Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a storage component having stored therein a secret value generated during a manufacturing stage of the device and a unique identification value; a communication component; and a controller configured to: create usage data indicative of usage of the device, derive an encryption key from at least the stored secret value, encrypt the created usage data with the derived encryption key, store the encrypted usage data in the storage component, and transmit the encrypted usage data and the unique identification value via the communication component to an external device, the unique identification value identifying the secret value used for deriving the encryption key. An aerosol-generating system including the aerosol-generating device, a database, and a server is also provided. A method for operating the aerosol-generating device is also provided. A method for transmitting usage data from the aerosol-generating device to a host is also provided.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including or being connectable to at least one heating element configured to heat at least a part of an aerosol-generating substrate usable with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol, the aerosol-generating device including: heat control circuitry configured to: receive at least one operational quantity associated with an operation of the at least one heating element, associate the at least one operational quantity to a plurality of classes, each class corresponding to a predefined characteristic of the at least one operational quantity, compute a score for each class, and determine a state indicator indicative of a heating state of the at least one heating element based on the plurality of classes and the computed scores for the classes. An aerosol-generating system including the aerosol-generating device, and a method of operating an aerosol-generating device, are also provided.

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 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.