ATOMIZATION SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE

1 . An electronic smoking device, comprising:

a vaporization chamber in a housing;

a vaporization element inside of the vaporization chamber; and

an ejection plate at a first end of the vaporization chamber, the ejection plate having a plurality of micro-openings.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The electronic smoking device, claim 1 wherein each micro-opening has an area of 0.5 μm 2 to 20 μm 2 .

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . The electronic smoking device of claim 1 wherein the vaporization element is at a second end of the vaporization chamber.

7 . The electronic smoking device of claim 1 wherein the vaporization element comprises a heating element in the vaporization chamber.

8 . (canceled)

9 . (canceled)

10 . (canceled)

11 . The electronic smoking device of claim 6 wherein the second end of the vaporization chamber has a one-way which prevents flow of liquid out of the vaporization chamber.

12 . The electronic smoking device of claim 1 further comprising a liquid-supply unit having

a liquid-storage chamber; and

a liquid transfer element in the liquid-storage chamber, the liquid transfer element comprising a porous material; and

the liquid transfer element extending to the vaporization chamber.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The electronic smoking device of claim 7 further comprising a liquid in the vaporization chamber and a battery

electrically coupled to the heating element.

15 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . The electronic smoking device of claim 14 wherein the heating element operates to pressurize the liquid in the vaporization chamber, forcing the liquid through the micro-openings to form an aerosol.

22 . An electronic smoking device comprising:

a vaporization chamber in a housing, the vaporization chamber containing a liquid;

a heating element in contact with the liquid in the vaporization chamber;

an ejection plate at an end of the vaporization chamber, the ejection plate having a plurality of micro-openings; wherein

the heating element operates to pressurize the liquid in the vaporization chamber, forcing the liquid through the micro-openings to form an aerosol.

23 . The electronic smoking device of claim 22 wherein substantially each of the micro-openings has an area of 0.5 μm 2 to 20 μm 2 .

24 . The electronic smoking device of claim 22 wherein the ejection plate is at an end of the housing.

25 . The electronic smoking device of claim 22 further including a liquid transfer element comprising a porous material, the liquid transfer element extending from a liquid storage chamber to the vaporization chamber.

26 . The electronic smoking device of claim 24 further including a one-way valve at the vaporization chamber which allows liquid in the liquid storage chamber to flow in only one direction and into the vaporization chamber.

27 . The electronic smoking device of claim 22 wherein the vaporization chamber is defined by the housing and the vaporization chamber has a fixed volume.

28 . The electronic smoking device of claim 27 wherein the vaporization chamber is filled entirely with the liquid.

29 . A method for creating an aerosol for inhalation, comprising:

providing a liquid in a vaporization chamber;

heating the liquid to increase the pressure in the vaporization chamber; and

the increase in pressure forcing a portion of the liquid through a plurality of micro-openings at a first end of the vaporization chamber, with the movement of liquid through the micro-openings dividing the liquid into particles of liquid forming an aerosol.

30 . The method of claim 29 further comprising pressurizing the vaporization chamber by heating liquid in the vaporization chamber.

31 . The method of claim 29 further comprising maintaining a volume of bulk liquid against the micro-openings in the vaporization chamber so that only bulk liquid passes through the micro-openings.