Alcohol concentration sensor testing apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for testing an alcohol concentration sensor used in measuring an alcohol concentration of a fluid containing alcohol, the alcohol concentration sensor including a capacitive probe having a capacitance dependent upon the alcohol concentration of the fluid, and a circuit responsive to the capacitance of the capacitive probe for producing an output signal indicative of a sensed alcohol concentration, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of capacitors having different capacitances each corresponding to a predetermined alcohol concentration;
first means for connecting a selected one of the capacitors in parallel with the capacitive probe;
second means for reading a value of the output signal when the selected capacitor is connected with the capacitive probe; and
third means for comparing the read value with a value to be produced when the alcohol concentration sensor is exposed to an alcohol concentration predetermined for the selected capacitor to test the alcohol concentration sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for testing an alcohol concentration sensor used in measuring an alcohol concentration of a fluid containing alcohol. The alcohol concentration sensor includes a capacitive probe having a capacity dependent upon the alcohol concentration of the fluid, and a circuit sensitive to the capacity of the capacitive probe for producing an output signal indicative of a sensed alcohol concentration. The apparatus comprises a plurality of capacitors having different capacities each corresponding to a predetermined alcohol concentration. A selected one of the capacitors is connected in parallel with the capacitive probe. When the selected capacitor is connected with the capacitive probe, the output signal is read.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for testing an alcohol concentration sensor used in measuring an alcohol concentration of a fluid containing alcohol, the alcohol concentration sensor including a capacitive probe having a capacitance dependent upon the alcohol concentration of the fluid, and a circuit responsive to the capacitance of the capacitive probe for producing an output signal indicative of a sensed alcohol concentration, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of capacitors having different capacitances each corresponding to a predetermined alcohol concentration; first means for connecting a selected one of the capacitors in parallel with the capacitive probe; second means for reading a value of the output signal when the selected capacitor is connected with the capacitive probe; and third means for comparing the read value with a value to be produced when the alcohol concentration sensor is exposed to an alcohol concentration predetermined for the selected capacitor to test the alcohol concentration sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for testing an alcohol concentration sensor used in measuring an alcohol concentration of a fluid containing alcohol, the alcohol concentration sensor including a capacitive probe having a capacitance dependent upon the alcohol concentration of the fluid, and a circuit responsive to the capacitance of the capacitive probe for producing an output signal indicative of a sensed alcohol concentration, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of capacitors having different capacitances each corresponding to a predetermined alcohol concentration; first means for connecting the capacitors in parallel with the capacitive probe in a predetermined sequence; second means for reading a value of the output signal each time the capacitor connected to the capacitive probe is changed from one capacitor to another; and third means for comparing the read values with respective values specifying an output characteristic of a normal alcohol concentration sensor to test the alcohol concentration sensor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification