Aerosol delivery device

Abstract

A device for an aerosol-forming article. The device comprises a controller operatively connected or connectable to a heating element for heating an aerosol former. The controller is configured to reduce the temperature of the heating element from a first temperature to a second temperature, subsequent to the end of a puff on the device by a user. The controller is also configured to maintain the heating element at the second temperature for a predetermined time period.

1 . A device for an aerosol-forming article, the device comprising a controller operatively connected or connectable to a heating element for heating an aerosol former, the controller configured to reduce the temperature of the heating element from a first temperature to a second temperature, subsequent to the end of a puff on the device by a user, and to maintain the heating element at the second temperature for a predetermined time period; characterised in that:
 the controller is configured to increase the temperature of the heating element after the predetermined time period has elapsed.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to perform the temperature reduction and temperature maintenance after each puff of a series of at least two puffs. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to increase the temperature of the heating element to the first temperature after the predetermined time period has elapsed. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to increase the temperature of the heating element to a third temperature after the predetermined time period has elapsed, the third temperature being lower than the first temperature. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the controller is configured to increase the temperature of the heating element from the third temperature to the first temperature upon initiation of a puff. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 1  comprising the heating element, and wherein heating element is an infrared heating element. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to apply pulse width modulation to the power supply, and the reduction in temperature is performed by reducing the duty cycle of the power supply. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to claim wherein the predetermined time period is between 0.5 seconds and 7 seconds. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1  that is configured such that the predetermined time period and/or the second temperature is adjustable by a user. 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol delivery system comprising a device according to  claim 1  and the aerosol-forming article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. 
     
     
         12 . An aerosol delivery system according to  claim 11  wherein the article is a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable. 
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling a heating element of an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising reducing the temperature of the heating element from a first temperature to a second temperature, subsequent to the end of a puff on the device by a user, and maintaining the heating element at the second temperature for a predetermined time period, characterised by further comprising:
 increasing the temperature of the heating element after the predetermined time period has elapsed.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  comprising repeating the temperature reduction and temperature maintenance following each puff in a series of at least two puffs. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  comprising increasing the temperature of the heater to a third temperature after the predetermined time period has elapsed.