I lllll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
`US008490628B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Hon
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,490,628 B2
`Jul. 23, 2013
`
`(54) ELECTRONIC ATOMIZATION CIGARETTE
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Lik Hon, North Point (HK)
`
`(73) Assignee: Ruyan Investment (Holdings)
`Limited;, Tortola (VG)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/560,789
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 27, 2012
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2012/0285476 Al
`
`Nov. 15, 2012
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 12/944,123, filed on
`Nov. 11, 2010, now Pat. No. 8,393,331, which is a
`continuation of application No. 10/587,707, filed as
`application No. PCT/CN2005/000337 on Mar. 18,
`2005, now Pat. No. 7,832,410.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Apr. 14, 2004
`
`(CN) .............................. 20040031182
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`A24F 1132
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ........... 131/194; 131/271; 131/273; 131/270;
`128/202.21
`
`(2006.01)
`
`( 58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC .............. 131/329, 194, 270-273; 128/202.21
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5/1927 Robinson
`1,775,947 A
`10/1936 Whittemore
`2,057,353 A
`3/1953 Suchy
`2,631,219 A
`8/1965 Gilbert
`3,200,819 A
`12/1970 Pricenski
`3,551,643 A
`10/1979 Uhle
`4,171,000 A
`6/1980 Haglund
`4,207,457 A
`2/1987 Takeda
`4,641,053 A
`4/1988 Gerth
`4,735,217 A
`7/1988 Clearman
`4,756,318 A
`9/1988 Myer
`4,771,796 A
`4/1989 Roberts
`4,819,665 A
`7/1989 Chard
`4,848,374 A
`8/1990 Egilmex
`4,945,929 A
`(Continued)
`
`CN
`CN
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`89207339X
`5/1989
`2047485 u
`1111989
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`FIN Branding Group, LLC, Third Party Response to Amendment
`including Submission of Prior Arts and Misc. Statement Per 37 CFR
`1.948 and Oljaca 6601776 in Reexamination of U.S. Patent No.
`8,156,944, Sep. 13, 2012.
`
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner - Richard Crispino
`Assistant Examiner - Dionne Walls Mayes
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Kenneth
`Perkins Coie LLP
`
`H. Ohriner;
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An electronic cigarette includes a shell and a mouthpiece. The
`external wall of the shell has an air inlet. An atomizer and a
`liquid-supply are in contact with each other. The air inlet,
`atomizer, an aerosol passage, and a mouthpiece are sequen(cid:173)
`tially interconnected.
`8 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`iO--
`
`~--- 25
`
`l
`
`23
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 1 of 11
`
`

`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,945,931 A
`8/1990 Gori
`4,947,875 A
`8/1990 Brooks
`5,042,470 A
`8/1991 Kanesaka
`5,060,671 A
`10/1991 Counts et al.
`5,080,114 A
`111992 Rudolph et al.
`5,095,921 A
`3/1992 Losee
`5,144,962 A
`9/1992 Counts
`5,159,940 A
`1111992 Hayward et al.
`5,190,060 A
`3/1993 Gerding
`5,224,498 A
`7/1993 Deevi
`5,249,586 A
`10/1993 Morgan et al.
`5,261,424 A
`1111993 Sprinkel, Jr.
`5,285,798 A
`2/1994 Banerjee
`5,322,075 A
`6/1994 Deevi
`5,388,594 A
`2/1995 Counts
`5,438,978 A
`8/1995 Hardester
`3/1996 Bowen eta!.
`5,497,791 A
`5,505,214 A
`4/1996 Collins
`5,591,368 A
`111997 Fleischhauer et al.
`5,666,977 A
`9/1997 Higgins
`5,666,978 A
`9/1997 Counts
`5,730,158 A
`3/1998 Collins
`5,743,251 A
`4/1998 Howell
`5,799,663 A
`9/1998 Gross
`5,819,756 A
`10/1998 Mielordt
`5,878,752 A
`3/1999 Adams et al.
`5,894,841 A
`4/1999 Voges
`6,040,560 A
`3/2000 Fleischhauer
`6,041,789 A
`3/2000 Bankert
`6,095,153 A
`8/2000 Kessler
`6,164,287 A
`12/2000 White
`6,178,969 Bl
`112001 St. Charles
`6,196,218 Bl
`3/2001 Voges
`6,354,293 Bl
`3/2002 Madison
`6,357,671 Bl
`3/2002 Cewers
`6,443,146 Bl
`912002 Voges
`6,532,965 Bl
`3/2003 Abhulimen
`6,601,776 Bl
`8/2003 Oljaca et al.
`6,715,494 Bl
`412004 McCoy
`6,772,756 B2
`8/2004 Shayan
`6,803,545 B2
`10/2004 Blake
`6,810,883 B2
`1112004 Felter
`212005 Nichols
`6,854,461 B2
`6,854,470 Bl
`212005 Pu
`912006 Dominguez
`7,100,618 B2
`7,131,599 B2
`1112006 Katase
`7,726,320 B2
`6/2010 Robinson
`7,832,410 B2
`1112010 Hon
`7,845,359 B2
`12/2010 Montaser
`7,997,280 B2
`8/2011 Rosenthal
`2003/0108342 Al
`6/2003 Sherwood et al.
`200410182403 Al
`912004 Andersson et al.
`2004/0261802 Al
`12/2004 Griffin et al.
`2005/0016550 Al
`112005 Katase
`2005/0236006 Al
`10/2005 Cowan
`2006/0196518 Al
`912006 Hon
`2008/0276947 Al
`1112008 Martz el
`2009/0095311 Al
`412009 Han
`2009/0126745 Al
`512009 Hon
`2009/0151717 Al
`612009 Bowen
`200910188490 Al
`712009 Han
`2009/0230117 Al
`912009 Fernando
`2009/0260642 Al
`10/2009 Monsees
`2009/0272379 Al
`1112009 Thorens
`2010/0031968 Al
`2/2010 Sheikh
`2010/0126505 Al
`5/2010 Rinker
`2010/0181387 Al
`7/2010 Zaffaroni
`2010/0200008 Al
`8/2010 Teieb
`2010/0242974 Al
`9/2010 Pan
`2010/0307518 Al
`12/2010 Wang
`201110005535 Al
`112011 Xiu
`201110036346 Al
`212011 Cohen
`2012/0111347 Al
`512012 Hon
`
`CN
`CN
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1135860
`1111996
`97216131
`5/1997
`
`US 8,490,628 B2
`Page 2
`
`CN
`CN
`CN
`CN
`CN
`CN
`CN
`CN
`CN
`CN
`CN
`CN
`DE
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`GB
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`UA
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`
`2293957 y
`1252961
`200410048792.6
`1575673
`200520089947
`2777995 y
`1284493 c
`20062135072 u
`20071121524
`200997909 y
`101116542 A
`101176805 A
`10051792
`0057243
`0230420
`0295122 Al
`0342538
`0358002
`0295122 Bl
`0545186
`0703735
`0824927
`0845220
`0893071
`0951219
`1528391 A
`64000498
`06114105
`07506999
`09075058
`UA47514
`W09409842
`W09421317
`W09740876
`W09748293
`W09817130
`W00049901
`W00105459
`W003034847
`W003022364
`W003055486
`W003101454
`W02004001407
`W02004023222
`W02004080216
`W0200608257 l
`W02007078273
`W0200807727 l
`W02008130813
`W02009l18085
`W02009135729
`W02010052323
`2010145468
`W02010145805
`W02011010334
`W02011022431
`
`10/1998
`512000
`6/2004
`212005
`3/2005
`512006
`1112006
`12/2006
`9/2007
`1/2008
`2/2008
`5/2008
`512002
`8/1982
`8/1987
`12/1988
`1111989
`3/1990
`111992
`6/1993
`4/1996
`2/1998
`6/1998
`111999
`1112002
`10/1978
`111989
`4/1994
`8/1995
`3/1997
`12/1997
`5/1994
`9/1994
`1111997
`12/1997
`4/1998
`8/2000
`1/2001
`112003
`3/2003
`7/2003
`12/2003
`12/2003
`3/2004
`912004
`8/2006
`7/2007
`7/2008
`10/2008
`10/2009
`1112009
`5/2010
`12/2010
`12/2010
`112011
`2/2011
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Australian Patent Office, Examination Report for SG 200505930-8,
`dated May 4, 2006.
`Australian Patent Office; Exam Report for AU2004234199, dated
`Aug. 14, 2009.
`Australian Patent Office; Search and Examination Report for
`SG200604498-6, dated Apr. 16, 2008.
`CN Creative ; Intellicig USA, Ruyan v. Smoking Everywhere et al.
`CV 11-6268 Invalidity Contentions, Apr. 12, 2012.
`Cyphert, GIL DBA NUlS, Ruyan v. Smoking Everywhere et al.
`CVl 1-0367 Invalidity Contentions, Apr. 11, 2012.
`European Patent Office, Extended European Search Report for
`EP07721148, Dec. 6, 2010.
`European Patent Office, Extended European Search Report for
`EP11001479, Jul. 4, 2011.
`European Patent Office, Supplemental Extended European Search
`Report for EP04718242, dated Jul. 27, 2007.
`European Patent Office, Supplemental Extended European Search
`Report for EP05729107, dated Jul. 31, 2007.
`European Patent Office, Supplemental Partial Extended European
`Search Report for EP05729107, dated May 22, 2007.
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 2 of 11
`
`

`
`US 8,490,628 B2
`Page 3
`
`European Patent Office, Supplemental Partial Extended European
`Search Report for EP04718242, dated May 22, 2007.
`FIN Branding Group, LLC, Request for Inter Partes Reexamination
`of U.S. Patent No. 8, 156,944, filed Sep. 13, 2012.
`Introduction to selecting and using electronic components, ISBN7-
`l ll-13752-3.
`IP Australia, Patent Examination Report No. 1 for AU2007250367,
`Jul. 30, 2012.
`IP Australia, Patent Examination Report No. 1 for AU2007250368,
`Aug. 9, 2012.
`Japanese Patent Office, Office Action and English Translation for
`JP2006504199, dated Oct. 30, 2009.
`Korean Intellectual Property Office, Notice of Preliminary Rejection
`for KR1020057009767, dated Jul. 27, 2009.
`Macau Patent Office, Official Communication for MOI121, dated
`Apr. 17, 2009.
`Malaysian Patent Office, Examiner's Report for MY PI 20041407,
`dated Sep. 28, 2007.
`Manual for Electric Engineers, 2nd Ed, Mar. 2000.
`Manual for Mechanical Designers, 4th Ed, Jan. 2002.
`Materials Manual-Nonmetal, Jul. 1, 1985.
`Sottera, Inc., Ruyan v. Smoking Everywhere et al. CVl 1-0367 Inval(cid:173)
`idity Contentions, Apr. 12, 2012.
`Sottera, Inc., Ruyan v. Smoking Everywhere et al. CVl 1-0367 Inval(cid:173)
`idity Contentions, Exhibit 7 (Claim 20 Claim Chart), Apr. 12, 2012.
`Sottera, Inc., Ruyan v. Smoking Everywhere et al. CVl 1-0367 Inval(cid:173)
`idity Contentions, Exhibit 8 (Claim 24 Claim Chart), Apr. 12, 2012.
`State Intellectual Property Office, P.R. China, English Translation of
`Written Opinion for PCT/CN07/001575, Jul. 20, 2007.
`
`State Intellectual Property Office, P.R. China, English translation of
`Written Opinion for PCT/CN071001576, Aug. 3, 2007.
`State Intellectual Property Office, P.R. China, International Search
`Report for PCT/CN07/001576, Aug. 16, 2007.
`State Intellectual Property Office, P.R. China, International Search
`Report for PCT/CN07/001575, Aug. 16, 2007.
`State Intellectual Property Office, P.R. China, International Search
`Report for PCT/CN04/000182, dated Jun. 10, 2004.
`State Intellectual Property Office, P.R. China, International Search
`Report for PCT/CN05/000337, Jul. 14, 2005.
`State Intellectual Property Office, P.R. China, International Search
`Report for PCT/CNl0/000125, Apr. 1, 2010.
`State Intellectual Property Office, P.R. China, International Search
`Report for PCT/CNl0/073613, Aug. 26, 2010.
`State Intellectual Property Office, P.R. China, Search Report for CN
`ZL 200620090805.0, Nov. 18, 2008.
`Taiwan Patent Office, Official Letter for TW093ll1573, dated Apr.
`24, 2009.
`TechPowerUp "What is a MOSFET, what does it look like and how
`does it work?" May 24, 2004.
`Ukraine Patent Office, Examination Report for UA2005l1258, dated
`Feb. 4, 2009.
`United States Patent and Trademark Office, Office Action in Inter
`Partes Reexamination of U.S. Patent No. 8,156,944, mailed Nov. 27,
`2012.
`Machine translation Chinese Patent Application 200420031182
`which corresponds to the priority document of W02005/099494
`(Hon '494) Oct. 27, 2005.
`Machine translation of Chinese Patent Application 031115 82 .9
`which corresponds to the priority document of W02004/095955
`(Hon '955) Nov. 11, 2004.
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 3 of 11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 23, 2013
`
`Sheet 1of5
`
`US 8,490,628 B2
`
`-----------------------~ i ,,,..,---°"
`
`i /
`
`lll~r~]
`B B
`f~~::g::J
`
`~ --i.....,,._..,--,,..........., ~~- ~
`_,,, ....... --
`r.::==:::;'11
`:
`!
`!
`
`'
`}/
`
`(
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 4 of 11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 23, 2013
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 8,490,628 B2
`
`\ \\
`
`~
`I
`\
`
`'()
`
`)
`
`__ ,j:_ ____________________________________ ,
`
`I
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 5 of 11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 23, 2013
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 8,490,628 B2
`
`31
`\
`'-.
`
`34
`
`FIG 5
`
`Fifi 6
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 6 of 11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 23, 2013
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 8,490,628 B2
`
`30
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Fifi 8
`
`--25
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 7 of 11
`
`

`
`~
`00
`•
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`2' :--
`
`N
`(.H
`
`~
`
`N
`
`0 ....
`
`(.H
`
`4
`
`('D
`('D
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`.....
`Ul
`0 .....
`Ul
`
`d
`rJl.
`00
`~
`
`\C = °" N
`00 = N
`
`F/6. 10
`
`FIG 12
`
`RS
`
`'Ill
`
`l
`
`FIG. 9
`
`28
`
`17
`
`15
`j
`
`-- -
`
`-·--
`
`- - v '
`
`FIG. 11
`
`I
`
`I
`
`13~4 . R2
`
`I - -·-·- - -·- - -·- -·-·~ l
`L f De[._. { K ~.EL J~~E~. _. _. _ .rl M ~
`lei
`I
`R3 !
`i
`BG1Tc
`I
`~C2
`_ __ _ _j,____
`!'---
`~I L1
`~ R4
`'
`
`n
`
`Ii. I i I
`
`2H
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 8 of 11
`
`

`
`US 8,490,628 B2
`
`1
`ELECTRONIC ATOMIZATION CIGARETTE
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 12/944,123, filed Nov. 11, 2010 and now pend(cid:173)
`ing, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 10/587,707, filed Mar. 9, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,832,
`410B2 which claims the benefit oflnternational PCT Appli- 10
`cation No. PCT/CN05/00337, filed Mar. 18, 2005, which
`claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No.
`20040031182.0, filed Apr. 14, 2004, all of which are incor(cid:173)
`porated herein by reference in their entirety.
`
`15
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette, in
`particular to an electronic atomization cigarette that contains
`only nicotine without tar.
`
`20
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`2
`With slight modification of the solution storage container,
`the device and connecting structures of the present invention
`can be filled with conventional drug for pulmonary adminis(cid:173)
`tration apparatus.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an overall structure;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another overall structure;
`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a overall structure with a
`display screen;
`FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a sensor;
`FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of a sensor with a silicon gel
`check valve;
`FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of an atomizer;
`FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of the ceramic member in an
`atomizer;
`FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of another atomizer;
`FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of a vapor-liquid separator;
`FIG. 10 is a structural diagram of another vapor-liquid
`separator;
`FIG. 11 is a structural diagram of the connection of a
`liquid-supplying bottle and a mouthpiece;
`FIG. 12 is a functional diagram of a circuit.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`Although it is commonly known that "smoking is harmful
`to your health", the number of smokers worldwide is up to 1 25
`billion, and the number is increasing every year. According to
`the statistical data from the World Health Organization, about
`4.9 million people die of smoking diseases each year.
`Although smoking may cause serious respiratory diseases
`and cancer, it remains extremely difficult for smokers to quit
`smoking completely.
`The active ingredient in a cigarette is nicotine. During
`smoking, nicotine, along with tar aerosol droplets, enter the
`smoker's alveolus and are rapidly absorbed. The nicotine
`then affects the receptors of the smoker's central nervous 35
`system.
`Nicotine is a kind of alkaloid with low molecular weight. A
`small dose of nicotine is essentially harmless to human body
`and its half-life in blood is quite short. The major harmful
`substance in tobacco is tar. Tar in tobacco is composed of 40
`thousands of ingredients. Several of these are cancerogenic.
`Some cigarette substitutes that contain only nicotine with(cid:173)
`out tar have been proposed. Many of them, such as "nicotine
`patch", "nicotine mouthwash", "nicotine chewing gum",
`"nicotine drink" etc., are made of pure nicotine. Although 45
`these cigarette substitutes are free from tar, their major dis(cid:173)
`advantage is that an effective peak concentration can not be
`reached in the blood of a smoker due to slow absorption of
`nicotine In addition, these cigarette substitutes can not satisfy
`habitual smoking actions of a smoker, for example, inhaling 50
`action, and thus are not likely to be widely accepted as effec(cid:173)
`tive substitutes for smoking.
`
`THE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An electronic atomization cigarette that functions as sub(cid:173)
`stitutes for quitting smoking and cigarette substitutes
`includes a shell; a mouthpiece; an air inlet provided in the
`external wall of the shell; an electronic circuit board, a normal
`pressure cavity, a sensor, a vapor-liquid separator, an atom- 60
`izer, and a liquid-supply arranged sequentially within the
`shell. A stream passage is provided on one side of the sensor.
`A negative pressure cavity provided in the sensor. An atomi(cid:173)
`zation cavity is arranged in the atomizer. The electronic cir(cid:173)
`cuit board comprises an electronic switching circuit and a 65
`high frequency generator. The liquid-supply is in contact with
`the atomizer.
`
`The present invention is further described below with ref(cid:173)
`erence to the accompanying drawings.
`30 Embodiment 1
`As shown in FIG. 1, an air inlet 4 is provided on the external
`wall of the shell 14. A LED 1, a cell 2, an electronic circuit
`board 3, a normal pressure cavity 5, a sensor 6, a vapor-liquid
`separator 7, an atomizer 9, a liquid-supplying bottle 11 and a
`mouthpiece 15 are sequentially provided within the shell 14.
`The electronic circuit board 3 comprises an electronic switch-
`ing circuit and a high frequency generator.
`As shown in FIG. 4, a negative pressure cavity 8 is provided
`in the sensor 6 and is separated from the sensor 6 by a film 22
`A first magnetic steel 20, a second magnetic steel 21 and a
`Reed switch 19 arranged between them is also provided
`within the sensor 6. The second magnetic steel 21 is attached
`to the film 22. The atomizer 9 is in contact with the liquid(cid:173)
`supplying bottle 11 via the bulge 36, and the atomization
`cavity 10 is provided in the atomizer 9.
`As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the overflow hole 29 is pro(cid:173)
`vided on the wall 25 of the atomization cavity 10. A heating
`element 26, which can be made of platinum wire, nickel
`chromium alloy or iron chromium aluminum alloy wire with
`rare earth element, is provided within the cavity, and can also
`be made into a sheet form with conductive ceramics or PTC
`ceramics. An ejection hole is provided on the side opposite to
`the heating element 26. The ejection hole can be determined
`to select either the long stream ejection hole 24 or the short
`55 stream ejection hole 30, depending on the material used for
`the atomization cavity wall 25. The long stream ejection hole
`24 can employ slot structure of0.1 mm-1.3 mm or circular
`hole structure with a single and multiple holes. The short
`stream ejection ho le 30 has the diameter ofabout 0.3 mm-1.3
`mm.
`The atomization cavity wall 25 is surrounded with the
`porous body 27, which can be made of foam nickel, stainless
`steel fiber felt, high molecule polymer foam and foam
`ceramic. A first piezoelectric element 23 is also provided on
`the atomizer 9. The atomization cavity wall 25 can be made of
`aluminum oxide or ceramic. As shown in FIG. 9, a through
`hole is provided on the vapor-liquid separator 7, and can be
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 9 of 11
`
`

`
`US 8,490,628 B2
`
`3
`made of plastic or silicon rubber. As shown in FIG. 2, a
`retaining ring 13 for locking the liquid-supplying bottle 11 is
`provided between one side of the liquid-supplying bottle 11
`and the shell 14. An aerosol passage 12 is provided on the
`other side of the liquid-supplying bottle.
`As shown in FIG. 11, the solution storage porous body 28
`is provided in the liquid-supplying bottle, and can be filled
`with polypropylene fiber, terylene fiber or nylon fiber, or be
`filled with plastic shaped by foaming, such as polyamine resin
`foam column or polypropylene foam column. Alternatively, it
`may be made of a column formed by molding polyvinyl
`chloride, polypropylene, polycarbonate into a stack oflami(cid:173)
`nated layers. The air inlet 4, normal pressure cavity 5, vapor(cid:173)
`liquid separator 7, atomizer 9, aerosol passage 12, gas vent 15
`17, mouthpiece 15 are sequentially interconnected.
`As shown in the functional diagram of the circuit in FIG.
`12, Kl refers to the Reed switch 19, RL refers to the heating
`element 26, LEDl refers to the Light Emitting Diode 1, U2
`refers to the low voltage detecting element used for the over- 20
`discharging protection of the lithium cell, Ml refers to the
`first piezoelectric element 23, and Cl, C2, R3, Ll, C3, BG,
`Ml collectively constitute a Colpitts oscillator. The operating
`principle of the circuit is as follows: when Kl is closed, Ul,
`i.e., the field effect power transistor, is turned on, RL starts, 25
`and the Colpitts oscillator starts oscillating, Ml will provide
`the high frequency mechanical oscillatory wave to the atom(cid:173)
`izer 9.
`When a smoker smokes, the mouthpiece 15 is under nega(cid:173)
`tive pressure. The air pressure difference or high speed stream 30
`between the normal pressure cavity 5 and the negative pres(cid:173)
`sure cavity 8 causes the sensor 6 to output an actuating signal,
`the electronic circuit board 3 connected therewith goes into
`operation. Now the ripple film 22 in the sensor 6 is deformed
`to take the second magnetic steel 21 away from the Reed 35
`switch 19. The Reed switch 19 is then closed (i.e., Kl is
`closed) under the effect of the excessive magnetic line of
`force from the first magnetic steel 20, starting the field effect
`power transistor electronic switch (i.e., Ul is opened). The
`high frequency oscillator may uses the Colpitts oscillator 40
`with the frequency of 550 KHz-8 MHz. The automatic fine(cid:173)
`adjusting element in the circuit resonates with the first piezo(cid:173)
`electric element 23. The LED 1 can be lit under the supply of
`the rechargeable battery 2.
`Air enters the normal pressure cavity 5 through the air inlet 45
`4, passes through the air passage 18 of the sensor and then the
`through hole in the vapor-liquid separator 7, and flows into
`the atomization cavity 10 in the atomizer 9. The high speed
`stream passing through the ejection hole drives the nicotine
`solution in the porous body 27 to eject into the atomization 50
`cavity 10 in the form of droplets, where the nicotine solution
`is subjected to the ultrasonic atomization by the first piezo(cid:173)
`electric element 23 and is further atomized by the heating
`element 26.
`After the atomization the droplets with large diameters
`stick to the wall under the action of eddy flow and are reab(cid:173)
`sorbed by the porous body 27 via the overflow hole 29.
`Droplets with small diameters float in stream and form aero(cid:173)
`sols, which are sucked out via the aerosol passage 12, gas vent
`17 and mouthpiece 15. The solution storage porous body 28 60
`in the liquid-supplying bottle 11 is in contact with the bulge
`36 on the atomizer 9, thereby achieving the capillary infiltra(cid:173)
`tion liquid-supplying.
`The mouthpiece 15 is threaded. When the nicotine solution
`in the liquid-supplying bottle 11 is used up, users can screw 65
`the mouthpiece 15 out to take the liquid-supplying bottle 11
`out, refill the liquid-supplying bottle 11 with the nicotine
`
`4
`solution, put the liquid-supplying bottle 11 into the shell 14
`again, and then screw the mouthpiece 15.
`The Reed switch 19, the first magnetic steel 20, the second
`magnetic steel 21, the ripple film 22 can be replaced by a
`semiconductor strain gauge with sealed film, which is
`mounted in the place of the sensor ripple film.
`To simplify the design, the first piezoelectric element 23 on
`the atomizer 9 can be omitted, and the atomization of the
`nicotine solution will be made only by the heating element 26.
`10 The size of such an atomizer can be made smaller, and the
`structure of the connection of the whole electronic atomiza-
`ti on cigarette is the same as the embodiment 1. In addition, as
`shown FIG. 8, the first piezoelectric element 23 and the heat(cid:173)
`ing element 26 in the atomizer 9 can be omitted, an additional
`second piezoelectric element 35 in the form of platen with a
`single layer or multiple laminated layers can be arranged in
`the atomization cavity, and the stream passing through the
`ejection hole vibrates the focus at the center of the second
`piezoelectric element 35 to achieve the effect of strong ultra(cid:173)
`sonic atomization.
`As shown in FIG. 10, a silicon gel check valve 31 may
`cover the outside of the through hole on the vapor-liquid
`separator 7. During smoking, a stream reaches the through
`hole, as the air pressure in the through hole increases, the
`silicon gel check valve 31 is opened and the stream passes;
`otherwise, the silicon gel check valve 31 is closed.
`As shown in FIG. 5, the sensor 6 may also be designed into
`a structure with the silicon gel check valve 31. During smok(cid:173)
`ing, the stream comes into the silicon gel check valve 31, the
`air pressure increases and the air expands, the third magnetic
`steel 34 in the valve approaches the Reed switch 19 gradually
`until the Reed switch is closed and the circuit is turned on, and
`the air outlet of the silicon gel check valve 31 is opened with
`the increment of the air pressure difference. The Reed switch
`19 can also be made of Hall device or magneto diode or
`magneto triode instead.
`Embodiment 2
`As shown in FIG. 2, to improve the liquid-supplying state,
`the liquid-supplying bottle 11 is arranged between the vapor(cid:173)
`liquid separator 7 and the atomizer 9. A spring piece 33 for
`pressing the liquid-supplying bottle 11 on the atomizer 9 is
`provided on one end of the liquid-supplying bottle 11. Other
`components and their functions are the same as those in the
`embodiment 1.
`On the inner wall of the shell 14 of the electronic atomiza(cid:173)
`tion cigarette described in the embodiment 1 and 2, a digital
`display screen 32 for showing the smoking times per day and
`the cell capacity can be also provided. The sensor 6 uses a
`linear signal output, which is proportional to the suction force
`(i.e., the stronger one sucks, the longer the time of operation
`is), the atomizer 9 operates in the linear mode, thereby simu-
`lating a cigarette that looks like a normal cigarette.
`Within the shell 14, the microswitch 16 is connected to the
`sensor 6 in parallel and used for manually cleaning. When
`55 users do not smoke, they press the microswitch 16 to start the
`sensor 6 connected therewith in parallel, or clean the residue
`or other impurity substance within the shell 14.
`The nicotine solution for atomization contains 0.4-3.5%
`nicotine, 0.05-2% cigarette essence, 0.1-3.1% organic acid,
`0.1-0.5% anti-oxidation agent, and the rest is 1,2-propylene
`glycol.
`The invention claimed is:
`1. An electronic cigarette, comprising:
`a housing having a longitudinal axis, an inlet and an outlet;
`a liquid supply in the housing;
`an air flow charmel in the housing connecting the inlet to
`the outlet; and
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 10 of 11
`
`

`
`US 8,490,628 B2
`
`5
`an atomizer assembly in the housing between the inlet and
`the outlet, including:
`a porous body projecting into the liquid supply; and
`a heating wire in the atomizer having a central axis
`oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudi(cid:173)
`nal axis of the housing.
`2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 further including a
`battery, a sensor and an electronic circuit board within the
`housing, with the circuit board electrically connected to the
`battery, the sensor and the heating wire.
`3. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 further including an
`atomization cavity within the atomizer.
`4. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 with the outlet within
`a mouthpiece that is screwed onto the housing.
`5. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 with the liquid supply
`comprising a fiber material.
`6. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 with the porous body
`of atomizer projecting into the liquid supply comprising a
`porous bulge section.
`7. An electronic cigarette, comprising:
`a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
`a liquid supply in the housing;
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`6
`an air flow charmel through the housing connecting the
`inlet to the outlet, with part of the air flow channel
`extending alongside of the liquid supply; and
`an atomizer in the housing between the inlet and the outlet,
`the atomizer including:
`a porous body extending into the liquid supply;
`a heating wire in the atomizer having a central axis oriented
`substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the
`housing; and
`a battery, a sensor and an electronic circuit board within the
`housing, with the circuit board electrically connected to
`the battery, the sensor and the heating wire.
`8. An electronic cigarette, comprising:
`a housing having an inlet and an outlet ;
`a liquid supply, a battery, and an electronic circuit board in
`the housing;
`an air flow channel in the housing between the inlet and the
`outlet; and
`an atomizer in the housing including: a porous body
`extending into the liquid supply; a heating wire having a
`central axis generally perpendicular to a longitudinal
`axis of the housing; and with the circuit board electri(cid:173)
`cally connected to the battery and the heating wire.
`* * * * *
`
`Fontem Ex. 2007
`Nu Mark LLC v. Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. IPR2016-01288
`Page 11 of 11