Patents by Inventor Eric T. Hunt

Eric T. Hunt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12128179
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices include mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a vaporization heating element to produce a vapor. For example, a bubble jet head may be configured to dispense the aerosol precursor composition to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may be fixedly coupled to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may include a precursor inlet, an ejection heating element, and a precursor nozzle. The atomizer may include a vaporization heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David Allan Brammer, David Jackson, Nigel Flynn, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter
  • Publication number: 20240322604
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a receptacle configured to receive a substrate configured to carry an aerosol precursor composition, and a resonant transformer including a transmitter coupling device and a resonant receiver coupling device that is positioned in proximity to the substrate when received in the receptacle. The aerosol delivery device also includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter configured to drive the resonant transformer. The PWM inverter includes a bridge circuit coupled to the transmitter coupling device, and a PWM controller embodied as an integrated circuit and configured to output a PWM signal to the bridge circuit configured to drive the transmitter coupling device to generate an oscillating magnetic field and induce an alternating voltage in the resonant receiver coupling device when exposed to the oscillating magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, James W. Rogers, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt
  • Publication number: 20240225121
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a reservoir configured to retain aerosol precursor composition, a valve configured to control a flow of aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir to a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, a sensor configured to measure reflectance or temperature at the heating element and generate a signal corresponding to the reflectance or temperature so measured, and a control component. The control component controls operation of the valve including receiving the signal and based thereon determining a volume of aerosol precursor composition at the heating element, and causing the valve to decrease or increase a rate of the flow of aerosol precursor composition in response to the volume being respectively above or below a predetermined threshold volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt
  • Patent number: 12027879
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a receptacle configured to receive a substrate configured to carry an aerosol precursor composition, and a resonant transformer including a transmitter coupling device and a resonant receiver coupling device that is positioned in proximity to the substrate when received in the receptacle. The aerosol delivery device also includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter configured to drive the resonant transformer. The PWM inverter includes a bridge circuit coupled to the transmitter coupling device, and a PWM controller embodied as an integrated circuit and configured to output a PWM signal to the bridge circuit configured to drive the transmitter coupling device to generate an oscillating magnetic field and induce an alternating voltage in the resonant receiver coupling device when exposed to the oscillating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, James W. Rogers, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt
  • Publication number: 20240188190
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the cartridge may comprise a housing defining a liquid reservoir, an atomizer configured to produce an aerosol, the atomizer comprising a first liquid transport element, a second liquid transport element, and a microvalve located between the liquid reservoir and the second liquid transport element. The microvalve may comprise a base member including at least one channel, and an actuating member at least a portion of which comprises a shape-memory material, and which is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the actuating member substantially blocks fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel, and in the second position, the actuating member allows fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel and to the second liquid transport element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt, Karen V. Taluskie
  • Patent number: 11937647
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a reservoir configured to retain aerosol precursor composition, a valve configured to control a flow of aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir to a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, a sensor configured to measure reflectance or temperature at the heating element and generate a signal corresponding to the reflectance or temperature so measured, and a control component. The control component controls operation of the valve including receiving the signal and based thereon determining a volume of aerosol precursor composition at the heating element, and causing the valve to decrease or increase a rate of the flow of aerosol precursor composition in response to the volume being respectively above or below a predetermined threshold volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt
  • Patent number: 11937344
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the cartridge may comprise a housing defining a liquid reservoir, an atomizer configured to produce an aerosol, the atomizer comprising a first liquid transport element, a second liquid transport element, and a microvalve located between the liquid reservoir and the second liquid transport element. The microvalve may comprise a base member including at least one channel, and an actuating member at least a portion of which comprises a shape-memory material, and which is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the actuating member substantially blocks fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel, and in the second position, the actuating member allows fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel and to the second liquid transport element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt, Karen V. Taluskie
  • Publication number: 20230156867
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the cartridge may comprise a housing defining a liquid reservoir, an atomizer configured to produce an aerosol, the atomizer comprising a first liquid transport element, a second liquid transport element, and a microvalve located between the liquid reservoir and the second liquid transport element. The microvalve may comprise a base member including at least one channel, and an actuating member at least a portion of which comprises a shape-memory material, and which is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the actuating member substantially blocks fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel, and in the second position, the actuating member allows fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel and to the second liquid transport element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt, Karen V. Taluskie
  • Publication number: 20230155417
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a receptacle configured to receive a substrate configured to carry an aerosol precursor composition, and a resonant transformer including a transmitter coupling device and a resonant receiver coupling device that is positioned in proximity to the substrate when received in the receptacle. The aerosol delivery device also includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter configured to drive the resonant transformer. The PWM inverter includes a bridge circuit coupled to the transmitter coupling device, and a PWM controller embodied as an integrated circuit and configured to output a PWM signal to the bridge circuit configured to drive the transmitter coupling device to generate an oscillating magnetic field and induce an alternating voltage in the resonant receiver coupling device when exposed to the oscillating magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, James W. Rogers, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt
  • Patent number: 11589425
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the cartridge may comprise a housing defining a liquid reservoir, an atomizer configured to produce an aerosol, the atomizer comprising a first liquid transport element, a second liquid transport element, and a microvalve located between the liquid reservoir and the second liquid transport element. The microvalve may comprise a base member including at least one channel, and an actuating member at least a portion of which comprises a shape-memory material, and which is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the actuating member substantially blocks fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel, and in the second position, the actuating member allows fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel and to the second liquid transport element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt, Karen V. Taluskie
  • Patent number: 11588350
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a receptacle configured to receive a substrate configured to carry an aerosol precursor composition, and a resonant transformer including a transmitter coupling device and a resonant receiver coupling device that is positioned in proximity to the substrate when received in the receptacle. The aerosol delivery device also includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter configured to drive the resonant transformer. The PWM inverter includes a bridge circuit coupled to the transmitter coupling device, and a PWM controller embodied as an integrated circuit and configured to output a PWM signal to the bridge circuit configured to drive the transmitter coupling device to generate an oscillating magnetic field and induce an alternating voltage in the resonant receiver coupling device when exposed to the oscillating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, James W. Rogers, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt
  • Publication number: 20220401669
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices include mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a vaporization heating element to produce a vapor. For example, a bubble jet head may be configured to dispense the aerosol precursor composition to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may be fixedly coupled to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may include a precursor inlet, an ejection heating element, and a precursor nozzle. The atomizer may include a vaporization heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David Allan Brammer, David Jackson, Nigel Flynn, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter
  • Patent number: 11517053
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device comprises a control component and a digital pressure sensor. The digital pressure sensor is configured to measure a pressure imposed thereon, and generate a corresponding signal that indicates the pressure so measured. The control component or the digital pressure sensor is further configured to control at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on the pressure indicated by the corresponding signal, or a condition of the aerosol delivery device or a user thereof determined from the corresponding signal. Control of the at least one functional element includes output of the pressure or the condition for presentation by a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen B. Sears
  • Patent number: 11458265
    Abstract: Aerosol delivery devices including mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a vaporization heating element to produce a vapor are disclosed. For example, a bubble jet head may be configured to dispense the aerosol precursor composition to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may be fixedly coupled to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may include a precursor inlet, an ejection heating element, and a precursor nozzle. The atomizer may include a vaporization heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David Allan Brammer, David Jackson, Nigel John Flynn, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter
  • Patent number: 11103012
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes at least one housing enclosing a reservoir configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition and a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The aerosol delivery device also includes an antenna configured to receive radio signals from satellites of a satellite navigation system, and convert the radio signals to corresponding electronic signals and a satellite navigation receiver module configured to receive the corresponding electronic signals and determine a position of the aerosol delivery device based thereon, and output a message that indicates the position so determined. And the aerosol delivery device includes a microprocessor configured to receive the message and control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on the position indicated thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen B. Sears
  • Publication number: 20210168911
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is described that includes an aerosol precursor staged within a reservoir and an atomizer configured to generate heat through induction. The atomizer has an induction transmitter and an induction receiver. The induction receiver is in operational contact with the aerosol precursor within the reservoir and is configured to wick the aerosol precursor into range of the induction transmitter to be heated and vaporized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Steven L. Alderman, Eric T. Hunt
  • Patent number: 10945465
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is described that includes an aerosol precursor staged within a reservoir and an atomizer configured to generate heat through induction. The atomizer has an induction transmitter and an induction receiver. The induction receiver is in operational contact with the aerosol precursor within the reservoir and is configured to wick the aerosol precursor into range of the induction transmitter to be heated and vaporized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Steven L. Alderman, Eric T. Hunt
  • Publication number: 20200367572
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the cartridge may comprise a housing defining a liquid reservoir, an atomizer configured to produce an aerosol, the atomizer comprising a first liquid transport element, a second liquid transport element, and a microvalve located between the liquid reservoir and the second liquid transport element. The microvalve may comprise a base member including at least one channel, and an actuating member at least a portion of which comprises a shape-memory material, and which is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the actuating member substantially blocks fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel, and in the second position, the actuating member allows fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel and to the second liquid transport element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt, Karen V. Taluskie
  • Publication number: 20200288783
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a receptacle configured to receive a substrate configured to carry an aerosol precursor composition, and a resonant transformer including a transmitter coupling device and a resonant receiver coupling device that is positioned in proximity to the substrate when received in the receptacle. The aerosol delivery device also includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter configured to drive the resonant transformer. The PWM inverter includes a bridge circuit coupled to the transmitter coupling device, and a PWM controller embodied as an integrated circuit and configured to output a PWM signal to the bridge circuit configured to drive the transmitter coupling device to generate an oscillating magnetic field and induce an alternating voltage in the resonant receiver coupling device when exposed to the oscillating magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, James W. Rogers, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt
  • Patent number: 10653183
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device comprises at least one housing that defines a reservoir configured to retain aerosol precursor composition, and contains a heating element and power source within the at least one housing. The heating element is controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The power source is configured to power to heating element to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The power source comprises a supercapacitor having a corrugated graphene-based structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen B. Sears