Personal breath tester

• US 20030176803A1
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OmegaPoint Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: OmegaPoint Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Gollar, Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/097,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20030176803A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/532
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0878 using temperature sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

Abstract

Apparatus for detecting blood alcohol level in breath. Apparatus has a breath channel; and electrochemical fuel cell in communication with the breath channel; a temperature sensor in communication with the breath channel; a processor in communication with the temperature sensor and electrochemical fuel cell; and a computer readable storage medium containing executable instructions for the processor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting gaseous component levels in breath, comprising:

a) a breath channel;

b) an electrochemical sensor in fluid communication with the breath channel;

c) a processor in electrical communication with the electrochemical sensor; and

d) computer readable storage medium in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the computer readable storage medium contains executable instructions for the processor;

wherein the apparatus is configured to calculate approximate

gaseous components levels in a breath without utilizing a sampling pump.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor in fluid communication with the breath channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical sensor is an ethanol sensor and the gaseous component is alcohol.

13. A method for detecting gaseous component levels in breath comprising the steps of:

providing the apparatus of claim 1;

receiving a breath stream in the breath channel;

obtaining a signal from the electrochemical sensor

calculating a gaseous component level in breath utilizing the electrochemical sensor.

21. The ignition interlock system of claim 13, further comprising:

a master override device, wherein the master override device is configured to allow a user to enable starting of the vehicle without taking a breath test or to select one or more override options.

22. The ignition interlock system of claim 13, further comprising:

a voice identification component in electrical communication with the computing device, wherein the voice identification component is configured to verify the user of the device.

4. A breath detection apparatus for detecting gaseous component levels in breath, comprising:

a gas sensor;

a processor in electrical communication with the gas sensor; and

a computer readable storage medium in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the computer readable storage medium contains executable instructions for the processor; and

a wireless transmitter;

wherein the wireless transmitter transmits a signal to an external receiver.

5. The breath detection apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a temperature sensor in electrical communication with the processor.

6. The breath detection apparatus of claim 4, wherein the gas sensor comprises an electrochemical fuel cell.

7. The breath detection apparatus of claim 4, wherein the gas sensor comprises an ethanol sensor.

12. A method for detecting gaseous component levels in breath comprising the steps of:

providing the apparatus of claim 4;

calculating the gaseous component levels in breath; and

transmitting a signal to an external receiver.

19. An ignition interlock system, comprising:

the breath detection apparatus of claim 4 and

a wireless receiver;

a computing device in electrical communication with the wireless receiver;

a computer readable storage medium in electrical communication with the computing device, wherein the computer readable medium contains executable instructions for the computing device;

a switch in electrical communication with the computing device and ignition control line of a vehicle;

wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive signals from the breath detection apparatus.

20. The ignition interlock system of claim 19, further comprising:

one or more switches, wherein the switches are configured to allow additional functionality to the ignition interlock system.

8. An apparatus for detecting gaseous component levels in breath, comprising:

a) a breath channel;

b) a gas sensor in fluid communication with the breath channel;

c) a processor in electrical communication with the gas sensor;

d) computer readable storage medium in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the computer readable storage medium contains executable instructions for the processor; and

e) a temperature sensor in fluid communication with the breath channel;

wherein the temperature sensor is utilized to determine breath flow rate.

9. A method for detecting gaseous component levels in breath comprising the steps of:

providing the apparatus of claim 8;

obtaining an initial signal from the temperature sensor;

monitoring the temperature sensor for a temperature change;

calculating airflow rate utilizing the temperature sensor signal; and

calculating gaseous component levels in breath utilizing airflow rate.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the initial signal is within predefined limits;

if initial temperature is not within predefined limits, heating temperature sensor to elevate output signal from the temperature signal to an acceptable level.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of determining whether the gaseous component level exceeds a predefined threshold and transmitting a signal to an interlock device.

14. An apparatus for detecting gaseous component levels in breath, comprising:

a breath passage having a flowpath, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end comprises an inlet for accepting a person'"'"'s breath and the distal end comprises an outlet for venting the breath;

a temperature sensor in fluid communication with the flowpath;

an electrochemical sensor in fluid communication with the flowpath;

a processor in electrical communication with the temperature sensor and the electrochemical sensor; and

a computer readable storage medium in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the computer readable medium contains executable instructions for the processor;

wherein the apparatus is configured to approximate gaseous component level in the breath without utilizing a sampling pump.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a start switch in electrical communication with the processor.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a wireless transmitter.

17. An apparatus for detecting gaseous component level in breath, comprising:

a) a breath channel;

b) a gas sensor in fluid communication with the breath channel;

c) a processor in electrical communication with the gas sensor;

d) computer readable storage medium in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the computer readable storage medium contains executable instructions for the processor; and

wherein the apparatus is configured to approximate gaseous component level in a breath without utilizing a sampling pump; and

further wherein the apparatus is configured to cease functioning at a pre-determined time.

18. An apparatus for detecting gaseous component level in breath, comprising:

a) a breath channel;

b) a gas sensor in fluid communication with the breath channel;

c) a processor in electrical communication with the gas sensor;

d) computer readable storage medium in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the computer readable storage medium contains executable instructions for the processor; and

wherein the apparatus is configured to approximate gaseous component level in a breath without utilizing a sampling pump; and

further wherein the apparatus is configured to cease functioning outside a pre-determined temperature range.

23. An identification system for a breath detection interlock system;

comprising;

a wireless transmitter and receiver;

a processor in electrical communication with the transmitter and receiver;

a computer readable medium in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the computer readable storage medium contains executable instructions for the processor; and

wherein the executable instruction comprise instructions to maintain a continuous signal between the transmitter and receiver.

24. An identification method for a breath detection system, comprising the steps of:

providing the system of claim 23;

confirm the user'"'"'s identity;

maintain a continuous signal between the transmitter and receiver after the identity has been confirmed; and

if the signal between the transmitter and receiver is not continuous, abort the breath detection system and restart the system.

25. An identification system for a breath detection interlock system;

comprising;

a passive infrared detector

a processor in electrical communication with the detector;

a computer readable medium in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the computer readable storage medium contains executable instructions for the processor; and

wherein the executable instruction comprise instructions to monitor infrared signals utilizing the passive infrared detector.

26. An identification method for a breath detection system, comprising the steps of:

providing the system of claim 25;

confirm the user'"'"'s identity;

maintain a continuous signal between the user and the passive infrared detector; and

if the signal received by the passive infrared detector is not continuous, abort the breath detection system and restart the system.

27. An identification system for a breath detection interlock system;

comprising;

a motion sensor

a processor in electrical communication with the motion sensor;

a computer readable medium in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the computer readable storage medium contains executable instructions for the processor; and

wherein the executable instruction comprise instructions to monitor the movement of the motion sensor.

28. An identification method for a breath detection system, comprising the steps of:

providing the system of claim 27;

confirm the user'"'"'s identity;

monitoring the motion sensor output; and

if the signal received by the motion sensor exceeds a pre-determined threshold, abort the breath detection system and restart the system.

29. An identification method for a breath detection system, comprising the steps of:

providing a timer, a processor and a computer readable medium in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the computer readable medium contains executable instructions comprising a countdown timer;

confirm the user'"'"'s identity; and

initiate the countdown timer executable instructions, wherein if a breath test has not been initiated by the lapse of the count down timer, abort the breath detection system and restart the system.