摘要 |
An electronic cigarette comprises a generally cylindrical housing 2 with a proximal mouth end 3 and a distal end 4. Within the housing is a vaporiser 10 to produce vapour to be delivered to the mouth end, a battery 8, and sensor circuitry 9 to detect a user drawing on the mouth end and connect the battery to power the vaporiser to produce vapour. The vaporiser comprises a tube 11 having inlet 12 and outlet 13 ends and extends longitudinally of the housing. Supports are provided at opposite ends of the tube for directing airflow into and out of the tube from the inlet to the outlet. A porous matrix 18, 19 containing a vaporisable liquid extends around the tube and wicking fibres 15 extend through side openings 14 in the tube and are configured to wick the vaporisable liquid from the porous matrix into the tube. An electrical heater coil 16 in the tube is configured to be powered by the battery to vaporise liquid on the wicking fibres in the tube, so that vapour is supplied along the tube to the outlet end when the user draws thereon. An atomisation aperture 32 in the tube is configured to allow liquid to be drawn into the tube from the porous matrix so as to be atomised by passage through the aperture when the user draws on the mouth end. |