Patent ID: 6167746
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: B60K,G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for measuring the concentration of alcohol in a gaseous mixture, comprising: (a) a gas induction tube for channeling a flow of the gaseous mixture, the gas induction tube defining a gas flow channel; (b) a pressure sensor connected to the gas induction tube, the pressure sensor capable of generating an electrical pressure signal in response to the pressure in the gas flow channel; (c) a fuel cell connected to the gas induction tube, the fuel cell capable of producing an electrical alcohol volume signal proportional to the total volume of alcohol present in a gaseous mixture sample; (d) a valve disposed between the gas induction tube and the fuel cell, the valve being initially set in an operating condition that is capable of preventing flow between the gas flow channel and the fuel cell; (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 gaseous mixture sample in response to the electrical alcohol volume signal, further capable of determining a gaseous mixture sample volume in response to the electrical pressure signal to ensure that a predefined requisite volume of gaseous mixture has passed through the fuel cell, and still further capable of calculating the concentration of alcohol in the gaseous mixture sample from the alcohol volume in the gaseous mixture sample and the gaseous mixture sample volume; and (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.