Measuring apparatus for a component contained in exhalation
First Claim
1. An alcohol measuring apparatus for measuring a concentration of alcohol contained in an exhalation, the alcohol measuring apparatus comprising:
- a suction unit having an air passage for introducing a mixture of air and exhalation, and suction means connected to said air passage for suctioning the mixture;
a sulfide sensor, provided in said air passage upstream of said suction means, for sensing a sulfide contained in the mixture;
a humidity sensor, provided in said air passage upstream of said suction means, for sensing water vapor contained in the mixture;
an alcohol sensor, provided in said air passage upstream of said suction means, for sensing alcohol contained in the mixture;
an exhalation identification unit for determining a presence of the exhalation in the mixture in accordance with a ratio of an output from said sulfide sensor to an output from said humidity sensor; and
an alcohol concentration determining unit for determining the concentration of alcohol contained in the exhalation in accordance with a ratio of an output from said alcohol sensor to the output from said humidity sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a measuring apparatus for alcohol contained in an exhalation, the measuring apparatus measuring concentration of alcohol with a high accuracy in a short time. An alcohol sensor is provided inside an air passage to measure concentration of alcohol contained in air passing through the air passage. The alcohol sensor has a sensing element for sensing alcohol and a heating element for heating the sensing element. A suction pump is provided to the air passage so as to suction air from an inlet of the air passage. The sensing element is situated inside an air trapping chamber so that the air flowing through the air passage does not directly hit the sensing element.
43 Citations
5 Claims
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1. An alcohol measuring apparatus for measuring a concentration of alcohol contained in an exhalation, the alcohol measuring apparatus comprising:
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a suction unit having an air passage for introducing a mixture of air and exhalation, and suction means connected to said air passage for suctioning the mixture; a sulfide sensor, provided in said air passage upstream of said suction means, for sensing a sulfide contained in the mixture; a humidity sensor, provided in said air passage upstream of said suction means, for sensing water vapor contained in the mixture; an alcohol sensor, provided in said air passage upstream of said suction means, for sensing alcohol contained in the mixture; an exhalation identification unit for determining a presence of the exhalation in the mixture in accordance with a ratio of an output from said sulfide sensor to an output from said humidity sensor; and an alcohol concentration determining unit for determining the concentration of alcohol contained in the exhalation in accordance with a ratio of an output from said alcohol sensor to the output from said humidity sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification