IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,727,624
Granted Patent B2
US 12,727,624 · App. 18/456,680 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Non-nicotine electronic vaping device with a memory module

Inventors: Raymond W. Lau (Glen Allen, VA); Eric Hawes (Midlothian, VA); Loi Ying Liu (Hong Kong, CN)
Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
A24F40/57A24B15/167A24F40/42A24F40/46A24F40/51G11C17/16G11C17/18H05B1/0297
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,727,624
App. No.
18/456,680
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A non-nicotine e-vaping device includes a heater, a power control circuit, and a memory module. The heater element is configured to heat a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation, the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation being devoid of nicotine and including at least one non-nicotine compound. 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.

Claims (43)

1 . A memory module for a non-nicotine cartridge of a non-nicotine e-vaping device, the memory module comprising:

an array of fuses, each fuse in the array of fuses configured to open based on a threshold voltage; and

a memory controller configured to

receive a pulse width modulated power signal via a wire, and

apply a voltage greater than or equal to the threshold voltage across one or more fuses in the array of fuses based on a plurality of pulses in the pulse width modulated power signal.

2 . The memory module of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller is configured to

store information in the array of fuses based on the plurality of pulses, and

store at least one of an identifier, a flavor of a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation, a date, or any combination thereof.

3 . The memory module of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller is configured to apply the voltage across a fuse in the array of fuses for every set number of pulses included in the plurality of pulses.

4 . The memory module of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller is configured to

detect a frequency of pulses included in the plurality of pulses, and

apply the voltage greater than or equal to the threshold voltage across one or more fuses in the array of fuses to record information in the array of fuses based on the frequency of pulses.

5 . The memory module of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller is configured to

detect a width of a pulse included in the plurality of pulses, and

apply the voltage greater than or equal to the threshold voltage across one or more fuses in the array of fuses to record information based on the width of the pulse included in the plurality of pulses.

6 . The memory module of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller is further configured to receive information from outside the memory controller only via the wire.

7 . The memory module of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller is further configured to receive power only via the pulse width modulated power signal.

8 . A non-nicotine cartridge comprising:

the memory module of claim 1 ;

a reservoir configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation, the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation being devoid of nicotine and including at least one non-nicotine compound; and

a heater element configured to heat the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn from the reservoir, wherein

the heater element is part of the wire.

9 . The non-nicotine cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation includes a non-nicotine vapor former and the at least one non-nicotine compound.

10 . The non-nicotine cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the at least one non-nicotine compound is cannabis , at least one cannabis -derived constituent, or both cannabis and the at least one cannabis -derived constituent.

11 . A memory module for a non-nicotine cartridge of a non-nicotine e-vaping device, the memory module comprising:

a memory; and

a memory controller coupled to the memory, the memory controller configured to read information stored in the memory, and

output the information over a wire by modifying a pulse width modulated power signal carried by the wire.

12 . The memory module of claim 11 , wherein the memory controller is configured to output the information by changing a current of at least one pulse of the pulse width modulated power signal.

13 . The memory module of claim 12 , wherein the memory controller is further configured to output a checksum after transmitting the information.

14 . The memory module of claim 13 , wherein the memory controller is further configured to resend the information in response to a negative acknowledgment transmission indicating that the information was not correctly received.

15 . The memory module of claim 14 , wherein the negative acknowledgment transmission is a pulse in the pulse width modulated power signal having a length shorter than a previous pulse of the pulse width modulated power signal.

16 . The memory module of claim 11 , wherein the memory controller is further configured to output the information by

connecting a load to the wire during a pulse of the pulse width modulated power signal to indicate a first bit value, and

not connecting a load to the wire during a pulse of the pulse width modulated power signal to indicate a second bit value.

17 . The memory module of claim 11 , wherein the memory controller is configured to output the information by selectively connecting a load to the wire.

18 . A non-nicotine cartridge comprising:

the memory module of claim 11 ; and

a reservoir configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation, the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation being devoid of nicotine and including at least one non-nicotine compound; and

a heater element configured to heat non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn from the reservoir, wherein

the heater element is part of the wire.

19 . The non-nicotine cartridge of claim 18 , wherein the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation includes a non-nicotine vapor former and the at least one non-nicotine compound.

20 . The non-nicotine cartridge of claim 18 , wherein the at least one non-nicotine compound is cannabis , at least one cannabis -derived constituent, or both cannabis and the at least one cannabis -derived constituent.

Continuity (2)
Division 16741227 · Jan 13, 2020
Related Publication 20230397670A1 · Dec 14, 2023
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