US5372148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlling the supply of energy to a heating load in a smoking article
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc
•
Filing: 1993-02-24
•
Granted: 1994-12-13
•
Expires: 2013-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for controlling energy flow into a heating load array of a smoking article are provided. In response to a pressure drop in the mouthpiece of the smoking article, a selected load in the heating load array is switchably connected to a power supply. Energy delivered to the load is measured and the load is disconnected when a predetermined amount of energy has been delivered.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh J. McCafferty
- 👤 Charles T. Higgins
- 👤 William L. Lucas, Sr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:27
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24F; A24F40/00; A24F40/50; A24F40/53; A24F40/51; A24F40/60; A24F40/20; A61; A61M; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 73
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for controlling delivery of energy from a power supply to a heating load in a smoking article, comprising: puff sensor means for sensing when a smoker draws a puff from the smoking article; switching means for coupling the heating load to the power supply; energy measurement means, coupled to the heating load, for measuring an amount of energy delivered to the heating load; control means, coupled to said puff sensor means, said switching means and said energy measurement means, for enabling said switching means to connect the heating load to the power supply when said puff sensor means senses a puff and for disabling said switching means to disconnect the heating load from the power supply when a predetermined amount of energy as measured by said energy measurement means has been delivered to the heating load: and oscillator means, coupled to said control means, for generating interrupt signals at a predetermined rate; wherein said control means comprises a microcontroller comprising: means for maintaining said microcontroller in a stop mode; means for entering a run mode upon receipt of an interrupt from said oscillator means; and means for returning to said stop mode after entering said run mode when said puff sensor means has not sensed a puff.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for controlling delivery of energy from a power supply to a heating load in a smoking article, comprising: puff sensor means for sensing when a smoker draws a puff from the smoking article; switching means for coupling the heating load to the power supply; energy measurement means, coupled to the heating load, for measuring an amount of energy delivered to the heating load; control means, coupled to said puff sensor means, said switching means and said energy measurement means, for enabling said switching means to connect the heating load to the power supply when said puff sensor means senses a puff and for disabling said switching means to disconnect the heating load from the power supply when a predetermined amount of energy as measured by said energy measurement means has been delivered to the heating load: and oscillator means, coupled to said control means, for generating interrupt signals at a predetermined rate; wherein said control means comprises a microcontroller comprising: means for maintaining said microcontroller in a stop mode; means for entering a run mode upon receipt of an interrupt from said oscillator means; and means for returning to said stop mode after entering said run mode when said puff sensor means has not sensed a puff.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means comprises means for enabling said switching means so that said predetermined amount of energy is delivered from the power supply to the heating load within a predetermined period of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said control means further comprises: means for dividing said predetermined period of time into a plurality of intervals, each of said intervals being a duration substantially equal to a predetermined fraction of said period of time; and means for enabling said switching means so that a corresponding fraction of said predetermined amount of energy is delivered from the power supply to the heating load during each of said plurality of intervals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said control means comprises means for determining that the power supply has sufficient stored energy to deliver said predetermined amount of energy to the heating load within said predetermined period of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising display means for displaying an error symbol when the power supply has insufficient stored energy to deliver said predetermined amount of energy to deliver said predetermined amount of energy to the heating load within said predetermined period of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller further comprises means for returning to said stop mode after entering said run mode when said puff sensor means senses a puff and said predetermined amount of energy has been delivered from the power supply to the heating load.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller further comprises: means for disabling said puff sensor means when said microcontroller enters said stop mode; and means for enabling said puff sensor means when said microcontroller receives an interrupt signal from said oscillator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising load sensor means, coupled to said microcontroller and the heating load, for sensing when the heating load is coupled to the power supply.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said microcontroller comprises means, responsive to said load sensor means, for enabling said microcontroller to enter a dormant mode when the heating load is not coupled to the power supply.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for enabling said microcontroller to enter a dormant mode comprises: means for disabling said oscillator; and means for causing said microcontroller to enter a stop mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising wake-up logic means, coupled to said microcontroller, for generating an interrupt signal when the heating load is coupled to the power supply.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said microcontroller further comprises: means for receiving said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means; means for enabling said microcontroller to enter a run mode upon receipt of said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means; and means for enabling said oscillator means upon receipt of said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said energy measurement means comprises an analog-to-digital converter to measure a voltage that is applied to the heating load and to provide a digital representation of said measured voltage: and said microcontroller comprises means for monitoring said digital representation of said measured voltage, for determining a duration that said measured voltage is applied to the heating load, and for calculating energy delivered to the heating load while said measured voltage is applied to the heating load from said measured voltage, said determined duration and a predetermined resistance of the heating load.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said analog-to-digital converter is provided by said microcontroller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said puff sensor means comprises a pressure transducer that senses a pressure drop in a mouthpiece of said smoking article.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
233 words
An apparatus for controlling delivery of energy from a power supply to a plurality of heating loads in a smoking article, comprising: puff sensor means for sensing when a smoker draws a puff from the smoking article; switching means for selectively coupling at least one of the plurality of heating loads to the power supply; energy measurement means, coupled to the power supply, for measuring an amount of energy delivered to the at least one heating load; control means, coupled to said puff sensor means, said switching means and said energy measurement means, for enabling said switching means to connect the at least one heating load to the power supply when said puff sensor means senses a puff and for disabling said switching means to disconnect the at least one heating load from the power supply when a predetermined amount of energy as measured by said energy measurement means has been delivered to the at least one heating load; and oscillator means, coupled to said control means, for generating interrupt signals at a predetermined rate; wherein said control means comprises a microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller comprises: means for maintaining said microcontroller in a stop mode; means for entering a run mode upon receipt of an interrupt from said oscillator means; and means for returning to said stop mode after entering said run mode when said puff sensor means has not sensed a puff.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
233 words
An apparatus for controlling delivery of energy from a power supply to a plurality of heating loads in a smoking article, comprising: puff sensor means for sensing when a smoker draws a puff from the smoking article; switching means for selectively coupling at least one of the plurality of heating loads to the power supply; energy measurement means, coupled to the power supply, for measuring an amount of energy delivered to the at least one heating load; control means, coupled to said puff sensor means, said switching means and said energy measurement means, for enabling said switching means to connect the at least one heating load to the power supply when said puff sensor means senses a puff and for disabling said switching means to disconnect the at least one heating load from the power supply when a predetermined amount of energy as measured by said energy measurement means has been delivered to the at least one heating load; and oscillator means, coupled to said control means, for generating interrupt signals at a predetermined rate; wherein said control means comprises a microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller comprises: means for maintaining said microcontroller in a stop mode; means for entering a run mode upon receipt of an interrupt from said oscillator means; and means for returning to said stop mode after entering said run mode when said puff sensor means has not sensed a puff.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said control means further comprises means for enabling said switching means to select at least one unused heating load each time said puff sensor means senses a puff, until all of the plurality of heating loads have been used.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising display means, coupled to said control means, for displaying a symbol indicative of a number of unused heating loads remaining.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said control means comprises means for enabling said switching means so that said predetermined amount of energy is delivered from the power supply to the at least one heating load within a predetermined period of time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said control means further comprises: means for dividing said predetermined period of time into a plurality of intervals, each of said intervals being a duration substantially equal to a predetermined fraction of said period of time; and means for enabling said switching means so that a corresponding fraction of said predetermined amount of energy is delivered from the power supply to the at least one heating load during each of said plurality of intervals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said control means comprises means for determining that the power supply has sufficient stored energy to deliver said predetermined amount of energy to the at least one heating load within said predetermined period of time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising display means for displaying an error symbol when the power supply has insufficient stored energy to deliver said predetermined amount of energy to the at least one heating load within said predetermined period of time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said microcontroller further comprises means for returning to said stop mode after entering said run mode when said puff sensor means senses a puff and said predetermined amount of energy has been delivered from the power supply to the at least one heating load.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said microcontroller further comprises: means for disabling said puff sensor means when said microcontroller enters said stop mode; and means for enabling said puff sensor means when said microcontroller receives an interrupt signal from said oscillator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising load sensor means, coupled to said microcontroller and the plurality of heating loads, for sensing when the plurality of heating loads are coupled to the power supply.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said microcontroller comprises means, responsive to said load sensor means, for enabling said microcontroller to enter a dormant mode when the plurality of heating loads are not coupled to the power supply.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said means for enabling said apparatus to enter a dormant mode comprises: means for disabling said oscillator; and means for causing said microcontroller to enter a stop mode.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising wake-up logic means, coupled to said microcontroller, for generating an interrupt signal when the plurality of heating loads are coupled to the power supply.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said microcontroller further comprises: means for receiving said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means; means for enabling said microcontroller to enter a run mode upon receipt of said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means; and means for enabling said oscillator means upon receipt of said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: said energy measurement means comprises an analog-to-digital converter to measure a voltage that is applied to the at least one heating load and to provide a digital representation of said measured voltage; and said microcontroller comprises means for monitoring said digital representation of said measured voltage, for determining a duration that said measured voltage is applied to the at least one heating load, and for calculating energy delivered to the at least one heating load while said measured voltage is applied to the at least one heating load from said measured voltage, said determined duration and a predetermined resistance of the at least one heating load.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said analog-to-digital converter is provided by said microcontroller.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said puff sensor means comprises a pressure transducer that senses a pressure drop in a mouthpiece of said smoking article.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for controlling energy flow in a smoking article, comprising: sensing the presence of a heating load in said smoking article; sensing when a puff is drawn on said smoking article; delivering a predetermined amount of energy to said heating load in response to a sensed puff; said delivery step further comprising: maintaining said delivery step in a stop mode; generating interrupt signals at a predetermined rate; initiating a run mode upon receipt of a generated interrupt signal; returning to the stop mode when no heating load is sensed; and delivering the predetermined amount of power from a battery when a heating load and a puff are sensed.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for controlling energy flow in a smoking article, comprising: sensing the presence of a heating load in said smoking article; sensing when a puff is drawn on said smoking article; delivering a predetermined amount of energy to said heating load in response to a sensed puff; said delivery step further comprising: maintaining said delivery step in a stop mode; generating interrupt signals at a predetermined rate; initiating a run mode upon receipt of a generated interrupt signal; returning to the stop mode when no heating load is sensed; and delivering the predetermined amount of power from a battery when a heating load and a puff are sensed.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 33, wherein said step of delivering said predetermined amount of energy comprises delivering said predetermined amount of energy to said heating load within a predetermined period of time.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 33, further comprising: measuring the amount of energy delivered to the heating load of said smoking article within a predetermined period of time; and comparing said measured amount of energy to an expected amount of energy to determine if said measured amount of energy is less than said expected amount of energy, which indicates that said battery has insufficient stored energy.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 33, further comprising returning to the stop mode after said delivery step.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
184 words
An apparatus for controlling delivery of energy from a power supply to a heating load in a smoking article, comprising: puff sensor means for sensing when a smoker draws a puff from the smoking article; switching means for coupling the heating load to the power supply; energy measurement means, coupled to the heating lead, for measuring an amount of energy delivered to the heating load; control means, coupled to said puff sensor means, said switching means and said energy measurement means, for enabling said switching means to connect the heating load to the power supply when said puff sensor means senses a puff and for disabling said switching means to disconnect the heating load from the power supply when a predetermined amount of energy as measured by said energy measurement means has been delivered to the heating load; oscillator means, coupled to said control means, for generating interrupt signals at a predetermined rate; wherein said control means comprises a microcontroller; and load sensor means coupled to said microcontroller and the heating load, for sensing when the heating load is coupled to the power supply.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
184 words
An apparatus for controlling delivery of energy from a power supply to a heating load in a smoking article, comprising: puff sensor means for sensing when a smoker draws a puff from the smoking article; switching means for coupling the heating load to the power supply; energy measurement means, coupled to the heating lead, for measuring an amount of energy delivered to the heating load; control means, coupled to said puff sensor means, said switching means and said energy measurement means, for enabling said switching means to connect the heating load to the power supply when said puff sensor means senses a puff and for disabling said switching means to disconnect the heating load from the power supply when a predetermined amount of energy as measured by said energy measurement means has been delivered to the heating load; oscillator means, coupled to said control means, for generating interrupt signals at a predetermined rate; wherein said control means comprises a microcontroller; and load sensor means coupled to said microcontroller and the heating load, for sensing when the heating load is coupled to the power supply.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said control means comprises means for enabling said switching means so that said predetermined amount of energy is delivered from the power supply to the heating load within a predetermined period of time.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said control means further comprises: means for dividing said predetermined period of time into a plurality of intervals, each of said intervals being a duration substantially equal to a predetermined fraction of said period of time; and means for enabling said switching means so that a corresponding fraction of said predetermined amount of energy is delivered from the power supply to the heating load during each of said plurality of intervals.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said control means comprises means for determining that the power supply has sufficient stored energy to deliver said predetermined amount of energy to the heating load within said predetermined period of time.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising display means for displaying an error symbol when the power supply has insufficient stored energy to deliver said predetermined amount of energy to deliver said predetermined amount of energy to the heating load within said predetermined period of time.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said microcontroller, comprises: means for maintaining said microcontroller in a stop mode; means for entering a run mode upon receipt of an interrupt from said oscillator means; and means for returning to said stop mode after entering said run mode when said puff sensor means has not sensed a puff.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said microcontroller further comprises means for returning to said stop mode after entering said run mode when said puff sensor means senses a puff and said predetermined amount of energy has been delivered from the power supply to the heating load.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said microcontroller further comprises: means for disabling said puff sensor means when said microcontroller enters said stop mode; and means for enabling said puff sensor means when said microcontroller receives an interrupt signal from said oscillator.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said microcontroller comprises means, responsive to said load sensor means, for enabling said microcontroller to enter a dormant mode when the heating load is not coupled to the power supply.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said means for enabling said microcontroller to enter a dormant mode comprises: means for disabling said oscillator; and means for causing said microcontroller to enter a stop mode.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising wake-up logic means, coupled to said microcontroller, for generating an interrupt signal when the heating load is coupled to the power supply.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said microcontroller further comprises: means for receiving said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means; means for enabling said microcontroller to enter a run mode upon receipt of said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means; and means for enabling said oscillator means upon receipt of said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein: said energy measurement means comprises an analog-to-digital converter to measure a voltage that is applied to the heating load and to provide a digital representation of said measured voltage; and said microcontroller comprises means for monitoring said digital representation of said measured voltage, for determining a duration that said measured voltage is applied to the heating load, and for calculating energy delivered to the heating load while said measured voltage is applied to the heating load from said measured voltage, said determined duration and a predetermined resistance of the heating load.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 49, wherein said analog-to-digital converter is provided by said microcontroller.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said puff sensor means comprises a pressure transducer that senses a pressure drop in a mouthpiece of the smoking article.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for controlling delivery of energy from a power supply to a plurality of heating loads in a smoking article, comprising: puff sensor means for sensing when a smoker draws a puff from the smoking article; switching means for selectively coupling at least one of the plurality of heating loads to the power supply; energy measurement means, coupled to the power supply, for measuring an amount of energy delivered to the at least one heating load; control means, coupled to said puff sensor means, said switching means and said energy measurement means, for enabling said switching means to connect the at least one heating load to the power supply when said puff sensor means senses a puff and for disabling said switching means to disconnect the at least one heating load from the power supply when a predetermined amount of energy as measured by said energy measurement means has been delivered to the at least one heating load; oscillator means, coupled to said control means, for generating interrupt signals at a predetermined rate; wherein said control means comprises a microcontroller; and load sensor means, coupled to said microcontroller and the plurality of heating loads, for sensing when the plurality of heating loads are coupled to the power supply.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for controlling delivery of energy from a power supply to a plurality of heating loads in a smoking article, comprising: puff sensor means for sensing when a smoker draws a puff from the smoking article; switching means for selectively coupling at least one of the plurality of heating loads to the power supply; energy measurement means, coupled to the power supply, for measuring an amount of energy delivered to the at least one heating load; control means, coupled to said puff sensor means, said switching means and said energy measurement means, for enabling said switching means to connect the at least one heating load to the power supply when said puff sensor means senses a puff and for disabling said switching means to disconnect the at least one heating load from the power supply when a predetermined amount of energy as measured by said energy measurement means has been delivered to the at least one heating load; oscillator means, coupled to said control means, for generating interrupt signals at a predetermined rate; wherein said control means comprises a microcontroller; and load sensor means, coupled to said microcontroller and the plurality of heating loads, for sensing when the plurality of heating loads are coupled to the power supply.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said control means further comprises means for enabling said switching means to select at least one unused heating load each time said puff sensor means senses a puff, until all of the plurality of heating loads have been used.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising display means, coupled to said control means, for displaying a symbol indicative of a number of unused heating loads remaining.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said control means comprises means for enabling said switching means so that said predetermined amount of energy is delivered from the power supply to the at least one heating load within a predetermined period of time.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said control means further comprises: means for dividing said predetermined period of time into a plurality of intervals, each of said intervals being a duration substantially equal to a predetermined fraction of said period of time; and means for enabling said switching means so that a corresponding fraction of said predetermined amount of energy is delivered from the power supply to the at least one heating load during each of said plurality of intervals.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said control means comprises means for determining that the power supply has sufficient stored energy to deliver said predetermined amount of energy to the at least one heating load within said predetermined period of time.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising display means for displaying an error symbol when the power supply has insufficient stored energy to delivery said predetermined amount of energy to said at least one heating load within said predetermined period of time.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said microcontroller comprises: means for maintaining said microcontroller in a stop mode; means for entering a run mode upon receipt of an interrupt from said oscillator means; and means for returning to said stop mode after entering said run mode when said puff sensor means has not sensed a puff.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 59, wherein said microcontroller further comprises means for returning to said stop mode after entering said run mode when said puff sensor means senses a puff and said predetermined amount of energy has been delivered from the power supply to the at least one heating load.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 59, wherein said microcontroller further comprises: means for disabling said puff sensor means when said microcontroller enters said stop mode; and means for enabling said puff sensor means when said microcontroller receives an interrupt signal from said oscillator.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said microcontroller comprises means, responsive to said load sensor means, for enabling said microcontroller to enter a dormant mode when the plurality of heating loads are not coupled to the power supply.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 62, wherein said means for enabling said microcontroller to enter a dormant mode comprises: means for disabling said oscillator; and means for causing said microcontroller to enter a stop mode.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 63, further comprising wake-up logic means, coupled to said microcontroller, for generating an interrupt signal when the plurality of heating loads are coupled to the power supply.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 64, wherein said microcontroller further comprises: means for receiving said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means; means for enabling said microcontroller to enter a run mode upon receipt of said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means; and means for enabling said oscillator means upon receipt of said interrupt signal from said wake-up logic means.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 52, wherein: said energy measurement means comprises an analog-to-digital converter to measure a voltage that is applied to the at least one heating load and to provide a digital representation of said measured voltage; and said microcontroller comprises means for monitoring said digital representation of said measured voltage, for determining a duration that said measured voltage is applied to the at least one heating load, and for calculating energy delivered to the at least one heating load while said measured voltage is applied to the at least one heating load from said measured voltage, said determined duration and a predetermined resistance of the at least one heating load.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said analog-to-digital converter is provided by said microcontroller.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said puff sensor means comprises a pressure transducer that senses a pressure drop in a mouthpiece of the smoking article.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-12 | 1998-06-13 | 1998-12-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-12 | 2002-06-13 | 2002-12-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-12 | 2006-06-13 | 2006-12-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |