Why Atomizer?

[roxics]

I was at the bar a few weeks back and I went outside with my buddy who is a smoker. I met a guy who was interested in my e-cig and let him take a try. Turns out he's an engineer at General Motors and a pretty smart guy. Or so it seemed from my overall conversation with him. But he brought up a good point, he said...

"That's not an atomizer, it doesn't atomize anything. It's a vaporizer."

I could only agree with him. I have no idea why they are called atomizers. The only thing I could possibly think of is that they are called atomizers because they are "small" vaporizers and it's just a "cute" term.

But are we missing something? Is there a technical reason why this is an "atomizer" and not called a "vaporizer?" Especially considering the thing as a whole is called a personal vaporizer.

 

[sosolidgold]

i have no idea but i guess it's a heater when u really come down to it. redesigning juice into something solid and a new "heater" would make vaping a whole lot easier n less messy

 

[Mr.Self_Destruct]

Probably lost in translation from Chinese to English.

I've seen spray bottles like perfumes and such with atomizers. (the part that mists the liquid)

 

[NCC]

Bert is on the right track I believe. That's where I always assumed it came from. Ya, we don't want to literally break our juice down to atoms, lol.

But, check out the wikipedia article on atomizer.
Atomizer nozzle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It even mentions "electronic cigarettes" specifically ... although the "atomization" in our devices is accomplished by heat, rather than by utilizing the venturi effect.

 

[mistinthewoods]

at·om·ize (t-mz)
tr.v. at·om·ized, at·om·iz·ing, at·om·iz·es
1. To reduce to or separate into atoms.
2. To reduce to tiny particles or a fine spray.
3. To break into small fragments.
4. To subject to bombardment with atomic weapons.
atom·i·zation (--zshn) n.

Tomato, tomahto.