Apparatus and method for determining a person's sobriety

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gaseous mixture is a person's breath.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor connected to the gas induction tube, the temperature sensor electrically connected to the computing device, and the temperature sensor capable of producing an electrical temperature signal proportional to the temperature within the gas induction tube.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a heating device connected to the fuel cell.

Claim 6

A sobriety interlock for a machine comprising: (a) a breath induction tube for channeling a flow of human breath, the breath induction tube defining a breath flow channel, the breath induction tube further defining a breath flow exit; (b) a pressure sensor connected to the breath induction tube, the pressure sensor capable of generating an electrical pressure signal in response to the pressure in the breath flow channel; (c) a fuel cell connected to the breath induction tube, the fuel cell capable of producing an electrical alcohol volume signal proportional to the total volume of alcohol present in a breath sample; (d) a valve having a closed position, the valve disposed between the breath induction tube and the fuel cell, the valve capable, when in the closed position, of preventing flow between the breath flow channel and the fuel cell such that the entirety of the flow of breath flows through the breath flow exit; (e) a computing device electrically connected to the pressure sensor and to the fuel cell, the computing device capable of generating an electrical valve open signal, further capable of determining the alcohol volume in the breath sample in response to the electrical alcohol volume signal, further capable of determining a breath sample volume in response to the electrical pressure signal to ensure that a predefined requisite volume of breath flow has passed through the fuel cell, further capable of calculating the concentration of alcohol in the breath sample from the alcohol volume in the breath sample and the breath sample volume, and still further capable of generating an operations signal; (f) a valve controller connected to the valve and to the computing device, the valve controller capable of opening the valve in response to the electrical valve open signal; and (g) an electronic circuit connected to the computing device, the electronic circuit capable of controlling the operation system of the machine in response to the operations signal.

Claim 7

A sobriety interlock for a machine comprising: (a) a breath induction tube for channeling a flow of human breath, the breath induction tube defining a breath flow channel, the breath induction tube further defining a breath flow exit; (b) a pressure sensor connected to the breath induction tube, the pressure sensor capable of generating an electrical pressure signal in response to the pressure in the breath flow channel; (c) a fuel cell connected to the breath induction tube, the fuel cell capable of producing an electrical alcohol volume signal proportional to the total volume of alcohol present in a breath sample; (d) a valve having a closed position, the valve disposed between the breath induction tube and the fuel cell, the valve capable, when in the closed position, of preventing flow between the breath flow channel and the fuel cell such that the entirety of the flow of breath flows through the breath flow exit; (e) a computing device electrically connected to the pressure sensor and to the fuel cell, the computing device capable of generating an electrical valve open signal, further capable of determining the alcohol volume in the breath sample in response to the electrical alcohol volume signal, further capable of determining a breath sample volume in response to the electrical pressure signal to ensure that a predefined requisite volume of breath flow has passed through the fuel cell, further capable of calculating the concentration of alcohol in the breath sample from the alcohol volume in the breath sample and the breath sample volume, and still further capable of generating an operations signal; (f) a valve controller connected to the valve and to the computing device, the valve controller capable of opening the valve in response to the electrical valve open signal; and (g) an electronic circuit connected to the computing device, the electronic circuit capable of controlling the operation system of the machine in response to the operations signal.

Claim 8

The sobriety interlock of claim 5 wherein the operations signal comprises a signal generated in response to a determination that the concentration of alcohol in the breath sample is less than a predetermined level.

Claim 9

The sobriety interlock of claim 6 wherein the operations signal further comprises a signal generated in response to a determination that the temperature of the breath flow is within a predetermined range.

Claim 10

The sobriety interlock of claim 6 wherein the operations signal further comprises a signal generated in response to an oscillation in pressure within the breath induction tube.

Claim 11

The sobriety interlock of claim 6 wherein the operations signal further comprises a signal generated only when the electrical pressure signal exceeds a predetermined level.

Claim 12

The sobriety interlock of claim 5 wherein the operations signal comprises a signal generated in response to a determination that the concentration of alcohol in the breath sample is greater than a predetermined level.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of: (i) preventing enablement of a machine unless the value of the alcohol concentration in the breath sample is less than a predetermined level.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: (i) determining a value for the person's blood alcohol concentration based upon the alcohol concentration of the breath sample; and (j) generating an output in response to the person's blood alcohol concentration.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of generating an output comprises sending an enabling signal to a machine only if the person's blood alcohol concentration is less than a predetermined level.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of generating an output comprises displaying a numeric value of the blood alcohol concentration on a display screen.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of generating an output comprises generating one response if the blood alcohol concentration is less than a predetermined level and generating a different response if the blood alcohol concentration is greater than or equal to the predetermined level.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of generating an output comprises printing a message or data on a paper medium.

Claim 21

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of generating an output comprises illuminating a pass indicator light in response to a determination that the value for the person's blood alcohol concentration is below a predetermined level.

Claim 22

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of generating an output comprises storing the blood alcohol concentration in a storage device.

Claim 23

The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of: (i) disabling a machine if the value of the alcohol concentration in the breath sample is less than a predetermined level.