figure 7 (p12) and page 4's description of the device sound like the closest thing to the current market designs we are buying for electronic cigarrettes. I quote (badly):
"Fig. 7 is a structural diagram of the simplified device in accordance of the present invention, in which the ultrasonic atomization high frequency generator and the piezoelectric cermaic element 20 are omitted. To achieve a desirable atomization effect, tiny heating wires are used in combination with teh niozzle (see Fig. 3), so that the maximum diameters of one or more vaporization cavities formed between the theating wire and the inner wall of the nozzle range from 0.02mm to 0.6mm. The function of the airflow sensor 18 omited is replaced by the manner that the inital signal of the resistenceor capacitance sensor 119 is delayed a certain time via the control circuit and acts as the ending signal" and continues on.
So what we have here is a very tiny hotplate with an easily flash heated element (metal/alloy mesh). A small cavity to allow liquid to pool at the end of our cartridges keeps the element wet and seperates heater from combustable fibers (usually). The sensor/regulator is a capacitor and the with a small circuit controlling everything, including draw time and on/off signals between capacitor and heating element.
My guess, is that the manual KISSboxes omit the capacitor in favor of the switch now. I'd need to see the internals to be certain. Keep in mind, that is a guess, and I'm a layman at this sort of thing. Instead of a capacitor, the switch acts (in current models) as a simple circuit break open/close between the battery and the heating element. This would be the easiest to construct and most robust version of atomizer/mini-hot plate at present, I believe, as it has no need for extra circuits to function. It is also the easiest to burn out, a problem that can be solved with an improved element material (ie ceramic wire simular to what you find in a normal electric stove heating contact point).
The devices that really impress me are the ones that do not omit the ultrasonic atomization high frequency generator and the piezoelectric cermaic element. I'd expect they could be best geared toward(and look to be designed to) what we currently refer to as dry smoking with the least risk to the atomizer and inner components (I suspect they'd get hotter quicker and stay hotter longer, however, a possible reason why they were not implemented for these initial models). These would be a Porsche compared to the Pintos we are currently sucking on.
Back to the OP: a home built atomizer and components to vape could consist of nothing more than:
1 a switch (ciruit opn/close)
2 a battery or electrical access
3 wires
4 any heating element connected through the switch to the power source (by said wire)
5 liquid
6 a housing of some sort to contain the vapor (and working equipment, prefferably, but that can hang loose and still function)
7 an exit point from which to draw vapor
8 insulation to contain heat or separate the heating element from parts touched
al la extremely crude e-cig. But it puts me in mind of something TB once mentioned, the idea of one of those old timey hasish pipes that folks would sit around and share. I wouldn't mind trying to build one...looks like interest in the subject is lacking until I do
