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).

  • Publication number: 20230301360
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Eric HAWES, Raymond W. LAU, Jose Jesus Paolo MONTALVAN, John Paul MURING
  • Publication number: 20230270179
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Raymond W. LAU, Eric Hawes, Loi Ying Liu
  • Publication number: 20230248070
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Niall GALLAGHER, Terrance Theodore Bache, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Publication number: 20230248072
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Niall GALLAGHER, Terrance Bache, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Publication number: 20230225401
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES, James MCLAREN, Shaoyong YU, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Zack W. BLACKMON
  • Publication number: 20230200442
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dean Twite, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Publication number: 20230189886
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dean TWITE, Yannick HOURMAND, Charles DENDY, Bipin PATIL, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Christopher NEWCOMB, Niall GALLAGHER, Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES
  • Publication number: 20230172268
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Yannick HOURMAND, Christopher NEWCOMB, Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES
  • Patent number: 11666100
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes, Loi Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 11666101
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Niall Gallagher, Terrance Bache, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Patent number: 11653704
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Niall Gallagher, Terrance Theodore Bache, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Publication number: 20230124928
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Yannick HOURMAND, Christopher Newcomb, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Publication number: 20230085955
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Zack W. BLACKMON, Eric HAWES, Jarrett KEEN, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Raymond W. LAU, Niall GALLAGHER
  • Publication number: 20230088850
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Zack W. BLACKMON, Eric HAWES, Jarrett KEEN, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Raymond W. LAU, Niall GALLAGHER
  • Publication number: 20230092794
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Gregory GRISCIK, Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES
  • Publication number: 20230087115
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Eric HAWES, Zack W. BLACKMON, Jarrett KEEN, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Raymond W. LAU, Niall GALLAGHER
  • Publication number: 20230085238
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dean TWITE, Yannick HOURMAND, Charles DENDY, Bipin PATIL, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Christopher NEWCOMB, Niall GALLAGHER, Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES
  • Publication number: 20230070448
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dean TWITE, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Patent number: 11596172
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dean Twite, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Patent number: 11576432
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dean Twite, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher R. Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes