Gas sensor with heater
AssigneeGM Nameplate, Inc.
InventorSteven A. Rodriguez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A first embodiment of a disclosed breath analyzer detects a particular breath component in a breath sample. The analyzer includes a housing defining an interior cavity and having an inlet aperture for receiving the breath sample and an outlet aperture. A sensor is disposed within the cavity for sensing the component of the breath sample. An anemometer circuit is associated with the sensor and measures a rate of flow of the breath sample within the housing. The analyzer further includes a controller operatively connected to the sensor to receive breath component information sensed by the sensor.
Claims17
A breath analyzer for detecting a component in a breath sample, the analyzer comprising:
- (a) a housing defining an interior cavity, the housing comprising an inlet aperture for receiving the breath sample and an outlet aperture;
- (b) a sensor disposed within the cavity for sensing the component of the breath sample;
- (c) an anemometer circuit associated with the sensor, the anemometer circuit measuring a rate of flow of the breath sample within the housing;
- and
- (d) a controller operatively connected to the sensor to receive breath component information sensed by the sensor.
A breath analyzer for detecting a component in a breath sample, the analyzer comprising:
- (a) a housing defining an interior cavity, the housing comprising an inlet aperture for receiving the breath sample and an outlet aperture;
- (b) a metal oxide sensor disposed within the cavity for sensing the component of the breath sample;
- (c) a temperature control system integrally formed with the sensor, the temperature control system comprising a metal resistor having a positive temperature coefficient, the metal resistor being configured to heat the sensor to a predetermined temperature and to sense the temperature of the sensor, wherein a closed-loop control circuit selectively controls the metal resistor, the metal resistor being integrally formed with the closed-loop control circuit, the closed-loop control circuit being configured to measure a rate of flow of the breath sample within the housing;
- and
- (d) a controller operatively connected to the sensor to receive breath component information sensed by the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.