Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may comprise an electrical power supply, a housing defining a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article, at least one electrical heater within the cavity, and/or a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply to the at least one electrical heater. The controller is configured to activate the at least one electrical heater for a total time period when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity. The aerosol-generating device may also comprise a segmented visual feedback device, wherein a plurality of segments of the segmented visual feedback device each correspond to a portion of the total time period. Each of the plurality of segments is configured to provide visual feedback when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity and when the corresponding portion of the total time period has elapsed.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may include a housing having flexible portion along its length. The flexible portion is configured to transition between a relaxed or unloaded configuration and a flexed or deflected configuration. A flexible heating element and mouthpiece may also be disposed in the housing. When the housing is in a relaxed or unloaded configuration, the flexible heating element and the mouthpiece are at least partially longitudinally aligned with the flexible portion of the housing.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may comprise an electrical power supply, a housing defining a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article, at least one electrical heater within the cavity, and/or a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply to the at least one electrical heater. The controller is configured to activate the at least one electrical heater for a total time period when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity. The aerosol-generating device may also comprise a segmented visual feedback device, wherein a plurality of segments of the segmented visual feedback device each correspond to a portion of the total time period. Each of the plurality of segments is configured to provide visual feedback when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity and when the corresponding portion of the total time period has elapsed.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may include a housing having flexible portion along its length. The flexible portion is configured to transition between a relaxed or unloaded configuration and a flexed or deflected configuration. A flexible heating element and mouthpiece may also be disposed in the housing. When the housing is in a relaxed or unloaded configuration, the flexible heating element and the mouthpiece are at least partially longitudinally aligned with the flexible portion of the housing.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article may include a base layer, at least one aerosol-forming substrate positioned on the base layer, and a cover layer overlying the at least one aerosol-forming substrate and secured to the base layer so that the at least one aerosol-forming substrate is sealed between the base layer and the cover layer. The cover layer includes a polymeric film comprising at least one of a plurality of micropores and a plurality of microperforations.

Abstract: A method for supplying products for electrically operated smoking systems is provided, including: delivering to a remote user device from a central server over a network connection order option information associated with a vending machine; receiving an order from the remote user device, the order including an indication of a product available from the vending machine, and user identification information; retrieving registered user information, including user authentication information associated with user identification information; receiving user authentication information from a user; and if the received user authentication information matches the retrieved user authentication information, delivering the product to the user at the vending machine.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may include a housing having flexible portion along its length. The flexible portion is configured to transition between a relaxed or unloaded configuration and a flexed or deflected configuration. A flexible heating element and mouthpiece may also be disposed in the housing. When the housing is in a relaxed or unloaded configuration, the flexible heating element and the mouthpiece are at least partially longitudinally aligned with the flexible portion of the housing.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article may include a base layer, at least one aerosol-forming substrate positioned on the base layer, and a cover layer overlying the at least one aerosol-forming substrate and secured to the base layer so that the at least one aerosol-forming substrate is sealed between the base layer and the cover layer. The cover layer includes a polymeric film comprising at least one of a plurality of micropores and a plurality of microperforations.

Abstract: The aerosol-generating device comprises a device housing (2), a mouthpiece (3) associated to the device housing, a receiving chamber (4) configured to receive from external to the device at least a portion of a sheet of aerosol-forming substrate in a non-rolled form and configured to accommodate a cylindrically shaped of aerosol-forming substrate and a holder (6) for holding the sheet of aerosol-forming substrate. The device further comprises a rolling device (7) for receiving a flat or non-rolled sheet of aerosol-forming substrate and for rolling the sheet of aerosol-forming substrate around the holder from the non-rolled form into a cylindrically shaped aerosol-forming substrate.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may include a housing having flexible portion along its length. The flexible portion is configured to transition between a relaxed or unloaded configuration and a flexed or deflected configuration. A flexible heating element and mouthpiece may also be disposed in the housing. When the housing is in a relaxed or unloaded configuration, the flexible heating element and the mouthpiece are at least partially longitudinally aligned with the flexible portion of the housing.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may include a housing having flexible portion along its length. The flexible portion is configured to transition between a relaxed or unloaded configuration and a flexed or deflected configuration. A flexible heating element and mouthpiece may also be disposed in the housing. When the housing is in a relaxed or unloaded configuration, the flexible heating element and the mouthpiece are at least partially longitudinally aligned with the flexible portion of the housing.

Abstract: There is provided a kit including a module and an electrically operated aerosol-generating system. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system includes an electric heater configured to heat an aerosol-generating substrate, a supply of electrical energy, a data coupling, and a system attachment connector. The module includes a data connector configured to connect to the data coupling of the electrically operated aerosol-generating system, and a module attachment connector configured to cooperate with the system attachment connector on the electrically operated aerosol-generating system to attach the module to the electrically operated aerosol-generating system.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including a power supply; a controller connected to the supply; an aerosol-generating element connected to the controller; and a first sensor connected to the controller to provide a first signal to the controller in response to a first user input action, the controller being responsive to the first signal to switch from an off state to a ready state in which the controller prevents at least one function of the system but is responsive to a second user input action providing a second signal to the controller, and the controller comparing the second signal with stored data and switching from the ready state to an on state if the second signal matches the stored data, and in the on state the controller is responsive to a third user input action to switch to an active state in which the controller activates the function.

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: An aerosol-generating device may comprise an electrical power supply, a housing defining a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article, at least one electrical heater within the cavity, and/or a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply to the at least one electrical heater. The controller is configured to activate the at least one electrical heater for a total time period when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity. The aerosol-generating device may also comprise a segmented visual feedback device, wherein a plurality of segments of the segmented visual feedback device each correspond to a portion of the total time period. Each of the plurality of segments is configured to provide visual feedback when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity and when the corresponding portion of the total time period has elapsed.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may comprise an electrical power supply, a housing defining a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article, at least one electrical heater within the cavity, and a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply to the at least one electrical heater. The controller is configured to activate the at least one electrical heater for a total time period when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity. The aerosol-generating device may also comprise a segmented visual feedback device, wherein a plurality of segments of the segmented visual feedback device each correspond to a portion of the total time period. Each of the plurality of segments is configured to provide visual feedback when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity and when the corresponding portion of the total time period has elapsed.

Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating assembly including an aerosol-forming substrate, at least one electric heater configured to heat the substrate, a first data storage device, a first electrical connector, and a computing device including a supply of electrical energy, a user interface, at least one user input device, a second data storage device, a plurality of software applications installed on the second device, a microprocessor, and a second electrical connector. The first and second electrical connectors are configured to enable two-way data transfer between the computing device and the assembly, and to enable a supply of electrical current from the supply of electrical energy to the heater. At least one of the applications is configured to control the supply of electrical current to the heater in accordance with a predetermined heating profile stored on at least one of the first and second data storage devices.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may include a housing having flexible portion along its length. The flexible portion is configured to transition between a relaxed or unloaded configuration and a flexed or deflected configuration. A flexible heating element and mouthpiece may also be disposed in the housing. When the housing is in a relaxed or unloaded configuration, the flexible heating element and the mouthpiece are at least partially longitudinally aligned with the flexible portion of the housing.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may include a housing having flexible portion along its length. The flexible portion is configured to transition between a relaxed or unloaded configuration and a flexed or deflected configuration. A flexible heating element and mouthpiece may also be disposed in the housing. When the housing is in a relaxed or unloaded configuration, the flexible heating element and the mouthpiece are at least partially longitudinally aligned with the flexible portion of the housing.

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.