Breath analyzer system and method of operating the same
First Claim
1. A breath analyzer system for determining an estimate of blood alcohol concentration of a person, said system comprising:
- a light source configured to project light into a sampling region where breath from the person is expected;
a first light detector configured to detect a first light intensity of light emanating from the sampling region at an ethanol gas absorption wavelength, said first light detector further configured to output an ethanol gas signal indicative of an ethanol gas concentration in the sampling region;
a second light detector configured to detect a second light intensity of light emanating from the sampling region at a carbon dioxide absorption wavelength, said second light detector further configured to output a carbon dioxide signal indicative of a carbon dioxide concentration in the sampling region;
a third light detector configured to detect a third light intensity of light emanating from the sampling region at a water vapor absorption wavelength and output a water vapor signal indicative of a water vapor concentration in the sampling region; and
a controller programmed to receive a first ethanol gas signal, a first carbon dioxide signal, and a first water vapor signal sampled at substantially a first time, receive a second ethanol gas signal, a second carbon dioxide signal, and a second water vapor signal sampled at substantially a second time distinct from the first time, and determine an estimate of the blood alcohol concentration of the person based on the first ethanol gas signal, the second ethanol gas signal, the first carbon dioxide signal, the second carbon dioxide signal, the first water vapor signal, and the second water vapor signal.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A breath analyzer system and method for determining an estimate of blood alcohol concentration of a person. A light source projects light into a sampling region where breath from the person is expected. A first light detector and a second light detector are configured to detect light intensity of light having certain wavelengths at a first time and a second time. Signals from the light detectors at the first time and the second time are used to determine an estimate of the blood alcohol concentration of the person by determining a ratio of a first light detector signal change to a second light detector signal change.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A breath analyzer system for determining an estimate of blood alcohol concentration of a person, said system comprising:
-
a light source configured to project light into a sampling region where breath from the person is expected; a first light detector configured to detect a first light intensity of light emanating from the sampling region at an ethanol gas absorption wavelength, said first light detector further configured to output an ethanol gas signal indicative of an ethanol gas concentration in the sampling region; a second light detector configured to detect a second light intensity of light emanating from the sampling region at a carbon dioxide absorption wavelength, said second light detector further configured to output a carbon dioxide signal indicative of a carbon dioxide concentration in the sampling region; a third light detector configured to detect a third light intensity of light emanating from the sampling region at a water vapor absorption wavelength and output a water vapor signal indicative of a water vapor concentration in the sampling region; and a controller programmed to receive a first ethanol gas signal, a first carbon dioxide signal, and a first water vapor signal sampled at substantially a first time, receive a second ethanol gas signal, a second carbon dioxide signal, and a second water vapor signal sampled at substantially a second time distinct from the first time, and determine an estimate of the blood alcohol concentration of the person based on the first ethanol gas signal, the second ethanol gas signal, the first carbon dioxide signal, the second carbon dioxide signal, the first water vapor signal, and the second water vapor signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for determining an estimate of blood alcohol concentration of a person, said method comprising the steps of:
-
projecting light into a sampling region where breath from the person is expected; detecting a first light intensity of light emanating from the sampling region at an ethanol gas absorption wavelength and outputting an ethanol gas signal indicative of an ethanol gas concentration in the sampling region; detecting a second light intensity of light emanating from the sampling region at a carbon dioxide absorption wavelength and outputting a carbon dioxide signal indicative of a carbon dioxide concentration in the sampling region; detecting a third light intensity of light emanating from the sampling region at a water vapor absorption wavelength and outputting a water vapor signal indicative of a water vapor concentration in the sampling region; processing a first ethanol gas signal, a first carbon dioxide signal, and a first water vapor signal sampled substantially at a first time; processing a second ethanol gas signal, a second carbon dioxide signal, and a second water vapor signal sampled substantially at a second time distinct from the first time; and determining an estimate of the blood alcohol concentration of the gas based on the first ethanol gas signal, the second ethanol gas signal, the first carbon dioxide signal, the second carbon dioxide signal, the first water vapor signal, and the second water vapor signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification