`I N T E R O F F I C E C O R R E S P O N D E N C E
`Richmond, Virginia
`
`
` K. Torrence
`
` R. H. Moffitt
`
`
`
` Date: September 27, 2004
`
`To:
`
`From:
`
`Subject: Operational Analysis of SBT Ruyan Atomizing Nicotine Inhaler
`
`Summary
`Several samples of the “SBT Ruyan Atomizing Nicotine Inhaler” (fig. 1) were disassembled and
`examined to determine their operating principle and associated control functionality. The
`discussion section below details the findings.
`
`
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`
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`
`
`fig. 1
`
`
`Discussion
`The SBT Ruyan electronic cigar/cigarette was disassembled for determination of its operating
`principle and electrical characteristics. Most of the internal components of the device were
`partially or completely potted or encapsulated in a hard, plastic-like material. The disassembly
`of the first device was destructive and resulted in a non-functional device. Based on the method
`of assembly, it is clear that the device was not designed for servicing. Learnings from the
`destructive disassembly enabled a second device to be disassembled with functionality
`preserved. The device appears to be manually assembled based on the component
`interconnection methods and circuit board soldering.
`
`In addition to the replaceable mouthpiece with attached flavor containing cartridge (fig. 8), the
`device consists of (starting at the mouthpiece end): an aerosol generation chamber, a flow
`sensor/activation switch, two small circuit boards with surface mount electronic components,
`one replaceable lithium ion battery, and an LED indicator and pushbutton at the tip end. (fig. 2).
`
`The evaluation of the electrical circuitry revealed that the circuit contains no programmable or
`logic based components (figs. 3 and 4). All of the circuitry is of an analog nature – power FETs,
`resistors, diodes, capacitors, etc. There is no evidence of ultrasonic operation such as the
`presence of piezoelectric materials or ultrasonic supporting electronic circuitry which is in
`contrast with some device literature that refers to an ultra-miniature pump and aerosol generated
`by a 2.2 MHz ultrasound wave.
`
`Operational and Control Description:
`
`The flow sensing mechanism is a flexible diaphragm with an attached magnet that, upon
`application of sufficient air flow, deflects and allows closure of a reed switch (fig. 6). The reed
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`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1020
`Page 001
`
`
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`switch closure energizes a power FET driver that applies energy to the heater element. The
`heater is a wire wound element located in the upper portion of the aerosol chamber (fig. 5) just
`below a screen or mesh-like material that is in physical contact with the flavor cartridge. The
`heater location is in a cupped area of the chamber, surrounded by a larger mass of the mesh-like
`material. The apparent function of the mesh material is to provide a wicking path for the flavor
`solution from the flavor cartridge and, upon puffing, entrain the volatile flavor compounds in the
`air stream as it passes over the heater. This is evidenced by the liquid saturated mesh material
`observed after disassembly of the device.
`
`Analysis of the electrical circuit indicated that the energy control is quite basic with little or no
`energy limiting control other than the resistive values of the components themselves. The device
`will activate as long as there is sufficient air flow to trigger the diaphragm mechanism. The
`pushbutton switch located at the tip end of the device is electrically in parallel with the flow
`sensing mechanism and applies power in exactly the same manner as the flow sensor. The
`multicolored LED component at the tip end (fig. 7) is electrically in parallel with the heater
`element and provides visual indication of device activation and limited indication of battery
`charge level. The LED is actually a self contained, three LED component with on-board
`oscillator circuitry. At maximum battery voltage, all three LEDs (blue, green, and red) are
`illuminated and flash at a 4 - 10 hz frequency. Due to differences in voltage requirements for
`each of the separate color LEDs, as the voltage level decreases, the blue LED drops out first,
`leaving just the green and red LEDs illuminated. As the voltage level further decreases, the
`green LED drops out, leaving just the red LED illuminated and signaling the user that a battery
`recharge is due soon.
`
` portion of the control circuitry does not appear to have any well defined function. It is
`suspected that it is intended to be a protective circuit based on its design configuration; however,
`it had no effect on the device’s operation under any test conditions. One component of this
`circuit, located at the base of the mesh material chamber, exhibits crystal- or thermistor-like
`properties – showing small changes in resistive value upon changes in temperature, air flow, or
`physical pressure. The associated circuitry does not react when these changes occur. Based on
`the circuit design, it appears that if it did function, it would provide a shunt or bypass for current
`flow in parallel with the heater element – perhaps providing some level of protection for an
`excessive temperature condition. Again, this circuit could not be made to operate under any of
`our test conditions.
`
` A
`
` A
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` battery run-down test was performed to determine the number of puffs or activations that
`could be supported on single charge. The test setup consisted of a controlled vacuum pump to
`provide sufficient draw to activate the flow sensor for a one second period (as indicated by the
`device’s LEDs) with a 60 second puff interval. Under these conditions, 1460 puffs were
`observed before the battery level was too low to activate the device.
`
`Puff activation was also tested to determine air flow requirements necessary to trigger the
`device. While the measured flow requirements varied from device to device (not unexpected
`based on the flow sensing mechanism), the nominal flow rate required was just under
`3000cc/min, representing ~14 inches H2O. For comparison, the EHCSS Series K product
`requires ~0.04 inches H2O to activate under same test conditions. The device’s RTD measured
`88mm H2O.
`
`2
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`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1020
`Page 002
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`+BAT
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`NOTES:
`
`(1)
`TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE SEEN,
`ALSO EVIDENCE OF MICRO PHONIC
`(CRYSTAL) RESPONSE.
`
`(2)
`Vbe MEASURED 0.7V, STRONG EVIDENCE OF
`NPN BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR - DESIGNATOR
`(CFRN). Q2 CIRCUIT IS TOPOLOGICALLY VERY
`SIMILAR TO A COLPITS OSCILLATOR,
`HOWEVER NO EVIDENCE OF OSCILLATION
`HAS BEEN OBSERVED.
`
`(3)
`R - RED LED (2.0V ON)
`G - GREEN LED (2.5V ON)
`B - BLUE LED (3.0V ON)
`BUILT IN OSCILLATOR
`(4-10 HZ WHEN ON)
`
`(4)
`ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO BE A RESISTOR,
`LATER MEASUREMENTS CONFIRMED
`DEVICE(S) ARE ACTUALLY INDUCTORS,
`MEASURED INDUCTANCE AND RESISTANCE
`VALUES SHOWN
`
`-BAT
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`
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`Heater / Aerosol
`Chamber
`
`Flow
`Sensor
`fig 2. Component Layout
`
`Circuit
`Boards
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`SUSPECTED PROTECTIVE CIRCUITRY
`
`THERMISTOR
`(note 1)
`
`T
`
`D1
`
`C1
`0.02uF
`
`C2
`92.7pF
`
`Q2
`(note 2)
`
`R4
`
`48uH
`L2
`
`0.8
`Lr2
`
`R3
`1.0
`
`(note 4)
`
`R5
`1.0
`
`C4
`0.02uF
`
`R7
`10K
`
`PB1
`CLEAN
`
`PS1
`PUFF SENSE
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`R10
`2.0
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`R9
`8K
`
`R2
`
`Lr1
`0.8
`
`L1
`48uH
`
`C5
`0.01uF
`
`R1
`560
`
`(note 4)
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`R8
`4.7K
`
`C3
`0.02uF
`
`RGB
`
`R6
`100
`
`LED1
`(note 3)
`
`HEATER
`
`4.2
`
`Q1
`
`5,6
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`7,8
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`3
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`4
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`1
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`2
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`R12
`3.9M
`
`R11
`30K
`
`Q1
`N-CHANNEL ENHANCEMENT DUAL
`POWER FET SOI8 PACKAGE
`PINOUT
`(REFERENCE)
`
`D1 D1 D2 D2
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`45
`
`6
`
`3
`
`8
`
`7
`
`1 2
`
`S1
`
`G1
`
`S2
`
`G2
`
`fig. 3. Schematic
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`GENERAL NOTES
`
`1. ALL DEVICES SURFACE MOUNTED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
`2. ALL RESISTORS 5%, 1/4W UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
`3. ALL CAPACITORS 25VDC UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
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`3
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`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1020
`Page 003
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`Circuit Board 1 Top View
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`Circuit Board 1 Bottom View
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`Circuit Board 2 Top View
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`Circuit Board 2 Bottom View
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`fig. 4. Circuit Boards
`
`Wire Wound
`Heater Element
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`Heater Unit Side View
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`Heater Unit Angle View
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`Heater Unit Top View
`Heater Unit Cut Away View
`fig. 5. Heater / Aerosol Chamber
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`4
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`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1020
`Page 004
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`Magnetic Reed Switch / Diaphragm Top View
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`Magnetic Reed Switch / Diaphragm Bottom View
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`Air Inlet Holes
`
`Air Inlet Holes – Cover Removed
`fig. 6. Flow / Activation Sensor
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`
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`LED and Lens
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`LED and Cleaning PB
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`LED Component
`fig. 7. LED Indicator
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`5
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`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1020
`Page 005
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`Flavor Cartridge Packaging
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`Flavor Cartridge Opened
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`Mouthpiece w/ Flavor Cartridge
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`Sealing Cap Removed
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`Mouthpiece Inserted into Device
`fig. 8. Flavor Cartridge
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`Used Flavor Cartridge
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`6
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`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1020
`Page 006
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