Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 1 of 27 PageID# 20130
`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 1 of 27 Page|D# 20130
`
`EXHIBIT J
`EXHIBIT J
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 2 of 27 PageID# 20131
`I 1111111111111111 1111111111 111111111111111 111111111111111 IIIIII IIII IIII IIII
`US010420374B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Liu
`
`(IO) Patent No.: US 10,420,374 B2
`Sep.24,2019
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) ELECTRONIC SMOKE APPARATUS
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(71) Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC,
`Richmond, VA (US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor: Loi Ying Liu, Tsuen Wan (HK)
`
`(73) Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC,
`Richmond, VA (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 502 days.
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2,200,863 A
`2,907,320 A
`
`5/1940 Hugo
`10/1959 De Weese
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`AU
`CA
`
`9/2009
`2008351672
`2/1995
`2169765
`(Continued)
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/793,453
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 7, 2015
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2015/0305410 Al
`
`Oct. 29, 2015
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 13/131,705,
`filed as application No. PCT/IB2010/052949 on Jun.
`29, 2010, now Pat. No. 9,072,321.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Sep. 18, 2009
`
`(CN) ..................... 2009 2 0179316 U
`
`(51)
`
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`A24F 47100
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC .................................. A24F 471008 (2013.01)
`( 58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ..... A24F 47/008; A24F 47/002; G0lL 9/0072
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report for PCT/IB2010/052949 dated Apr. 21,
`2011.
`
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner - Matthew J Daniels
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Harness, Dickey &
`Pierce, P.L.C.
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An electronic smoke comprises a puff detection sub-assem(cid:173)
`bly module. The puff detection sub-assembly comprises a
`first conductive surface, a second conductive surface and an
`insulated ring spacer separating the first and the second
`conductive surfaces at an effective separation distance. The
`first conductive surface, the second conductive surface and
`the insulated ring spacer are housed inside a metallic can.
`The first conductive surface is electrically connected to the
`metal can by a first conductive ring which is disposed
`between the first conductive surface and a ceiling portion of
`the metal can. The second conductive surface is electrically
`connected to an output terminal through a second conductive
`ring, the second conductive ring elevating the puff detection
`sub-assembly above a floor portion of the metal can and
`urging the first conductive ring against a ceiling portion of
`the metal can.
`25 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`/ ____ _
`
`21
`
`20
`
`;
`
`23
`
`-25b
`
`25a -
`
`I r
`
`T2
`
`I
`
`T1
`
`28a /
`
`illllllllllllMIIII
`
`iii
`
`25a
`
`24
`
`\_,
`\
`26b
`
`RJREDVA 001642420
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 3 of 27 PageID# 20132
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
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`
`RJREDVA 001642421
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`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 4 of 27 PageID# 20133
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`US 10,420,374 B2
`Page 3
`
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`
`* cited by examiner
`
`RJREDVA 001642422
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`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 5 of 27 PageID# 20134
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 1 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`1,
`
`,v
`
`r--40
`
`10
`,J
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`
`46
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`Figure J
`
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`Figure lA
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`i ,. ........................... " l----
`
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`
`Figure 2
`
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`
`RJREDVA 001642423
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 6 of 27 PageID# 20135
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 2 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`20 ~
`
`26a
`
`r/ 21
`
`22
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`
`26
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`Figure 3
`
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`
`Figure 3A
`
`RJREDVA 001642424
`
`

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`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 7 of 27 PageID# 20136
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 3 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`UPSTREAM APERTURE
`
`20
`
`~ !
`
`26a
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`
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`LOWER APERTURE
`
`Figure 38
`
`I
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`l
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`
`Capacitance VS Flow Rate
`
`0
`
`9.88
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`µ...,
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`I~'lo\v Rate (cm3/second)
`
`Figure 4A
`
`RJREDVA 001642425
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 8 of 27 PageID# 20137
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 4 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`Capadtance VS Flow Rate
`
`-~ 9.}9~)(; ••:••·····························"¾;;;·······································································································
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`V
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`u
`
`Flow Rate (cm,Ysetond}
`
`Figure 4B
`
`20
`
`Smoking Puff
`Detector
`Module
`
`80
`
`Operation and Control
`(Micro~processor
`controlled)
`
`Vaporizer
`
`I Battery I
`
`Figure 5
`
`RJREDVA 001642426
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 9 of 27 PageID# 20138
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 5 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`0
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`RJREDVA 001642427
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 10 of 27 PageID# 20139
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 6 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`Capacitive
`Pressure
`Sensor
`(External}
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`
`RJREDVA 001642428
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 11 of 27 PageID# 20140
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 24, 2019
`
`Sheet 7 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`20
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`
`RJREDVA 001642429
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 12 of 27 PageID# 20141
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 8 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`RJREDVA 001642430
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 13 of 27 PageID# 20142
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 9 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`.s:::,_
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`..-. 40 ·'::·.:::.':::::.:':·.:::·.:::·:::·.::::·.::\·:::.·:::::::·.:::·.:::,'·.:::·.)·.:::·.:::.·::::.·:::·.:::·.:::·.:':·.:::·.'::·.:::.':::::.::· .:::·.:::·.:::'.:::·.:::·.:::.)::::::"':.::·:::,'·.:::·.:::·.:::·.:::·::::i
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`
`RJREDVA 001642431
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 14 of 27 PageID# 20143
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 10 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`.-.,
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`
`RJREDVA 001642432
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 15 of 27 PageID# 20144
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 11 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`l
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`RJREDVA 001642433
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 16 of 27 PageID# 20145
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 12 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`~~•11•···•~~ ...................... r - .. ···•·,····•··· ., .......................... ~., ...........
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`
`RJREDVA 001642434
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 17 of 27 PageID# 20146
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 13 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`210
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`200
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`214
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`
`RJREDVA 001642435
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 18 of 27 PageID# 20147
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 14 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`\
`217
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`RJREDVA 001642436
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 19 of 27 PageID# 20148
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.24,2019
`
`Sheet 15 of 15
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`210
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`600
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`
`RJREDVA 001642437
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 20 of 27 PageID# 20149
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`1
`ELECTRONIC SMOKE APPARATUS
`
`2
`FIG. 9B shows example relationship between airflow rate
`entering the example electronic smoke and data count of the
`data counter,
`FIG. 9C to 9H show relationship different smoking inhal-
`ing behavior and actuation time of the vaporizer,
`FIGS. l0A to lOC depicts example electronic smokes,
`FIGS. llA to llC depicts example electronic smokes, and
`FIG. 12 show another example electronic smoke.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`5
`
`10
`
`This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No.
`13/131/705 filed on May 27 2011, which is a US national
`phase entry application of PCT application number PCT/
`IBl0/52949 filed Jun. 29, 2010 and having a priority appli(cid:173)
`cation filing date of Sep. 18, 2009.
`Electronic smoke apparatus are electronic substitutes of
`their conventional tobacco burning counterparts and are
`gaining increasing popularity and acceptance.
`Electronic smoke apparatus are usually in the form of
`electronic cigarettes or electronic cigars, but are also avail(cid:173)
`able in other forms. Typically electronic smoke apparatus
`comprise a rigid housing and a battery operated vaporizer 15
`which is to operate to excite a flavoured source to generate
`a visible and flavoured vapour. The flavoured vapour is
`delivered to a user in response to suction of the user at a
`smoke outlet on the rigid housing of the smoke apparatus to
`simulate smoking.
`In this specification, the terms electronic smoke and
`electronic smoke apparatus are interchangeable and includes
`electronic smoke apparatus which are known as electronic
`cigarettes, electronic cigar, e-cigarette, personal vaporizers
`etc., without loss of generality.
`The present disclosure will be described with reference to
`the accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example electronic
`cigarette according to the present disclosure,
`FIG. lA depicts schematically the example electronic 30
`cigarette of FIG. 1 during example operations,
`FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example
`smoking puff detection module of the example electronic
`cigarette of FIG. 1,
`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting the example puff 35
`detection sub-assembly of the smoking puff detection mod(cid:173)
`ule of FIG. 2 in a stand-by mode,
`FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram depicting a first example
`operation mode of the smoking puff detection module when
`air flows in a first direction through the smoking puff,
`FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram depicting a second
`example operation mode of the smoking puff detection
`module when air flows in a second direction opposite to the
`first direction through the smoking puff,
`FIG. 4A is a diagram depicting example relationship 45
`between characteristic capacitance value of the puff detec(cid:173)
`tion sub-assembly of FIG. 3 and air flow rate when operating
`in the first example operation mode of FIG. 3A,
`FIG. 4B is a diagram depicting example relationship
`between characteristic capacitance value of the puff detec- 50
`tion sub-assembly of FIG. 3 and air flow rate when operating
`in the second example operation mode of FIG. 3B,
`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram depicting electronic cir(cid:173)
`cuitry of the example electronic cigarette of FIG. 1,
`FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of an example operation 55
`and control device of FIG. 5,
`FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of an example capaci(cid:173)
`tance measurement device of FIG. SA,
`FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example
`smoking puff detection and actuation module,
`FIG. 8 shows an example electronic smoke comprising a
`smoking puff detection and actuation module of FIG. 7,
`FIG. SA is a schematic diagram of electronic arrangement
`of the example electronic smoke of FIG. 8,
`FIG. 9A depicts example relationship between oscillation 65
`frequency change and airflow rate entering the example
`electronic smoke,
`
`An electronic smoke 10 comprising a battery powered
`smoking puff detection module 20 and a rigid main housing
`40 is depicted in FIGS. 1 and lA. The smoking puff
`detection module 20 is installed inside the main housing 40
`at a location downstream of and proximal the air inlet 42. A
`battery for operating the electronic smoke 10, an operation
`and control device 80 and a battery operable vaporizer and
`20 a source of flavouring substances are installed inside the air
`passageway 46 of the main housing while leaving an airflow
`path for air to move from the air inlet 42 to the air outlet 44.
`The rigid main housing 40 is elongate and defines an air
`inlet 42, an air outlet 44 and an air passageway 46. The air
`25 inlet 42 is at a first longitudinal end of the rigid main housing
`40 and is in the form of an aperture on one lateral side of the
`main housing 40, the air outlet 44 is at a second longitudinal
`end of the rigid housing distal from the first longitudinal end,
`and the air passageway 46 defines an airflow path to inter(cid:173)
`connect the air inlet 42 and the air outlet 44.
`The elongate main housing 40 is tubular and has a
`generally circular cross section to resemble the shape and
`size of a conventional paper and tobacco cigarette or cigar.
`The air outlet 44 is formed at an axial end of the longitu(cid:173)
`dinally extending main housing 40 to function as a mouth
`piece during simulated smoking use or operations by a user.
`A transparent or translucent cover is attached to a longi(cid:173)
`tudinal end of the rigid main housing 40 distal to the inhaling
`end or air outlet end so that an operation indicator such as
`40 an LED is visible.
`During simulated smoking operations, a user will apply a
`suction puff at the mouth piece of the electronic smoke. The
`suction puff will induce an air flow to flow from the air inlet
`42 to exit at the air outlet 44 after passing through the air
`passageway 46, as depicted schematically in FIG. lA.
`An example battery powered smoking puff detection
`module 20 (the "Smoking Puff Detection Module") depicted
`in FIG. 2 comprises a first conductive plate member 21 and
`a second conductive plate member 22 which are held in a
`spaced apart manner by an insulating ring spacer 23. The
`puff detection sub-assembly, comprising the first conductive
`plate member 21, the second conductive plate member 22
`and the insulating ring spacer 23, is held inside a metallic
`module casing 26 by a holding structure to form a modular
`assembly. The holding structure includes a first holding ring
`25a, a second holding ring 25b, and a rigid base plate
`member 28. The first holding ring 25a supports the detection
`subassembly on the rigid base plate member 28 and elevates
`the second conductive plate member 22 from the rigid base
`60 plate member 28 towards ceiling portion 26a of the metallic
`module casing 26. The second holding ring 25b is a centrally
`punctured or centrally apertured disk having a peripheral
`flange diameter comparable to that of the ring spacer 23. The
`second holding ring 25b is positioned between the first
`conductive plate member 21 and the ceiling of the metallic
`module casing 26 and to cooperate with other components of
`the holding structure and the metallic module casing 26 to
`
`RJREDVA 001642438
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 735-10 Filed 06/16/21 Page 21 of 27 PageID# 20150
`
`US 10,420,374 B2
`
`3
`exert an axial holding force along the periphery of the first
`conductive plate member 21 to hold the first conductive
`plate member 21 in place inside the metallic module casing
`26.
`The rigid base plate member 28 is held by a floor portion
`26b of the metallic module casing 26 which is in the form
`of a metallic can and comprises a printed circuit board
`("PCB") having an insulating substrate board 28a on which
`conductive tracks such as copper tracks 28b are formed. The
`metallic can of the metallic module casing 26 includes a
`radial floor portion 26b which extends radially inwards
`along the circumference of the metal can to define a clamp(cid:173)
`ing device to cooperate with the ceiling portion 26a to hold
`the holding structure and the detection subassembly firmly
`in place inside the metal can.
`A plurality of contact terminals is formed on the PCB. The
`contact terminals include a first terminal ("Tl") which is
`connected to the second conductive plate member 22
`through the conductive first holding ring 25a and a second
`terminal ("T2") which is connected to the first conductive 20
`plate member 21 by means of the metal can casing and the
`conductive second holding ring 25b.
`The example first conductive plate member 21 comprises
`a flexible and conductive membrane which is under lateral
`or radial tension and spans across a central aperture defined
`by the ring spacer 23 under radial tensions. The flexible and
`conductive membrane of the first conductive plate member
`21 is disposed at a small distance from both the ceiling of the
`metal can and the second conductive plate member 22. The
`separation distance between the flexible membrane and the
`second conductive plate member 22 allows the flexible
`membrane to deform axially towards the second conductive
`plate member 22 when there is an axial airflow which flows
`from the ceiling towards the second conductive plate mem(cid:173)
`ber 22. The separation distance between the flexible mem- 35
`brane and the ceiling portion 26a of the metal can allows the
`flexible membrane to deform axially towards the ceiling of
`the metal can when ther