VAPORIZER RELATED SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS
A personal vapor inhaling unit is disclosed. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit that may simulate a cigarette has a cavity that receives a cartridge in the distal end of the inhaler unit. The cartridge brings a substance to be vaporized in contact with a wick. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the substance to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through the wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing a heating element. The heating element vaporizes the atomized substance. The vapors then continue to be pulled by the user through a mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover where they may be inhaled.
1 .- 20 . (canceled)
21 . A vapor inhaling unit comprising:
a main shell;
a power source contained within the main shell;
a reservoir contained within the main shell for holding a liquid to be vaporized;
a porous ceramic element having a first portion defining a portion of the reservoir and an opposing second portion, the first portion of the ceramic element being fluidly coupled to the second portion of the porous ceramic element; and
a heating element arranged in direct contact with the porous ceramic element on the opposing second portion of the porous ceramic element,
wherein the reservoir is arranged for the liquid to flow therefrom to the first portion of the porous ceramic element to deliver the liquid to the heating element to form a vaporized substance in response to power received from the power source.
22 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 21 , further comprising an atomizer housing retaining the porous ceramic element and the heating element and being arranged within the main shell to form a vaporization chamber.
23 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 22 , further comprising an air passageway extending through the vaporization chamber formed by the atomizer housing, air flow through the air passageway in the vaporization chamber becoming mixed with the vaporized substance.
24 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 22 , wherein the second portion of the porous ceramic element forms a portion of the vaporization chamber.
25 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 23 , further comprising a mouthpiece defined at the proximal end of the main shell and arranged to receive the air mixed with the vaporized substance from the air passageway.
26 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 23 , further comprising a component forming a seal at an interface between the first portion of the porous ceramic element and the atomizer housing to prevent the liquid from entering the vaporization chamber.
27 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 21 , further comprising a control element arranged in the main shell, the control element being in electrical communication with the power source and the heating element.
28 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 27 , wherein the control element comprises an integrated circuit.
29 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 27 , further comprising an airflow sensor in operable communication with the control element.
30 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 21 , further comprising an indicator configured to output a status of the vapor inhaling unit.
31 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the main shell defines a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
32 . The vapor inhaling unit of claim 21 , wherein the heating element is formed as a heating trace on the second portion of the porous ceramic element.