Electronic vaporizer and control method for vaporizing a viscous material

Abstract

An electronic vaping device includes a heating element that is to be energized to convert a portion of a vaping material into a vapor by elevating a temperature of the vaping material. The vaping material, in a first thermal state, comprises a relatively-high viscosity. The electronic vaping device also includes airflow passage through which air entraining the vapor flows as a result of a user inhaling through a mouthpiece during a puff. A control circuit operates the heating element in a maintenance mode after the puff to maintain the vaping material in a second thermal state. The vaping material comprises a relatively-low viscosity in the second thermal state, and the relatively-high viscosity is greater than the relatively-low viscosity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic vaping device comprising:
 a heating element that is to be energized to convert a portion of a vaping material into a vapor by elevating a temperature of the vaping material, wherein the vaping material, in a first thermal state, comprises a relatively-high viscosity;   an airflow passage through which air entraining the vapor flows as a result of a user inhaling through a mouthpiece during a puff; and   a control circuit that operates the heating element in a maintenance mode after the puff to maintain the vaping material in a second thermal state, wherein the vaping material comprises a relatively-low viscosity in the second thermal state, wherein the relatively-high viscosity is greater than the relatively-low viscosity.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit comprises a timer circuit, and operates the heating element in the maintenance mode to maintain the vaping material in the second thermal state for a defined period of time following completion of the puff. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 2 , wherein the control circuit resets the timer circuit as a result of the user performing a second puff, and operates the heating element in the maintenance mode to maintain the vaping material in the second thermal state for the defined period of time following completion of the second puff. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the vaping material is in a gelatinous phase in the first thermal state, and operation of the heating element in the maintenance mode maintains at least a portion of the vaping material in a liquid phase in the second thermal state. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry operates the heating element in the maintenance mode to maintain a temperature of at least a portion of the vaping material in the second thermal state within a temperature range that extends from a first temperature that is greater than an ambient temperature of the vaping material in the first thermal state, and a second temperature that is below a vaporizing temperature at which the portion of the vaping material is vaporized into the vapor during the puff.