Aerosol generation device using biometric authentication

Abstract

The aerosol generating device (100a) includes a main body (101), a biometric sensor (104), such as a fingerprint sensor, disposed on a first surface of the main body, and an activation switch (103) disposed on a second surface of the main body such that the activation switch and the biometric sensor are positioned directly opposite each other. Tactile elements (201a-c) are disposed on or around the activation switch (103) to provide sensory guidance to the user. During operation, simultaneous user actions on the activation switch and the biometric sensor are detected, and if the user actions are sustained for a set period of time, the device is powered on but not activated. If another action is detected on the activation switch, for example, by the user pressing it again, the biometric sensor is activated to identify the user. If the user is recognized, the device is activated for use. If the user is not recognized, the device is turned off to discourage fraudulent use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device using biometric authentication. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vaping device provided with a fingerprint sensor.

Background Art

[0002] Aerosol generating devices such as electronic cigarettes or vaping devices are becoming increasingly popular compared to conventional tobacco products such as traditional cigarettes. Such vaping devices are electronic devices having functions such as usage display, vaping monitoring, and usage restriction. One of these functions is biometric authentication such as fingerprint recognition to prevent unauthorized use of the device.

[0003] Some known vaping devices have a fingerprint sensor disposed on the device, but are often inconvenient to use. This inconvenience may lead to user dissatisfaction and the user may disable the function prioritizing convenience. However, since the function is useful for safety reasons, it is not ideal for the user to turn off the function.

[0004] Therefore, in order to address the problems described above, there is a need to provide a vaping device provided with a simple and effective fingerprint sensor.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generating device including a main body, a biometric sensor disposed on a first surface of the main body, and an activation switch disposed on a second surface of the main body such that the activation switch and the biometric sensor are positioned exactly opposite to each other.

[0006] Advantageously, by integrating a biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint sensor, and an activation switch in this manner onto an aerosol generating device, such as a vaping device, the user can intuitively activate the device and verify their identity. By placing the biometric sensor and the activation switch on opposite sides of the device's surface, the user does not need to physically search for the location of both the activation switch and the sensor on the device. Furthermore, by simultaneously placing the user's finger / thumb on the activation switch and the sensor, the time required for user identification and activation of the device for use is reduced.

[0007] Preferably, the body is substantially cylindrical and has a pen-like shape.

[0008] Alternatively, the main body is essentially an elongated ellipse and has a box-like shape.

[0009] The device further includes a first tactile element positioned on or around the activation switch for guiding the user in locating the activation switch on the second surface of the main body.

[0010] Preferably, the device further includes a second tactile element positioned on or around the biometric sensor for guiding the user in exploring the location of the biometric sensor on the first surface of the main body.

[0011] Preferably, the first and second tactile elements include a continuous embossed or debossed ring of raised relief formed around the activation switch and the biometric sensor, respectively.

[0012] Preferably, the first and second tactile elements include discontinuous embossed or debossed rings of relief, positioned around the activation switch and biometric sensor, respectively.

[0013] Preferably, the first tactile element includes a recess or projection formed on the activation switch.

[0014] Preferably, the activation switch is configured to turn on the power to the device and activate a biometric sensor to identify the user when touched or pressed by the user.

[0015] Preferably, in order to turn on the power to the device, the power switch must be touched or pressed by the user for a set period of time.

[0016] Preferably, in order to activate the biometric sensor, the activation switch must be touched or pressed at least once more by the user after the device has been turned on.

[0017] Preferably, the biometric sensor is a fingerprint sensor configured to identify the user when the user's thumb is held firmly in the center of the sensor.

[0018] Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for operating an aerosol generating apparatus, comprising: detecting a first simultaneous user operation to a biometric sensor and an activation switch located on a first surface and a second surface of the apparatus, respectively; turning on the apparatus if the user operation to the activation switch persists for a set period of time; detecting a second user operation to the activation switch; and activating the biometric sensor to identify the user in response to the second user operation.

[0019] Preferably, the method further includes calibrating the device and / or activating the heating unit within the device if the user has been successfully identified.

[0020] The present invention and its advantages will be better understood by reading the following description, which is given only as a non-limiting example and is written with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1A] A vaping device with a cylindrical body according to one aspect of the present invention is shown. [Figure 1B] A vaping device with an oval body according to another aspect of the present invention is shown. [Figure 2A] A deformed form of a tactile element for a start switch and / or a biometric sensor on the vaping devices of FIGS. 1A and 1B is shown. [Figure 2B] A deformed form of a tactile element for a start switch and / or a biometric sensor on the vaping devices of FIGS. 1A and 1B is shown. [Figure 2C] A deformed form of a tactile element for a start switch and / or a biometric sensor on the vaping devices of FIGS. 1A and 1B is shown. [Figure 3] A flowchart of a method for operating the vaping devices of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Before explaining the present invention, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the details of the structures or processing steps illustrated in the following description. For those skilled in the art who enjoy the advantages of the present disclosure, it will be apparent that the present invention allows for other embodiments and can be practiced or accomplished in various ways.

[0023] Figure 1A shows an aerosol generating device 100a having a substantially cylindrical body 101. The body 101 is pen-shaped with a circular or oval cross-section. The aerosol generating device 100a may be a vaping device (hereinafter also called an electronic cigarette 100) for delivering inhalation aerosols (including aerosols for smoking) to a user by means of an aerosol generating unit (e.g., a heater or atomizer), the aerosol generating unit generating vapor, which condenses into an aerosol for the user to inhale before being delivered to the device outlet, for example, in a mouthpiece 102. The device 100a may be portable. "Portable" may mean a device held and used by the user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol (as opposed to a fixed amount of aerosol) by activating the atomizer over a variable amount of time, for example, and these may be controllable by a trigger. The trigger may be the user activating a switch such as an activation switch 103. The activation switch 103 can have any shape, but a circular (or slightly oval) shape is preferred. The e-cigarette 100a also has a biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint sensor 104, located on the surface of the main body 101. The fingerprint sensor 104 is configured to identify the user's fingerprint and activate the device for use and / or control other operations. This ensures that the device can only be used by registered users and prevents unauthorized use of the device.

[0024] The start switch 103 is preferably disposed on the lower surface of the main body 101 of the electronic cigarette 100a. The fingerprint sensor 104 is disposed on the upper surface of the main body 101 of the electronic cigarette 100a. The fingerprint sensor 104 is disposed such that the start switch 103 is located exactly on the opposite side of or directly below the fingerprint sensor 104. Preferably, the center of the fingerprint sensor 104 is located exactly on the opposite side of the center of the start switch 103. This assists the user to press naturally and makes it easier to accurately press the start switch 103. With this arrangement, when the user places their thumb on the fingerprint sensor 104, the index finger is positioned on the opposite side and touches the start switch 103 unconsciously. As a result, the user can easily place their finger on the accurate position on the device without being conscious of it, enhancing convenience. This intuitive positioning can be further improved by the tactile elements described below with reference to FIGS. 2A - 2C.

[0025] The device 100a may include a temperature adjustment control unit for raising the temperature of the heater and / or the heated aerosol product substance (aerosol precursor) to a specified target temperature. More generally, the device 100a can include a control unit configured to adjust the device according to an operation setting. Thus, the control unit can control the operation of the heater and / or, for example, the power supplied by a battery and / or the pressure of the precursor or air.

[0026] A consumable or cartridge (not shown) is configured to store a precursor used to generate an aerosol within the e-cigarette 100a. In particular, depending on the properties of the precursor, the cartridge may be designed to store the precursor in a liquid and / or solid state. The cartridge may be formed by a pod or capsule containing the e-liquid or consumable, such as a tobacco rod. The cartridge is housed by a housing means of the e-cigarette 100a and can be removed and replaced with another when the precursor is no longer available. In some embodiments, the cartridge can also be refilled with the precursor. The cartridge may include a heater of the cartridge itself, powered by the heating system of the e-cigarette 100a, or at least a heating surface configured to be heated by the heating system of the e-cigarette 100a.

[0027] Furthermore, the electronic cigarette 100a includes other components such as a battery, a puff sensor, one or more indicators such as LEDs, and a communication interface for connecting to a personal communication device. These components are known in the art and will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0028] Figure 1B shows another aerosol generating device 100b, similar to device 100a. Device 100b is also a vaping device or e-cigarette, but unlike device 100a, device 100b has a short, elongated oval body 101. The body 101 of device 100b is box-shaped and elongated, and is generally shorter than the body of the e-cigarette 100a described above. Similar to the e-cigarette 100b, the fingerprint sensor 104 is located on the top surface of the body 101, and the activation switch 103 is located directly opposite or directly below the fingerprint sensor 104. Apart from the shape and size, other features and functions of devices 100a and 100b are identical to each other. In the following description, both devices 100a and 100b will simply be referred to as device 100.

[0029] Figures 2A to 2C show various tactile elements 201a, 201b, and 201c (collectively referred to as tactile elements 201) for the activation switch 103 on devices 100a and 100b. The tactile elements 201 are physical components that can be placed on or around the activation switch 103 to provide sensory guidance to the user. Using the tactile elements 201, it is possible to intuitively guide the user's index finger to position it on the activation switch 103 located on the underside of the main body 101.

[0030] In Figure 2A, the tactile element 201a is located on the uppermost surface of the activation switch 103. The tactile element 201a is preferably a recess, protrusion, or relief located in the center of the activation switch 103. The activation switch 103 itself may be flush with the body 101 of the device. In Figure 2B, the tactile element 201b is a slightly raised ring formed around the activation switch 103 on the surface of the body 101. This raised ring can be of any type, for example, round or a series of intermittent circles with dots / stripes. In Figure 2C, the tactile element 201c is a slightly recessed ring formed around the activation switch 103 on the surface of the body 101. A combination of raised and recessed rings may be used. Modifications to the surface texture may also be applied. The tactile element 201 is preferably formed or engraved from the same material as the body 101 of the device.

[0031] In one embodiment, the tactile element 201 described above can also be applied to the fingerprint sensor 104. However, the sensor surface, particularly the central part, may not be suitable for depressions / recesses. Therefore, the convex or concave portion of the tactile element 201 may be provided in the peripheral region of the fingerprint sensor 104, leaving the central region for fingerprint detection.

[0032] Figure 3 shows a flowchart 300 of how to operate the vaping devices 100a and 100b. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that not all steps necessary to operate the vaping devices are shown in Figure 300.

[0033] In step 301, user operation on the activation switch is detected. In this example, as described above, when the user holds the device 100, the user's index finger touches the activation switch 103 and applies some pressure. The user may be intuitively guided by tactile elements 201 located on or around the activation switch 103. The activation switch 103 can be a touch button that is sensitive to slight pressure from the user's finger. However, the activation switch 103 can also be a hard button that requires more pressure to activate.

[0034] In step 302, simultaneous user operation is detected on the fingerprint sensor. In this example, when the user holds the device 100 for use, the user's thumb is positioned on the fingerprint sensor 104 located on the top surface of the main body 101. Due to the alignment of the activation switch 103 and the fingerprint sensor 104 described above, user operation occurs simultaneously on both the switch 103 and the sensor 104.

[0035] In step 303, it is determined whether the action on the activation switch was sustained for a set period of time. In this example, a sustained touch on the activation switch 103 for a certain period of time may be required to avoid accidental activation of the device 100. For example, the user may be required to hold the activation switch 103 for at least 2 seconds. It may also be required that a minimum amount of pressure be applied to the switch 103 to activate it.

[0036] In step 304, the device is turned on. In this example, the device 100 is powered on after the user has held the power switch 103 for a set period of time. The power-on of the device 100 may be indicated by visual, auditory, and / or tactile means. For example, an LED on the main body 101 of the device 101 may light up, a beep may be emitted, and / or the device 100 may vibrate briefly. It is not necessarily required to activate the device for use by, for example, turning on the heating unit in order to turn on the device 100.

[0037] In step 305, it is determined whether another action has been detected on the power switch. In this example, after the device 100 is powered on, the user may need to press the power switch 103 again to activate the fingerprint sensor 104. In this way, the fingerprint sensor 104 does not automatically scan fingerprints every time someone touches the top surface of the device 100's body 101, but only scans fingerprints after the device has been powered on.

[0038] In step 306, the fingerprint sensor is activated to identify the user. In this example, the fingerprint sensor 104 is activated after the user presses the activation switch 103 again after the device 100 is powered on. The natural pressure applied to the activation switch 103 by the user's index finger also causes pressure on the fingerprint sensor 104 by the user's thumb. This results in more consistent and reliable pressure, thereby improving the scanning performance of the sensor 104. If the user's fingerprint is not recognized after several attempts, the device 100 is preferably automatically turned off to deter misuse. On the other hand, if the user's fingerprint is recognized, the device 100 starts calibrating the device and / or activates the device for use, for example by turning on the heating unit within the device 100.

[0039] By positioning the activation switch and fingerprint sensor on the vaping device in the manner described above, users can use the device easily and efficiently. The fingerprint sensor makes it easier to recognize the user, and the control sequence described above prevents accidental power-on of the device. Furthermore, the presence of tactile elements on or around the activation switch and / or fingerprint sensor guides the user intuitively, making it easier for the user to use the device without having to search for the activation switch and / or fingerprint sensor.

[0040] The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments is provided for illustrative and explanatory purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive or restrictive with respect to the exact forms disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or can be obtained from practicing the disclosed embodiments.

Claims

1. Aerosol generating device, The main unit and A biometric sensor is disposed on the first surface of the main body, The activation switch is positioned on the second surface of the main body such that the activation switch and the biometric sensor are positioned on opposite sides of each other, The system includes a first tactile element positioned on or around the activation switch for guiding the user in exploring the location of the activation switch on the second surface of the main body, An aerosol generator wherein the activation switch is configured to turn on the power to the device and activate the biometric sensor to identify the user when touched or pressed by the user.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body is substantially cylindrical and has a pen-like shape.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body has a box-like shape.

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a second tactile element disposed on or around the biometric sensor for guiding the user in exploring the position of the biometric sensor on the first surface of the main body.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first tactile element and the second tactile element include a continuous embossed or debossed ring of raised relief formed around the activation switch and the biometric sensor, respectively.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first tactile element and the second tactile element include discontinuous embossed or debossed rings of relief, respectively, arranged around the activation switch and the biometric sensor.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first tactile element includes a recess or projection formed on the activation switch.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in order to turn on the power of the apparatus, the activation switch is touched or pressed by the user for a set period of time.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, in order to activate the biometric sensor, the activation switch is touched or pressed at least once more by the user after the apparatus has been turned on.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the biometric sensor is a fingerprint sensor configured to identify the user when the user's thumb is held firmly in the center of the sensor.

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