Abstract: A heating assembly for heating an aerosol-forming substrate is provided, including: a heater including an electrically resistive heating element and a heater substrate; and a heater mount coupled to the heater; wherein the heating element includes a first portion and a second portion configured such that, when an electrical current is passed through the heating element, the first portion is heated to a higher temperature than the second portion as a result of the electrical current; and wherein the heater mount surrounds the second portion of the heating element.

Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate is provided, including one or more electric aerosol-generating elements; one or more hybrid capacitors configured to supply power to the one or more electric aerosol-generating elements; and a voltage source configured to supply power to the one or more hybrid capacitors to charge the one or more hybrid capacitors.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a method of administering nicotine to a user via inhalation of the nicotine through an aerosol generating device comprising the steps of: (a) providing an aerosol-generating device in which tobacco contained in the aerosol-generating device is electrically heated to a temperature of less than about 400 degrees Celsius; and (b) allowing the user to inhale the aerosol derived from the electrically heated tobacco; wherein the aerosol contains levels of nicotine that are about the same as the levels in combusted tobacco; and wherein the level of one or more harmful or potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) other than nicotine in the aerosol is lower than the level in combusted tobacco.

Abstract: A method of providing maintenance services to at least one user of an electrically operated smoking device using an automatic testing apparatus is provided, the method including: making the automatic testing apparatus publicly accessible; determining a connection of the electrically operated smoking device to the automatic testing apparatus; performing automatic electrical testing of the electrically operated smoking device; automatically extracting usage data from the electrically operated smoking device; and performing a software update or a software reset of the electrically operated smoking device; and/or automatically generating an electrical test report based on the performed automatic electrical testing, automatically providing the electrical test report together with a recommended action to the at least one user, and automatically sending or saving the electrical test report together with the automatically extracted usage data to a data store.

Abstract: A shisha device includes a vessel, an aerosol-generating element in fluid communication with the vessel, and a chamber between the vessel and the aerosol-generating element. The chamber is in fluid communication with the vessel and the aerosol-generating element. The chamber comprises an inlet configured to accelerate air containing aerosol that flows through the inlet from the aerosol-generating element. The chamber may include a main chamber in fluid communication with the inlet. The main chamber may be sized and shaped to allow deceleration of the aerosol in the main chamber when the aerosol exits the inlet and enters the main chamber.

Abstract: A shisha device article includes a vessel and an aerosol-generating element. The vessel defines an interior configured to contain a volume of liquid. The vessel also includes a head space outlet. The aerosol-generating element is in fluid connection with the vessel. The aerosol-generating element includes (i) a cartridge receptacle for receiving a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substrate; (ii) a heating element defining at least two surfaces of the cartridge receptacle; and (iii) an aerosol outlet in fluid connection with the cartridge receptacle and a fresh air inlet channel in fluid connection with the cartridge receptacle. The fresh air inlet channel is arranged to preheat air prior to the air entering the cartridge receptacle.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for providing maintenance services for an electrically operated smoking device, the apparatus including an input including an electrical connector configured to engage electrical contacts on the electrically operated smoking device; and a controller connected to the input and being configured to automatically perform electrical testing of the electrically operated smoking device and to provide a test report based on an outcome of the electrical testing, or to perform a software update or a software reset of the electrically operated smoking device, or to provide both a test report and perform a software update or a software reset of the electrically operated smoking device, when the electrically operated smoking device is connected to the input. There is also provided a system and a method of providing maintenance services to a user of an electrically operated smoking device using a publically accessible automatic testing apparatus.

Abstract: A method of controlling an aerosol-generating system, and the associated system, are provided. The system includes an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device having a detector configured to detect the presence of the article and to distinguish the article from other articles configured for use with the system, based on a spectroscopic signature of a taggant incorporated within a material of the article. The method includes detecting the presence of the article; determining whether the article includes a taggant; comparing the spectroscopic signature of the detected taggant with a look-up table of taggant spectroscopic signatures corresponding to articles configured for use with the system; preventing activation of the device, including preventing the supply of power to a heating element unless the detected taggant spectroscopic signature corresponds to an article configured for use with the system; and activating the device if the detected signature corresponds to the article.

Abstract: A shisha consumable cartridge includes a housing having an exterior surface sized and shaped for operable insertion into a shisha device. The cartridge further includes a first chamber in the housing; a first aerosol-generating substrate in the first chamber; a second chamber in the housing and adjacent to the first chamber. A second aerosol-generating substrate in the second chamber. The compositions of the first aerosol-generating substrate and the second aerosol-generating substrate may be the same or different. The first chamber defines a first fresh air inlet and an opposing first aerosol outlet, such that, in use, fresh air entering the first fresh air inlet carries aerosol generated from through the first aerosol outlet. The second chamber defines a second fresh air inlet and an opposing second aerosol outlet, such that, in use, fresh air entering the second fresh air inlet carries aerosol generated from through the second aerosol outlet.

Abstract: A ground plane is provided, including: a monolithic elongated conductive member, a first portion of the monolithic elongated conductive member forming a cavity configured to receive a power supply, a plurality of second portions of the monolithic elongated conductive member respectively forming resilient elements extending over the cavity and configured to retain the power supply within the cavity, and a plurality of third portions of the monolithic elongated conductive member respectively forming parallel pins configured to receive an electronic circuit board. An electrically operated aerosol generating device including the ground plane, a method of forming a ground plane, and a method of forming an electrically operated aerosol generating device are also provided.

Abstract: A method of controlling an aerosol-generating system, and the associated system, are provided. The system includes an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device having a detector configured to detect the presence of the article and to distinguish the article from other articles configured for use with the system, based on a spectroscopic signature of a taggant incorporated within a material of the article. The method includes detecting the presence of the article; determining whether the article includes a taggant; comparing the spectroscopic signature of the detected taggant with a look-up table of taggant spectroscopic signatures corresponding to articles configured for use with the system; preventing activation of the device, including preventing the supply of power to a heating element unless the detected taggant spectroscopic signature corresponds to an article configured for use with the system; and activating the device if the detected signature corresponds to the article.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one heating element for heating the substrate to form the aerosol and a power supply for supplying power to the at least one heating element. The power supply includes a voltage source, two or more supercapacitors, and switches between the voltage source and the two or more supercapacitors. The switches are arranged so that, during a charging mode, the supercapacitors are connected so as to be charged by the voltage source and, during a heating mode, the supercapacitors are connected so as to discharge through the at least one heating element.

Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a secondary unit capable of receiving a smoking article having an aerosol-forming substrate. The secondary unit includes at least one heating element and an interface for connection to a primary power supply for supplying electrical power to the at least one heating element during a pre-heating mode, to increase the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to an operating temperature. The secondary unit further includes a secondary power supply arranged to supply electrical power to the at least one heating element during a smoking mode, to maintain the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate at substantially the operating temperature. The secondary unit also includes secondary circuitry. The electrically heated smoking system optionally includes a primary unit.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric heater in an electrically heated smoking system is provided, including providing electrical power to the heater in pulses such that during active periods power is supplied to the heater and during inactive periods power is not supplied to the heater; charging a capacitor in an RC circuit during the inactive periods and allowing the capacitor to discharge during the active periods; and monitoring a discharge voltage of the capacitor and if the discharge voltage of the capacitor drops below a threshold voltage level, then stopping further supply of electrical power to the heater.

Abstract: There is provided a system for transmitting power and data from a host device to a receiver device over an electrical connection, including a host device configured to transmit power and data through an output, and configured to transmit the power through the output at different times to the data; a receiver device having an input connectable to the output of the host device, the receiver device including a power receiving circuit, a data receiving circuit, and a switch element configured to connect the input to the power receiving circuit or the data receiving circuit dependent on a voltage of a signal received from the input. There is also provided a receiver device for receiving power and data from the host device.

Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol generating device is provided, including an electrical power supply; an electronic circuit board; an electrical heating element configured to receive power from the electrical power supply via the electronic circuit board; and a ground plane comprising an elongate conductive member configured to electrically couple the power supply to the electronic circuit board and the electrical heating element, and to structurally retain the power supply and plurality of components of the electrically operated aerosol generation device. There is also provided a ground plane, and a single laminar blank configured to form the ground plane. A method of assembling an electrically operated aerosol generating device is also provided.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one heating element for heating the substrate to form the aerosol and a power supply for supplying power to the at least one heating element. The power supply includes a voltage source, two or more supercapacitors, and switches between the voltage source and the two or more supercapacitors. The switches are arranged so that, during a charging mode, the supercapacitors are connected so as to be charged by the voltage source and, during a heating mode, the supercapacitors are connected so as to discharge through the at least one heating element.

Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a secondary unit capable of receiving a smoking article having an aerosol-forming substrate. The secondary unit includes at least one heating element and an interface for connection to a primary power supply for supplying electrical power to the at least one heating element during a pre-heating mode, to increase the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to an operating temperature. The secondary unit further includes a secondary power supply arranged to supply electrical power to the at least one heating element during a smoking mode, to maintain the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate at substantially the operating temperature. The secondary unit also includes secondary circuitry. The electrically heated smoking system optionally includes a primary unit.

Abstract: A heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate includes a plurality of elongate heating elements arranged in an elongate array. The elongate array has a support end with a first dimension, a heating end with a second dimension and a middle portion with a third dimension. The array is arranged to heat the substrate to form an aerosol. The third dimension is greater than the first dimension and greater than the second dimension. An electrically heated aerosol generating system can include the heater.

Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a secondary unit capable of receiving a smoking article having an aerosol-forming substrate. The secondary unit includes at least one heating element and an interface for connection to a primary power supply for supplying electrical power to the at least one heating element during a pre-heating mode, to increase the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to an operating temperature. The secondary unit further includes a secondary power supply arranged to supply electrical power to the at least one heating element during a smoking mode, to maintain the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate at substantially the operating temperature. The secondary unit also includes secondary circuitry. The electrically heated smoking system optionally includes a primary unit.