Device for analyzing the alcohol content of respiratory gas

• US 20050009195A1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chi-Hsiang Wang
• Original Assignee: Chi-Hsiang Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Chi-Hsiang
• Application Number:
  US10/888,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20050009195A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/204165 Ethanol

Abstract

Disclosed is a hand-held device for analyzing the alcohol content found in expelled respiratory gas, the device comprising an outer analyzer housing, a gas analysis and readout assembly, and a control circuit. The expulsion of respiratory gas into the device rotates a fan member. The number of revolutions of the fan member generates a revolution signal that is compared to a predetermined revolution value programmed into the control circuit. When the comparison generates a positive result, alcohol detecting means sample and test the respiratory gas passing through the device. The device thus forces the user to expel so-called low-lung, residual respiratory gas, which gas typically comprises more accurate levels of alcohol as compared to the consumer'"'"'s blood alcohol content. If the comparison results in a negative signal, the user is prompted to repeat the procedure until a reading of low-lung respiratory gas has been acquired.

Claims

1. A device for analyzing the alcohol content of expelled respiratory gas, the device comprising:

an outer analyzer housing, the outer analyzer housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a superior surface, and an inferior surface, the proximal end comprising a respiratory gas inlet adjacent the superior surface and a respiratory gas outlet adjacent the inferior surface, the superior surface comprising a display screen window and a control key-receiving aperture intermediate the proximal end and the distal end, the inferior surface comprising a compartment access aperture and a compartment lid adjacent the distal end, the outer analyzer housing for enclosing a circuit assembly-receiving compartment and a power means-receiving compartment, the circuit assembly-receiving compartment being spatially located adjacent the proximal end, the power means-receiving compartment being spatially located adjacent the distal end, the compartment lid for covering the power means-receiving compartment and the compartment access aperture;

a gas analysis and readout assembly, the gas analysis and readout assembly being received in the circuit assembly-receiving compartment, the gas analysis and readout assembly comprising a circuit board assembly and a respiratory gas identifying assembly, the circuit board assembly comprising alcohol detecting means, a display screen, a control key, and a circuit board, the display screen being spatially located adjacent the display screen window for displaying a visual output display, the control key being received in the control key-receiving aperture and electrically coupled to the circuit board for selectively initiating respiratory gas analysis, the respiratory gas identifying assembly comprising a frame, at least one fixing aperture, an axial panel, circuit means, first signal generating means, second signal generating means, and a circular fan member, the axial panel coupling the circuit means to the first signal generating means, the fan member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced fan blades and a fan axle, the fan axle having an axis of rotation extending therethrough, the fan axle being operatively coupled to the axial panel, the second signal generating means being cooperatively associated with the fan member for generating a revolution signal receivable and interpretable by the first signal generating means;

a control circuit, the control circuit being programmed with a predetermined revolution value, the control circuit for comparing the revolution signal to the predetermined revolution value and sending a select instructional signal to the circuit board assembly, the select instructional signal being selected from the group consisting of an alcohol detector signal and an error message signal, the alcohol detector signal for initiating sampling and testing of respiratory gas passing through the respiratory gas inlet, alcohol detecting means, and respiratory gas outlet, the error message signal for initiating an error message display on the display screen, the sampling and testing of respiratory gas resulting in a respiratory gas alcohol content display; and

power means, the power means being received in the power means-receiving compartment for delivering operational power to the gas analysis and readout assembly, the respiratory gas inlet for receiving and directing expelled respiratory gas through the alcohol detecting means, the respiratory gas identifying assembly, and the respiratory gas outlet, the respiratory gas driving the fan member and second signal generating means, the select instructional signal providing a user with the visual output display, the visual output display being either the respiratory gas alcohol content display or the error message display.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first signal generating means is defined by signal transmitting means and signal receiving means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the signal transmitting means is defined by a signal sensor and the signal receiving means is defined by an encoder integrated circuit.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the fan member comprises an inner fan frame perimeter and an outer fan frame perimeter, the fan blades being integrally formed with the outer fan frame perimeter, the second signal generating means being defined by an annular magnet member, the magnet member comprising an outer magnet perimeter, the outer magnet perimeter being received within the inner fan frame perimeter.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the circuit means is defined by comprising first and second power supply lines and a signal line, the first and second power supply lines electrically coupling the circuit means to the circuit board assembly, the signal line electrically coupling the circuit means to the control circuit.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein in the outer analyzer casing comprises a first casing section and a second casing section, the first casing section being removably matable with the second casing section for enabling a user to selectively gain access to the circuit assembly-receiving compartment and the power means-receiving compartment.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the superior surface comprises a transparent cover member, the transparent cover member for protecting the display window and the display screen and for enabling a user to view the visual output display.

8. A gas analysis and readout assembly for use in combination with a device for analyzing the alcohol content of expelled respiratory gas, the gas analysis and readout assembly comprising:

a circuit board assembly, the circuit board assembly comprising alcohol detecting means, a display screen, a control key, and a circuit board, the display screen for displaying messages to a user, the control key being electrically coupled to the circuit board for selectively initiating respiratory gas analysis;

a respiratory gas identifying assembly, the respiratory gas identifying assembly comprising a frame, at least one fixing aperture, an axial panel, circuit means, first signal generating means, second signal generating means, and a fan member, the axial panel coupling the circuit means to the first signal generating means, the fan member comprising at least one fan blade and a fan axle, the fan axle having an axis of rotation extending therethrough, the fan axle being operatively coupled to the axial panel, the second signal generating means being cooperatively associated with the fan member for generating a revolution signal receivable and interpretable by the first signal generating means; and

a control circuit, the control circuit being programmed with a predetermined revolution value, the control circuit for comparing the revolution signal to the predetermined revolution value and sending a select instructional signal to the circuit board assembly, the select instructional signal being selected from the group consisting of an alcohol detector signal and an error message signal, the alcohol detector signal for initiating sampling of testing of respiratory gas passing through the alcohol detecting means, the error message signal for initiating an error message display on the display screen, the sampling and testing of respiratory gas resulting in a respiratory gas alcohol content display; and

power means for delivering operational power to the gas analysis and readout assembly, the alcohol detecting means for receiving, sampling and testing expelled respiratory gas, the expelled respiratory gas driving the fan member and second signal generating means, the select instructional signal providing the user with a visual output display upon the display screen, the output display being either the respiratory gas alcohol content display or the error message display.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the first signal generating means is defined by signal transmitting means and signal receiving means.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the signal transmitting means is defined by a signal sensor and the signal receiving means is defined by an encoder integrated circuit.

11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the fan member comprises an inner fan frame perimeter and an outer fan frame perimeter, the fan blades being integrally formed with the outer fan frame perimeter, the second signal generating means being defined by an annular magnet member, the magnet member comprising an outer magnet perimeter, the outer magnet perimeter being received within the inner fan frame perimeter.

12. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the circuit means is defined by comprising first and second power supply lines and a signal line, the first and second power supply lines electrically coupling the circuit means to the circuit board assembly, the signal line electrically coupling the circuit means to the control circuit.

13. A respiratory gas identifying assembly for use in combination with a device for analyzing the alcohol content of expelled respiratory gas, the respiratory gas identifying assembly comprising:

an axial panel, circuit means, first signal generating means, second signal generating means, a fan member, and a control circuit, the axial panel coupling the circuit means to the first signal generating means, the fan member comprising a fan axle, the fan axle being operatively coupled to the axial panel, the second signal generating means being cooperatively associated with the fan member for generating a revolution signal receivable and interpretable by the first signal generating means, the control circuit being programmed with a predetermined revolution value, the control circuit for comparing the revolution signal to the predetermined revolution value and sending a select instructional signal to a circuit board assembly, the select instructional signal being selected from the group consisting of an alcohol detector signal and an error message signal, the alcohol detector signal for initiating sampling of testing of respiratory gas passing through alcohol detecting means, the sampling and testing of respiratory gas resulting in a respiratory gas alcohol content signal, the alcohol detecting means for receiving, sampling and testing expelled respiratory gas, the expelled respiratory gas operably driving the fan member and second signal generating means for creating the select instructional signal.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the first signal generating means is defined by signal transmitting means and signal receiving means.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the signal transmitting means is defined by a signal sensor and the signal receiving means is defined by an encoder integrated circuit.

16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the fan member comprises an inner fan frame perimeter and an outer fan frame perimeter, the fan blades being integrally formed with the outer fan frame perimeter, the second signal generating means being defined by an annular magnet member, the magnet member comprising an outer magnet perimeter, the outer magnet perimeter being received within the inner fan frame perimeter.

17. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the circuit means is defined by comprising first and second power supply lines and a signal line, the first and second power supply lines electrically coupling the circuit means to the circuit board assembly, the signal line electrically coupling the circuit means to the control circuit.

18. A respiratory gas identifying device of alcohol detector being disposed between air passage of an air inlet and an air outlet, comprising:

a frame with an axial panel for coupling a small circuit means of a signal generator, and said circuit means being capable of generating an input/output signal;

an axle of a fan blade pivotally coupled to said axial panel and having at least one signal generator, thereby air being blown into the air passage to rotate the fan blade and sensed to generate a signal during the rotation process of said signal generator; and

a control circuit for determining whether or not to start the function of said alcohol sensor if the predetermined number of signals has been met.

19. The respiratory gas identifying device of claim 18 wherein said signal generator comprises a signal receiving device and a signal transmitting device.

20. The respiratory gas identifying device of claim 19 wherein said signal receiving device is a signal sensor, and said signal transmitting device is an encoder integrated circuit.

21. The respiratory gas identifying device of claim 20 wherein said signal sensor is a magnetic sensor, and said signal generator is a magnet disposed in a frame of said fan blade.

22. The respiratory gas identifying device of claim 18 wherein said small circuit means extends two power supply lines and a signal line, respectively coupling to the circuit board of said alcohol detector.

23. The respiratory gas identifying device of claim 18 wherein said frame comprises a plurality of fixing holes disposed around the periphery of said frame, each being inserted into a fixing tenon installed on the casing.

24. A hand-held device for analyzing the alcohol content of respiratory gas, the hand-held device comprising:

a respiratory gas inlet, a respiratory gas outlet, respiratory gas identifying means disposed intermediate the respiratory gas inlet and respiratory gas outlet, and display means disposed adjacent the respiratory gas inlet, the respiratory gas identifying means comprising alcohol detecting means, fan-based signal generating means, and signal control means, the respiratory gas inlet for receiving and passing expelled respiratory gas through the respiratory gas identifying means, the fan-based signal generating means being gas-rotatable for generating a revolution number, the signal control means for receiving and comparing the revolution number to a predetermined revolution value, the signal control means for activating the alcohol detecting means when the revolution number matches the predetermined revolution value, the alcohol detecting means for analyzing the expelled respiratory gas upon activation and for providing the display means with a respiratory gas alcohol content value.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the display means is readily viewable by a user as the user expels respiratory gas into the respiratory gas inlet.

26. The device of claim 24 wherein the respiratory gas outlet exhausts respiratory gas passing through the respiratory gas identifying means.

27. A method of accurately analyzing the alcohol content of expelled respiratory gas, the method comprising the steps of:

expelling respiratory gas into a device, the expelled respiratory gas having a laminar flow, the device comprising alcohol detecting means, respiratory gas identifying means, and display means, the respiratory gas identifying means comprising a fan member, the expelled respiratory gas passing through the alcohol detecting means and the respiratory gas identifying means;

rotating the fan member with the laminar flow, the fan member rotating a number of revolutions;

comparing the number of revolutions to a predetermined revolution value;

obtaining either a positive signal or a negative signal from the number of revolutions comparison, the positive signal for activating the alcohol detecting means, the negative signal for activating an error display;

analyzing the respiratory gas via the alcohol detecting means upon receipt of the positive signal; and

obtaining a respiratory gas alcohol content result from the respiratory gas analysis.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the steps of:

expelling respiratory gas into the hand-held device;

rotating the fan member with the laminar flow; and

comparing the number of revolutions to a predetermined revolution value are repeated if the negative signal is obtained during the step of obtaining either the positive signal or the negative signal from the number of revolutions comparison.

29. The method of claim 27 where the method comprises the additional step of displaying the respiratory gas alcohol content result upon the display means after the step of obtaining the respiratory gas alcohol content result from the respiratory gas analysis.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of analyzing the respiratory gas via the alcohol detecting means comprises the steps of:

sampling the respiratory gas and testing the respiratory gas.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the device is a hand-held device, the hand-held device comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a superior surface, and an inferior surface, the proximal end comprising a respiratory gas inlet adjacent the superior surface and a respiratory gas outlet adjacent the inferior surface, the superior surface comprising the display means, the respiratory gas inlet for receiving and passing the expelled respiratory gas through the alcohol detecting means and the respiratory gas identifying means.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein the device comprises control means for selectively initiating respiratory gas analysis, the control means being selectively activated before the step of expelling respiratory gas into the device.