Integrated breath alcohol sensor system
First Claim
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1. A breath test system comprising:
- an air inlet configured to receive an air flow for a breath sample;
a detection cavity connected to the air inlet in which the air flow circulates, the detection cavity comprising;
a first electromagnetic detection path configured to generate a first signal based on the presence of a reference gas in the air flow, anda second electromagnetic detection path configured to generate a second signal based on the presence of a volatile substance in the air flow, wherein the first electromagnetic detection path is thermally isolated from the second electromagnetic detection path; and
logic in signal communication with the first detection path and the second detection path configured to determine a concentration of the volatile substance in the air flow based on the first signal and the second signal.
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Abstract
Systems, apparatus and methods determine the presence of a volatile substance in expired breath. Alcohol concentrations can be determined from expired breath through the use of electromagnetic detection. The systems, apparatus and methods allow measurements of volatile substances to be done accurately and quickly over a wide range of temperatures, and are easily incorporated into vehicles.
13 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A breath test system comprising:
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an air inlet configured to receive an air flow for a breath sample; a detection cavity connected to the air inlet in which the air flow circulates, the detection cavity comprising; a first electromagnetic detection path configured to generate a first signal based on the presence of a reference gas in the air flow, and a second electromagnetic detection path configured to generate a second signal based on the presence of a volatile substance in the air flow, wherein the first electromagnetic detection path is thermally isolated from the second electromagnetic detection path; and logic in signal communication with the first detection path and the second detection path configured to determine a concentration of the volatile substance in the air flow based on the first signal and the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A breath test system, comprising:
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an air inlet configured to receive an air flow for a breath sample; a detection cavity connected to the inlet in which the air flow circulates, the detection cavity comprising a detection path defined by a dimension of the detection cavity and configured to generate a first signal based on the presence of a volatile substance in the air flow; a shielding housing enclosing the detection cavity, the shielding housing arranged such that a gap exists between the detection cavity and the shielding housing; an air circulator, such that the air flow circulates through the gap; and logic in signal communication with the detection path and configured to determine a concentration of the volatile substance in the air flow based on the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A breath test apparatus, comprising:
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a backplane surface; a first mirror connected to the backplane surface; a second mirror connected to the backplane surface, wherein the connection between the second mirror and the backplane surface optically aligns the first mirror with the second mirror; a tube cell connected to the first mirror and the second mirror, wherein the tube cell defines a detection cavity for measuring a concentration of a volatile substance; and a first optical path oriented across a first dimension of the tube cell, and wherein the first optical path, the first mirror and the second mirror are in electrical communication with the backplane surface. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for testing breath, comprising:
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receiving, at an air inlet, an air flow for a breath sample; circulating, into a detection cavity connected to the air inlet, the air flow for a breath sample; generating a first signal in a first electromagnetic detection path based on the presence of a reference gas in the air flow; generating a second signal in a second electromagnetic detection path based on the presence of a volatile substance in the air flow; generating a third signal based on the first signal and the second signal, wherein the third signal represents a concentration of the volatile substance in the air flow based on the first signal and the second signal; thermally isolating, in a backplane surface, the first electromagnetic detection path from the second electromagnetic detection path; maintaining a thermal equilibrium of the first electromagnetic detection path and the second electromagnetic detection path; and determining, at logic in signal communication with the first electromagnetic detection path and the second electromagnetic detection path, a concentration of the volatile substance in the air flow from the third signal. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for testing breath, comprising:
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receiving, at an air inlet, an air flow for a breath sample; circulating, into a detection cavity connected to the inlet, the air flow for a breath sample; generating a first signal in a detection path defined by a dimension of the detection cavity and based on the presence of a volatile substance in the air flow; shielding the detection cavity such that a gap exists between the detection cavity and a shielding housing; circulating the air flow through the gap; and determining, at logic in signal communication with the detection path, a concentration of the volatile substance in the air flow based on the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification