Vaporizers having multiple heating elements

Abstract

Vaporizers having multiple heating elements are disclosed herein. An example includes a reservoir to contain a liquid to be vaporized. The vaporizer also includes a first heating element in the reservoir. The first heating element is to, when activated, vaporize a first volume of the liquid in the reservoir. The vaporizer also includes a second heating element in the reservoir. The second heating element is to, when activated, vaporize a second volume of the liquid in the reservoir. The first and second heating elements are independently activatable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vaporizer comprising:
 a reservoir to contain a liquid to be vaporized;   a first heating element in the reservoir, the first heating element to, when activated, vaporize a first volume of the liquid in the reservoir; and   a second heating element in the reservoir, the second heating element to, when activated, vaporize a second volume of the liquid in the reservoir, wherein the first and second heating elements are independently activatable.   
     
     
         2 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second heating elements are axially aligned with each other in the reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , further including controller to independently activate the first and second heating elements. 
     
     
         4 . The vaporizer of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second heating elements are separately electrically coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         5 . The vaporizer of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is to activate the first heating element but not the second heating element when the liquid in the reservoir is above a threshold level, and wherein the controller is to activate the second heating element but not the first heating element when the liquid in the reservoir is below the threshold level. 
     
     
         6 . The vaporizer of  claim 5 , further including a liquid level sensor in the reservoir, wherein the controller is to determine whether the liquid is above or below the threshold level based on data from the liquid level sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The vaporizer of  claim 3 , further including a button, wherein the controller is to activate one of the first or second heating elements when the button is activated. 
     
     
         8 . The vaporizer of  claim 3 , further including an airflow sensor, wherein the controller is to activate one of the first or second heating element based on the airflow sensor detecting airflow. 
     
     
         9 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , further including a center post in the reservoir, the center post defining an internal passageway, the first and second heating elements disposed in the center post. 
     
     
         10 . The vaporizer of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second heating elements are stacked axially in the center post. 
     
     
         11 . The vaporizer of  claim 9 , wherein the center post has a first opening radially aligned with the first heating element to enable the liquid to pass through the first opening and contact the first heating element, and wherein the center post has a second opening radially aligned with the second heating element to enable the liquid to pass through the second opening and contact the second heating element. 
     
     
         12 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , further including a third heating element in the reservoir, the first, second, and third heating elements being independently activatable. 
     
     
         13 . A vaporizer comprising:
 a reservoir to contain a liquid to be vaporized;   a liquid level sensor;   a first heating element in the reservoir;   a second heating element in the reservoir; and   a controller to activate only the first heating element when the amount of liquid is above the liquid level sensor, and activate only the second heating element when the amount of liquid is below the liquid level sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The vaporizer of  claim 13 , further including a center post in the reservoir, the first and second heating elements disposed in the center post, wherein the center post has a first opening radially aligned with the first heating element to enable the liquid to pass through the first opening and contact the first heating element, and wherein the center post has a second opening radially aligned with the second heating element to enable the liquid to pass through the second opening and contact the second heating element. 
     
     
         15 . The vaporizer of  claim 14 , wherein the first heating element is closer to an outlet of the center post than the second heating element. 
     
     
         16 . The vaporizer of  claim 15 , wherein the liquid level sensor is adjacent the first opening. 
     
     
         17 . The vaporizer of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is a microprocessor. 
     
     
         18 . A cartridge for a vaporizer, the cartridge comprising:
 a reservoir casing defining a cavity to contain a liquid;   a center post extending through a center of the cavity;   a first heating element in the center post; and   a second heating element in the center post, the first and second heating elements being independently activatable.   
     
     
         19 . The reservoir of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second heating elements are ceramic heating elements. 
     
     
         20 . The reservoir of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second heating elements are axially stacked in the center post.