Lip Print Biometric Interlock for Vaporizer Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal vaporizers lack effective security measures to ensure that only authorized users can access and use the device, particularly in scenarios where certain substances are strictly regulated or dangerous in excessive quantities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a biometric interlock that utilizes a lip print sensor to authenticate users, ensuring that the device is activated only when an authorized user places their lips on the mouthpiece, thereby preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a biometric interlock with lip print sensor is added to the personal vaporizer, then security and access control are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biometric interlock module is nested within the personal vaporizer device structure. The lip print sensor is integrated into the mouthpiece assembly, with the biometric controller embedded in the existing controller architecture. This nesting approach allows the security feature to be incorporated without requiring a completely separate external device, thereby improving security while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The biometric interlock system serves multiple functions: it authenticates users via lip print recognition, controls access to the heating element, and can potentially store multiple authorized user profiles. By making the biometric controller multi-functional, the system achieves improved security without requiring separate dedicated components for each function, thus managing device complexity more effectively.
2Reliability
If a biometric sensor and controller are integrated into the personal vaporizer, then access control is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biometric interlock system is designed as a modular segment that can be independently manufactured and then integrated into the personal vaporizer. The lip print sensor, biometric controller, and associated circuitry are grouped as a discrete module, allowing specialized manufacturing of this security segment followed by assembly into the main device. This segmentation improves access control while managing manufacturing complexity through modular production.
Solution Approach 2:
The biometric controller is merged with the existing vaporizer controller architecture, sharing common components such as power management, microcontroller units, and communication interfaces. By combining the biometric authentication functions with the existing control system rather than creating a completely separate system, the patent improves access control while reducing the manufacturing burden that would arise from integrating two fully independent systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances security by requiring physical presence of the authorized user, making it impractical for unauthorized users to activate the device, thus ensuring safe and controlled use of regulated substances.
Implementation Method 1
sensing contact of a user on a lip sensor, scanning a lip print of the user with the lip sensor
Implementation Method 2
the biometric sensor is an optical sensor
Implementation Method 3
a heating element configured to atomize the fluid to be vaporized
Implementation Method 4
a heating element configured to atomize the fluid to be vaporized
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes systems, methods, and an apparatus for controlling access to a personal vaporizer. The system can include a personal vaporizer that includes a reservoir configured to hold a fluid to be vaporized, a puff sensor configured to detect airflow through the personal vaporizer and generate a puff signal, a heating element configured to atomize the fluid to be vaporized, and a first controller configured to receive the puff signal and deliver power to the heating element in response. The system can further include a biometric interlock that includes a biometric sensor configured to detect a lip print of a user, and a second controller configured to receive the lip print from the biometric sensor and determine that the lip print is an authorized lip print and in response enable the first controller to deliver power to the heating element.