Electrically heated aerosol-generating system
A controller is provided for an electrically heatable aerosol-generating device including a heating element and a rechargeable power supply to power the heating element, the controller being configured to control a supply of power from the rechargeable power supply to the heating element, and to prevent power being supplied to the heating element when a temperature reading is below a pre-determined lower temperature threshold. An electrically heatable aerosol-generating device including the heating element, the rechargeable power supply configured to power the heating element, a temperature sensor, and the controller is also provided. And, a method of controlling an electrically heatable aerosol-generating device, including the heating element and the rechargeable power supply configured to power the heating element, is also provided.
1. A controller for an electrically heatable aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element and a rechargeable power supply configured to power the heating element, wherein the controller is configured to control a supply of power from the rechargeable power supply to the heating element, and to prevent power being supplied to the heating element when a temperature reading is below a pre-determined lower temperature threshold.
2. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide power to the heating element when the temperature reading is above the pre-determined lower temperature threshold.
3. The controller according to claim 1 , further comprising an indicator configured to indicate to a user when power is being prevented from being supplied to the heating element.
4. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to indicate to a user when power is being prevented from being supplied to the heating element by utilising at least one of:
a light, a series of lights, or a display,
a sound or a series of sounds, and
a vibration or a series of vibrations.
5. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to monitor temperature with a frequency of once per minute to and including 5 times per minute.
6. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to prevent power being supplied to the heating element when the temperature reading is above a pre-determined higher temperature threshold.
7. The controller according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide power to the heating element when the temperature reading is below the pre-determined higher temperature threshold, and/or the controller is further configured to indicate to a user when power is being prevented from being supplied to the heating element.
8. An electrically heatable aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element, a rechargeable power supply configured to power the heating element, a temperature sensor, and a controller according to claim 1 .
9. A method of controlling an electrically heatable aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element and a rechargeable power supply configured to power the heating element, the method comprising:
providing power to a heating element from the rechargeable power supply; and
preventing power being supplied to the heating element when a temperature reading is below a pre-determined lower temperature threshold.
10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising providing power to the heating element from the rechargeable power supply when the temperature reading is above the pre-determined lower temperature threshold, and/or indicating to a user when power is being prevented from being supplied to the heating element.
11. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising indicating to a user when power is being prevented from being supplied to the heating element by utilising at least one of:
a light, a series of lights, or a display,
a sound or a series of sounds, and
a vibration or a series of vibrations.
12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising preventing power being supplied to the heating element when the temperature reading is above a pre-determined higher temperature threshold.
13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
providing power to the heating element when the temperature reading is below the pre-determined higher temperature threshold; and/or
indicating to a user when power is being prevented from being supplied to the heating element.
14. A controller for recharging a rechargeable power supply of an electrically heatable aerosol-generating system, wherein the controller is configured to:
provide a charging current of less than about 0.1 C to the rechargeable power supply when a temperature reading is within a first pre-determined range,
provide a charging current of greater than about 0.1 C to the rechargeable power supply when the temperature reading is within a second pre-determined range, and
prevent charging of the rechargeable power supply when the temperature reading is above a pre-determined temperature.
15. The controller according to claim 14 , further comprising an indicator configured to indicate to a user which charging current is being provided.
16. The controller according to claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to indicate to a user which charging current is being provided by utilising at least one of:
a light, a series of lights, or a display,
a sound or a series of sounds, and
a vibration or a series of vibrations.
17. The controller according to claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to monitor temperature with a frequency of once per minute to and including 5 times per minute.
18. The controller according to claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive an input from a user requesting that the rechargeable power supply is fast charged, and
provide a charging current of about 1 C to the rechargeable power supply when the temperature reading is within the second pre-determined range and when the controller receives an input from a user requesting that the rechargeable power supply is fast charged.
19. A method for recharging a rechargeable power supply of an electrically heatable aerosol-generating system, wherein the method comprises:
providing a charging current of less than about 0.1 C to the rechargeable power supply when a temperature reading is within a first pre-determined range;
providing a charging current of greater than about 0.1 C to the rechargeable power supply when the temperature reading is within a second pre-determined range; and
preventing charging of the rechargeable power supply when the temperature reading is above a pre-determined temperature.
20. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising indicating to a user which charging current is being provided by utilising at least one of:
a light, a series of lights, or a display,
a sound or a series of sounds, and
a vibration or a series of vibrations.
21. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising monitoring temperature with a frequency of once per minute to and including 5 times per minute.
22. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
receiving an input from a user requesting that the rechargeable power supply is fast charged; and
providing a charging current of about 1 C to the rechargeable power supply when the temperature reading is within the second pre-determined range and when the controller receives an input from a user requesting that the rechargeable power supply is fast charged.