Disposable Sensor Access Device for Automated Health Screening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining health compatibility for access to restricted areas are time-consuming, difficult to automate, and unreliable, especially in large-scale settings, leading to potential safety risks and logistical challenges.

Innovation Solution

A portable, single-use access device with a disposable sensor and reusable access control stage that measures health parameters, generates an access key based on the measurement, and allows automated, rapid screening without human intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a biological sample is taken and analyzed in a laboratory with manual processing, then measurement precision can be maintained, but productivity is low and loss of time is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth parameter measurement accuracyVSAvoidaccess control processing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual laboratory analysis with an automated electronic sensor system that directly measures health parameters (temperature, pulse, oxygen saturation) and electronically processes the data. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with electronic automation achieves both high measurement precision through calibrated sensors and high productivity through automated decision-making algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service health screening where the access device automatically measures parameters, processes results, and determines access authorization without requiring laboratory personnel intervention. The device performs its own analysis and generates access decisions autonomously, dramatically increasing processing speed while maintaining measurement accuracy through built-in validation algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual sample handling and analysis is used, then measurement precision can be maintained, but device complexity increases due to logistics requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth parameter measurement accuracyVSAvoidlogistics and handling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the measurement and analysis functions from complex laboratory logistics and integrates them into a single portable access device. By taking out the essential measurement capabilities and embedding them in the access terminal, the system eliminates sample collection, transportation, and laboratory processing logistics, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through dedicated sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the health parameter measurement, data processing, and access control functions into a single integrated device. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate sample handling equipment, transportation logistics, and laboratory analysis systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy through unified sensor and processor integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If reusable access control devices are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to contamination risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice manufacturing costVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the access control system into two distinct parts: a reusable access control unit and a disposable sensor component. The disposable sensor is used once for health parameter measurement and then discarded, eliminating cross-contamination risks between users. The reusable unit maintains low manufacturing costs through economies of scale while the disposable component addresses contamination concerns through single-use design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs disposable sensor components that are inexpensive to manufacture and intended for single use only. This approach eliminates contamination risks associated with reusable sensors while keeping overall system costs low through the use of affordable disposable elements. The reusable access control unit benefits from lower per-unit costs due to mass production, balancing manufacturing economics with hygiene requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP4147244B1Portable and single-use device for accessing an area with restricted access, associated access key generation system and associated access control method
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 GRAPHEAL
  • EP4147244B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (4) for accessing an area with restricted access or an area to which access is controlled, comprising a support (8), a sensor (10) and access control stage (18), the support (8) comprising a portion (24) to be discarded and a portion (26) to be retained, the sensor (10) being borne by the portion (24) to be discarded and being configured to measure at least one parameter of a subject's health, and to deliver a detection signal representative of the measurement of each health parameter, the access control stage (18) being borne by the portion (26) to be retained and being configured to store access information dependent on the detection signal delivered by the sensor (10), the portion (26) to be retained being able to be mechanically separated from the portion (24) to be discarded so as to form an access key allowing, depending on the access information, access or otherwise to the area with restricted access or to the area to which access is controlled.