Pre-calibrated replaceable sensor module for a breath alcohol testing device

• US 7,841,224 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AK GlobalTech Corp.
• Original Assignee: AK Solutions USA, LLC
• Inventors: Son, Matthew Hogyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Raevis; Robert R
• Application Number:
  US11/528,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20070193335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/1.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00326 Analysers with modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/04 by investigating resistance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

Abstract

The present invention describes a replaceable breath alcohol sensor module that can be replaced with a new pre-calibrated breath alcohol sensor module or re-calibrated. The breath alcohol sensor module requiring calibration can be removed from the body of a Breath Alcohol Testing Device (commonly called “breathalyser” or “breathalyzer”). The breath alcohol sensor module can be separately calibrated for accurate calculation of “percent blood alcohol concentration” (% BAC) based on breath air samples and then re-installed into the breath alcohol tester or the old breath alcohol sensor module can be replaced with a new pre-calibrated breath alcohol sensor module. The present invention improves upon and/or replacing the current method of re-calibration at a breathalyzer service center.

Claims

1. A pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module, comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB);

a breath alcohol sensor configured to removably attach to a breath sampling tube of a breathalyzer to receive a breath air sample and to measure blood alcohol concentration (BAC) based on analysis of the breath air sample;

a non-volatile memory unit for storing pre-calibrated data of said breath alcohol sensor module; and

an electronic circuitry mounted on said PCB and operable to transmit measured BAC from said breath alcohol sensor to a primary signal processing unit of said breathalyzer and operable to transmit said pre-calibrated data of said breath alcohol sensor module from said non-volatile memory unit to said primary signal processing unit of said breathalyzer to provide accurate measurement of said breath air sample;

wherein said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module is installable in said breathalyzer to replace existing pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module in said breathalyzer after being used for a predetermined number of times; and

wherein said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module is configured to operate upon installation in said breathalyzer without requiring calibration of said breathalyzer.

2. The module of claim 1, further comprising an adapter for removably connecting said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module to said breathalyzer.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module is installable in said breathalyzer to replace existing pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module in said breathalyzer providing an inaccurate reading.

4. The module of claim 1, wherein said breathalyzer is one of the following:

a portable breathalyzer, a coin-operated breathalyzer, a key-chain breathalyzer or a car ignition breathalyzer.

5. The module of claim 1, wherein said breath sampling tube is configured to attach directly to said breath alcohol sensor.

6. The module of claim 1, wherein said breathalyzer comprises a compartment to house said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module and a cover to enclose said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module within said breathalyzer.

7. The module of claim 1, further comprising a heating unit to warm up said breath alcohol sensor to a predetermined temperature.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein said breath alcohol sensor is operable to detect changes in conductivity according to varying levels of alcohol concentration in said breath air sample.

9. A breathalyzer, comprising:

a signal processing unit;

a breath sampling tube;

a pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module configured to operate upon installation in said breathalyzer without requiring calibration of said breathalyzer, comprising;

a printed circuit board (PCB);

a breath alcohol sensor removably attached directly to said breath sampling tube of said breathalyzer to receive a breath air sample and to measure percent blood alcohol concentration (% BAC) based on analysis of the breath air sample;

a non-volatile memory unit for storing pre-calibrated data of said breath alcohol sensor module; and

an electronic circuitry mounted on said PCB and operable to transmit measured BAC from said breath alcohol sensor to said signal processing unit of said breathalyzer and operable to transmit said pre-calibrated data of said breath alcohol sensor module from said non-volatile memory unit to said primary signal processing unit of said breathalyzer to provide accurate measurement of said breath air sample;

an interface to electronically connect said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module to said signal processing unit;

a display for displaying the % BAC to a user; and

a housing to house said signal processing unit, said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module, said display, said breath sampling tube and said interface.

10. The breathalyzer of claim 9, wherein said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module is replaceable with another pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module.

11. The breathalyzer of claim 10, wherein said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module is replaceable with another pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module after being used for a pre-determined number of times.

12. The breathalyzer of claim 9, wherein said breathalyzer is one of the following:

a portable breathalyzer, a coin-operated breathalyzer, a key-chain breathalyzer or a car ignition breathalyzer.

13. The breathalyzer of claim 9, wherein said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module providing an inaccurate reading is replaceable with another pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module.

14. The breathalyzer of claim 9, wherein said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module comprises a heating unit to warm up said breath alcohol sensor to a predetermined temperature.

15. The breathalyzer of claim 9, wherein said breath alcohol sensor of said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module is operable to detect changes in conductivity according to varying levels of alcohol concentration in said breath air sample.

16. A method of maintaining a breathalyzer having a pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module in a calibrated state, comprising the steps of:

determining if said pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module requires replacement, said pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module comprising;

a printed circuit board (PCB);

a breath alcohol sensor configured to removably attach to a breath sampling tube of said breathalyzer to receive a breath air sample and to measure blood alcohol concentration (BAC) based on analysis of the breath air sample;

a non-volatile memory unit for storing pre-calibrated data of said breath alcohol sensor module; and

an electronic circuitry mounted on said PCB and operable to transmit measured BAC from said breath alcohol sensor to a primary signal processing unit of said breathalyzer and operable to transmit said pre-calibrated data of said breath alcohol sensor module from said non-volatile memory unit to said primary signal processing unit of said breathalyzer to provide accurate measurement of said breath air sample; and

replacing said pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module with another pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module after being used for a pre-determined number of times;

wherein said pre-calibrated replaceable alcohol sensor module is configured to operate upon installation in said breathalyzer without requiring calibration of said breathalyzer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of replacing comprises the steps of:

disconnecting said pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module from said breathalyzer; and

connecting said other pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module to said breathalyzer.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of replacing comprises the step of

disconnecting a breath sampling tube from said pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module;

disconnecting said pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module from said breathalyzer;

connecting said other pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module to said breathalyzer; and

connecting said breath sampling tube to said other pre-calibrated replaceable breath alcohol sensor module.