Fingerprinting system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12474048-B2
Application number	US-202318122225-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2023
Priority date	Mar 16, 2022
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

The fingerprinting system includes a main body, an air movement source, an ignitor, and a hydrocarbon fuel source. The main body includes a handle. The air movement source includes a fan. The air movement source is coupled to the main body. The fingerprinting system is configured to burn the hydrocarbon fuel source to produce soot containing carbon. The air movement source is configured to direct the soot containing carbon toward a surface to be analyzed for fingerprints.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fingerprinting system comprising:
a main body,
wherein the main body includes an outlet;
an air movement source coupled to the main body; an ignitor coupled to the main body; and a hydrocarbon fuel source selectively coupled to the main body and disposed substantially adjacent to the ignitor,
wherein the hydrocarbon fuel source includes a cartridge, and the main body at least partially accepts the cartridge, and the cartridge is partially accepted by the outlet.

2 . The fingerprinting system of claim 1 , wherein the air movement source is a fan.

3 . The fingerprinting system of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon fuel source may have a fuel with a carbon to hydrogen ratio of CnH2n to CnH2n+2.

4 . The fingerprinting system of claim 3 , wherein the hydrocarbon source includes at least one of a polyaromatic hydrocarbon, a strait chain hydrocarbon, and a branched hydrocarbon.

5 . The fingerprinting system of claim 4 , wherein the hydrocarbon fuel source includes a liquid fuel.

6 . The fingerprinting system of claim 5 , wherein the hydrocarbon fuel source includes recycled motor oil.

7 . The fingerprinting system of claim 3 , wherein the hydrocarbon fuel source includes a gaseous fuel including at least one of methane, ethane, and butane.

8 . The fingerprinting system of claim 4 , wherein the fingerprinting system produces having a hexagonal graphite structure smaller than around twenty angstroms.

9 . The fingerprinting system of claim 8 , wherein the fingerprinting system produces soot having a hexagonal graphite structure smaller than around ten angstroms.

10 . The fingerprinting system of claim 9 , wherein the fingerprinting system produces soot having a hexagonal graphite structure smaller than around eight angstroms.

11 . The fingerprinting system of claim 3 , wherein the hydrocarbon fuel source further includes a 2-ethylcyanoacrylate resin.

12 . The fingerprinting system of claim 1 , wherein the main body includes a shroud having an opening configured to direct soot produced from a burned hydrocarbon source.

13 . The fingerprinting system of claim 12 , wherein the shroud is adjustable to alter at least one of an amount, a direction, and a pattern of the soot emitted from the fingerprinting system.

14 . The fingerprinting system of claim 12 , wherein the main body further includes a handle disposed substantially opposite from the opening of the shroud.

15 . A kit for a fingerprinting system, the kit comprising:
a main body,
wherein the main body includes an outlet;
an air-movement device configured to be coupled to the main body; an ignitor configured to be coupled to the main body; and a hydrocarbon fuel source configured to be coupled to the main body and disposed substantially adjacent to the ignitor,
wherein the hydrocarbon fuel source includes a cartridge, and the main body at least partially accepts the cartridge, and the cartridge is partially accepted by the outlet.

16 . A method of using a fingerprinting system configured to enhance the visualization of a fingerprint, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fingerprinting system having a main body, an air-movement device, an ignitor, and a hydrocarbon fuel source, the main body includes an outlet, the air-movement device is coupled to the main body, the ignitor is coupled to the main body, the hydrocarbon source is coupled to the main body and disposed substantially adjacent to the ignitor, the hydrocarbon fuel source includes a cartridge, and the main body at least partially accepts the cartridge, and the cartridge is partially accepted by the outlet; providing a surface with the fingerprint; engaging the ignitor of the fingerprinting system; burning the hydrocarbon source to produce soot; engaging the air-movement device of the fingerprinting system; and directing the produced soot toward the surface with the fingerprint.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising a step of adjusting a particle size of the soot by altering a distance between the fingerprinting system and the surface with the fingerprint.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising a step of adjusting at least one of an amount, a direction, and a pattern of the soot emitted from the fingerprinting system wherein the main body includes an adjustable shroud.

Assignees

• Purdue Research Foundation

Inventors

• Steele Charles A

Classifications

• B05B9/01

  Spray pistols, {discharge devices}(B05B9/03 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B7/20

  by flame or combustion · CPC title

• A61B5/1172

  using fingerprinting · CPC title

• C10L3/00

  Gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by subclass C10G, C10K; Liquefied petroleum gas · CPC title

• C10L2270/08

  for small applications, such as tools, lamp oil, welding · CPC title