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 is provided, including a secondary unit configured to receive a smoking article having an aerosol-forming substrate. The secondary unit includes at least one heating element, an interface configured to connect to a primary power supply, a secondary power supply, and secondary circuitry. The secondary circuitry is configured to control supply of electrical power from the secondary supply to the heating element (a) in a pre-heating mode, during which a substrate temperature is increased to an operating temperature, and (b) in a smoking mode, during which a substrate temperature is maintained at substantially the operating temperature; and to control charging of the secondary supply by the primary supply in a charging mode, to have sufficient charge to increase a substrate temperature to the operating temperature in the pre-heating mode and to maintain the substrate temperature at substantially the operating temperature during the smoking mode.

Abstract: There is provided a case for a mobile device, including a first panel and a second panel; and a hinge extending along an edge of each of the first and second panels and connecting the second panel to the first panel, the hinge including a hollow portion configured to receive an aerosol-generating device, and a hinge power connector configured to deliver electrical energy to a corresponding power connector on the aerosol-generating device when the aerosol-generating device is connected to the hinge power connector.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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 heated smoking system is provided, including a secondary unit configured to receive a smoking article having an aerosol-forming substrate. The secondary unit includes at least one heating element, an interface configured to connect to a primary power supply, a secondary power supply, and secondary circuitry. The secondary circuitry is configured to control supply of electrical power from the secondary supply to the heating element (a) in a pre-heating mode, during which a substrate temperature is increased to an operating temperature, and (b) in a smoking mode, during which a substrate temperature is maintained at substantially the operating temperature; and to control charging of the secondary supply by the primary supply in a charging mode, to have sufficient charge to increase a substrate temperature to the operating temperature in the pre-heating mode and to maintain the substrate temperature at substantially the operating temperature during the smoking mode.

Abstract: There is provided a portable electrical system including primary and secondary devices, the primary device having a first, lithium cobalt oxide battery, and the secondary device having a second, lithium iron phosphate or lithium titanate battery, wherein the primary and secondary devices are configured to allow recharging of the second battery from the first battery at a rate of between 2C and 16C.

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 smoking system is provided, including 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, and further includes a secondary power supply and secondary circuitry. The secondary circuitry is arranged to control supply of electrical power from the secondary power supply to the at least one heating element: (a) in a pre-heating mode during which the substrate temperature is increased to an operating temperature; (b) in a smoking mode, during which the substrate temperature is maintained at substantially the operating temperature; and (c) in a charging mode, so that the secondary power supply has sufficient charge to increase the substrate temperature to the operating temperature in the pre-heating mode and to maintain the substrate temperature at substantially the operating temperature during the smoking mode.

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 smoking article includes identification information encoded on the smoking article. The smoking article can be used with an electrically heated smoking system having a detector for detecting the smoking article and distinguishing the smoking article from other articles based on the identification information, A cleaning article includes identification information encoded on the cleaning article. The cleaning article cleans an electrically heated smoking system having a detector for detecting the cleaning article and distinguishing the cleaning article from other articles based on the identification information.

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: A smoking article includes identification information encoded on the smoking article. The smoking article can be used with an electrically heated smoking system having a detector for detecting the smoking article and distinguishing the smoking article from other articles based on the identification information. A cleaning article includes identification information encoded on the cleaning article. The cleaning article cleans an electrically heated smoking system having a detector for detecting the cleaning article and distinguishing the cleaning article from other articles based on the identification information.

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 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.