Mouthpiece Sensor for Smoker Authentication via Oronasal Molecule Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic smoking articles face challenges in preventing unauthorized access by non-smokers without requiring additional setup steps before initial use.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sensor at the mouthpiece to detect oronasal molecules present in a smoker's breath or saliva, such as carbon monoxide or nitric oxide, to authenticate users and control aerosol delivery, using electrochemical or RFID sensors that can detect low concentrations of these molecules, and integrating control electronics to manage aerosol delivery based on detected levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fingerprint identification or mobile device unlocking is used to prevent unauthorized access, then security against unauthorized use is improved, but device complexity and setup requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system automatically detects oronasal molecules from the user's breath or saliva without requiring manual setup, fingerprint registration, or mobile device pairing. The system self-authenticates users based on physiological markers, eliminating the need for complex pre-configuration while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/biometric authentication systems (fingerprint sensors, mobile device RFID readers) with a chemical sensing system that detects oronasal molecules. This substitution simplifies the authentication mechanism while maintaining security, as the sensor automatically identifies smokers through molecular detection without requiring complex setup procedures
2Ease of operation
If no authentication system is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but unauthorized use by non-smokers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor provides real-time feedback by detecting the presence of smoker-specific oronasal molecules and automatically controlling aerosol delivery based on the detection results. This feedback mechanism prevents unauthorized use by non-smokers while requiring no manual intervention, thus maintaining ease of operation for authorized users
Solution Approach 2:
The oronasal molecule sensor acts as an intermediary between the user and the aerosol delivery system. It mediates authentication by detecting physiological markers and automatically enabling or disabling aerosol delivery, thereby preventing unauthorized use without complicating the user experience for legitimate smokers
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
Enables secure use of electronic smoking articles by smokers without prior setup, providing physiological feedback for smoking cessation and preventing accidental use by non-smokers by controlling aerosol delivery based on detected molecule concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
using electrochemical or RFID sensors that can detect low concentrations of these molecules
Data Source
AI summary
A smoking article includes a housing that has a mouthpiece and that is configured to receive an aerosol generating substrate. The smoking article also includes a sensor that is positioned at, for example, the mouthpiece and that is configured to detect an oronasal molecule of a prospective smoker of the article. The oronasal molecule can be a molecule that would be expected to be present in breath or saliva of a smoker but not in the breath or saliva of a non-smoker. The sensor is positioned to detect an amount or concentration of a molecule in the smoker's breath or saliva. The smoking article can use data transduced by the sensor to control delivery of an aerosol from the smoking article, such as to prevent delivery of the aerosol.