amount of volatilized material that can be retained in the capillary gap. Offset gaps 152A and 152B allow evaporative material heated from below (eg, between the first and second plate portions 124, 126) and to the sides of each gap 152A to be efficiently vaporized and introduced into air passage 118.

[0114] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an evaporator cartridge 52 into which a heating element 120 is embedded consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter. As shown in FIG. 6, the vaporizer cartridge 52 includes a fluid region 107, a heating region 108, and a contact region 109. The fluid region 107 illustrates at least a portion of the vaporizer cartridge 52 in contact with vaporized material. In some implementations, at least a portion of the heating element 120 is in fluid communication with the volatilized material in at least one area of the evaporator cartridge 52.

[0115] FIG. 7A and 7B illustrate a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of an evaporator cartridge 52. Fig. 7B shows the fluid region 107 in a highlighted manner. The fluid region 107 may include a reservoir 55 and at least a proximal portion 123 of the heating element 120 (specifically, in one embodiment, an open volume between the first and second plate portions 124, 126 of the heating element 120) such that fluid evaporative material can enter the gap between the first and second plate portions 124, 126 and be absorbed or otherwise drawn towards the heating region 108, between the first and second plate portions 124, 126, by capillary action.

[0116] FIG. 7B illustrates the same cross-sectional side view of an exemplary evaporator cartridge 52 in which the heating region 108 is highlighted. Here, the heating region 108 includes at least the distal portion 193B of the heating element 120 (in particular, in one embodiment, the open volume between the first and second plate portions 124, 126 of the evaporation portion 122 of the heating element 120), so that the fluid vaporizable material may be vaporized from the gap between the first and second plate portions 124, 126. The vaporization portion 122 may be at least partially surrounded by air (for example, see FIGS. 2B, 2C, 5C) to facilitate vaporization of vaporizable material that has been absorbed and/ or otherwise drawn from the fluid region 107 into the heating region 108 . An example of a portion of the heating area 108 that is filled with at least air is highlighted in FIG. 7B.

[0117] In FIG. 2B, 2C, 5C, and 6 show an air passage 118. Air may be drawn in from at least one side of the vaporizer cartridge 52, such as through an air inlet 106. The air inlet 106 may be aligned with the atomizer chamber inlet 116 (see FIG. 3A). The alignment between the inlets 106, 116 may allow air to be drawn directly from the environment or a portion of the evaporator housing 50 into the atomizer chamber 110. In alternative implementations, the air inlet 106 and the spray chamber inlet 116 may be offset. Offsetting the inlets 106, 116 can be used to control air flow rates by, for example, increasing or decreasing the amount of air that can enter the spray chamber and/or increasing the length of the airflow channel 118, thereby changing the rate at which air enters. into the spray chamber 110.

[0118] The air passage 118 may extend through the air inlet 106 and the atomizer chamber inlet 116 and be drawn along, adjacent to, and/or around at least a portion of the heating element 120, such as the evaporation portion 122. In some implementations, air may be drawn from below or from the base of the evaporator cartridge 52. The air passage 118 through the vaporizer cartridge 52 may then extend along, adjacent to, and/or around the reservoir 55 in a passageway 119. The passageway 119 may extend between the outer wall of the reservoir 55 and the inner wall of the vaporizer cartridge 52 leading to the mouthpiece 21.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 6, the proximal portion 193A of the heating element 120 is in fluid communication with the reservoir 55, essentially bringing the proximal portion 142 of the capillary gap into fluid communication with the reservoir 55. The opposite distal end portion 144 of the capillary gap is in a heating region 108 exposed to air, allowing external surfaces of the first and/or second plate portions 124, 126 to be opened into the air passage 118 and allowing the volatilized material drawn by capillary action from the reservoir 55 to be heated by the prongs 123A, 123B of the heating element 120 and vaporized into the air passage 118.

[0120] When a user takes a puff on the mouthpiece 21 of the vaporizer cartridge 52, air enters the inlets 106, 116 and along the air passage 118. In association with the user's puff, the heating element 120 may be activated, for example, by automatically detecting a puff by means of a pressure sensor, detecting a user pressing a button, signals generated by a motion sensor, flow sensor, capacitive lip sensor, or other method capable of detecting that the user is taking or about to take a puff or otherwise inhales, causing air to enter the vaporizer 100 and pass along the air passage 118. Power can be supplied from the evaporator to the heating element 120 in the contact portions 130, for example, through the contacts 65 of the cartridge when the heating element 120 is activated.

[0121] When the heating element 120 is activated, the temperature rises due to the current flowing through the heating element 120 to generate heat. Heat is transferred to some of the volatilized material by conductive, convective and/or radiant heat transfer such that at least a portion of the volatilized material is vaporized. Heat transfer may occur to the volatilized material in the reservoir and/or to the volatilized material drawn into the capillary gap between the first and second plate portions 124, 126. Heat transfer between the heating element 120 and the volatilized material in the capillary gap may occur at the evaporation site 122. In some implementations, vaporizable material may vaporize along one or more edges surrounding gaps 152A, 152B formed by opposing and offset heater teeth 123A, 123B at vaporization portion 122 of heating element 120. Air passing into vaporizer 100 flows along air passage 118 through the atomizer chamber 110, carrying the vaporized vaporized material away from the heating element 120. The vaporized vaporized material may condense due to cooling, pressure changes, etc., so that it exits the mouthpiece 21 as an aerosol for inhalation by the user.

[0122] The heating element 120 may be made of various materials such as nichrome, stainless steel, or other resistance heater materials. Combinations of two or more materials may be included in heating element 120, and such combinations may include uniform distributions of two or more materials across the heating element, or other configurations in which the relative amounts of two or more materials are spatially non-uniform. For example, heater teeth 123A, 123B may have areas that are more resistive than other areas, thereby allowing them to heat up more than other sections of teeth, such as other sections of teeth immersed in the volatilized material of fluid region 107. This configuration helps to localize the heating of the heating element 120 in the area 122 evaporation.

[0123] Heating element 120 may be fabricated using one or more electrically conductive layers on or in contact with at least a portion of the surface of heating element 120. In some examples, one or more electrically conductive layers may include a conductive track pattern. In some examples, a pattern of conductive tracks is cut into heating element 120. The pattern of conductive tracks may be configured to provide the desired and/or controllable electrical resistance and may or may not be uniform in thickness or extend along the surface of heating element 120. Pattern of conductive tracks may desirably power the heating element 120 with a battery, such as a lithium battery. The structure of the conductive tracks may desirably provide sufficient ventilation so that the vaporized vaporizable material is vented by convection. Such implementations can help keep the local vapor pressure low and/or keep the evaporation rate high. Specific shapes, structures, thickness, etc. heating element 120 may be preferred to allow the heat supply to be controlled and to allow fluid from reservoir 55 to be drawn into heating element 120 (eg, into and/or along gap 128).

[0124] The electrically conductive layer may be a plate or other continuous layer that covers or forms all or part of the outer or inner surface of the heating element. Such a plate or other continuous layer may include features such as holes, micro-perforations, etc. to allow vaporizable material from reservoir 55 to pass through heating element 120. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, heating element 120 may include first and second plate portions 124, 126 which include perforations 199 to allow vaporizable material to pass through as heating element 120 is heated. The electrically conductive layer may be made of any electrically conductive material, such as, for example, nickel-chromium alloy, stainless steel, nickel, platinum, gold, copper or aluminum. As mentioned below, in some implementations, a plate including resistive material and conductive tracks may be used with another plate having perforations to allow ventilation. Other combinations may be implemented. Such implementations may have a smaller heater surface area and may reduce complexity.

[0125] With reference to FIG. 5A and 8, atomizer chamber 110 may at least partially surround and/or support heating element 120. Heating element 120 may be supported by atomizer chamber 110 by at least upper heater element holders 134 and/or lower heater element holders 136 for heater element 120. The upper heater element holders 134 may be separated from the evaporation portion 122 by an upper intermediate portion 133, and the lower heater holders 136 may be separated from the vaporization portion 122 by a lower intermediate portion 135. The upper and lower intermediate portions 133, 135 may reduce the amount of heat in the upper and lower holders 134, 136 of the heating element, respectively. Such implementations may help limit the heat transferred from the heating element 120 to the atomizer chamber 110 and/or may help limit the deformation of the atomizer chamber 110.

[0126] In general, a certain amount of heat conduction to the liquid contained in reservoir 55 can improve absorption and improve evaporation efficiency. Conductivity can be more effectively controlled by influencing the thermal gaps between evaporation section 122 and reservoir 55. Upper intermediate section 133 can provide a thermal gap by increasing the distance between at least a portion of heating region 108 (such as evaporation section 122 of heating element 120) and reservoir 55. In some implementations, heating element 120 traces may include a narrowed region to increase the distance between heating region 108 and reservoir 55. As shown in FIG. 5A and 5B, each barb 123A, 123B may have a proximal intermediate portion 133 that is longer than the length of its respective distal intermediate portion 135. The longer upper intermediate portion 133 defines a thermal gap between reservoir 55 and heating region 108. The shorter length of the lower intermediate portion 135 may reduce the volume of the heating element 120 and/or may allow additional components to be accommodated in the atomizer chamber 110.

[0127] The heater element housing 112 of the atomizer chamber 110 may surround at least a portion of the heating element 120. The heating element housing 112 may include any of plastic, ceramic, metal, and/or other materials.

[0128] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of a cartridge section into which at least a portion of a heating element 120 is inserted consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter. As shown in FIG. 8, heating element housing 112 may support heating element 120. For example, heating element housing may include a plurality of lower and upper support projections and recesses for receiving and supporting upper and lower heating element holders 134, 136 of heating element 120. For example, the lower protrusion 150A may be located in the upper recess 150B formed between adjacent upper protrusions 150C. Similarly, in some implementations, the top projection 150C may be located in the bottom recess 150D formed between adjacent bottom projections 150A. A plurality of protrusions and recesses 150 may support at least the upper and lower heating element holders 134, 136 of the heating element 120. As shown in at least FIG. 8, the end portions of the upper and lower heating element holders 134, 136 are placed between the respective upper recess and the lower protrusion or the lower recess and the upper protrusion.

[0129] FIG. 10A-12B illustrate another embodiment of a heating element 120 including a second plate portion 706 and a first plate portion 708 having a plurality of upwardly extending members 702 defining capillary channels 704 therebetween. Capillary channels 704 may include the same or similar features as gap 128 (eg, capillary gap) described above.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 10B, the heating element 120 may include a proximal end portion 710 and a distal end portion 712. The proximal end portion 710 may be in fluid communication with the reservoir 55 of the vaporizer cartridge 52.

[0131] The second plate portion 706 may include a heater, such as a heater 720A, located on the lower end portion of the second plate portion 706 and/or along at least a portion of the outer surface of the second plate portion 706. In some implementations, the second plate portion 706 may otherwise be heated to determine the area of heating.

[0132] The first plate portion 708 and the second plate portion 706 may be integrally formed. The first plate portion 708 may include a plurality of upwardly extending elements 702. The upwardly extending elements 702 could be spaced apart to define a plurality of channels 704 that extend between adjacent upwardly extending elements 702. The channels 704 may define a plurality of capillary gaps, formed between adjacent upwardly extending members 702. The capillary gaps may allow fluid, such as vaporizable material, to be held between and/or drawn into the space between adjacent upwardly extending members 702 in various orientations. Vaporized material may be drawn from reservoir 55 into the heated region of heating element 120 by capillary action, such as through channels 704. Such configurations may allow the cartridge pressure to be controlled.

[0133] Continuing upward elements 702 may be parallel, forming channels 704 with approximately equal width. In some configurations, the channels 704 may have different widths in the direction of fluid flow. As discussed above with respect to gap 128 shown in FIG. 2A-9, channels 704 may be desirably narrow to maintain significant and/or sufficient capillary forces to draw and/or otherwise retain fluid between upwardly extending elements 702. For example, the size of channels 704 may control the rate at which fluid is replenished into channels 704. In some implementations, channels 704 may desirably be selected and/or sized to limit or prevent evaporative material from flowing into or out of channels 704 too quickly and/or to retain vaporizable material in channels 704. In some implementations, the size of the channels 704 may desirably be selected and/or dimensioned to allow channels 704 to retain sufficient volatilized material such that channels 704 do not need to be refilled during a puff and/or can easily be refilled during and/or after a puff.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 12A and 12B, the heating element 120 may be held in place by a gasket 173 or other sealing mechanism. Gasket 173 may be formed integrally and/or separately from heating element 120. Gasket 173 may separate heating region 709 from fluid region 707. Gasket 173 may include various materials such as silicone and/or plastic, among others. In some implementations, gasket 173 is thin to allow air to return through channels 704.

[0135] When a user takes a puff on the mouthpiece 21 of the vaporizer cartridge 52, air flows into the inlets 106, 116 and along the air passage 118. In association with the user's puff, the heating element 120 may be activated, for example, by automatically detecting a puff by means of a pressure sensor, detection of a user pressing a button, signals generated by a motion sensor, flow sensor, capacitive lip sensor, or other method capable of detecting that the user is taking or about to take a puff or otherwise inhales to cause air to enter the vaporizer device 100 and pass along the air passage 118 .

[0136] When the heating element 120 is activated, the temperature rises due to the current flowing through the heating element 120 to generate heat. Heater 120A and/or heating element 120 may be energized through leads 714A. The lead wires 714A may extend outside of the evaporator cartridge 52. In some implementations, heater 120A and/or heating element 120 may be connected to a power source directly, such that the device may not have lead wires, or through other means. Heat is transferred to some of the volatilized material by conductive, convective, and/or radiant heat transfer such that at least a portion of the volatilized material is vaporized. Heat transfer may occur to vaporizable material in the reservoir and/or vaporizable material drawn into one or more capillary channels 704 formed between adjacent upwardly extending members 702. Heat transfer between heating element 120 and vaporizable material in the capillary gaps may occur in the heating. In some implementations, vaporizable material may vaporize along one or more edges surrounding channels 704 in the heating region of heating element 120. Air passing into vaporizer 100 flows through air passage 118 through atomizer chamber 110, carrying the vaporized vaporizable material out of channels 704. The vaporized vaporizable material may be condensed due to cooling, pressure change, etc., so that it exits the mouthpiece 21 as an inhalation aerosol by the user. Heating element 120 may be made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, one or more of nichrome, stainless steel, or other resistance heater materials, plastic and/or ceramic material, and/or other porous materials.

[0137] FIG. 13A illustrates another embodiment of a heating element 120 including an inner plate portion 1224 and an outer plate portion 1226 that may at least partially surround the inner plate portion 1224. The inner and/or outer plate portions 1224, 1226 may include a plurality of perforations. 1221 (see, for example, FIG. 13B) and/or resistive conductive paths for heating the vaporized material to cause vaporization of the vaporized material, thereby generating an aerosol. In some implementations, the inner and/or outer plate portions 1224, 1226 may include a heater 1220A located on a surface, such as an outer surface, to heat the heating element 120 (see FIG. 13C).

[0138] The outer plate portion 1226 may surround the inner plate portion 1224. The inner and outer plate portions 1224, 1226 may include a variety of shapes such as cylindrical (as shown in FIG. 13A), rectangular, square, or other shapes. The outer plate portion 1226 may be parallel to the inner plate portion 1224 and may be spaced apart from the inner plate portion 1224 by a gap that defines the capillary gap 1204 (which is the same or similar to the gap 128 described above). For example, in the implementation shown in FIG. 23, the outer plate portion 1226 and the inner plate portion 1224 may form concentric tubes or cylinders.

[0139] When a user takes a puff on the mouthpiece 21 of the vaporizer cartridge 52, air flows into one or more inlets 106 and along the air passage 118. In association with the user's puff, the heating element 120 may be activated, for example, by automatically detecting a puff by means of a pressure sensor. , detecting a user pressing a button, signals generated by a motion sensor, flow sensor, capacitive lip sensor, or other method capable of detecting that the user is taking or about to take a puff or otherwise inhales to cause air to enter the vaporizer device 100 and flow along the air passage 118.

[0140] When the heating element 120 is activated, the temperature rises due to the current flowing through the heating element 120 to generate heat. Heat is transferred to some of the volatilized material by conductive, convective, and/or radiant heat transfer such that at least a portion of the volatilized material is vaporized. Heat transfer may occur to the volatilized material in the reservoir 55 and/or to the volatilized material drawn into the capillary gap 1204 formed between the inner and outer plate portions 1224, 1226. Heat transfer between the heating element 120 and the vaporized material in the capillary gaps may occur in heating areas. In some implementations, vaporizable material may vaporize along one or more perforations 1221 in the inner and/or outer plate portions 1224, 1226. Air passing into the vaporizer device 100 flows along an air passage 118 through the atomizer chamber 110, carrying the vaporized vaporizable material away from the heating element. element 120. As shown in FIG. 13, the air passage may extend around the outside of the outer plate portion 1226 and/or through the inlet 106 and through the central passage 1202 defined by the inner plate portion 1224. The vaporized evaporative material may condense due to cooling, pressure changes, etc., so that it exits the mouthpiece 21 as an aerosol for inhalation by the user. Heating element 120 may be made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, one or more of nichrome, stainless steel, or other resistance heater materials, plastic and/or ceramic material, and/or other porous materials.

[0141] In some implementations, heating element 120 may include ceramic material and/or other porous materials such as heat-resistant materials, including, for example and without limitation, metals, glass, carbon, and/or heat-resistant plastics, such as, for example, and without limitation, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), or polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The porous material may be characterized by the presence of a plurality of voids or gaps, allowing the absorption of liquid from the reservoir. As described above, the heating element 120 may be formed from one, two or more plates. In some implementations, the plates may include printed heater paths to heat vaporization portion 122 of heating element 120. Such configurations may be desirable for better processability and/or heat resistance, among other benefits. In some implementations, at least one of the plates having printed heater paths may include at least one perforation to allow steam to escape. In some implementations, heating element 120 may include one or more plates having perforations and one or more plates having printed heater paths.

[0142] In some implementations of heating element 120 having printed heater paths, the paths can be more easily arranged in parallel, such as along the surface of heating element 120. Such implementations of heating element 120 may have higher resistivity. Such implementations may more efficiently distribute power across heating element 120 and/or reduce the temperature differential across heating element 120.

[0143] In some implementations of the heating element 120 having printed heater paths, the heater paths and/or the structure of the heating element 120 may not be identical. Such implementations may allow ventilation slots to be maintained at both ends of the heating element and/or provide greater rigidity to the heating element. This can simplify the associated mechanical complexity of the atomizer chamber 110 and/or vaporizer cartridge 52.

[0144] In some implementations of heating element 120 having printed heater paths, heating element 120 may have low thermal conductivity, which may in some cases allow for more efficient power consumption.

[0145] In some implementations of heating element 120 having printed heater paths, heating element 120 may have a large area along the surface of the heating element that is not used. Such implementations may allow heating element 120 to be smaller. Such implementations may allow additional electronic components to be placed on heating element 120.

[0146] The nebulizer chamber, consistent with implementations of the current claimed subject matter, is characterized by increased liquid throughput, while being thermally stable and having sufficient structural integrity for use in evaporative devices.

[0147] Moreover, the use of electrically conductive materials for the heating element (eg, in the form of a pattern of conductive tracks) allows the temperature of the heating element to be controlled using temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) correlation. Different electrically conductive materials (eg nickel) can be selected and used to achieve a more stable TCR resulting in accurate temperature measurement/control.

[0148] An atomizer component consistent with implementations of the current claimed subject matter may have an orientation other than that shown in the exemplary illustrations in FIG. 1A-13C.

[0149] Although the examples described here in relation to FIG. 1A-13C are directed to a vaporizer that uses a removable cartridge, an atomizer chamber consistent with embodiments of the claimed subject matter is not limited to such a device configuration. For example, the atomizer chamber may be incorporated as part of an evaporator housing 50 that includes a reservoir in which the atomizer and heating element are included or in contact with it.

[0150] With reference to FIG. 14, flowchart 1300 illustrates features of a method that may optionally include some or all of the following. At a block 1310, a heating element may be provided having two or more rigid portions separated by a gap defining a capillary gap. At 1320, fluid communication may be provided between the first end portion of the capillary gap and the reservoir of volatilized material. At 1330, vaporizable material may be drawn into a capillary gap formed between the two rigid portions of the heating element by capillary action. At 1340, a heating means may be provided at the second end portion of the capillary gap. For example, at 1350, at least a portion of the heating element may be heated, for example, in the second end portion of the capillary gap. Heating causes evaporation of the evaporated material. At a block 1360, the vaporized vaporizable material is introduced in a stream of air into the mouthpiece of the vaporizer in which the heating element is located.

Terminology

[0151] When a feature or element is referred to herein as being "on" another feature or element, it may be directly on the other feature or element, or intermediate features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly” on another feature or element, there are no intermediate features or elements. In addition, it should be understood that when a feature or element is referred to as "connected", "attached" or "associated" with another feature or element, it may be directly connected, attached or associated with another feature or element, or may be present intermediate signs or elements. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as "directly connected", "directly attached" or "directly connected" to another feature or element, there are no intermediate features or elements.

[0152] Although the features and elements are described or shown in relation to one embodiment, the features and elements described or shown in this manner may apply to other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that references to a structure or feature "adjacent" to another feature may mean that there are portions that overlap or lie under such adjacent feature.

[0153] The terminology used herein is only intended to describe specific embodiments and implementations and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, the singular also includes the plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, it should be understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising", when used in this specification, determine the presence of the specified features, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features. , stages, operations, elements, components and/or their groups. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements and may be abbreviated as "/".

[0154] In the description above and in the claims, there may be phrases such as "at least one of" or "one or more of" followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term "and/or" may also occur in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly contrary to the context in which it is used, such phrase is intended to refer to any of the listed elements or features alone or any of the listed elements or features in combination with any of the other listed elements or features. For example, the phrases “at least one of A and B”, “one or more of A and B”, and “A and/or B” are each intended to mean “A only, B only, or A and B together”. This interpretation is also intended for lists with three or more items. For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, and/or C” are each intended to mean “only A, only B, only C, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together.” The use of the term "based on" as indicated above and in the claims is intended to mean "at least partially based on" so that a feature or element not listed is also acceptable.

[0155] Spatial-relative terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “under”, “bottom”, “below”, “above”, “above”, etc., can be used here for ease of description, to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s), as shown in the drawings. It should be understood that the space-relative terms are intended to refer to various orientations of the device in use or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. For example, if the device is reversed in the drawings, then elements described as being "below" or "beside" other elements or features will then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "under" can cover both over and under orientations. The device may be oriented differently (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the space-relative descriptors used here are interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms "up", "down", "vertical", "horizontal", etc. are used in this description for purposes of explanation only, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0156] Although the terms "first" and "second" may be used here to describe various features/elements (including steps), these features/elements should not be limited to these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms can be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, the first feature/element discussed below may be referred to as the second feature/element, and similarly the second feature/element discussed below may be referred to as the first feature/element, without deviating from the solutions disclosed herein.

[0157] As used in the specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless expressly stated otherwise, all numbers may be read as if they were introduced by the word "about" or "approximately", even if the term not explicitly expressed. The expression "about" or "approximately" may be used when describing a value and/or position to indicate that the described value and/or position is within an acceptable expected range of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value can have a value that is +/-0.1% of the specified value (or range of values), +/-1% of the specified value (or range of values), +/-2% of the specified value (or range values), +/-5% of the specified value (or range of values), +/-10% of the specified value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical values given in this specification should also be understood to include about or approximately such a value, unless the context indicates otherwise. For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, then "about 10" is also disclosed. Any numeric range specified here is intended to include all subranges within it. It is also understood that when a value is disclosed that is "less than or equal to" a value, then "greater than or equal to the value" and possible ranges of values between the values are also disclosed, as appropriately understood by one skilled in the art. For example, if the value "X" is disclosed, then "less than or equal to X" and "greater than or equal to X" are also disclosed (eg, where X is a numeric value). It is also understood that throughout the application, data is provided in several different formats, and that this data represents end points and start points and ranges for any combination of data points. For example, if specific data point “10” and specific data point “15” are disclosed, then it is understood that values greater than, greater than or equal to, less than, less than or equal to, equal to 10 and 15, and between 10 and 10 are also considered to be disclosed. 15. It is also understood that each unit between two specific units is also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

[0158] While various exemplary embodiments have been described above, any of a number of changes may be made to various embodiments without deviating from the disclosed solutions. For example, the order in which the various method steps are performed can often be changed in alternative embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments, one or more method steps may be skipped entirely. Optional features of various device and system embodiments may be included in some embodiments but not others. Therefore, the above description is primarily for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0159] One or more aspects or features of the claimed subject matter described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuits, integrated circuits, custom application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), firmware, software, and /or combinations thereof. These various aspects or features may include implementation in one or more computer programs that are executed and/or interpreted on a programmable system, including at least one programmable processor, which may be specialized or general purpose, associated to receive data and instructions. from, and transferring data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device and at least one output device. The programmable system or computing system may include clients and servers. The client and server are usually remote from each other and usually interact through a communication network. The relationship between the client and the server occurs through computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

[0160] These computer programs, which may also be referred to as programs, software, software applications, applications, components, or code, include machine instructions for a programmable processor and may be implemented in a high-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language, a language functional programming language, logic programming language, and/or machine language assembler. As used herein, the term “computer-readable medium” refers to any computer program product, device, and/or device, such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, memory, and programmable logic devices (PLDs), used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, including a computer-readable medium, that receives machine instructions as a computer-readable signal. The term "machine readable signal" refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor. A computer-readable medium may store such machine instructions in a non-temporary manner, such as non-temporary solid-state memory or a magnetic hard disk, or any equivalent storage medium. The computer readable medium may alternatively or additionally store such machine instructions in a transient manner, such as a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0161] The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way of illustration and not limitation, specific embodiments in which the claimed subject matter may be practiced. As mentioned, other embodiments can be used and derived from them, so that structural and logical substitutions and changes can be made without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Such embodiments of the claimed subject matter may be referred to herein individually or collectively by the term "invention" merely for convenience and without intention of voluntarily limiting the scope of this application to any one invention or inventive concept, if more than one is actually disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described here, any device designed to achieve the same goal may be replaced by the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments of the invention. Combinations of the above embodiments and other embodiments not specifically described here will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the above description.

Claims (51)

1. Cartridge for vaporizer, containing: a reservoir configured to hold the volatilized material; And a heating element configured to heat the vaporized material, the heating element comprising: capillary structure, which includes many rigid parts, wherein the pairs of the plurality of rigid parts are arranged at a distance from each other to define a capillary gap therebetween, wherein the capillary gap is configured to draw vaporizable material from the reservoir into the heating region of the heating element for heating, and the aerosol is generated by heating the vaporizable material drawn into the heating region heating element. 2. The cartridge according to claim. 1, in which the set of rigid parts of the capillary structure contains: upper hard part; And a lower rigid part formed integrally with the upper rigid part and located at a distance from the upper rigid part by a gap that defines a capillary gap. 3. The cartridge according to claim. 1, in which the set of rigid parts of the capillary structure contains: an upper end portion configured to be in fluid communication with the reservoir; a lower end portion containing a heater; lower rigid part; And an upper rigid part integrally formed with a lower rigid part, the upper rigid part comprising: many elements continuing upwards, wherein the capillary gap is formed between adjacent upwardly extending members of the plurality of upwardly extending members. 4. The cartridge according to claim. 1, in which the set of rigid parts of the capillary structure contains: an inner rigid part defining a channel; And an outer rigid part surrounding the inner rigid part and located at a distance from the inner rigid part by a gap that defines the capillary gap. 5. Cartridge according to claim. 1, in which the heating element is located at least partially in the reservoir. 6. The cartridge according to claim 1, in which the upper rigid part of the plurality of rigid parts contains an upper evaporation section having a plurality of upper gaps, and the lower rigid part of the plurality of rigid parts contains a lower evaporation section having a plurality of lower gaps, and moreover, a plurality of upper gaps are located with lateral offset from a plurality of bottom gaps. 7. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an air inlet configured to direct the air flow over the heated area such that when the heating element is activated, vaporizable material drawn into the capillary gap in the heated area vaporizes into the air stream. 8. Cartridge according to claim. 1, in which the heating element contains an electrically conductive layer. 9. Cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive layer comprises a conductive track structure. 10. Cartridge according to claim. 1, in which the heating element contains nichrome. 11. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an atomizer chamber body that surrounds at least a portion of the heating element, the atomizer chamber body comprising a cut-out area. 12. The cartridge of claim. 11, in which the cut area is made with the ability to receive a porous material, made with the ability to absorb volatilized material. 13. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the heating element forms a single rigid portion that is folded to define an upper rigid portion and a lower rigid portion. 14. Cartridge according to claim. 2, in which the upper rigid part is parallel to the lower rigid part. 15. Cartridge according to claim. 1, in which the heating element contains a plurality of perforations, allowing evaporation of the evaporated material through them. 16. Evaporative device, containing: body of the evaporator; And cartridge according to item 1. 17. Evaporative device containing: a reservoir configured to hold the volatilized material; And a heating element configured to heat the vaporized material, the heating element comprising: capillary structure, which includes many rigid parts, wherein the pairs of the plurality of rigid parts are arranged at a distance from each other to define a capillary gap therebetween, wherein the capillary gap is configured to draw vaporizable material from the reservoir into the heating region of the heating element for heating, and the aerosol is generated by heating the vaporizable material drawn into the heating region heating element. 18. The evaporation device according to claim 17, in which the plurality of rigid parts of the capillary structure contains: upper hard part; And a lower rigid part formed integrally with the upper rigid part and located at a distance from the upper rigid part by a gap that defines a capillary gap. 19. The evaporator device according to claim 17, in which the plurality of rigid parts of the capillary structure contains: an upper end portion configured to be in fluid communication with the reservoir; a lower end portion containing a heater; lower rigid part; And an upper rigid part integrally formed with a lower rigid part, the upper rigid part comprising: many elements continuing upwards, wherein the capillary gap is formed between adjacent upwardly extending members of the plurality of upwardly extending members. 20. A method comprising: drawing through the capillary gap formed between the two rigid parts of the heating element, the evaporated material from the reservoir of the evaporation device into the heating area, and the heating element is partially located in at least part of the reservoir, and each of the two rigid parts has an evaporation section; heating at least a portion of the evaporation of the two rigid parts to cause the evaporation of the material to be evaporated; And entrainment of the evaporated evaporable material in the air stream along the air flow channel to the mouthpiece of the evaporator device.

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