Inhaler Lip Biometric Sensor Authorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhalers lack effective verification mechanisms to ensure that only authorized persons can use them, leading to potential misuse, especially after purchase when the initial authorization checks are bypassed.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a sensor at the mouthpiece to detect unique lip characteristics, which generates a data signal used to control the actuating mechanism, ensuring that the inhalation medium can only be released by the authorized user, with the lip print pattern being stored for verification during each use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If verification mechanisms are added to inhalers to prevent unauthorized use, then security and reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic verification systems with a biometric sensor that detects lip characteristics. This substitution uses biological identification (lip print pattern recognition) instead of traditional mechanical locks, electronic codes, or authentication systems, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inhaler performs self-verification by automatically detecting and comparing lip characteristics without requiring external authentication systems. The sensor integrated into the mouthpiece autonomously verifies the user's identity through lip print recognition, eliminating the need for separate verification devices or complex authentication protocols.
2Reliability
If a sensor is integrated into the mouthpiece to detect lip characteristics, then unauthorized use is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is merged directly into the mouthpiece structure, combining the verification function with an existing component. This integration allows the sensor to be manufactured as part of the mouthpiece assembly rather than as a separate module, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the ability to detect lip characteristics for unauthorized use prevention.
3Reliability
If biometric verification is required for each use, then security against unauthorized persons is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual authentication processes (such as entering codes or presenting ID) with automatic biometric verification through lip characteristic detection. This substitution occurs in the background during normal inhalation, making the verification process invisible to the user and eliminating additional operational steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification process occurs continuously during the normal inhalation action without interrupting the user's routine. The sensor detects lip characteristics during the act of sucking on the mouthpiece, allowing verification to happen in conjunction with the useful action of inhalation rather than as a separate step.
Data Source
AI summary
An inhaler configured and adapted for inhaling an inhalation medium, enriched with active ingredients and/or flavouring substances, includes a cartridge carrier, a storage tank which contains the inhalation medium, a mouthpiece which is associated with the cartridge carrier, and an actuating mechanism for releasing the inhalation medium out of the storage tank in the direction of the mouthpiece. The inhaler has at least one sensor associated with the mouthpiece. The sensor is configured and adapted to detect characteristics of lips of the person using the inhaler and to provide a data signal formed from the characteristics. The sensor is connected to an electronic control unit associated with the inhaler, to which the actuating mechanism is also connected, in such a manner that the inhalation medium is released on the basis of the data signal. A corresponding arrangement and a corresponding method are disclosed.