Abstract: The aerosol-generating article include a plurality of elements coaxially aligned and assembled within a wrapper, the article having an outlet end and a distal end upstream from the outlet end. The article includes a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and a liquid retention medium for retaining the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The wrapper is formed from a sheet of liquid-impervious material, the liquid retention medium being in a first element of the plurality of elements.

Abstract: The aerosol-generating article is has an outlet end, a distal end upstream from the outlet end, and a mid-point located an equal distance between the outlet end and the distal end. The article includes a liquid aerosol-forming substrate contained within a frangible capsule, the frangible capsule being located between the distal end and the mid-point. At least a portion of a liquid retention medium is located between the distal end and the mid-point. The article is configured such that, during use, air is capable of being drawn through the article from the distal end to the outlet end.

Abstract: The aerosol-generating article is capable of being used with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating article is a consumable article having an outlet end, a distal end upstream from the outlet end, and a mid-point located an equal distance between the outlet end and the distal end. The article includes a first volatile liquid substrate contained within a first frangible capsule, the frangible capsule being located between the distal end and the mid-point, and a second volatile liquid substrate contained within a second frangible capsule, the second frangible capsule being located between the distal end and the mid-point. The article also includes a liquid retention medium, at least a portion the liquid retention medium being located between the distal end and the mid-point, wherein the article is configured to allow air to be drawn through the article from the distal end to the outlet end.

Abstract: The aerosol-generating system includes an aerosol-generating article with an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating article having an outlet end and a distal end upstream from the outlet end. The system also includes an electrically operated aerosol-generating device including a housing having a cavity configured to receive the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, an electric heating element, and a heat diffuser including a non-combustible porous body for absorbing heat from the electric heating element such that, in use, air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end is heated by the heat absorbed in the porous body.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including a reservoir configured to hold a liquid; a release medium; and a heater, wherein the reservoir and the release medium are configured to transport liquid from the reservoir to the release medium, wherein the release medium and the heater are disposed in physical contact with each other, wherein the aerosol-generating device further includes a means for reversibly releasing the physical contact between the release medium and the heater to form a gap between the heater and the release medium, and wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to activate the heater when the gap is formed between the heater and the release medium. A method for forming an aerosol by the aerosol-generating device is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating system for heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The system includes a liquid storage portion for storing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and a leakage preventer for preventing or reducing leakage of the liquid aerosol forming substrate from the liquid storage portion. The leakage preventer may include one or more of a porous plug at least partially located within the liquid storage portion, a first sealer between the liquid storage portion and a capillary wick, and a second sealer between the liquid storage portion and an electrical connector of an electric heater.

Abstract: There is provided a cartridge for use in an aerosol-generating system, the aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device, the cartridge configured to be used with the device, wherein the device includes a device housing, an inductor coil positioned on or within the housing, and a power supply connected to the inductor coil and configured to provide a high frequency oscillating current to the inductor coil, the cartridge including a cartridge housing containing an aerosol-forming substrate and a ferrite mesh susceptor element positioned to heat the aerosol-forming substrate.

Abstract: A heat diffuser for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device is configured to be removably coupled to the aerosol-generating device. The heat diffuser includes a non-combustible porous body for absorbing heat from an electric heating element. The porous body is thermally conductive such that, in use, air drawn through the porous body is heated by the heat absorbed by the porous body. Example embodiments also provide a heated aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating system, both comprising the heat diffuser.

Abstract: A heat diffuser for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device is configured to be removably coupled to the aerosol-generating device. The heat diffuser includes a non-combustible porous body configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element. The porous body is formed from a heat storage material such that, in use, air drawn through the porous body is heated by the heat absorbed by and stored in the porous body. Example embodiments also provide heated aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating system, both comprising the heat diffuser.

Abstract: A refillable heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device has an outlet end for insertion into a user's mouth during use, and a distal end upstream from the outlet end. The article includes a refillable liquid retention section and an aerosol-generation section located within a casing. The refillable liquid retention section includes a liquid retention medium, and the aerosol-generation section is located downstream of the refillable liquid retention section. The liquid retention medium has a capacity to absorb up to 35 microliters of liquid. The article is configured such that, during use, air can be drawn through the article from the distal end to the end, passing through the refillable liquid retention section. The article defines an opening or port for allowing the refillable liquid retention section to be charged with liquid.

Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device includes an outlet end and a distal end. The article may include a heat diffuser at the distal end of the article. The article may include an aerosol-forming substrate between the heat diffuser and the outlet end. The heat diffuser may include a non-combustible porous body configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element such that the heat diffuser is configured to heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end based on the heat absorbed in the porous body. The heated aerosol-generating article may be included in a heated aerosol-generating system that includes an electric heating element configured to generate heat. The heat diffuser may heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating system, based on absorbing heat generated by the electric heating element.

Abstract: There is provided a cartridge for use in an aerosol-generating system, the aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device, the cartridge configured to be used with the device, wherein the device includes a device housing, an inductor coil positioned on or within the housing, and a power supply connected to the inductor coil and configured to provide a high frequency oscillating current to the inductor coil, the cartridge including a cartridge housing containing an aerosol-forming substrate and a ferrite mesh susceptor element positioned to heat the aerosol-forming substrate.

Abstract: There is provided an electrically operated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate. The system includes a liquid storage portion for storing liquid aerosol-forming substrate, an electric heater including at least one heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and electric circuitry for determining depletion of liquid aerosol-forming substrate heated by the heater based on a relationship between a temperature of the heating element and power applied to the heating element. There is also provided a method in an electrically operated aerosol generating system including a liquid storage portion for storing liquid aerosol-forming substrate and an electric heater including at least one heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the method including determining depletion of liquid aerosol-forming substrate heated by the heater based on a relationship between a temperature of the heating element and power applied to the heating element.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of an inhaling device is provided, the inhaling device including a gas flow path through which gas can be drawn by the action of a user puff, a gas flow sensor within the gas flow path, and a memory, the method including recording gas flow measurements from the gas flow sensor; comparing the gas flow measurements with the user puff signature stored in the memory to provide a correlation score; and enabling or disabling further operation of the device based on a value of the correlation score. The method allows an inhaling device, such as an electrically operated smoking device or a medical inhaler, to authenticate a user of the device based on a detected puffing behavior.

Abstract: There is provided a cartridge for an electrically heated aerosol-generating system, the electrically heated aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device, the cartridge being configured to be used with the device, wherein the device includes a device housing; an inductor coil positioned in the device housing; and a power supply connected to the inductor coil and configured to provide a high-frequency oscillating current to the inductor coil; the cartridge includes a cartridge housing containing an aerosol-forming substrate, the housing having an internal surface surrounding an internal passage through which air can flow; and a susceptor element configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device and a cartridge configured to be used with the device, the device including a device housing configured to engage at least a portion of the cartridge; an inductor coil positioned around or adjacent to the cavity; and a power supply connected to the inductor coil and configured to provide a high frequency oscillating current to the inductor coil; the cartridge including a cartridge housing configured to engage the device housing and containing an aerosol-forming substrate, the housing having an external surface surrounding the aerosol-forming substrate, at least a portion of the external surface being formed by a fluid-permeable susceptor element.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system includes a liquid storage portion including housing holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a capillary medium. The housing has an opening. A fluid permeable heater assembly includes an arrangement of electrically conductive filaments arranged to define an air impingement surface. The fluid permeable heater assembly extends across the opening of the housing. The filament arrangement defines a filament opening allowing airflow to pass through. The capillary medium is provided in contact with the heater assembly. The capillary medium is configured to draw the liquid aerosol forming substrate to the electrically conductive filament arrangement. The capillary medium includes a capillary medium opening extending the filament opening through the capillary medium.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system includes a liquid storage portion having a housing holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a capillary medium. The housing has an opening. A fluid permeable heater assembly includes an arrangement of electrically conductive filaments arranged to define a substantially non-planar air impingement surface. The fluid permeable heater assembly extends across the opening of the housing. The capillary medium is provided in contact with the heater assembly. The capillary medium draws the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the electrically conductive filament arrangement. The capillary medium includes a capillary medium opening allowing airflow to pass through the capillary medium.

Abstract: In a method for controlling at least one electric heating element of an electrically heated aerosol generating system for heating an aerosol-forming substrate, the electrically heated aerosol generating system includes a sensor for detecting airflow indicative of a user taking a puff having an airflow duration, and the method includes increasing heating power for at least one heating element from zero to power p1 when the sensor detects that the airflow rate has increased to a first threshold, maintaining the heating power at a power p1 for at least some of the airflow duration, and decreasing the heating power for the at least one heating element from power p1 to zero when the sensor detects that the airflow rate has decreased to a second threshold.

Abstract: A smoking system includes a capillary wick for holding liquid, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet and a chamber between the air inlet and air outlet. The air inlet, the air outlet and the chamber are arranged so as to define an air flow route from the air inlet to the air outlet via the capillary wick so as to convey aerosol formed from the liquid to the air outlet. The smoking system further includes at least one guide for channeling the air flow in the air flow route, so as to control particle size in the aerosol. The smoking system optionally includes at least one heater for heating the liquid in at least a portion of the capillary wick to form the aerosol.