Alcohol or drugs breath detecting devices

• US 4,868,545 A
• Filed: 01/28/1988
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MPD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lion Technology Limited
• Inventors: Jones, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myracle, Jerry W.
• Application Number:
  US07/154,252
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 73/23, 73/27 R, 73/864, 128/719, 422/84
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

Abstract

Apparatus for detecting the presence of alcohol in expired breath in the atmosphere, comprising a gas sampler, a detector for the presence of alcohol in a gas sample, an output indicator or recorder coupled to the detector to provide an output signal when alcohol is detected, and an automatic controller for actuating the sampler and detector in response to a signal from a sensor arranged to be responsive to the presence of a subject to be tested.

Claims

1. Apparatus for detecting the presence of alcohol in expired breath, from a subject, in the atmosphere, comprising a gas sampler, a detector for the presence of alcohol in a gas sample, an output indicator or recorder coupled to the detector to provide an output signal when alcohol is detected, a presence sensor for sensing the presence of a subject in relation to the gas sampler, and an automatic controller for actuating the sampler and detector in response to a signal from a presence sensor.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the sensor is responsive to noise level, or variation, or movement, temperature, mass, pressure body weight, or an interruption in a radiated beam, or a combination of two or more such "proximity" or "presence " parameters.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sensor includes a microphone responsive to speech.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the presence sensor is sensitive to movement or turbulence in the air adjacent to the sensor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the alcohol detector comprises an electrochemical fuel cell and means for measuring or detecting the output of the cell to provide an indication of the alcohol content in the sample.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the gas sampler comprises a pump for drawing or impelling a gas sample into contact with the detector.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the pump is electrically operated, and including a control circuit incorporating a pump running timer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the gas sampler and/or detector incorporates a heater and a temperature control.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the detector is an electrochemical fuel cell.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, including means for short circuiting the cell between tests.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, in which the microphone and temperature detector are both located in or adjacent to a cone or cup designed as a microphone mouthpiece.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the presence sensor includes a microphone acting as an acoustic transducer sensitive to speech, and a temperature responsive element located immediately adjacent thereto, the microphone and temperature sensing element being coupled through logic circuitry to the output.

13. Apparatus for detecting the presence of drugs in the expired breath, from a subject, in the atmosphere, comprising a gas sampler, a detector for the presence of drugs in a gas sample, an output indicator or recorder coupled to the detector to provide an output signal when drugs are detected, a presence sensor for sensing the presence of a subject in relation to the gas sampler, and an automatic controller for actuating the sampler and detector in response to a signal from a presence sensor.

14. Apparatus for detecting the presence of alcohol in the expired breath, from a subject, in the atmosphere, comprising a gas sampler, a detector for the presence of alcohol in a gas sample, an output indicator or recorder coupled to the detector to provide an output signal when alcohol is detected, an acoustic transducer sensitive to speech and providing a basic speech signal and a proximity or presence sensor sensitive to the presence of an adjacent human body and producing a proximity signal or modulation, and means for detecting a simultaneous or concurrent combination of speech and presence, and an automatic controller for actuating the sampler and detector in response to the detection of the combination of speech and presence.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, in which the proximity sensor is a temperature responsive element positioned close to the acoustic transducer.

16. Apparatus for detecting the presence of drugs in the expired breath, from a subject, in the atmosphere, comprising a gas sampler, a detector for the presence of drugs in a gas sample, an output indicator or recorder coupled to the detector to provide an output signal when drugs are detected, an acoustic transducer sensitive to speech and providing a basic speech signal and a proximity or presence sensor sensitive to the presence of an adjacent human body and producing a proximity signal or modulation, and means for detecting a simultaneous or concurrent combination of speech and presence, and an automatic controller for actuating the sampler and detector in response to the detection of the combination of speech and presence.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, in which the proximity sensor is a temperature responsive element positioned close to the acoustic transducer.

18. Apparatus for detecting the presence of alcohol in the expired breath, from a subject, in the atmosphere comprising a gas sampler, a detector for the presence of alcohol in a gas sample, an output indicator or recorder coupled to the detector to provide an output signal when alcohol is detected, a microphone responsive to speech and an automatic controller for actuating the sampler and detector in response to the subject'"'"'s speech being detected by the microphone.

19. Apparatus for detecting the presence of drugs in the expired breath, from a subject, in the atmosphere comprising a gas sampler, a detector for the presence of drugs in a gas sample, an output indicator or recorder coupled to the detector to provide an output signal when drugs are detected, a microphone responsive to speech and an automatic controller for actuating the sampler and detector in response to the subject'"'"'s speech being detected by the microphone.