Fingerprinting system and method
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorCharles A. Steele
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims18
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.