# US 2018/0020728 A1 · Electronic cigarette with mass air flow sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0020728 A1 - Document ID: US20180020728A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/219,214 - Filed: 2016-07-25 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25 - Assignees: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. - Applicants: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. - Inventors: Ramon Alarcon; Adam Hoffman; Michael Starman; Christopher Myles - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020728A1 ## CPC - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - A24F 40/50: Control or monitoring - A24F 40/51: Arrangement of sensors - G01F 1/6888: {Thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples, thermopiles} - G01F 1/696: Circuits therefor, e.g. constant-current flow meters - H05B 1/0244: {Heating of fluids (H05B1/0247 takes precedence)} - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A61M 15/0025: {with caps} - A61M 2016/0024: {with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch} - A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit} - A61M 2205/587: Lighting arrangements - A61M 2206/11: Laminar flow - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic smoking device comprising a flow channel and an atomizer. The flow channel can comprise an incoming airflow opening, an incoming airflow pathway, a sensor assembly, and an outgoing airflow opening. The atomizer can be fluidly coupled to the flow channel. The flow channel can be configured to direct an airflow from the incoming airflow opening, through the incoming airflow pathway, over the sensor assembly, and through the outgoing airflow opening. The electronic smoking device can further be configured to pass the airflow over the atomizer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Electronic smoking device comprising: a flow channel comprising an incoming airflow opening, an incoming airflow pathway, a sensor assembly, and an outgoing airflow opening; and an atomizer fluidly coupled to the flow channel, wherein the flow channel is configured to direct an airflow from the incoming airflow opening, through the incoming airflow pathway, over the sensor assembly, and through the outgoing airflow opening, and wherein the electronic smoking device is configured to, at least in part, pass the airflow over the atomizer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic smoking device of claim 1, further comprising an outgoing airflow pathway between the sensor assembly and the outgoing airflow opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic smoking device of claim 1, further comprising an external airflow pathway coupled to the flow channel, wherein the external airflow pathway is configured to direct air from the outgoing airflow opening to the atomizer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic smoking device of claim 1, wherein the flow channel further comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall, and wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the bottom wall, and the top wall define the incoming airflow opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic smoking device of claim 1, wherein the flow channel is sized and configured to create a laminar flow of air in the incoming airflow pathway before the airflow reaches the sensor assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic smoking device of claim 5, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a support structure and a sensor, and wherein the sensor is coupled to the support structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic smoking device of claim 6, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a first layer and a second layer coupled to the support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic smoking device of claim 7, wherein the first layer and the second layer create an upper surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic smoking device of claim 8, wherein the upper surface comprises a height above the support structure similar to a height of the sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electronic smoking device of claim 8, wherein the upper surface is configured to minimize turbulence of the airflow over the sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The electronic smoking device of claim 8, wherein the first layer comprises copper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic smoking device of claim 11, wherein the second layer comprises solder mask. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic smoking device of claim 12, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a silkscreen material deposited on top of the second layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The electronic smoking device of claim 6, wherein the support structure comprises a PCB. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The electronic smoking device of claim 6, wherein the support structure comprises a support depression. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic smoking device of claim 15, wherein a lower portion of the sensor is sized and configured to fit within the support depression. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The electronic smoking device of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a sensor, and wherein the sensor comprises a height of no more than 0.2 mm. ### Claim 18 Electronic smoking device comprising: a flow channel comprising an incoming airflow opening, an incoming airflow pathway, a sensor assembly, and an outgoing airflow opening; wherein the flow channel is configured to direct an airflow from the incoming airflow opening, through the incoming airflow pathway, over the sensor assembly, and through the outgoing airflow opening. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electronic smoking device of claim 18, wherein the flow channel is sized and configured to create a laminar flow of air in the incoming airflow pathway before the airflow reaches the sensor assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electronic smoking device of claim 19, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a support structure, a first layer, a second layer, and a sensor, and wherein the sensor, the first layer, and the second layer are coupled to the support structure.