Temperature control in an aerosol delivery device

A method of controlling an aerosol delivery device comprising a housing and a power source arranged in the housing and configured to provide an output voltage usable by the aerosol delivery device, the method comprising:

• forming an electrical connection between the power source and a circuit and an element arranged to perform a function of the aerosol delivery device;
• measuring properties of the circuit of the aerosol delivery device including a first voltage;
• outputting a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal including a first pulse of known current, based at least on the measured properties of the circuit, to cause the output voltage to be switchably connected and disconnected to the circuit to perform the function of the aerosol delivery device;
• outputting the PWM signal to a switch arranged in the housing and coupled between the power source and the circuit to cause the switch to connect and disconnect the power source to the circuit to thereby connect the output voltage to the circuit, wherein the function of the aerosol delivery device is to produce an aerosol using the circuit;
• wherein during a period in which the PWM signal is absent and the output voltage is disconnected,
• outputting a second pulse of the known current to the element;
• measuring a second voltage across the element;
• calculating a nominal resistance of the element based on the known current and the second voltage;
• calculating a nominal temperature of the element based on the nominal resistance;
• and
• calculating the temperature of the element further based on the nominal temperature.

An aerosol delivery device comprising:

• a housing;
• a power source arranged in the housing and configured to provide an output voltage usable by the aerosol delivery device;
• processing circuitry arranged in the housing and powerable by the power source and configured to:
• calculate a quantity of heat at a circuit of the aerosol delivery device;
• and
• cause the output voltage to be switchably connected and disconnected to the circuit by outputting a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal including a first pulse of known current based at least on the quantity of heat calculated, wherein the PWM signal includes pulses over which the output voltage to the circuit is connected, and between which the output voltage to the circuit is disconnected;
• a switch coupleable between the power source and the circuit, wherein the processing circuitry is coupled to the switch;
• and
• wherein the power source and the processing circuitry are so arranged in the housing to enable an electrical connection to form between the power source and the processing circuitry and an element arranged to perform the function of the aerosol delivery device, and
• wherein the processing circuitry configured to calculate the quantity of heat at the circuit includes the processing circuitry configured to at least:
• measure a heating current through and a heating voltage across the heating element;
• calculate a first quantity of heat added to the heating element based on the heating current, the heating voltage, an elapsed time, and a duty cycle of the PWM signal;
• determine a second quantity of heat removed from the heating element by forced convection due to a flow of air caused by a user puff on the aerosol delivery device;
• and
• calculate the quantity of heat at the heating element based on the first quantity of heat and the second quantity of heat.