Vaping Device Biometric Unlocking for Reliable Age Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vaping device technologies fail to consistently and conveniently verify a user's age and identity, allowing underage users to access and use vaping devices, and limit authorized users' flavor choices.
Innovation Solution
A personal vaping device (PVD) that authenticates users through a combination of thumbprint and bioimpedance analysis, ensuring only authorized users can activate the heating chamber by comparing the user's identity data combination with stored data, using a two-step authentication process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current vaping device technology is used, then device simplicity and ease of operation are maintained, but age verification reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process is divided into two separate steps: a first authentication step that verifies age using thumbprint and bioimpedance analysis, and a second authentication step that verifies identity using facial recognition. This segmentation allows the device to maintain relative simplicity while improving reliability through multiple verification stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary age verification through thumbprint and bioimpedance analysis before allowing the user to proceed to identity verification. This preliminary action ensures that only users of legal age can access the device, improving reliability without requiring complex continuous verification throughout the entire usage process.
2Reliability
If repeated reauthentication is required, then age verification reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs age verification through thumbprint and bioimpedance analysis as a preliminary action during the initial setup. Once authenticated, the system maintains operational simplicity by not requiring repeated reauthentication during normal usage, thus improving reliability without sacrificing ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device automatically performs bioimpedance analysis and thumbprint verification during the initial authentication process without requiring manual intervention or repeated verification steps during subsequent usage. This self-service approach ensures reliable age verification while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If multiple authentication steps are implemented, then authentication security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process is segmented into distinct functional components: a first authentication module for age verification using thumbprint and bioimpedance analysis, and a second authentication module for identity verification using facial recognition. This segmentation improves security through multiple verification steps while managing complexity by organizing functions into separate, manageable modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary authentication flow where the first authentication step (age verification) acts as a gateway before the second authentication step (identity verification). This intermediary approach improves security by requiring multiple verification stages while managing complexity through a structured, sequential authentication process.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If e-juice flavor options are limited, then underage user attraction is reduced, but authorized user satisfaction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts access to different e-juice flavors based on the user's authentication status. Authorized users can access the full range of flavor options including fruit and candy flavors, while underage users are restricted. This dynamic approach eliminates the need to permanently limit flavor options, thereby reducing underage attraction without sacrificing authorized user satisfaction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different access levels and flavor options are provided to different user groups based on their authentication status. Authorized users receive full access to all flavor varieties, while underage users are restricted to age-appropriate options. This local quality approach allows the system to address underage attraction issues without permanently limiting the versatility of flavor choices for authorized users.
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
Instantly verifies authorized users, preventing underage access while allowing legal users to use desired flavors, enhancing user authentication security and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
perform a bioimpedance analysis ('BIA') to measure a bioimpedance signature of the active user
Data Source
AI summary
A personal vaping device (“PVD”) for age authenticated vaping is configured to read the thumbprint of an active user of the vaping device and, essentially simultaneously, perform a bioimpedance analysis (“BIA”) to measure a bioimpedance signature of the active user. The combination of the user's thumbprint with the bioimpedance signature defines a unique identity data combination for the user that can be compared to stored identity data combinations of authorized users. If the identity data combination of the active user matches, within a statistical confidence level, a stored identity data combination of an authorized user, the vaping device “unlocks” its heating chamber such that power is supplied to the coil/heating element for vaporizing e-juice.