An aerosol-generating device and system and method for control thereof

Abstract

A method of controlling aerosol production in an aerosol-generating device is provided, the device including a heating chamber to receive an aerosol-generating article including an aerosol-forming substrate; a heating system associated with a heating element to internally heat the substrate from within the substrate; and a power source to provide power to the heating system, the method including receiving the article by the chamber, the substrate having a total aerosol former content greater than 30% by weight and being a solid or gel; heating the substrate by controlling power to: increase a temperature of the heating element to a first temperature, and maintain the first temperature constant for a first time period; controlling power to, during a pre-heating time period before the first time period, increase the temperature from ambient to the initial temperature; and calibrating the heating element after the pre-heating time period and before the first time period.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of controlling aerosol production in an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising: a heating chamber configured to at least partially receive an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate; a heating system associated with a heating element that is configured to internally heat the aerosol-forming substrate from within the aerosol-forming substrate; and a power source configured to provide power to the heating system, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the heating chamber, the aerosol-generating article, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate has a total aerosol former content greater than 30 percent by weight, and wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid or a gel;   heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user by controlling the power to:
 increase a temperature of the heating element from an initial temperature to a first temperature, and 
 maintain the temperature of the heating element constant at the first temperature for a duration of a first predetermined time period, wherein the first temperature is between 245 degrees Celsius and 285 degrees Celsius; 
   controlling the power to, during a pre-heating time period before the first predetermined time period, increase the temperature of the heating element from an ambient temperature to the initial temperature; and   calibrating the heating element subsequent to the pre-heating time period and before the first predetermined time period.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein controlling the power further comprises adjusting the temperature of the heating element to a second temperature during a second predetermined time period,   wherein the second predetermined time period is subsequent to the first predetermined time period, and   wherein the second temperature is lower than the first temperature.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein adjusting the temperature of the heating element to the second temperature during the second time period comprises two consecutive temperature steps. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein a temperature of a first temperature step is lower than a temperature of a second temperature step. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein controlling the power further comprises adjusting the temperature of the heating element to a third temperature during a third predetermined time period,   wherein the third predetermined time period is subsequent to the second predetermined time period, and   wherein the third temperature approximately corresponds to the first temperature.   
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate having a total aerosol former content greater than or equal to 30 percent by weight, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid or a gel; and   an aerosol-generating device, comprising:
 a heating chamber configured to at least partially receive the aerosol-generating article, 
 a heating system associated with a heating element that is configured to internally heat the aerosol-forming substrate from within the aerosol-forming substrate, 
 a power source configured to provide power to the heating system, and 
 a controller configured to:
 control the power during heating of the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user to:
 increase a temperature of the heating element from an initial temperature to a first temperature, and 
 maintain the temperature of the heating element constant at the first temperature for a duration of a first predetermined time period, wherein the first temperature is between 245 degrees Celsius and 285 degrees Celsius, 
 
 during a pre-heating time period before the first predetermined time period, increase the temperature of the heating element from an ambient temperature to the initial temperature, and 
 calibrate the heating element subsequent to the pre-heating time period and before the first time period. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein controlling the power during heating of the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user further comprises adjusting the temperature of the heating element to a second temperature during a second predetermined time period,   wherein the second predetermined time period is subsequent to the first predetermined time period, and   wherein the second temperature is lower than the first temperature.   
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein controlling the power during heating of the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user further comprises adjusting the temperature of the heating element to a third temperature during a third predetermined time period,   wherein the third predetermined time period is subsequent to the second predetermined time period, and   wherein the third temperature approximately corresponds to the first temperature.   
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the aerosol-forming substrate further comprises the heating element, and   wherein the heating system comprises an induction coil configured to inductively heat the heating element.   
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the controller is further configured to calibrate the heating element subsequent to the pre-heating time period and before the first time period. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the aerosol-forming substrate does not include tobacco. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the aerosol-forming substrate comprises water, and   wherein the aerosol-forming substrate has a water content of between 5 percent by weight and 35 percent by weight.