Patents by Inventor Stephane BILAT

Stephane BILAT 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: 20260101415
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system may be configured to detect adverse conditions (e.g., a dry heater). The system may comprise an electric heater comprising at least one heating element for heating an aerosol-forming substrate, a power supply, and electric circuitry connected to the electric heater and to the power supply and comprising a memory. The electric circuitry may be configured to measure an initial electrical resistance (R1) of the electric heater; measure a subsequent electrical resistance of the electric heater after the measurement of the initial electrical resistance; determine the difference (?R) between the initial electrical resistance and the subsequent electrical resistance; determine that an adverse condition is present if the difference is greater than a maximum threshold value (?Rmax) or less than a minimum threshold value (?Rmin) stored in the memory; and control a power to the electric heater and/or provide an indication if the adverse condition is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2025
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Stephane Bilat, Guillaume Colotte
  • Publication number: 20260047617
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a housing including an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow passage extending therebetween; an aerosol-generating element disposed within the airflow passage and configured to generate an aerosol; a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to generate a time-dependent airflow signal corresponding to a time-dependent strength of a user puff at the air outlet; a haptic output element coupled to the housing; and a circuit operably coupled to the sensor so as to receive the time-dependent airflow signal during the user puff, and further configured to actuate, based on the time-dependent airflow signal, the haptic output element at time-dependent frequencies or at time-dependent intervals during the user puff. An aerosol-generating system, and a method for generating an output in an aerosol-generating device, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2025
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane BILAT, Gregory Andre CRISTIAN
  • Patent number: 12520386
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system may be configured to detect adverse conditions (e.g., a dry heater). The system may comprise an electric heater comprising at least one heating element for heating an aerosol-forming substrate, a power supply, and electric circuitry connected to the electric heater and to the power supply and comprising a memory. The electric circuitry may be configured to measure an initial electrical resistance (R1) of the electric heater; measure a subsequent electrical resistance of the electric heater after the measurement of the initial electrical resistance; determine the difference (?R) between the initial electrical resistance and the subsequent electrical resistance; determine that an adverse condition is present if the difference is greater than a maximum threshold value (?Rmax) or less than a minimum threshold value (?Rmin) stored in the memory; and control a power to the electric heater and/or provide an indication if the adverse condition is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Stephane Bilat, Guillaume Colotte
  • Patent number: 12389951
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a housing including an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow passage extending therebetween; an aerosol-generating element disposed within the airflow passage and configured to generate an aerosol; a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to generate a time-dependent airflow signal corresponding to a time-dependent strength of a user puff at the air outlet; a haptic output element coupled to the housing; and a circuit operably coupled to the sensor so as to receive the time-dependent airflow signal during the user puff, and further configured to actuate, based on the time-dependent airflow signal, the haptic output element at time-dependent frequencies or at time-dependent intervals during the user puff. An aerosol-generating system, and a method for generating an output in an aerosol-generating device, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane Bilat, Gregory Andre Cristian
  • Patent number: 12369646
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a heating element; a power supply; a temperature sensor; electric circuitry in communication with the heating element, temperature sensor, and the power supply, the circuitry including a memory to regulate a supply of power based on the measured temperature, determine an adverse condition when a rate of change of power supplied to reach or maintain a predetermined temperature falls outside a predefined range stored in the memory, and control power supplied based on whether there is an adverse condition or provide an indication when there is an adverse condition; and a device and a removable cartridge, the power supply and the circuitry being in the device and the heating element being in the cartridge, the cartridge including a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and the circuitry is further to determine an adverse condition only after the temperature is at a target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane Bilat, Guillaume Colotte, Daryl Ng Wai Leong, Ho Keat Chang
  • Publication number: 20250098788
    Abstract: The method includes first arranging pairs of conductors on an aerosol-generating device, and second arranging conductive portions in a physical pattern on a consumable, the physical pattern being configured to electrically connect to at least one first subset of the pairs of conductors to complete at least one first circuit, of a plurality of circuits, that identifies the consumable, the plurality of circuits including the conductive portions and the pairs of conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Stephane BILAT
  • Publication number: 20250106948
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article may comprise a liquid storage portion containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and a hydrochromic material provided on the liquid storage portion. The hydrochromic material has a first colour when in the presence of or when in contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a second colour when in the absence of or when not in contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-generating system may comprise the aerosol-generating article, an aerosol-generating element, and an aerosol-generating device. An aerosol-generating device may comprise an electrical power supply, an electronic photosensor, and a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply based on a value of an optical property sensed with the electronic photosensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Stephane BILAT, Guillaume COLOTTE
  • Patent number: 12193518
    Abstract: The method includes first arranging pairs of conductors on an aerosol-generating device, and second arranging conductive portions in a physical pattern on a consumable, the physical pattern being configured to electrically connect to at least one first subset of the pairs of conductors to complete at least one first circuit, of a plurality of circuits, that identifies the consumable, the plurality of circuits including the conductive portions and the pairs of conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Stephane Bilat
  • Publication number: 20250000165
    Abstract: A aerosol-generating system includes a liquid storage portion, a liquid pressure sensor within the liquid storage portion, and a control unit that is in communication with the pressure sensor. The aerosol-generating system further includes an atmospheric pressure sensor in communication with the control unit. The atmospheric pressure sensor is configured to sense the atmospheric pressure of the environment. The control unit is configured to receive the pressure signals from the liquid pressure sensor and the atmospheric pressure sensor. The control unit is further configured to determine the fill level of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate based on a comparison of the pressure signals from the liquid pressure sensor and the atmospheric pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Guillaume COLOTTE, Stephane BILAT
  • Publication number: 20240415196
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including a heating element to heat an aerosol-forming substrate; a power supply to supply power to the heating element; a temperature sensor to sense a temperature at the heating element; electric circuitry in communication with the heating element, the temperature sensor, and the power supply, the circuitry to regulate the supply of power based on a measured temperature, determine an adverse condition when a rate of change of power supplied required to reach or maintain a predetermined temperature falls outside a predefined range stored in the memory, and control power supplied based on whether there is an adverse condition or provide an indication when there is an adverse condition; a device and a removable cartridge, the power supply and the circuitry being in the device and the heating element being in the removable cartridge, and the cartridge including a liquid aerosol-forming substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane BILAT, Guillaume COLOTTE, Daryl NG WAI LEONG, Ho Keat CHANG
  • Patent number: 12167511
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article may comprise a liquid storage portion containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and a hydrochromic material provided on the liquid storage portion. The hydrochromic material has a first colour when in the presence of or when in contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a second colour when in the absence of or when not in contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-generating system may comprise the aerosol-generating article, an aerosol-generating element, and an aerosol-generating device. An aerosol-generating device may comprise an electrical power supply, an electronic photosensor, and a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply based on a value of an optical property sensed with the electronic photosensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Stephane Bilat, Guillaume Colotte
  • Patent number: 12161168
    Abstract: A method of controlling heating in an aerosol-generating system including a heater is provided, the method including: providing a predetermined power to the heater and monitoring a resistance of the heater, the monitored resistance being indicative of a temperature of the heater; monitoring for a predetermined condition and upon detection of the predetermined condition, recording the resistance of the heater; determining a target resistance corresponding to a target temperature of the heater based on the recorded resistance; and detecting a dry puff when the recorded resistance increases above a threshold value or when a power required to maintain the heater at the target resistance decreases below a threshold value. An aerosol-generating system including a heater, a power supply, and a controller to perform the method, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Stephane Bilat
  • Publication number: 20240381922
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including an electric heater a power supply; and electric circuitry connected to the heater and power supply and including a memory, the circuitry determining an adverse condition when a ratio between an initial resistance and a change in resistance is greater than a maximum threshold value or is less than a minimum threshold value stored in the memory, or when the ratio reaches a threshold value stored in the memory outside of an expected time period, and to limit the power supplied to the heater, or to provide an indication, if there is an adverse condition, and the circuitry tracking the ratio over time, and if a difference between a maximum value for the ratio and a subsequent minimum value does not exceed a difference threshold, limit the power supplied to the heater or provide an indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Stephane BILAT
  • Patent number: 12127600
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a heating element to heat an aerosol-forming substrate proximate to the heating element; a power supply to supply power to the heating element; and electric circuitry in communication with the heating element and the power supply, the electric circuitry including a memory and being configured to: regulate a supply of power to the heating element for a heating cycle period in response to a user input, determine a first derivative of an electrical resistance of the heating element with respect to time, determine that there is an adverse condition if the first derivative exceeds a threshold value stored in the memory during a heating cycle period at or subsequent to a predetermined time in the period, and control power supplied to the heating element or provide an indication based on whether there is an adverse condition at the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane Bilat, Guillaume Colotte, Daryl Ng Wai Leong, Ho Keat Chang
  • Patent number: 12089656
    Abstract: A aerosol-generating system includes a liquid storage portion, a liquid pressure sensor within the liquid storage portion, and a control unit that is in communication with the pressure sensor. The aerosol-generating system further includes an atmospheric pressure sensor in communication with the control unit. The atmospheric pressure sensor is configured to sense the atmospheric pressure of the environment. The control unit is configured to receive the pressure signals from the liquid pressure sensor and the atmospheric pressure sensor. The control unit is further configured to determine the fill level of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate based on a comparison of the pressure signals from the liquid pressure sensor and the atmospheric pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Guillaume Colotte, Stephane Bilat
  • Patent number: 12089654
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a heating element to heat an aerosol-forming substrate; a power supply; a temperature sensor; electric circuitry in communication with the element, the sensor, and the power supply, and configured to regulate a supply of power based on a measured temperature, determine an adverse condition when a reduction in power required to reach or to maintain a predetermined temperature over successive heating cycles falls outside a predefined range, by comparing the power supplied in a given heating cycle with that of preceding heating cycles, the predefined range stored in the memory, and control the power supplied based on whether there is the adverse condition or provide an indication when there is the adverse condition; and a device and a removable cartridge including a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the power supply and the circuitry being in the device and the element being in the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane Bilat, Guillaume Colotte, Daryl Ng Wai Leong, Ho Keat Chang
  • Patent number: 12075811
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including an electric heater including a heating element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate; a power supply; and electric circuitry for an electrically operated aerosol-generating device, in use the electric circuitry being connected to the heater and to the power supply, the electric circuitry including a memory, and being configured to measure an initial resistance, or an initial rate of change of resistance, of the heater within a predetermined time period after power is supplied to the heater, to compare the initial resistance or the initial rate of change of resistance of the heater with a range of acceptable values, and if the initial resistance or the initial rate of change of resistance is outside the range, to prevent the supply of power to the heater, or provide an indication, until the heater or the substrate is replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Stephane Bilat
  • Publication number: 20240244716
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system may be configured to detect adverse conditions (e.g., a dry heater). The system may comprise an electric heater comprising at least one heating element for heating an aerosol-forming substrate, a power supply, and electric circuitry connected to the electric heater and to the power supply and comprising a memory. The electric circuitry may be configured to measure an initial electrical resistance (R1) of the electric heater; measure a subsequent electrical resistance of the electric heater after the measurement of the initial electrical resistance; determine the difference (?R) between the initial electrical resistance and the subsequent electrical resistance; determine that an adverse condition is present if the difference is greater than a maximum threshold value (?Rmax) or less than a minimum threshold value (?Rmin) stored in the memory; and control a power to the electric heater and/or provide an indication if the adverse condition is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Stephane BILAT, Guillaume COLOTTE
  • Publication number: 20240225123
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a heating element; a power supply; a temperature sensor; electric circuitry in communication with the heating element, temperature sensor, and the power supply, the circuitry including a memory to regulate a supply of power based on the measured temperature, determine an adverse condition when a rate of change of power supplied to reach or maintain a predetermined temperature falls outside a predefined range stored in the memory, and control power supplied based on whether there is an adverse condition or provide an indication when there is an adverse condition; and a device and a removable cartridge, the power supply and the circuitry being in the device and the heating element being in the cartridge, the cartridge including a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and the circuitry is further to determine an adverse condition only after the temperature is at a target temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane BILAT, Guillaume COLOTTE, Daryl NG WAI LEONG, Ho Keat CHANG
  • Publication number: 20240225128
    Abstract: A method of controlling heating in an aerosol-generating system including a heater is provided, the method including: providing a predetermined power to the heater and monitoring a resistance of the heater, the monitored resistance being indicative of a temperature of the heater; monitoring for a predetermined condition and upon detection of the predetermined condition, recording the resistance of the heater; determining a target resistance corresponding to a target temperature of the heater based on the recorded resistance; and detecting a dry puff when the recorded resistance increases above a threshold value or when a power required to maintain the heater at the target resistance decreases below a threshold value. An aerosol-generating system including a heater, a power supply, and a controller to perform the method, is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Stephane BILAT