US 12,250,963 B2
Sensor apparatuses and systems
Georgios Karles, Richmond, VA (US); Jeffery S. Edmiston, Mechanicsville, VA (US); William A. Rees, Richmond, VA (US); and David B. Kane, Richmond, VA (US)
Assigned to Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Apr. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/301,465.
Application 18/301,465 is a continuation of application No. 17/361,440, filed on Jun. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,653,691.
Application 17/361,440 is a continuation of application No. 16/268,837, filed on Feb. 6, 2019, granted, now 11,064,727, issued on Jul. 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0248050 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A24C 5/34 (2006.01); A24F 40/80 (2020.01)
CPC A24C 5/34 (2013.01) [A24C 5/3406 (2013.01); A24F 40/80 (2020.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
generating, at a sensor apparatus, sensor data indicating a flow rate of an instance of aerosol that is drawn through a conduit of the sensor apparatus from an external tobacco element coupled to the sensor apparatus and to an outlet opening of the conduit;
communicating a data stream between the sensor apparatus and a computing device via a communication link, the data stream providing a real-time indication or near real-time indication of the flow rate of the instance of aerosol drawn through the conduit, the data stream including information associated with the sensor data; and
processing the information associated with the sensor data to generate topography information associated with the sensor apparatus,
wherein the topography information includes
an aerosol draw pattern of the instance of aerosol drawn though the conduit over a period of time, the aerosol draw pattern associated with the sensor data, the aerosol draw pattern representing a time variation of a cumulative amount of aerosol in multiple instances of aerosol drawn through the conduit during the period of time, from a null value at a start of the period of time to a cumulative amount at an end of the period of time, and
a time variation of a threshold cumulative amount of aerosol drawn through the conduit during the period of time, the threshold cumulative amount of aerosol varying as a function of time over the period of time, wherein
the aerosol draw pattern includes a historical aerosol draw pattern generated based on an aggregate of multiple instances of aerosol drawn through the conduit, and
the aerosol draw pattern includes a projected aerosol draw pattern generated based on the historical aerosol draw pattern and an initial flow rate at a start of an ongoing instance of aerosol drawn through the conduit.