JP2014519850A - Portable cigarette vaporizer - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are vaporizers and methods for vaporizing plant materials such as tobacco. Embodiments of the device include a self-contained, fully enclosed, battery powered vaporizer having an inlet and a mouthpiece. The vaporizer includes a window for viewing the plant material contained therein, as well as a heating element that is visible from the window and from the inlet. The vaporizer also includes a push button switch that rapidly supplies power to heat the air, which is then aspirated through the plant material by inhalation. An embodiment of the method includes heating the vaporizer air using a push button switch and viewing the red heat of the heating element as a signal indicating that the vaporizer is ready for use.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention generally relates to the field of vaporizers for consuming plant materials such as tobacco, and more particularly to using a portable self-contained vaporizer that releases volatile components sufficiently without burning. It relates to an apparatus and a method.

  Because tobacco is generally consumed by igniting tobacco, consumers are forced to inhale the combustion products along with any volatile components such as nicotine present therein. Because combustion products can be harmful, inhalation of burned tobacco can cause undesirable health effects.

  One way to avoid inhalation of combustion products is to heat the cigarette to a temperature sufficient to release its volatile components without burning. Prior art devices, often referred to as “vaporizers”, generally employ a continuous heating source such as a flame using butane fuel, a catalytic burner using butane fuel, or an electrical resistance heater. The heat source of many such devices is in conductive contact with a cigarette or receptacle containing the cigarette. As a result, the temperature becomes high and the surface of the cigarette near the heat source may burn and carbonize to the inside.

  Further, in many prior art vaporizers, if both the cigarette itself and the material holding part are not heated to a desired temperature, the vapor of the volatile substance cannot be extracted.

  In addition, because heating is generally performed continuously rather than on demand, many existing vaporizers are inefficient to use power, which keeps the elevated temperature constant. This is because they often provide heat to hold, which does not correspond to the duty cycle of intermittent inhalation of the product vapor intended by the user.

  One embodiment of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a vaporizer that fully houses the material to be consumed.

  Other embodiments of the present invention overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a vaporizer having an upper portion that can be removably installed over the lower portion to accommodate tobacco. In one embodiment, the upper and lower portions are held in place with magnets.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a closed vaporizer having a window for viewing the tobacco contained therein. In one embodiment, the window also reveals the extracted steam and red heat from the heating element.

  One embodiment of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a closed carburetor where red heat from the heating element is also visible from the inlet.

  Other embodiments of the present invention provide a vaporizer that has a heating element that is supported floating in a transparent heating chamber that can transmit light generated by the heating element of the instrument. To overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a closed vaporizer having a heating element that is integral with a material chamber and supported in a floating manner in a concentric transparent heating chamber. Overcoming the shortcomings of the prior art.

  One embodiment of the present invention includes a computer controlled temperature regulation system that allows proper vaporization temperature.

  Another embodiment of the invention includes a vaporizer having a rechargeable battery that can be removed by a user.

  One aspect of the present invention is to provide a vaporizer for supplying steam from plant material to a user, and the plant material may be tobacco. The vaporizer includes a housing, and a heater substantially within the housing includes an electrical energy storage device, a switch operable by a user, a heating element, an electrical energy storage device, and a switch operable by the user. And an electrical circuit including a heating element, wherein the electrical circuit is adapted to supply energy from the electrical energy storage device to the heating element when a user operable switch is activated. The carburetor further includes a passage with the housing, the passage including an air inlet, a heater portion that provides thermal contact with the air in the heater and the heating element, a receiving portion that houses the cigarette, and an air outlet. ,including. The user therefore activates a switch operable by the user and inhales air outside the vaporizer by inhaling from the exhaust, followed by heating the air in contact with the heating element to the heated air temperature. Then, the plant material is at least partially vaporized with heated air, and then at least a portion of the vaporized tobacco is supplied to the user through the exhaust vent.

  Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for supplying steam of plant material using a vaporizer. The method comprises manually operating the vaporizer, the electrical energy stored in the vaporizer, the receptacle for receiving the plant material, and the stored electrical energy from the inlet receiving air. A fluid passage extending through a manually actuable heater for heating the fluid, through the receptacle and to the outlet, and sucking from the outlet. Therefore, air is sucked into the passage from outside the vaporizer, and subsequently its air temperature rises in the heater, heats the plant material, extracts steam from it, and supplies this steam to the user .

  Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a vaporizer for supplying steam from plant material to a user. The vaporizer includes a heating element and a passage, the passage including an air inlet, a heater portion that provides thermal contact with the air in the heater and the heating element, a receiving portion that contains plant material, and a heater A window for transmitting heat radiation from the section to the user, and an exhaust port. The user has a visual cue that the inhaled air may have been heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the plant material.

  One aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of supplying a vapor of plant material using a vaporizer, the method comprising manually operating the vaporizer, wherein the vaporizer comprises a plant A receiving portion for containing the material, a fluid passage extending from the inlet through the heater for heating air, through the receiving portion to the outlet, and a window for allowing the user to see the heat radiation from the heater. And when the user recognizes light from the heater through the window, inhale from the outlet. The user therefore has a visual cue that the inhaled air may have been heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the plant material.

  The above features and various additional features and features that will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description are realized by the vaporizer of the present invention, and preferred embodiments thereof are shown by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. Has been.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a vaporizer. FIG. 2 is a top view of the vaporizer of FIG. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the vaporizer of FIG. FIG. 4 is a distal end view of the vaporizer of FIG. FIG. 5 is a proximal end view of the vaporizer of FIG. FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the vaporizer of FIG. 1 with the upper portion removed from the lower portion. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. FIG. 9 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the heater block. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a partially assembled heater block. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the flow of air through the vaporizer of FIG. 12 is a cut-away perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an electronic component in a vaporizer.

  In the figures, reference signs have been used to indicate particular components, aspects or features illustrated therein, and reference numerals common to the drawings are similar elements illustrated therein. Indicates an aspect or feature.

  FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a portable vaporizer 100 according to one embodiment, and FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are the top surface 106, left surface 202, distal end 104, and proximal end of the vaporizer, respectively. FIG.

  The vaporizer 100 has a mouthpiece 103 having an opening 311 to the vaporizer at the proximal end 102, an inlet 105 at the proximal end 104, and a top surface 106 from which the material set in the vaporizer is placed. A housing 101 having a visible window 107 and a push button switch 109 on the right surface 108 is included. The left surface 202 includes a power switch 201, a power connector 305, a display lamp 307, and a recess 309. Although the material which should be made into a vaporization state is not limited to this, Plant materials, such as tobacco, may be sufficient, and although it does not limit to this in this specification, it will call tobacco.

  The housing 101 is formed from a rigid material and may include one or more parts or layers of metal or plastic. Thus, for example, the surfaces 108, 202 and the ends 102, 104 include a case 207 and a removable bottom panel 303, and the top surface 106 projects above the elongated portion 205 and window 107 to surround it. 203.

  The window 107 is preferably a scratch-resistant material that transmits visible light, such as, but not limited to, borosilicate glass or glass such as crystalline quartz or fused quartz material.

  The vaporizer 100 is preferably of a size that can be grasped by hand, the dimensions of which are a height H of 20-30 mm, for example a height H of 25 mm, a length L of 110-170 mm, for example a length L. 140 mm and width W may be 40 mm to 60 mm, for example, the width may be 50 mm.

  The indicator lamp 307 may include one lamp or a plurality of lamps of different colors (such as red, green and / or blue), whether the vaporizer 100 is powered on, temperature setting and / or vaporization. Indicates the remaining battery power in the container.

  In general, the user can open the casing 101 using the depression 309, set the cigarette under the window 107, hold the case 207, and press the push button switch 109. In certain embodiments, within a few seconds after the pushbutton switch 109 is pressed, a heater (described below) in the carburetor 100 has reached an appropriate vaporization temperature by emitting visible light through the window 107 and the inlet 105, And displays that the user should inhale through the opening 311 of the mouthpiece 103. Air is drawn from the air inlet 105 by the operation of inhalation, and the air is first heated by a heater to vaporize the cigarette, and the vapor is inhaled from the mouthpiece by the user. In addition, the power switch 201 may include several setting positions, for example, a power off setting position, a low power setting position, and a high temperature setting position for controlling the temperature of the vaporizer 100. The internal battery can be recharged.

  FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the vaporizer 100 showing that the vaporizer includes an upper portion 210 and a lower portion 220. Upper portion 210 includes an elongated portion 205, a bezel 203, and a window 107. In addition, the elongated portion 205 forms a surface 611, a lip 613, and a recess 615, and includes a magnet 621 and a window mounting portion 631. The window mounting portion 631 further includes a flat surface 633 and a groove 635 and is held on the elongated portion 205 with screws 637 as shown in more detail in FIG.

  The lower portion 220 includes a case 207, a bottom panel 303, a mouthpiece 103, an air inlet 105, a push button switch 109, a power switch 201, a power connector 305, a display lamp 307, a recess 309, including. As shown in FIG. 7, the air inlet 105 is formed of a grill 703 that may be separate from the case 270 and a wire mesh 705 that prevents contaminants from entering the vaporizer 100. In addition, the lower portion 220 includes a surface 601 and an overhang 603. The surface 601 is an opening into the housing, specifically, a first opening 607, and a second opening 605 that exposes a bowl-shaped recess 640 having an upper surface 604 and a bottom mesh 717 continuous with the surface 601. And including.

  Surface 601 is or includes a material that adheres to magnet 621. When the upper portion 210 is placed on the lower portion 220 as shown in FIG. 1, the magnet 621 adheres to the upper surface 601, the lip 613 contacts the overhang portion 603, the surface 611 contacts the surface 601, and the surfaces 601 and 604. Contacts the surface 633, and the recess 615 and the groove 635 do not contact either the surface 601 or 604, and there is a gap for air to flow between the openings 605 and 607.

  A more detailed description of one embodiment of upper portion 210 and lower portion 220 is exemplarily shown in FIG. 7 which is a 7-7 cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 and FIG. 8 which is a 8-8 cross-sectional view of FIG. Has been.

  Upper portion 210 includes a window attachment 631 that is attached to elongated portion 205 with screws 637. The window mount may also include a gasket or O-ring for sealing the window 107 in an airtight state.

  The surface 601 of the lower portion 220 is held by the case 207 using a screw 701. The grill 703 forming the intake port 105 is attached to the case 207, and the wire mesh 705 is installed in contact with the grill 703 and the inside of the vaporizer 100 to prevent contaminants from entering the vaporizer.

  The lower portion 220 also includes a heater part 710, a control electronic component 720, and an energy storage part 730. The heater portion 710 further includes a heater block 711 including a lower core 702 and an upper core 704 that form a passage 713 including a heating element 715, a bottom of the mesh 717, a saddle side 719, an opening 605, and a temperature sensor. Part 640, which are shown and described below.

  In one embodiment, the heating element 715 is a resistance coil such as a nickel chrome alloy such as Nichrome ™, Inconel ™, or a FeCrAl alloy such as Kanthal ™, and the cores 702 and 704 emit visible light. It may be permeated and composed of, for example, borosilicate glass, crystalline quartz or fused quartz. Therefore, as power is dissipated in the heating element 715, red heat may be visible from the window 107 and / or the inlet 105.

  The control electronics 720 includes a circuit board 723 on which a programmable processor 725, a power controller 727, and other digital and / or analog circuits for controlling and powering the vaporizer 100, such as the power switch 201, A power connector 305 and a display lamp 307 are mounted. In addition to this, other switches, buttons, temperature sensors, and other sensors may be dispersed throughout the vaporizer 100, or may be wired in the control electronic component 720. The energy storage unit 730 includes a battery frame 733 attached to the case 207 and a battery 731.

  In one embodiment, the battery 731 is a 7.4V, 800 mAh, discharge rate 7C battery.

  FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the heater block 711, which includes a lower heat transfer mat 910, a lower core 920, a central heat transfer mat 930, power and control electronics 940, an upper core 950, and an upper heat transfer. A transmission mat 960. For example, the lower core 920 and the upper core 950 may be, but are not limited to, the lower core 702 and the upper core 704, respectively.

  The lower mat 910 includes an opening 911 and a slot 913. The lower core 920 includes an opening 921 positioned above the slot 913, a groove 922, a heating element support 923, a circular recess 924 with a central mesh support 925, a temperature sensor receiver 927, An element ground receiving part 926 and a heating element power supply receiving part 928 are included. The central heat transfer mat 930 includes an outer portion 931 and an inner portion 935 that supports the mesh 717.

  The power and control component 940 includes a heating element 715 attached to a compression fitting 945 connected to a ground wire 947, and a compression fitting 943 connected to a power lead 949, and a temperature sensor 942. . Upper core 950 includes an opening 605 and a heel side 719. The upper heat transfer mat 960 includes an opening 961.

  The mats 910, 930, 950 are preferably formed from high temperature food grade silicone rubber. Lower core 920 and upper core 950 are preferably formed from borosilicate glass or crystalline quartz. Mesh 717 is preferably formed from stainless steel. The temperature sensor 942 is preferably a glass coated thermistor, such as Measurement Specialties Inc. of Hampton, VA. Model G100K4000C1 manufactured by

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the heater block 711 partially assembled. As shown in FIG. 10, the upper core 950 also includes a groove 1001, a heating element support 1003, a heating element power receiving part 1005, a heating element ground receiving part 1003, a temperature sensor receiving part 1009, including. The heating element 715 is installed in the grooves 922 and 1001, and is supported by the heating element support portions 923 and 1003 in the middle, the compression fitting 945 is sandwiched between the receiving portions 926 and 1007, and the compression fitting 943 is received. Sandwiched between portions 928 and 1005. In the assembled state, a channel 713 is formed by the opposed grooves 922 and 1001. In addition, a temperature sensor 942 can be sandwiched between the temperature sensor receivers 927 and 1009 so that the gas temperature can be sensed in the vicinity of the mesh 717.

  Here, the operation of the vaporizer 100 is illustrated in FIG. 11, which is a diagram for explaining the flow of air in the vaporizer, and in FIG. 12, which is a perspective cutaway perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. Reference is made to FIG. 13, which is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the electronic components in the vessel.

  FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the set of cigarettes M on the bowl 640 and the flow of air and steam through the vaporizer 100. Specifically, FIG. 11 shows the upper portion 210 removed from the lower portion 220. This configuration provides access to the bowl 640 for cleaning and setting a new cigarette M, as well as cleaning the inner surfaces 601 and 611, the recess 615, and the window mount 631.

  When the upper portion 210 and the lower portion 220 are assembled as in FIG. 1, the recesses 615 and 635 form an air passage between the flange 640 and the opening 607. Specifically, FIG. 11 shows that portions of surfaces 601 and 604 that contact surfaces 611 and 633 (shown as 601a) control or block the flow of air. Other parts of 604 do not contact the recesses 615 or 635 (shown as face 601b) and therefore provide a passage for air flow. Therefore, as indicated by the arrows, the air flow enters the inlet 105, rises through the bowl 640 and the opening 605, and passes between the upper portion 210 and the lower portion 220 along the surface 601b. , Through the opening 607 and then through the opening 501.

  FIG. 12 shows the flow of air from the intake port 105 through the bowl-shaped portion 640. Air is drawn from the opening 911 and rises along the slot 913 through the opening 921 and through the passage 713 where the air is heated by the heating element 715 and through the mesh 717 to the saddle 640. Enters, reaches the opening 607 along the surface 601, and passes through the opening 311 of the mouthpiece 103.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram 1300 illustrating the control electronic component 720 of the vaporizer 100. Thus, for example, but not limited to, schematic diagram 1300 is a connection of power switch 201, pushbutton switch 109, indicator lamp 307, battery 731, programmable processor 725, power controller 727, temperature sensor 942, and heating element 715. Indicates.

  In addition to providing temperature control for the tobacco vaporization process, the control electronics 720 also provides overheating of the vaporizer body and internal components and thereby damage to the battery, computer or other internal components. Can be prevented.

  The processor 725 receives power from the battery 731, receives input from the power switch 201, the push button switch 109, and the temperature sensor 942, supplies power to one or more display lamps 307, and supplies a signal to the power controller 727. To be programmed. The power supply controller 727 receives a command signal from the processor 725 for supplying power to the heating element 715 from the battery 731.

  The power switch 201 has two or more setting positions, for example, an “off” setting position and an “on” setting position, or an “off” setting position, a “low temperature” setting position, and a “high temperature” setting position. Also good. When the power switch 201 is in the “off” setting position, the power to all the electronic components in the vaporizer 100 is turned off. When the power switch 201 is in the “on”, “low temperature”, or “high temperature” setting position, the processor 725 stores the corresponding stored on temperature (TON), low temperature (TL), or high temperature (TH). These are target temperatures for controlling the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 942. As described above, the temperature sensor 942 measures the temperature of the air just before the heated air flows through the bowl 640.

  Indicator lamp 307 may include a lamp programmed to indicate the operation of vaporizer 100. Thus, for example, but not limited to, the indicator lamp 307 is a weak green lamp that is powered to indicate that the vaporizer 100 is powered on at the low temperature setting position, and the vaporizer is at the high temperature setting position. A bright green lamp that is powered to indicate that it is powered on, a flashing blue lamp that indicates that the vaporizer is charging, and a red that indicates that the battery is low The lamp may include a dark red lamp to indicate that the device has overheated and was automatically turned off.

  In addition to this, when the power switch 201 is in the “on”, “low temperature”, or “high temperature” setting position and the push button switch 109 is pressed, the processor 725 supplies power to the power controller 727 from the battery 731. Send a signal to the element 715 to supply. In certain embodiments, the processor 725 uses a control algorithm such as a PID control algorithm to power the heating element 715 such that the temperature T measured by the temperature sensor 942 is held at the temperature indicated by the power switch 201. To do.

Of course, the operation of the vaporizer 100 may be optimized depending on the desired vaporization temperature. Therefore, the target temperature of temperature sensor 942 is selected to effectively release volatile materials from tobacco or other plant material of interest. Without limiting the application of the present invention, Table I shows the effective vaporization temperatures of some plant materials classified into low, medium, or high temperature groups of vaporization temperatures. It will be appreciated that these classifications are for reference only and that each material may have a range of vaporization temperatures, which may span different classifications. Thus, for example, tobacco can range from low, medium and high depending on the number and type of volatiles found in the tobacco. The vaporizer 100 allows the user to control the method of vaporizing the plant material according to the temperature setting of the vaporizer 100.

  In general, the target temperature measured by the temperature sensor 942 ranges from 145 ° C. to 205 ° C., for example, but not limited to, about 145 ° C., 150 ° C., 155 ° C., 160 ° C., 165 ° C., 170 ° C., It may be 175 ° C, 180 ° C, 185 ° C, 195 ° C, 200 ° C or 205 ° C. For a plurality of temperature settings such as “low temperature” and “high temperature”, the low temperature setting is suitable for vaporizing volatile substances at low temperatures such as cigarettes, and the temperature range is in the range of 150 ° C. to 165 ° C. May be, for example, 150 ° C., 155 ° C., 160 ° C. or 165 ° C. The high temperature setting is suitable for vaporizing volatile substances at a high temperature such as ginseng, the temperature may be 190 ° C. to 205 ° C., and the numerical value may be 190 ° C., 195 ° C., 200 ° C. or 205 ° C., for example.

Example of use of vaporizer The following is an example of a user of the vaporizer 100. 1 and 3, when the power switch 201 is in the “off position”, the user grasps the lower portion 220 with one hand and places its thumb in the recess 309 to remove the upper portion 210. With reference to FIG. 6, the user can then clean the various inner surfaces and hooks 640 and place a fresh sample of plant material in the hooks. Thereafter, the upper portion 210 can be securely placed on the lower portion 220.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the user can always see the presence of plant material as viewed from the window 107.

  Next, the user switches the power switch 201 to an appropriate setting other than “off” (eg, “on”, “low temperature”, or “high temperature”).

  Next, the user presses the push button switch 109. Within a few seconds, the control electronics 720 are supplied with sufficient power to raise the air near the temperature sensor 942 to the target temperature. Red heat from the heating element 715 may be visible by the user through the window 107 and / or through the inlet 105. For certain plant materials, the extracted steam can also be seen through the window 107.

  When the proper temperature is visually displayed, the user can inhale from the mouthpiece 103. Then, air is drawn into the air inlet 105, passes through the passage 713, passes through the plant material in the bowl-shaped portion 640, passes between the groove 635 and the surface 601, enters the opening 607 along the surface 601. Then, it reaches the user's mouth through the opening 311.

  Most of the power supplied to the heating element 715 heats the air in the passage 713, and therefore the plant material in the bowl 640 vaporizes convectively as hot air flows through the plant material. .

  The surface that comes into contact with the heated air as it flows between the surface 601 and the upper portion 210 functions as a “heat sink”, whereby the gas is cooled from the high temperature of the heating element 715 to approximately room temperature. After inhalation, the user releases pushbutton switch 109, thereby reducing the power through heating element 715.

  Of course, the devices described herein include, but are not limited to, certain digital and analog components. Of course, the invention is not limited to any particular embodiment, programming technique, or combination of analog or digital components, and the invention is not limited to any function for performing the functions described herein. It may be performed using any suitable device or technique.

  Throughout this specification the description “one embodiment”, “an embodiment” or “a particular embodiment” refers to a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment. It is meant to be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, the use of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment” or “in a particular embodiment” throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. It ’s not hard. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this description.

  Of course, the present invention includes all of the different combinations embodied herein. Throughout this specification, the term “comprising” is synonymous with “including”, “containing”, or “characterized by” and is inclusive. Or non-limiting and does not exclude additional infinite elements or method steps. “Comprising” is a terminology that means that the listed elements are essential, but other elements can be added and still form constructs within the scope of the description. “Comprising” leaves the possibility to include components that are not explicitly stated, even in large quantities.

  Similarly, in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes used in order to streamline the disclosure and to assist in understanding one or more of the various advanced aspects. It should be understood that they are grouped together in one embodiment, drawing or description thereof. However, such disclosed methods should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires other features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, the inventive aspects are part of all the features of one embodiment described above, as reflected in the following claims. Thus, the claims following the “detailed description” are hereby expressly included in this “detailed description”, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

  Thus, although what has been considered a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, those skilled in the art will recognize that other modifications will not depart from the gist of the present invention. All modifications are intended to be claimed as being included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (29)

In a vaporizer for supplying the user with steam from plant material,
A housing,
A heater substantially in the housing, the electrical energy storage device, a switch operable by a user, a heating element, the electrical energy storage device, a switch operable by the user, and the heating element An electrical circuit comprising: a heater configured to supply energy from the electrical energy storage device to the heating element when a switch operable by the user is activated. ,
A passage to the housing, the passage including an air inlet, a heater part that provides thermal contact with the air in the heater and the heating element, a receiving part that contains plant material, and an air outlet. When,
Including
The user activates a switch operable by the user, sucks air outside the vaporizer by sucking from the exhaust port, and then heats the air in contact with the heating element to heated air. A vaporizer, wherein the vaporizer is heated to temperature, at least partially vaporizes the plant material with the heated air, and then supplies at least a portion of the vaporized plant material to the user through the exhaust port. .   2. The vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein the plant material is tobacco. The vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein
The heater further includes a sensor that provides an indication of the temperature in the vaporizer;
The electrical circuit further comprises the sensor;
The vaporizer, wherein the electrical circuit is adapted to supply energy from the electrical energy storage device to the heating element in accordance with the indication of the temperature in the vaporizer.   The vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is arranged near an edge of the receiving portion.   2. The vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the heater part transmits at least a part of visible light, whereby a part of red heat of the heating element is transmitted from the heater part. Vaporizer to do.   The vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein red heat of the heating element is visible from the housing.   The carburetor according to claim 6, wherein the housing includes a window disposed in the vicinity of the receiving portion, and red heat of the heating element is visible from the window.   The carburetor according to claim 6, wherein red heat of the heating element is visible from the inlet. The vaporizer according to claim 2, wherein
The heater further includes a power level switch operable by a user,
The electrical circuit further includes a power level switch operable by the user;
The electrical circuit is adapted to supply energy from the electrical energy storage device to the heating element according to the indication of the temperature in the vaporizer and the setting of a power level switch operable by the user. A vaporizer characterized by.   The vaporizer according to claim 9, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to limit a maximum temperature determined by the sensor and a power level switch operable by the user.   3. The vaporizer according to claim 2, wherein the electrical circuit is adapted to limit a maximum temperature determined by the sensor. In a method of supplying vapor of plant material using a vaporizer,
Manually actuating the vaporizer, wherein the vaporizer receives the stored electrical energy from a stored electrical energy, a receptacle for receiving plant material, and an inlet to receive air. A fluid passage extending through a manually actuable heater for heating, through said receptacle and to an outlet;
Inhaling from the outlet;
Including
Air is sucked into the passage from outside the vaporizer, and subsequently the temperature of the air rises in the heater, heats the plant material and extracts steam therefrom, and the steam is used by the user. The method characterized by supplying to.   The method of claim 12, further comprising manually selecting a heater temperature setting.   13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the plant material is tobacco. In a vaporizer for supplying the user with steam from plant material,
A heating element;
A passage,
The air inlet,
A heater portion for providing thermal contact with the air in the heater and the heating element;
A receiving part for accommodating plant material;
A window for transmitting heat radiation from the heater portion to the user;
An exhaust port;
A passage including
Including
A vaporizer, wherein the user has a visual cue that inhaled air may have been heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the plant material. The vaporizer according to claim 15, wherein
The vaporizer is
An electrical energy storage device;
A switch that can be operated by the user;
A heating element;
An electrical circuit including the electrical energy storage device, a switch operable by the user, and the heating element;
Further including
The heater further includes a sensor that provides an indication of the temperature in the vaporizer;
The electrical circuit further comprises the sensor;
The vaporizer, wherein the electrical circuit is adapted to supply energy from the electrical energy storage device to the heating element in accordance with the indication of the temperature in the vaporizer.   16. A vaporizer according to claim 15, wherein the electrical circuit is adapted to limit the maximum temperature determined by the sensor.   16. The vaporizer according to claim 15, wherein the heating element is disposed near an edge of the receiving portion.   16. The vaporizer according to claim 15, wherein at least a part of the heater part transmits at least a part of visible light, whereby a part of red heat of the heating element is transmitted from the heater part. Vaporizer to do.   16. A vaporizer according to claim 15, wherein red heat of the heating element is visible to a user of the vaporizer.   21. The vaporizer according to claim 20, wherein the vaporizer includes a window disposed in the vicinity of the receiving portion, and the red heat of the heating element is visible from the window.   The carburetor according to claim 21, wherein red heat of the heating element is visible from the inlet. The vaporizer according to claim 15, wherein
The heater further includes a power level switch operable by a user,
The electrical circuit further includes a power level switch operable by the user;
The electrical circuit is adapted to supply energy from the electrical energy storage device to the heating element according to the indication of the temperature in the vaporizer and the setting of a power level switch operable by the user. A vaporizer characterized by.   16. The vaporizer according to claim 15, wherein the plant material is tobacco. In a method for supplying vapor of plant material using a vaporizer,
Manually actuating the vaporizer, wherein the vaporizer extends from the inlet containing the plant material and from the inlet through a heater for heating air, through the receptacle and to the outlet And a window that allows a user to see heat radiation from the heater, and
If the user recognizes red heat from the heater through the window, inhaling from the outlet;
Including
The method wherein the user has a visual cue that inhaled air may have been heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the plant material.   26. The method of claim 25, further comprising manually selecting a heater temperature setting.   26. The method of claim 25, further comprising supplying tobacco to the receptacle.   Equipment substantially shown and described.   A method substantially as shown and described.

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