Apparatus and method for conducting an unsupervised blood alcohol content level test
First Claim
1. An automated unsupervised apparatus for conducting a blood alcohol content level test on an individual user, and subsequently discerning and displaying a meaningful test result, said apparatus comprising:
- alphanumeric display means for instructing said individual user to commence blowing into said apparatus so as to provide a breath sample;
pressure switch means for monitoring the gauge pressure of said individual user'"'"'s breath sample in order to determine whether said gauge pressure is at or above a threshold value gauge pressure;
timer means for determining whether said gauge pressure of said individual user'"'"'s breath sample remains at or above said threshold value gauge pressure for a predetermined length of time;
wherein, said alphanumeric display means also instructs said individual user to wait and blow again in the event that said gauge pressure does not remain at or above said threshold value for said predetermined length of time;
means for capturing a testing sample that is a representative portion of said individual user'"'"'s breath sample subsequent to said individual user providing a breath sample at or above said threshold value for said predetermined length of time;
means for effecting an automated electrochemical analysis of said testing sample;
means for producing a measurement value of the alcohol content of said testing sample; and
,microprocessor means for calculating a numeric value derived from said measurement value, said numeric value thereby being related to said individual user'"'"'s blood alcohol content level;
wherein, said alphanumeric display means also displays to said individual user one of either (1) the category corresponding to said numeric value as being one of "pass", "warn", and "fail" and (2) said numeric value derived from said measurement value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated unsupervised apparatus for conducting a blood alcohol content level test on an individual user, and subsequently discerning and displaying a meaningful test result, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an alphanumeric display for instructing the individual user to blow into the apparatus so as to provide a breath sample. A pressure switch is used to monitor the gauge pressure of the individual user'"'"'s breath sample in order to determine whether the gauge pressure is at or above a threshold value for a predetermined length of time, typically three seconds. The alphanumeric display instructs the individual user to wait and blow again in the event that the gauge pressure does not remain at or above the threshold value for the predetermined length of time. A testing sample of the individual user'"'"'s breath sample is captured in a fuel cell type alcohol concentration sensor. The alcohol concentration sensor in conjunction with an operational amplifier, a peak circuit detector and an analogue to digital convertor, effects an automated electrochemical analysis of the testing sample. A measurement value of the alcohol content of the testing sample is produced, and introduced into a microprocessor, where a numeric value derived from the measurement value and related to the individual user'"'"'s blood alcohol content level, is calculated. The alphanumeric display displays this numeric value and the category corresponding to the numeric value as being one of "pass", "warn", and "fail".
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An automated unsupervised apparatus for conducting a blood alcohol content level test on an individual user, and subsequently discerning and displaying a meaningful test result, said apparatus comprising:
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alphanumeric display means for instructing said individual user to commence blowing into said apparatus so as to provide a breath sample; pressure switch means for monitoring the gauge pressure of said individual user'"'"'s breath sample in order to determine whether said gauge pressure is at or above a threshold value gauge pressure; timer means for determining whether said gauge pressure of said individual user'"'"'s breath sample remains at or above said threshold value gauge pressure for a predetermined length of time; wherein, said alphanumeric display means also instructs said individual user to wait and blow again in the event that said gauge pressure does not remain at or above said threshold value for said predetermined length of time; means for capturing a testing sample that is a representative portion of said individual user'"'"'s breath sample subsequent to said individual user providing a breath sample at or above said threshold value for said predetermined length of time; means for effecting an automated electrochemical analysis of said testing sample; means for producing a measurement value of the alcohol content of said testing sample; and
,microprocessor means for calculating a numeric value derived from said measurement value, said numeric value thereby being related to said individual user'"'"'s blood alcohol content level; wherein, said alphanumeric display means also displays to said individual user one of either (1) the category corresponding to said numeric value as being one of "pass", "warn", and "fail" and (2) said numeric value derived from said measurement value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automated method of conducting a blood alcohol content level test on an individual user through the use of an unsupervised apparatus, and subsequently discerning and displaying a meaningful test result, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) (i) instructing said individual user by way of an alphanumeric display means to commence blowing into said apparatus so as to provide a breath sample; (b) monitoring the gauge pressure of said individual user'"'"'s breath sample in order to determine whether said gauge pressure is at or above a threshold value gauge pressure; (c) determining whether said gauge pressure of said individual user'"'"'s breath sample remains at or above said threshold value gauge pressure for a predetermined length of time; (d) instructing said individual user by way of said alphanumeric display means to wait and blow again in the event that said gauge pressure does not remain at or above said threshold value for said predetermined length of time; (e) performing steps (c) and (d) until said individual user provides a breath sample at or above said threshold value for said predetermined length of time; (f) capturing a testing sample that is a representative portion of said individual user'"'"'s breath sample subsequent to said individual user providing a breath sample at or above said threshold value for said predetermined length of time; (g) effecting an automated electrochemical analysis of said breath sample so as to produce a measurement value of the alcohol content of said representative portion of said individual user'"'"'s breath sample; (h) obtaining said measurement value resulting from said automated electrochemical analysis; (i) calculating a numeric value derived from said measurement value, said numeric value thereby being related to said individual user'"'"'s blood alcohol content level; and
,(j) (i) displaying to said individual user by way of said alphanumeric display means, one of either;
(1) the category corresponding to said numeric value as being one of "pass", "warn", and "fail"; and
, (2) said numeric value derived from said measurement value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification