Patents by Inventor Raymond W. Lau
Raymond W. Lau 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).
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Publication number: 20230301360Abstract: A reservoir assembly that holds a nicotine pre-vapor formulation in a reservoir includes a reservoir assembly connector assembly defining a connector conduit, and which may be configured to detachably couple with a nicotine vaporizer assembly based on a connector element of the nicotine vaporizer assembly engaging with the connector conduit of the connector conduit. The reservoir assembly may include an isolation structure configured to move in relation to both the reservoir and the nicotine vaporizer connector assembly between a first position where the isolation structure exposes the nicotine vaporizer assembly to the reservoir and at least partially obstructs the connector conduit to restrict the connector element from disengaging from the connector conduit, and a second position where the isolation structure isolates the nicotine vaporizer assembly from the reservoir and opens the connector conduit to enable the connector element to disengage from the connector conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Eric HAWES, Raymond W. LAU, Jose Jesus Paolo MONTALVAN, John Paul MURING
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Publication number: 20230270179Abstract: A nicotine e-vaping device includes a heater, a power control circuit, and a memory module. The heater element is configured to heat nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The power control circuit is coupled to the heater element through a wire. The power control circuit is configured to apply a pulse width modulated power signal to the heater element through the wire, and to receive information over the wire. The memory module is configured to detect a plurality of pulses in the pulse width modulated power signal, record information based on the detected plurality of pulses, and output the recorded information to the power control circuit via the wire.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Raymond W. LAU, Eric Hawes, Loi Ying Liu
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Publication number: 20230248070Abstract: The heating engine control circuit includes a rail converter circuit and a gate driver circuit. The rail converter circuit is configured to convert a power supply voltage into a power signal based on a vaping enable signal, the vaping enable signal being a pulse width modulated signal. The gate driver circuit includes an integrated gate driver. The integrated gate driver is configured to control application of power to a heater to heat nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn from a nicotine reservoir at the nicotine electronic vaping device based on the power signal, a first enable signal and a second enable signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Niall GALLAGHER, Terrance Theodore Bache, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
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Publication number: 20230248072Abstract: The heating engine control circuit includes a rail converter circuit and a gate driver circuit. The rail converter circuit is configured to convert a power supply voltage into a power signal based on a vaping enable signal, the vaping enable signal being a pulse width modulated signal. The gate driver circuit includes an integrated gate driver. The integrated gate driver is configured to control application of power to a heater of the non-nicotine electronic vaping device based on the power signal, a first enable signal and a second enable signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Niall GALLAGHER, Terrance Bache, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
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Publication number: 20230225401Abstract: A capsule for a heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating device may include an inner body, an outer body around the inner body, the inner body and the outer body being concentric, the inner body and the outer body at least partly defining a cavity, an aerosol-forming substrate in the cavity, a first cap at a first end of the cavity and a second cap at a second end of the cavity, the first and second caps being configured to permit air flow from the first end of the cavity to the second end of the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES, James MCLAREN, Shaoyong YU, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Zack W. BLACKMON
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Publication number: 20230200442Abstract: A non-nicotine e-vaping device may include a non-nicotine pod assembly and a device body. The non-nicotine pod assembly has upstream and downstream ends and is configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end may define at least one upstream recess, and the downstream end may define at least one downstream recess. The device body defines a through hole configured to receive the non-nicotine pod assembly. The through hole includes an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall. The upstream sidewall may include at least one upstream protrusion, and the downstream sidewall may include at least one downstream protrusion. The at least one upstream protrusion and the at least one downstream protrusion may be configured to engage with the at least one upstream recess and the at least one downstream recess, respectively, so as to retain the non-nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Dean Twite, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
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Publication number: 20230189886Abstract: A nicotine e-vaping device may include a nicotine pod assembly and a device body. The nicotine pod assembly has upstream and downstream ends and is configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end may define at least one upstream recess, and the downstream end may define at least one downstream recess. The device body defines a through hole configured to receive the nicotine pod assembly. The through hole includes an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall. The upstream sidewall may include at least one upstream protrusion, and the downstream sidewall may include at least one downstream protrusion. The at least one upstream protrusion and the at least one downstream protrusion may be configured to engage with the at least one upstream recess and the at least one downstream recess, respectively, so as to retain the nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Dean TWITE, Yannick HOURMAND, Charles DENDY, Bipin PATIL, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Christopher NEWCOMB, Niall GALLAGHER, Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES
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Publication number: 20230172268Abstract: A non-nicotine e-vaping device may include a non-nicotine pod assembly and a device body defining a through hole configured to receive the non-nicotine pod assembly. The non-nicotine pod assembly is configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The through hole of the device body includes at least one sidewall that is configured to deflect during an insertion of the non-nicotine pod assembly. One or more sidewalls of the through hole may include at least one protrusion configured to engage with corresponding recesses of the non-nicotine pod assembly so as to retain the non-nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Yannick HOURMAND, Christopher NEWCOMB, Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES
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Patent number: 11666100Abstract: A nicotine e-vaping device includes a heater, a power control circuit, and a memory module. The heater element is configured to heat nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The power control circuit is coupled to the heater element through a wire. The power control circuit is configured to apply a pulse width modulated power signal to the heater element through the wire, and to receive information over the wire. The memory module is configured to detect a plurality of pulses in the pulse width modulated power signal, record information based on the detected plurality of pulses, and output the recorded information to the power control circuit via the wire.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes, Loi Ying Liu
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Patent number: 11666101Abstract: The heating engine control circuit includes a rail converter circuit and a gate driver circuit. The rail converter circuit is configured to convert a power supply voltage into a power signal based on a vaping enable signal, the vaping enable signal being a pulse width modulated signal. The gate driver circuit includes an integrated gate driver. The integrated gate driver is configured to control application of power to a heater of the non-nicotine electronic vaping device based on the power signal, a first enable signal and a second enable signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Niall Gallagher, Terrance Bache, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
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Patent number: 11653704Abstract: The heating engine control circuit includes a rail converter circuit and a gate driver circuit. The rail converter circuit is configured to convert a power supply voltage into a power signal based on a vaping enable signal, the vaping enable signal being a pulse width modulated signal. The gate driver circuit includes an integrated gate driver. The integrated gate driver is configured to control application of power to a heater to heat nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn from a nicotine reservoir at the nicotine electronic vaping device based on the power signal, a first enable signal and a second enable signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Niall Gallagher, Terrance Theodore Bache, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
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Publication number: 20230124928Abstract: A nicotine e-vaping device may include a nicotine pod assembly and a device body defining a through hole configured to receive the nicotine pod assembly. The nicotine pod assembly is configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The through hole of the device body includes at least sidewall that is configured to deflect during an insertion of the nicotine pod assembly. One or more sidewalls of the through hole may include at least one protrusion configured to engage with corresponding recesses of the nicotine pod assembly so as to retain the nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Yannick HOURMAND, Christopher Newcomb, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
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Publication number: 20230085955Abstract: A non-combustible aerosol-generating device includes a memory storing computer-readable instructions and a controller. The controller is configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the non-combustible aerosol-generating device to: apply power to a heater to preheat an aerosol-forming substrate; determine whether a preheat monitor timer has exceeded a preheat timer threshold; determine whether the aerosol-forming substrate has been previously heated based on a comparison between a first threshold power level and an applied power to the heater in response to the preheat monitor timer having not exceeded the preheat timer threshold; and determine whether the aerosol-forming substrate has been previously heated based on a comparison between a second threshold power level and the applied power to the heater in response to the preheat monitor timer having exceeded the preheat timer threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Zack W. BLACKMON, Eric HAWES, Jarrett KEEN, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Raymond W. LAU, Niall GALLAGHER
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Publication number: 20230088850Abstract: A non-combustible aerosol-generating device includes a capsule, a memory and a controller. The capsule includes an aerosol-forming substrate and a heater configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate. The controller is configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory to cause the non-combustible aerosol-generating device to: apply power to the heater during a preheat interval, record one or more heating characteristic waveforms resulting from application of the power to the heater during at least a portion of the preheat interval, and determine whether the capsule is valid based on one or more of the heating characteristic waveforms.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2021Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Zack W. BLACKMON, Eric HAWES, Jarrett KEEN, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Raymond W. LAU, Niall GALLAGHER
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Publication number: 20230092794Abstract: A capsule for a heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating device may include a first heater, a second heater, and a frame sandwiched between the first heater and the second heater, and a cannabinoid-containing material. The frame may define open spaces therein and have a rigidity that is adequate to support the first heater and the second heater. The open spaces within the frame may be interconnected and sized for aerosol-permeability and capillary action.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory GRISCIK, Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES
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Publication number: 20230087115Abstract: A heater system for a non-combustible aerosol-generating device includes a heater element and a fuse element. The heater element has a heating region, a first terminal and a second terminal. The fuse element is electrically connected between the first terminal and the second terminal in parallel with the heater element. The fuse element has a region configured to induce a localized hot spot to cause the fuse element to open circuit in response to power applied between the first terminal and the second terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2021Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Eric HAWES, Zack W. BLACKMON, Jarrett KEEN, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Raymond W. LAU, Niall GALLAGHER
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Publication number: 20230085238Abstract: A nicotine pod assembly for a nicotine e-vaping device may include a pod body and a connector module. The pod body has an upstream end and a downstream end and is configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end of the pod body defines a cavity. The connector module is configured to be seated within the cavity of the pod body. The connector module may include an external face and a side face. The external face of the connector module includes at least one electrical contact and defines a pod inlet. The side face of the connector module defines at least one module inlet. The side face of the connector module faces a sidewall of the cavity in the pod body when the connector module is seated within the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Dean TWITE, Yannick HOURMAND, Charles DENDY, Bipin PATIL, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Christopher NEWCOMB, Niall GALLAGHER, Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES
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Publication number: 20230070448Abstract: A non-nicotine pod assembly for a non-nicotine e-vaping device may include a pod body and a connector module. The pod body has an upstream end and a downstream end and is configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end of the pod body defines a cavity. The connector module is configured to be seated within the cavity of the pod body. The connector module may include an external face and a side face. The external face of the connector module includes at least one electrical contact and defines a pod inlet. The side face of the connector module defines at least one module inlet. The side face of the connector module faces a sidewall of the cavity in the pod body when the connector module is seated within the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Dean TWITE, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
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Patent number: 11596172Abstract: A non-nicotine e-vaping device may include a non-nicotine pod assembly and a device body. The non-nicotine pod assembly has upstream and downstream ends and is configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end may define at least one upstream recess, and the downstream end may define at least one downstream recess. The device body defines a through hole configured to receive the non-nicotine pod assembly. The through hole includes an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall. The upstream sidewall may include at least one upstream protrusion, and the downstream sidewall may include at least one downstream protrusion. The at least one upstream protrusion and the at least one downstream protrusion may be configured to engage with the at least one upstream recess and the at least one downstream recess, respectively, so as to retain the non-nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Dean Twite, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
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Patent number: 11576432Abstract: A nicotine e-vaping device may include a nicotine pod assembly and a device body. The nicotine pod assembly has upstream and downstream ends and is configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end may define at least one upstream recess, and the downstream end may define at least one downstream recess. The device body defines a through hole configured to receive the nicotine pod assembly. The through hole includes an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall. The upstream sidewall may include at least one upstream protrusion, and the downstream sidewall may include at least one downstream protrusion. The at least one upstream protrusion and the at least one downstream protrusion may be configured to engage with the at least one upstream recess and the at least one downstream recess, respectively, so as to retain the nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Dean Twite, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher R. Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes