Abstract: A capsule for a heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating device may include an inner body, an outer body around the inner body, the inner body and the outer body being concentric, the inner body and the outer body at least partly defining a cavity, an aerosol-forming substrate in the cavity, a first cap at a first end of the cavity and a second cap at a second end of the cavity, the first and second caps being configured to permit air flow from the first end of the cavity to the second end of the cavity.

Abstract: A non-combustible aerosol-generating device includes a capsule, a memory and a controller. The capsule includes an aerosol-forming substrate and a heater configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate. The controller is configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory to cause the non-combustible aerosol-generating device to: apply power to the heater during a preheat interval, record one or more heating characteristic waveforms resulting from application of the power to the heater during at least a portion of the preheat interval, and determine whether the capsule is valid based on one or more of the heating characteristic waveforms.

Abstract: A heater system for a non-combustible aerosol-generating device includes a heater element and a fuse element. The heater element has a heating region, a first terminal and a second terminal. The fuse element is electrically connected between the first terminal and the second terminal in parallel with the heater element. The fuse element has a region configured to induce a localized hot spot to cause the fuse element to open circuit in response to power applied between the first terminal and the second terminal.

Abstract: A non-combustible aerosol-generating device includes a memory storing computer-readable instructions and a controller. The controller is configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the non-combustible aerosol-generating device to: apply power to a heater to preheat an aerosol-forming substrate; determine whether a preheat monitor timer has exceeded a preheat timer threshold; determine whether the aerosol-forming substrate has been previously heated based on a comparison between a first threshold power level and an applied power to the heater in response to the preheat monitor timer having not exceeded the preheat timer threshold; and determine whether the aerosol-forming substrate has been previously heated based on a comparison between a second threshold power level and the applied power to the heater in response to the preheat monitor timer having exceeded the preheat timer threshold.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment provides a system for controlling a heater in a non-combustible aerosol-generating device, the system comprising a memory storing computer-readable instructions and a controller configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the non-combustible aerosol-generating device to apply a first power to the heater based on a first preheat temperature determine an estimated energy applied to the heater during application of the first power, and apply a second power to the heater based on the estimated energy, an energy threshold and a second preheat temperature, the second power being less than the first power.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device includes a housing that defines a capsule-receiving cavity, a lid configured to close the housing, and a replaceable mouthpiece coupleable to the lid such that air entering the housing and drawn through the capsule-receiving cavity exits out of the mouthpiece. The lid may be fixedly coupled to the housing at a first point and releasably coupleable to the housing at a second point. The capsule-receiving cavity may have a first end having a first width, and a second end have a second width that is different from the first width. The capsule-receiving cavity may be tapered between the first end and the second end. The mouthpiece may be coupleable to the first end. One or more alignment member may be disposed at or towards the second end. The alignment members may include seals and/or electrical connections and/or flat surfaces and/or angled surfaces.

Abstract: A capsule may include a housing, an aerosol-forming substrate, and a heater. The housing defines inlet openings, outlet openings, and a chamber between the inlet openings and the outlet openings. The chamber may have a longest dimension extending from at least one of the inlet openings to a corresponding one of the outlet openings. The aerosol-forming substrate is within the chamber of the housing. The heater is embedded in the housing. The heater includes a first end section, an intermediate section, and a second end section. The intermediate section is disposed within the aerosol-forming substrate in the chamber. An aerosol-generating device may include a device body with a lid configured to open to permit an insertion of the capsule and configured to close to engage the capsule within the device body.

Abstract: A heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol generating device may include a housing including a power supply and an air inlet, a mouthpiece assembly movably attached to the housing, and providing an air outlet, a door assembly moveably attached to the housing, the door assembly including a door and a receptacle movably attached to the door, the receptacle defining a cavity to receive a capsule including an aerosol generating substrate, and a linkage arrangement operationally connected to the door assembly, the mouthpiece assembly and the housing, and the linkage arrangement cooperatively moving the mouthpiece assembly and the receptacle in response to movement of the door to a closed state such that the capsule is retained within the housing and operationally connected with the power supply, the air inlet and the air outlet.

Abstract: A capsule for an aerosol-generating device includes a housing. The housing includes an inner frame defining an opening. The housing defines at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet. The capsule also includes an aerosol-forming substrate at least partially within the opening, and a heater supported by the inner frame and extending across at least a portion of the opening. The at least one air inlet, the opening, and the at least one air outlet collectively form at least one airflow pathway through the capsule. The airflow pathway is longer than a thickness of the capsule.

Abstract: A capsule for an aerosol-generating device may include a housing defining inlet openings, outlet openings, and a chamber between the inlet openings and the outlet openings. The chamber may have a longest dimension extending from at least one of the inlet openings to a corresponding one of the outlet openings. An aerosol-forming substrate may be disposed within the chamber of the housing. A heater may extend into the housing from an exterior thereof. The heater includes a first end section, an intermediate section, and a second end section. The intermediate section may be disposed within the aerosol-forming substrate in the chamber. An aerosol-generating device may include the capsule, a mouthpiece, and a device body, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to engage with the capsule, and the device body is configured to receive and retain the capsule and the mouthpiece.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment provides s system for controlling a heater in a non-combustible aerosol-generating device. The system comprises a memory storing computer-readable instructions and a controller configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the non-combustible aerosol-generating device to, detect an airflow in the non-combustible aerosol-generating device, apply a first power to the heater based on the detected airflow, apply a second power to the heater based on a target preheat temperature and the detected airflow being below an airflow threshold value, the application of the second power being after the application of the first power, and apply a third power to the heater based on the target preheat temperature and the detected airflow being below the airflow threshold value, the application of the third power being after the application of the second power, the third power being greater than the second power.

Abstract: A capsule for a heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating device may include a base portion, a first cover, a second cover, an aerosol-forming substrate, and a heater. The base portion includes an engagement assembly configured to couple with the first cover and the second cover. The first cover defines a first recess, and the second cover defines a second recess. When assembled, the first cover is aligned with the second cover such that the first recess and the second recess collectively form a chamber. The aerosol-forming substrate is within the chamber. The heater is configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. The heater includes a first end section, an intermediate section, and a second end section. The heater extends through the base portion such that the intermediate section is in the chamber, while the first end section and the second end section are external segments.