Electrically heated cigarette smoking system with internal manifolding for puff detection

An electrical smoking system is disclosed comprising a housing 20,22,24,26, a heater unit arranged within the housing, a power source connected to the heating elements, a bypass flow passage 42 within the housing, the bypass flow passage being in fluid communication with the ambient air surrounding the housing, a suction flow passage 32 within the housing creating a pathway for air to be drawn by a smoker, the suction flow passage being connected to the bypass flow passage through a flow diverting passage so that ambient air passing through the bypass flow passage will only flow into the suction flow passage when the smoker draws on the cigarette, and a sensor operable to detect air flow in the suction flow passage and output a signal indicative of a smoker drawing on the cigarette. Also disclosed is a method of making an electrical smoking system and a method of activating heating in an electrical smoking system.