Operation and control of mechanical devices using shape memory materials and biometric information

• US 20070132551A1
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sensory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sensory Incorporated
• Inventors: Duck, Robert, Rogers, Jeffrey, Mozer, Forrest, Plauche, Alec, Hirouji, Tetsuro, Mozer, Todd
• Application Number:
  US11/580,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20070132551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.520
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0009 with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

In one embodiment the present invention includes a biometric information recognizer and a shape memory material. The biometric information recognizer recognizes biometric information (such as speech) and signals the shape memory material with a current. The current causes the shape memory material to change shape, thereby reconfiguring a mechanical device. Such mechanical device may include a lock. In such manner, the lock may be isolated from external tampering (such as physical stressing) yet receptive to biometric information for controlling access.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a mechanical device, comprising:

a biometric information recognizer that processes a biometric input signal, and in accordance therewith, generates a recognition result;

a shape memory material coupled to said biometric information recognizer, wherein said biometric information recognizer triggers a current in said shape memory material if said recognition result indicates that said biometric input signal includes a predetermined criterion, and wherein said shape memory material changes shape in response to said current and reconfigures said mechanical device.

2. An electro-mechanical system comprising:

a biometric input device for receiving a biometric input from a user;

a biometric recognizer for recognizing the biometric input, the biometric recognizer generating recognition results;

a mechanical device; and

one or more shape memory elements coupled to the mechanical device and responsive to the recognition results.

3. A method of controlling a mechanical device, comprising:

receiving a biometric input signal;

processing said biometric input signal in a biometric information recognizer, and in accordance therewith, generating a recognition result;

generating a current in a shape memory material if said recognition result indicates that said biometric input signal includes a predetermined criterion, wherein said shape memory material changes shape in response to said current and reconfigures said mechanical device.