US3886929A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Breath tester null memory system
Assignee: ALCOHOL COUNTERMEASURE SYSTEMS CORP
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Filing: 1973-05-04
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A breath alcohol concentration detecting system includes an alcohol detector having a bridge circuit. Before testing a gas sample from a human subject, the system is cycled to provide a reference signal which is stored to indicate the imbalance initially present in the detector bridge circuit. The test is then run to provide an information signal which is compared with the stored reference signal and utilized in the production of an output signal which is some function of the difference between the information signal and the stored reference signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph P Hoppesch
- 👤 Donald H Ward
- 👤 James R Tomashek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R17/00; G01R17/10; G01D; G01D18/00; G01D18/002; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/497; G01N33/4972
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
A breath alcohol concentration detection system comprising: breath input unit means for receiving deep lung breath from a subject; means for sensing the flow of gas through said input unit; an evaluator connected to receive a sample of the gas flowing through the input unit, to evaluate the alcohol concentration in the received gas sample, and to produce an output signal in response to the detected alcohol concentration, said evaluator including: an alcohol detector including a bridge circuit which receives the gas sample from the input unit, and which produces an information signal that varies with the alcohol concentration of the received gas sample; means for providing a reference signal, comprising signal storage means connected such that operation of the detector prior to receiving the gas sample from the breath input unit establishes said reference signal based on the imbalance initially present in the detector bridge circuit, which reference signal is stored in the signal storage means for subsequent use in comparison with the information signal, to minimize drift problems and enhance accuracy in the system; a comparator, coupled both to the means for providing a reference signal and to said detector, for comparing the information signal with the stored reference signal and for producing a ''''fail'''' output signal whenever the information signal fRom the detector reaches a predetermined relationship with respect to the reference signal; output apparatus means connected for operation in response to receipt of the output signal from said evaluator; and means, operative in response to said flow sensing means, for insuring that said output apparatus is activated, in response to the output signal of said evaluator indicating the gas sample is from said deep lung breath, resulting from an essentially continuous and uninterrupted flow of breath over a threshold level for a predetermined period of time of such a duration to insure that the gas sample obtained is deep lung breath.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
315 words
A breath alcohol concentration detection system comprising: breath input unit means for receiving deep lung breath from a subject; means for sensing the flow of gas through said input unit; an evaluator connected to receive a sample of the gas flowing through the input unit, to evaluate the alcohol concentration in the received gas sample, and to produce an output signal in response to the detected alcohol concentration, said evaluator including: an alcohol detector including a bridge circuit which receives the gas sample from the input unit, and which produces an information signal that varies with the alcohol concentration of the received gas sample; means for providing a reference signal, comprising signal storage means connected such that operation of the detector prior to receiving the gas sample from the breath input unit establishes said reference signal based on the imbalance initially present in the detector bridge circuit, which reference signal is stored in the signal storage means for subsequent use in comparison with the information signal, to minimize drift problems and enhance accuracy in the system; a comparator, coupled both to the means for providing a reference signal and to said detector, for comparing the information signal with the stored reference signal and for producing a ''''fail'''' output signal whenever the information signal fRom the detector reaches a predetermined relationship with respect to the reference signal; output apparatus means connected for operation in response to receipt of the output signal from said evaluator; and means, operative in response to said flow sensing means, for insuring that said output apparatus is activated, in response to the output signal of said evaluator indicating the gas sample is from said deep lung breath, resulting from an essentially continuous and uninterrupted flow of breath over a threshold level for a predetermined period of time of such a duration to insure that the gas sample obtained is deep lung breath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
315 words
A breath alcohol concentration detection system comprising: breath input unit means for receiving deep lung breath from a subject; means for sensing the flow of gas through said input unit; an evaluator connected to receive a sample of the gas flowing through the input unit, to evaluate the alcohol concentration in the received gas sample, and to produce an output signal in response to the detected alcohol concentration, said evaluator including: an alcohol detector including a bridge circuit which receives the gas sample from the input unit, and which produces an information signal that varies with the alcohol concentration of the received gas sample; means for providing a reference signal, comprising signal storage means connected such that operation of the detector prior to receiving the gas sample from the breath input unit establishes said reference signal based on the imbalance initially present in the detector bridge circuit, which reference signal is stored in the signal storage means for subsequent use in comparison with the information signal, to minimize drift problems and enhance accuracy in the system; a comparator, coupled both to the means for providing a reference signal and to said detector, for comparing the information signal with the stored reference signal and for producing a ''''fail'''' output signal whenever the information signal fRom the detector reaches a predetermined relationship with respect to the reference signal; output apparatus means connected for operation in response to receipt of the output signal from said evaluator; and means, operative in response to said flow sensing means, for insuring that said output apparatus is activated, in response to the output signal of said evaluator indicating the gas sample is from said deep lung breath, resulting from an essentially continuous and uninterrupted flow of breath over a threshold level for a predetermined period of time of such a duration to insure that the gas sample obtained is deep lung breath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
315 words
A breath alcohol concentration detection system comprising: breath input unit means for receiving deep lung breath from a subject; means for sensing the flow of gas through said input unit; an evaluator connected to receive a sample of the gas flowing through the input unit, to evaluate the alcohol concentration in the received gas sample, and to produce an output signal in response to the detected alcohol concentration, said evaluator including: an alcohol detector including a bridge circuit which receives the gas sample from the input unit, and which produces an information signal that varies with the alcohol concentration of the received gas sample; means for providing a reference signal, comprising signal storage means connected such that operation of the detector prior to receiving the gas sample from the breath input unit establishes said reference signal based on the imbalance initially present in the detector bridge circuit, which reference signal is stored in the signal storage means for subsequent use in comparison with the information signal, to minimize drift problems and enhance accuracy in the system; a comparator, coupled both to the means for providing a reference signal and to said detector, for comparing the information signal with the stored reference signal and for producing a ''''fail'''' output signal whenever the information signal fRom the detector reaches a predetermined relationship with respect to the reference signal; output apparatus means connected for operation in response to receipt of the output signal from said evaluator; and means, operative in response to said flow sensing means, for insuring that said output apparatus is activated, in response to the output signal of said evaluator indicating the gas sample is from said deep lung breath, resulting from an essentially continuous and uninterrupted flow of breath over a threshold level for a predetermined period of time of such a duration to insure that the gas sample obtained is deep lung breath.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |