Abstract:
An electronic cigarette comprising a power supply ( 30 ) and a light source ( 40 ) used for emulating a burning cigarette, also comprising a control module ( 50 ) connected to the power supply ( 30 ) and to the light source ( 40 ). The light source ( 40 ) comprises multiple light-emitting units. The control module ( 50 ) controls, on the basis of a user operation, the light source ( 40 ) to emit a light emulating the burning cigarette. By employing the technical means whereby the control module ( 50 ) arranged at the power supply ( 30 ) and at the light source ( 40 ) comprising the multiple light-emitting units controls, on the basis of the user operation, the light source ( 40 ) to emit the light emulating the burning cigarette, the electronic cigarette is capable of implementing emulation under user control scenarios of various burning cigarettes, thus achieving the technical effect of improved vividness whereby the light emitted by the electronic cigarette is of increased likeness to actual smoking.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Electronic cigarette is a simulation cigarette, using heating wire to heat and atomize substance containing fragrance to produce smoke for users smoking A conventional electronic cigarette usually comprises an inhalation rod and a power supply rod. One end of the power supply rod disposes an indication light and a light cap which is capping on the indication light. However, when smoking, the indication light emits dull light only, thus shows poor simulation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Therefore, the present invention provides an electronic cigarette of high simulation. 
         [0004]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, an embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic cigarette, includes a power supply and a light source used for simulating cigarette burning. The electronic cigarette further includes a control module which is connected with the power supply and the light source. The light source includes multiple light-emitting units which are mutually cooperating to simulate cigarette burning. The control module controls the light source to emit light simulating to cigarette burning according to users operation. Therefore, by the control module and the light source composed of multiple light-emitting units, the electronic cigarette achieves simulating variety cigarette burning conditions under user control. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, the light-emitting unit is point light source. The multiple point light sources are orderly arranged as cylinder shape and/or curved surface. Every point light source is composed of an LED light. Therefore, the point light source being arranged as cylinder shape makes the simulated burning cigarette more stereo feeling, and the effect is more realistic. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, the light-emitting unit is an annular light source or a strip light source. The annular light source or the strip light source is orderly arranged as cylinder shape. The annular light source and the strip light source are composed of an LED light and a light guiding unit which is capping on the LED light. The annular light source or the strip light source composed of the light guiding unit makes the emitted light more uniform, and the effect is more realistic. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, the control module is a switch. Preferably, the switch is a touch switch or a button switch. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, the electronic cigarette further includes an airflow sensor which is used for sensing users smoking action. The control module is a microprocessor. The microprocessor controls the light source to emit light simulating cigarette burning according to the sensing signal of the airflow sensor. Therefore, by the airflow sensor and the microprocessor controlling the light source to emit light makes the light source emitting light associating with the users smoking action, more close to real smoking, and the effect is more realistic. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, the microprocessor delays a predetermined time to control the light source to emit light simulating cigarette burning according to the sensing signal of the airflow sensor. Preferably, the delayed predetermined time is one to three seconds, which further is closer to real smoking, and the effect is more realistic. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, the electronic cigarette further includes a current limiting circuit or a pulse width modulation circuit which is connected between the light source and the power supply and is used for adjusting the brightness of the power supply. Herein, there are two ways to control the LED brightness: one way is use the current limiting circuit to change the working current flowing through the LED, the current limiting circuit and the control module and the light source are connected in series to form a loop, then the LED brightness is basically proportional to the current flowing through; another way is based on human visual persistence, using the pulse width modulation method of the pulse width modulation circuit to achieve control, that is periodically changing the optical pulse width (the duty ratio), as long as the repeat lighting up cycle is short enough (the refresh rate is high enough), human eyes will not feeling that the light emitting pixel is jittering. Because pulse width modulation is more suitable for digital control, thus pulse width modulation is adopted to control. Preferably, the pulse width modulation circuit is disposed at an outer of the microprocessor or is integrated in the microprocessor. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, each light-emitting unit emits one kind of light of red light, white light, yellow light or blue light. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, the light emitted by the light source simulating cigarette burning is light of different brightness or brightness changing. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, the light emitted by the light source simulating cigarette burning is light of different colors. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, the light colors emitted by the light source are arranged orderly as grey, dark red and bright red along a direction from a cigarette rod end to a mouthpiece end. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, the light source is arranged on a flexible circuit board. Therefore, the light source can be folded, and is convenient installation. 
         [0016]    Furthermore, the light emitted by the light source simulating cigarette burning is light of color changing. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, the light colors emitted by the light source are arranged orderly as grey, dark red and bright red along the direction from a cigarette rod end to a mouthpiece end, and emit light as a predetermined time in turn according to the order. Therefore, the light source emits light more dynamic, further closer to real smoking, and the effect is more realistic. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, the bright red light is emitted sparklingly to simulate burning state. 
         [0019]    Furthermore, the dark red light and the bright red light are emitted sparklingly to simulate burning state. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, the light colors emitted by the light source are arranged orderly as grey, dark red and bright red along the direction from a cigarette rod end to a mouthpiece end, and emit light at the same time; and the bright red light is emitted sparklingly to simulate burning state. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, the light-emitting unit is point light sources which are arranged as a curved surface. Every point light source is composed of an LED light. Wherein, the curved surface is preferably a circular or a spherical surface. The structure of the point light source arranged in curved surface is simple, easy to manufacture, and can simulate the realistic effect of the cigarette burning state. 
         [0022]    Furthermore, the point light sources are arranged according to a predetermined order of color and/or brightness. 
         [0023]    Beneficial effects of the electronic cigarette of the embodiment of the present invention are: by the technical means of using the control module which is disposed and connected with the power supply and the light source, wherein the light source includes multiple light-emitting units which are mutually cooperated to simulate cigarette burning, and the control module controls the light source to emit light simulating cigarette burning according to users operation, therefore achieves simulating various states of cigarette burning under users control, then achieves the technical effects that the electronic cigarette further closer to real smoking, and the effect is more realistic. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a whole structure of an electronic cigarette according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view along A-A direction of the electronic cigarette shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the electronic cigarette according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a circuit of the electronic cigarette according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a point light source of the electronic cigarette according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an annual light source of the electronic cigarette according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a strip light source of the electronic cigarette according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    It is needed to state that embodiments and all element limitations in all embodiments may be combined in the case of no conflicts. The present invention will be described in detail in the following combining figures and embodiments. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the present invention provides an electronic cigarette, including a main rod body  101  and a transparent cover body  102  which is matched and installed with the main rod body  101 . 
         [0033]    The main rod body  101  is a cylinder structure with one end opening and inside hollow. The cover body  102  is securely installed at the opening end of the main rod body  101  to cooperate with the main rod body  101  to seal the electronic cigarette. A center of a bottom wall of the other end of the main rod body  101  axially defines an inhalation hole  11  through the bottom wall, to form a mouthpiece end  202  used for smoking the electronic cigarette. An inner wall of the inhalation hole  11  axially extends toward the inside of the main rod body  101  to form an air guide column  12  used for guiding smoke flowing. 
         [0034]    In the embodiment, the main rod body  101  may be made of materials such as metal, plastic, paper, wood and etc. A shape of the main rod body  101  is preferably arranged as a cylinder structure of the same shape to real cigarette of which cross section is round to enhance the simulation of the electronic cigarette. Certainly, the main rod body  101  may also be a cylinder structure of which cross section is polygonal or other combined shape according to design requirements to rich the external shape of the electronic cigarette. 
         [0035]    The main rod body  101  disposes an atomization device  20  and a power supply  30  therein. The atomization device  20  is used to atomize E-liquid to smoke for users smoking The power supply  30  is preferably a lithium battery. 
         [0036]    The atomization device  20  includes a liquid-storage part  21 , an electro-heating assembly  22 , an atomization seat  23  and a sealing ring  24 . 
         [0037]    The atomization device  20  is close to the mouthpiece end  202  of the main rod body  101 . An inner wall of the mouthpiece end  202  of the main rod body  101  radially extends to form a boss  13 , which is used to abut to the sealing ring  24 . 
         [0038]    The liquid-storage part  21  has capability of absorbing liquid and storing liquid, and is used to absorb and store E-liquid to facilitate the electro-heating assembly  22  to atomize the E-liquid subsequently. In the embodiment, the liquid-storage part  21  may be made of materials capable of absorbing liquid and storing liquid such as glass fiber, non-woven fabric, wood pulp fiber, chemical fiber, polyvinyl alcohol, high temperature cotton, chemical fiber cotton, mixed cotton, liquid-absorbing cotton, nickel foam, and so on. 
         [0039]    In the embodiment, the liquid-storage part  21  is arranged as a hollow tube structure matching with the main rod body  101 , and is coaxially arranged with the main rod body  101 . The liquid-storage part  21  is supported and fixed between the atomization seat  23  and the sealing ring  24  by a support tube  25 . A central of the support tube  25  forms an atomization chamber  251  which is used to conduct air path and accommodate the electro-heating assembly  22 . 
         [0040]    The electro-heating assembly  22  is used to atomize E-liquid to smoke. In the embodiment, the electro-heating assembly  22  is composed of a heating wire  221  and a glass fiber wire  222 . The heating wire  221  winds on the glass fiber wire  222 . 
         [0041]    In the embodiment, the glass fiber wire  222  is radially disposed in the support tube  25 . A sidewall of the support tube  25  correspondingly defines a bayonet  252  through the sidewall along the radial direction. Two ends of the glass fiber wire  222  extends out the support tube  25  from the bayonet  252  and abuts with an inner wall of the liquid-storage part  21 , therefore to absorb the E-liquid in the liquid-storage part  21  to supply the heating wire  221  to heat and atomize. 
         [0042]    In the embodiment, an outer contour of the atomization seat  23  and the sealing ring  24  are fitting with an inner contour of the main rod body  101  and preferably arranged as interferingly fit. Both the atomization seat  23  and the sealing ring  24  use outer walls thereof to be tensioning fixed in the main rod body  101  so as to seal and fix the liquid-storage part  21  in the main rod body  101 . A central of the atomization seat  23  and a central of the sealing ring  24  respectively and correspondingly define ventilation holes communicating with the atomization chamber  251 , thus used for conducting air path. 
         [0043]    The power supply  30  is disposed at one side of the atomization seat  23  away from the liquid-storage part  21 , and is supported and fixed in the main rod body  101  by a support seat  31 . A sidewall of the atomization seat  23  axially defines threading holes used for the heating wire  221  passing through. 
         [0044]    The opening end of the main rod body  101  further disposes a light source  40 . The light source  40  is used to simulate cigarette burning. The light source  40  includes multiple light-emitting units which are mutually cooperating to simulate cigarette burning. The light source  40  is covered with the cover body  102 . A whole or at least end surface of the cover body  102  is arranged as transparent or semi-transparent. In the embodiment, the whole of cover body  102  is made of transparent plastic material. 
         [0045]    In the main rod body  101  also disposes a control module  50  used to connect the atomization device  20 , the power supply  30  and the light source  40 . The control module  50  controls the light source  40  to emit light simulating cigarette burning according to users operation. The control module  50  is electrically connected with the power supply  30  and the atomization device  20  respectively, thus controlling the atomization device  20  and the light source  40  power-on or power-off. 
         [0046]    As an embodiment, the control module  50  is a switch, which is preferably arranged at the end of the power supply  30  away from the atomization device  20 . Specifically, the switch may be a touch switch or a button switch. When turning on the switch, the electronic cigarette works, the light-emitting units respectively emit light having different colors, and the light having different colors mutually cooperate to form gray, red or gradient light from gray to red, therefore achieves simulating cigarette burning. 
         [0047]    Referring also to  FIG. 4 , as an embodiment, the control module  50  is a microprocessor. The electronic cigarette also includes an airflow sensor  410  which is connected with the microprocessor and is used to sense users smoking action. The airflow sensor  410  is fixed in the battery rod  103  by a fixing seat  420 . The microprocessor controls the light source  40  to emit light simulating cigarette burning according to the signal from the airflow sensor  410 . That is, when users smoking by the mouthpiece end  102  of the main rod body  101 , a cavity of the electronic cigarette generates negative pressure, then makes the airflow sensor  410  generates pulse signal, the microprocessor controls to connect a power supply circuit between the atomization device  20  and the power supply  30  according to the pulse signal. 
         [0048]    As an embodiment, according to the sensing signal from the airflow sensor  410 , the microprocessor controls the light source  40  to emit light simulating cigarette burning after a delayed predetermined time. Preferably, the delayed predetermined time is one to three seconds, further closer to real smoking, and the effect is more realistic. 
         [0049]    Each light-emitting unit emits one kind of light of red light, white light, yellow light or blue light. The light source  40  is arranged on a flexible circuit board  400 . Therefore, the light source  40  can be folded, thus convenient installation. 
         [0050]    In terms of the arrangement structure the light-emitting units, the light source  40  is divided as cylinder shape and curved surface shape. Wherein, the curved surface is preferably arranged as spherical shape or round shape. Certainly, one skilled in the art may understand that, the arrangement structures may be combined to use, for example the light source  40  is arranged as cylinder shape at a side of the electronic cigarette and at the same time being arranged as spherical shape at the end surface. The cylinder shape further may be formed by the arrangement of a point light source  401 , an annular light source  402  or a strip light source  403 . The spherical shape is formed by the arrangement of the point light source  401 . 
         [0051]    Specifically, referring to  FIG. 5 , as a first embodiment, the light-emitting unit is the point light source  401 . The multiple point light sources  401  disposed in the main rod body  101  are orderly arranged as a cylinder shape, and the multiple point light sources  401  disposed in the cover body  102  are arranged as a spherical shape. Every point light source  401  is composed of one LED. Therefore, it makes the simulated burning cigarette more stereo feeling, and the effect is more realistic. Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , as a second embodiment, the light-emitting unit is an annular light source  402  or a strip light source  403  which are orderly arranged as cylinder shape. The annular light source  402  and the strip light source  403  are composed of an LED light and light a guiding unit which is capping on the LED light. The annular light source  402  or the strip light source  403  composed of the light guiding unit makes the emitted light more uniform, and the effect is more realistic. As a third embodiment, the light-emitting unit is the point light sources  401  which are arranged as a curved surface, every point light source  401  is composed of a LED light. Furthermore, the point light sources  401  are arranged according to a predetermined order of color and/or brightness. 
         [0052]    In terms of emitting mode of the light-emitting units, the light source  40  is divided to different brightness light or brightness changing light of the emitted simulating cigarette burning, and different color light or color changing light. 
         [0053]    Specifically, the electronic cigarette further includes a current limiting circuit or a pulse width modulation circuit which is connected between the light source  40  and the power supply  30  and is used for adjusting the brightness of the power supply  40 . Preferably, the current limiting circuit works under the control of the switch. Preferably, the pulse width modulation circuit is disposed at an outer of the microprocessor or is integrated in the microprocessor. 
         [0054]    As a first embodiment, the light colors emitted by the light source  40  are arranged orderly as grey, dark red and bright red along a direction from a cigarette rod end to the mouthpiece end. As a second embodiment, the light colors emitted by the light source  40  are arranged orderly as grey, dark red and bright red along the direction from the cigarette rod end to the mouthpiece end, and emit light for a predetermined time in turn according to the order. Therefore, the light source  40  emits light more dynamic, further closer to real smoking, and the effect is more realistic. Preferably, the bright red light is emitted sparklingly to simulate burning state. Preferably, the dark red light and the bright red light are emitted sparklingly to simulate burning state. As a third embodiment, the light colors emitted by the light source  40  are arranged orderly as grey, dark red and bright red along the direction from the cigarette rod end to the mouthpiece end, and emit light at the same time; and the bright red light is emitted sparklingly to simulate burning state. 
         [0055]    In order to further improve the simulation of the electronic cigarette and strengthen hand feeling, the outer surface of the main rod body  101  is further labeled with a sticker. One side of the sticker towards outside may printed with a pattern which is the same or similar to the appearance of a real cigarette; and the other side of the sticker attaching the main rod body  101  may use one any kind of adhesive capable of achieving mutual sticking with the main rod body  101 . 
         [0056]    Embodiments of the present invention is shown and described in the above-mentioned. Various improvement and modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.