Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a heater element; a power source; and a controller configured to control a power supplied from the power source to the heater element to maintain a temperature of the heater element at a target temperature, and adjust the target temperature when a change in airflow past the heater element is detected. An aerosol-generating system including the aerosol-generating device, and a method of controlling an aerosol-generating device, are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method of detecting a plurality of user puffs at an aerosol-generating system including a heater, a controller, and a solid aerosol-forming substrate, the method including: heating, by the heater, the solid aerosol-forming substrate over a period containing the plurality of user puffs; and detecting, by the controller, each of the user puffs based on an electrical resistance of the heater over the period. There is also provided an aerosol-generating system for detecting a plurality of user puffs, the system including: a heater; a solid aerosol-forming substrate; and a controller configured to: cause the heater to heat the solid aerosol-forming substrate over a period containing the plurality of user puffs, and detect each of the user puffs based on an electrical resistance of the heater over the period.

Abstract: An aerosol generating device is provided, including a vaporiser configured to vaporise an aerosol-forming substrate; a battery connected to the vaporiser a control circuit configured to control a supply of power from the battery to the vaporiser; a memory storing a usage record of the device; and a replacement indicator configured to provide a signal to a user. The control circuit is configured to compare a measured voltage across the battery to a threshold voltage, and to generate an error signal to update the usage record if the measured voltage is less than the threshold voltage during an operation cycle. The control circuit is also configured to access the usage record and to activate the replacement indicator depending on the status of the usage record.

Abstract: There is provided a method of detecting a plurality of user puffs at an aerosol-generating system including a heater, a controller, and a solid aerosol-forming substrate, the method including: heating, by the heater, the solid aerosol-forming substrate over a period containing the plurality of user puffs; and detecting, by the controller, each of the user puffs based on an electrical resistance of the heater over the period. There is also provided an aerosol-generating system for detecting a plurality of user puffs, the system including: a heater, a solid aerosol-forming substrate; and a controller configured to: cause the heater to heat the solid aerosol-forming substrate over a period containing the plurality of user puffs, and detect each of the user puffs based on an electrical resistance of the heater over the period.

Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device configured for user inhalation of a generated aerosol, including a heater element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate; a power source connected to the heater element; and a controller connected to the heater element and to the power source, wherein the controller is configured to control the power supplied to the heater element from the power source to maintain the temperature of the heater element at a target temperature, and is configured to monitor changes in the temperature of the heater element or changes in the power supplied to the heater element to detect a change in air flow past the heater element indicative of a user inhalation. The controller may determine when a user has inhaled and may use this for dynamic control of the device as well as provide user inhalation data for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for controlling heating in an aerosol-generating system including a heater, the method including comparing a measured voltage across the heater, indicative of the temperature of the heater, with a target value; if the measured voltage across the heater exceeds the target value by greater than or equal to a first amount, then preventing a supply of power to the heater for a first time period; and if the measured voltage across the heater exceeds the target value, but by less than the first amount, then preventing the supply of power to the heater for a second time period, shorter than the first time period.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for controlling heating in an aerosol-generating system including a heater, the method including comparing a measured parameter, indicative of the temperature of the heater, with a target value for the measured parameter; preventing a supply of power to the heater for a first time period if the measured parameter exceeds the target value by greater than or equal to a first amount; and preventing the supply of power to the heater for a second time period, shorter than the first time period, if the measured parameter exceeds the target value by less than the first amount.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for controlling heating in an aerosol-generating system including a heater, the method including comparing a measured voltage across the heater, indicative of the temperature of the heater, with a target value; if the measured voltage across the heater exceeds the target value by greater than or equal to a first amount, then preventing a supply of power to the heater for a first time period; and if the measured voltage across the heater exceeds the target value, but by less than the first amount, then preventing the supply of power to the heater for a second time period, shorter than the first time period.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system for oral or nasal delivery of a generated aerosol to a user is provided, including a heater element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol; a power source; a controller configured to control operation of the heater element, the controller being configured to detect a change in air flow past the heater element: a first data storage recording detected changes in airflow past the heater element and data relating to the operation of the heater element; a second data storage including a database relating changes in airflow and data relating to the operation of the heater element to the properties of the aerosol delivered to the user; and an indicator coupled to the second data storage configured to indicate to the user a property of the aerosol delivered to the user.

Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device configured for user inhalation of a generated aerosol, including a heater element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate; a power source connected to the heater element; and a controller connected to the heater element and to the power source, wherein the controller is configured to control the power supplied to the heater element from the power source to maintain the temperature of the heater element at a target temperature, and is configured to monitor changes in the temperature of the heater element or changes in the power supplied to the heater element to detect a change in air flow past the heater element indicative of a user inhalation. The controller may determine when a user has inhaled and may use this for dynamic control of the device as well as provide user inhalation data for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device configured for user inhalation of a generated aerosol, including a heater element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate; a power source connected to the heater element; and a controller connected to the heater element and to the power source, wherein the controller is configured to control the power supplied to the heater element from the power source to maintain the temperature of the heater element at a target temperature, and is configured to monitor changes in the temperature of the heater element or changes in the power supplied to the heater element to detect a change in air flow past the heater element indicative of a user inhalation. The controller may determine when a user has inhaled and may use this for dynamic control of the device as well as provide user inhalation data for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device, including a heater element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate; a power source connected to the heater element; and a controller connected to the heater element and to the power source, wherein the controller is configured to control the power supplied to the heater element from the power source to maintain the temperature of the heater element at a target temperature, and is configured to compare a measure of power supplied to the heater element or energy supplied to the heater element from the power source to a threshold measure of power or energy to detect the presence of an aerosol-forming substrate close to the heater element or a material property of an aerosol-forming substrate close to the heater element.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for controlling heating in an aerosol-generating system including a heater, the method including comparing a measured parameter, indicative of the temperature of the heater, with a target value for the measured parameter; preventing a supply of power to the heater for a first time period if the measured parameter exceeds the target value by greater than or equal to a first amount; and preventing the supply of power to the heater for a second time period, shorter than the first time period, if the measured parameter exceeds the target value by less than the first amount.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling an electrical heating element, including maintaining a temperature of the heating element at a target temperature by supplying pulses of electrical current to the heating element; monitoring a duty cycle of the pulses of electrical current; and determining if the duty cycle differs from an expected duty cycle or range of duty cycles, and if so, reducing the target temperature, or stopping the supply of current to the heating element or limiting the duty cycle of the pulses of electrical current supplied to the heating element. As the temperature is maintained at a known target temperature, any variation in the duty cycle or range of duty cycles expected to maintain the target temperature is indicative of abnormal conditions.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling an electrical heating element, including maintaining a temperature of the heating element at a target temperature by supplying pulses of electrical current to the heating element; monitoring a duty cycle of the pulses of electrical current; and determining if the duty cycle differs from an expected duty cycle or range of duty cycles, and if so, reducing the target temperature, or stopping the supply of current to the heating element or limiting the duty cycle of the pulses of electrical current supplied to the heating element. As the temperature is maintained at a known target temperature, any variation in the duty cycle or range of duty cycles expected to maintain the target temperature is indicative of abnormal conditions.

Abstract: An aerosol generating device is provided, including a vaporizer configured to vaporize an aerosol-forming substrate; a battery connected to the vaporizer a control circuit configured to control a supply of power from the battery to the vaporizer; a memory storing a usage record of the device; and a replacement indicator configured to provide a signal to a user. The control circuit is configured to compare a measured voltage across the battery to a threshold voltage, and to generate an error signal to update the usage record if the measured voltage is less than the threshold voltage during an operation cycle. The control circuit is also configured to access the usage record and to activate the replacement indicator depending on the status of the usage record.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling an electrical heating element, including maintaining a temperature of the heating element at a target temperature by supplying pulses of electrical current to the heating element; monitoring a duty cycle of the pulses of electrical current; and determining if the duty cycle differs from an expected duty cycle or range of duty cycles, and if so, reducing the target temperature, or stopping the supply of current to the heating element or limiting the duty cycle of the pulses of electrical current supplied to the heating element. As the temperature is maintained at a known target temperature, any variation in the duty cycle or range of duty cycles expected to maintain the target temperature is indicative of abnormal conditions.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling an electrical heating element, including maintaining a temperature of the heating element at a target temperature by supplying pulses of electrical current to the heating element; monitoring a duty cycle of the pulses of electrical current; and determining if the duty cycle differs from an expected duty cycle or range of duty cycles, and if so, reducing the target temperature, or stopping the supply of current to the heating element or limiting the duty cycle of the pulses of electrical current supplied to the heating element. As the temperature is maintained at a known target temperature, any variation in the duty cycle or range of duty cycles expected to maintain the target temperature is indicative of abnormal conditions.

Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device configured for user inhalation of a generated aerosol, including a heater element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate; a power source connected to the heater element; and a controller connected to the heater element and to the power source, wherein the controller is configured to control the power supplied to the heater element from the power source to maintain the temperature of the heater element at a target temperature, and is configured to monitor changes in the temperature of the heater element or changes in the power supplied to the heater element to detect a change in air flow past the heater element indicative of a user inhalation. The controller may determine when a user has inhaled and may use this for dynamic control of the device as well as provide user inhalation data for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system for oral or nasal delivery of a generated aerosol to a user is provided, including a heater element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol; a power source; a controller configured to control operation of the heater element, the controller including or being connected to a means to detect a change in air flow past the heater element; first data storage means for recording detected changes in airflow past the heater element and data relating to the operation of the heater element; second data storage means including a database relating changes in airflow and data relating to the operation of the heater element to the properties of the aerosol delivered to the user; and an indication means coupled to the second data storage means for indicating to the user a property of the aerosol delivered to the user.