Chemical vapor sensor having an active and a passive measurement mode

• US 7,279,132 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sultan, Michel F., Lambert, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SINES, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US11/033,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20060153740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 422/83, 422/84, 422/100, 422/101, 436/43, 436/164, 436/167, 436/171, 436/174, 436/178, 73/232, 73/233, 73/234.1, 73/234.2, 73/10.1, 73/10.2
• US Class Current: 422/83
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/61 Non-dispersive gas analysers G01N21/3504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/117497 with a continuously flowing sample or carrier stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25875 Gaseous sample or with change of physical state

Abstract

A chemical vapor sensor is provided that measures a chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity. In an aspect, an ethanol vapor sensor is provided, sized for being inconspicuous and on-board a vehicle, having a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode, for detecting a motor vehicle driver that exceeds a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), for use with vehicle safety systems. For the passive mode, a vapor concentrator is utilized to amplify a sampled vapor concentration to a detectible level for use with an infrared (IR) detector. In an aspect, ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin is passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. In an aspect, an active breathalyzer is used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A chemical vapor sensor comprising:

an infrared source for generating infrared waves along a path;

an infrared detector disposed in said path for receiving the infrared waves and for measuring the intensity of the infrared waves;

a vapor concentrator including a vapor adsorber adapted for adsorbing a vapor in an air sample and a heating source effective to heat the vapor adsorber to a temperature sufficient to release the vapor therefrom, said adsorber being arranged relative to said path such that the vapor released thereby flows into the path;

a first sampling intake portion in communication with the vapor adsorber for providing the air sample to the vapor adsorber; and

a second sampling intake portion in communication with the path for admitting a breath sample into the path.

2. The chemical vapor sensor as in claim 1, further comprising:

an infrared filter disposed in the path for selecting a range of infrared frequency or wavelength that is adsorbed by the vapor; and

an infrared absorption cell defining the path and having an inlet for admitting vapors from the vapor adsorber, an inlet for admitting the breath sample and an outlet for expelling gas therefrom.

3. The chemical vapor sensor as in claim 2, further comprising:

a first flow valve positioned to open when the first sampling intake portion is employed;

a second flow valve positioned to open when the second sampling intake portion is employed, wherein the first flow valve and the second flow valve open at different times; and

an air flow source for forcing the air sample from the first sampling intake portion through the vapor adsorber and through the infrared absorption cell.

4. The chemical vapor sensor as in claim 1, wherein the first sampling intake portion is in communication with a motor vehicle cabin, and wherein the infrared detector measures a concentration of ethanol vapor.

5. The chemical vapor sensor as in claim 4, wherein the infrared detector is effective to measure an ethanol concentration in the air sample greater than or equal to 0.1 parts per million (ppm), and measure ethanol concentration in the breath sample of greater than or equal to 150 ppm.

6. The chemical vapor sensor as in claim 4, further comprising a device for instructing a safety response if the ethanol concentration exceeds a predetermined limit, wherein the safety response includes at least one of setting an ethanol flag and setting an ethanol flag counter which requires an active ethanol breathalyzer test for at least one of a predetermined number of vehicle trips and a predetermined time to prevent the vehicle engine from restarting.

7. An ethanol vapor sensor having an active and passive mode for safe vehicle operation comprising:

an infrared absorption cell defining a path;

an infrared source for generating infrared waves along the path;

an infrared detector disposed in said path for receiving infrared waves generated by the infrared source and for measuring the intensity of the infrared waves;

a vapor concentrator including a vapor adsorber adapted for adsorbing ethanol in an air sample and a heating source effective to heat the vapor adsorber to a temperature sufficient to release adsorbed ethanol therefrom, said vapor adsorber being connected to the infrared absorption cell for passing released ethanol into the cell,

a first sampling intake portion for admitting an air sample to the vapor adsorber,

a second sampling intake portion for admitting a breath sample to the infrared absorption cell.

8. The ethanol vapor sensor as in claim 7, further comprising:

a first flow valve disposed in the first sampling intake to control air flow therethrough; and

a second flow valve disposed in the second sampling intake portion to control flow of the breath sample into the infrared absorption cell.

9. The ethanol vapor sensor as in claim 7, wherein the infrared detector is adapted to measure an ethanol concentration in an air sample greater than or equal to 0.1 parts per million (ppm), and measure an ethanol concentration in the breath sample greater than or equal to 150 ppm.

10. The ethanol vapor sensor as in claim 7, further comprising a device for instructing a safety response if the ethanol concentration in an air sample exceeds a predetermined first limit or if the ethanol concentration in a breath sample exceeds a predetermined second limit, wherein the safety response includes at least one of setting an ethanol flag and setting an ethanol flag counter which requires an active ethanol breathalyzer test for at least one of a predetermined number of vehicle trips and a predetermined time to prevent the vehicle engine from restarting.

11. The ethanol vapor sensor as in claim 7, wherein the infrared detector utilizes a single absorption channel for infrared detection.