An exemplary smoking topography circuit of an electronic aerosol smoking article, includes at least one sensor configured to measure user interaction with the smoking article, a processor, and memory. The processor is configured to detect a smoking event based an output of the at least one sensor, collect data associated with the smoking event, and arrange the data in a pattern that associates the smoking event to shifts in battery voltage. The memory is configured to store the data pattern in a structured multi-byte format.

A method of providing maintenance services to at least one user of an electrically operated smoking device using an automatic testing apparatus is provided, the method including: making the automatic testing apparatus publicly accessible; determining a connection of the electrically operated smoking device to the automatic testing apparatus; performing automatic electrical testing of the electrically operated smoking device; automatically extracting usage data from the electrically operated smoking device; and performing a software update or a software reset of the electrically operated smoking device; and/or automatically generating an electrical test report based on the performed automatic electrical testing, automatically providing the electrical test report together with a recommended action to the at least one user, and automatically sending or saving the electrical test report together with the automatically extracted usage data to a data store.

A sensor apparatus may include a conduit structure including an inner surface defining a conduit extending through an interior of the conduit structure, an inlet structure coupled to an end of the conduit structure, and a plurality of sensor devices in hydrodynamic contact with the conduit. The inlet structure may couple with an outlet end of an external tobacco element to hold the outlet end of the external tobacco element in fluid communication with an inlet opening of the conduit structure, such that the conduit structure may receive a generated aerosol from the external tobacco element at the inlet opening, and draw an instance of aerosol through the conduit towards an outlet opening. The instance of aerosol may include at least a portion of the generated aerosol. Each sensor device may generate sensor data indicating a pressure of the instance of aerosol through a separate portion of the conduit.

A system for testing and validating the performance of a pressure sensor includes a test fixture operatively connected to the pressure sensor, and the pressure sensor is configured to identify a fluid pressure relative to an atmospheric pressure. A microcontroller is in electrical communication with the test fixture and the pressure sensor, and the microcontroller is configured to cause the test fixture to introduce air and/or vapor through the pressure sensor at a known fluid pressure. The microcontroller is also configured to receive the identified fluid pressure from the pressure sensor, the identified fluid pressure being based on the air and/or vapor flowing through the pressure sensor. A power source is in electrical communication with the microcontroller, and a display is in electrical communication with the microcontroller. The display is configured to display results to a user, the results comprising the determination of the performance of the pressure sensor.

A temperature measurement system for determining a performance of a smoke generating device includes a temperature measuring device. The temperature measuring device includes an elongated carrier and a number of thermal sensors disposed within the elongated carrier. The elongated carrier is configured to be inserted into an elongated chamber of the smoke generating device. Each of the thermal sensors includes a sensing end exposed on an outer surface of the elongated carrier. When the elongated carrier is inserted into the elongated chamber, the sensing ends respectively detect a temperature of a number of heating members of the smoke generating device.

There is described herein a system for determining the interaction between a test atmosphere and a simulated respiratory tract, said system comprising: (a) a first pump comprising: (i) a chamber configured for containing a first volume of gas comprising a test atmosphere; (ii) a first port adapted for receiving and outputting gas and comprising a valve for regulating the flow of gas through the first port, said valve being moveable between open and closed positions, wherein in the open position said valve is openable towards a test atmosphere or surrounding air; (iii) a second port adapted for outputting and receiving gas and comprising a valve for regulating the flow of gas through the second port, said valve being moveable between open and closed positions; (iv) a piston plate in the chamber, said piston plate comprising one or more apertures for the uptake or inflow of gas into the chamber wherein one or more, or each, of the apertures include a valve that is movable between open and closed positions and is capable of regulating the uptake or inflow of gas; (b) a second pump comprising: (i) a chamber configured for containing a second volume of gas, wherein the first and second volumes of gas are different; (ii) a port adapted for receiving and outputting gas; and (iii) a motor for controlling the operation of the second pump; (c) a connecting structure operable to transmit the gas from the first pump into the second pump; and (d) one or more openings in the first pump or the second pump or the walls of the connecting structure or a combination of two or more thereof, said openings being capable of receiving a module for containing a cell culture medium or for monitoring conditions in the chamber or for gas sampling or for gas characterisation.

There is described herein a system for determining the interaction between a test atmosphere and a simulated respiratory tract, said system comprising: (a) a first pump comprising: (i) a chamber configured for containing a first volume of gas comprising a test atmosphere; (ii) a first port adapted for receiving and outputting gas and comprising a valve for regulating the flow of gas through the first port, said valve being moveable between open and closed positions, wherein in the open position said valve is openable towards a test atmosphere or surrounding air; (iii) a second port adapted for outputting and receiving gas and comprising a valve for regulating the flow of gas through the second port, said valve being moveable between open and closed positions; (iv) a piston plate in the chamber, said piston plate comprising one or more apertures for the uptake or inflow of gas into the chamber wherein one or more, or each, of the apertures include a valve that is movable between open and closed positions and is capable of regulating the uptake or inflow of gas; (b) a second pump comprising: (i) a chamber configured for containing a second volume of gas, wherein the first and second volumes of gas are different; (ii) a port adapted for receiving and outputting gas; and (iii) a motor for controlling the operation of the second pump; (c) a connecting structure operable to transmit the gas from the first pump into the second pump; and (d) one or more openings in the first pump or the second pump or the walls of the connecting structure or a combination of two or more thereof, said openings being capable of receiving a module for containing a cell culture medium or for monitoring conditions in the chamber or for gas sampling or for gas characterisation.

There is provided an apparatus for providing maintenance services for an electrically operated smoking device, the apparatus including an input including an electrical connector configured to engage electrical contacts on the electrically operated smoking device; and a controller connected to the input and being configured to automatically perform electrical testing of the electrically operated smoking device and to provide a test report based on an outcome of the electrical testing, or to perform a software update or a software reset of the electrically operated smoking device, or to provide both a test report and perform a software update or a software reset of the electrically operated smoking device, when the electrically operated smoking device is connected to the input. There is also provided a system and a method of providing maintenance services to a user of an electrically operated smoking device using a publically accessible automatic testing apparatus.

An exemplary smoking topography circuit of an electronic aerosol smoking article, includes at least one sensor configured to measure user interaction with the smoking article, a processor, and memory. The processor is configured to detect a smoking event based an output of the at least one sensor, collect data associated with the smoking event, and arrange the data in a pattern that associates the smoking event to shifts in battery voltage. The memory is configured to store the data pattern in a structured multi-byte format.

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing and a mount. The housing includes a cover portion and a base portion. The cover portion and the base portion define an interior. The housing defines an opening via which the interior can be accessed from a region external to the housing. The mount is coupled to the base portion and configured to maintain a position of a fillable component within the interior of the housing such that an elastomeric membrane of the fillable component is aligned with the opening defined by the housing and a reservoir of the fillable component is accessible by a needle via the opening and the elastomeric membrane.