Alcohol concentration sensor testing apparatus
AssigneeJapan Electronic Control Systems Co., Ltd.
InventorsMasahiko Shimamura, Kazumitsu Koboyashi, Hideki Kamioka
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Abstract
An apparatus for testing an alcohol concentration sensor used in measuring an alcohol concentration of a fluid containing alcohol. The alcohol concentration sensor includes a capacitive probe having a capacity dependent upon the alcohol concentration of the fluid, and a circuit sensitive to the capacity of the capacitive probe for producing an output signal indicative of a sensed alcohol concentration. The apparatus comprises a plurality of capacitors having different capacities each corresponding to a predetermined alcohol concentration. A selected one of the capacitors is connected in parallel with the capacitive probe. When the selected capacitor is connected with the capacitive probe, the output signal is read.
Claims10
An apparatus for testing an alcohol concentration sensor used in measuring an alcohol concentration of a fluid containing alcohol, the alcohol concentration sensor including a capacitive probe having a capacitance dependent upon the alcohol concentration of the fluid, and a circuit responsive to the capacitance of the capacitive probe for producing an output signal indicative of a sensed alcohol concentration, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of capacitors having different capacitances each corresponding to a predetermined alcohol concentration;
- first means for connecting a selected one of the capacitors in parallel with the capacitive probe;
- second means for reading a value of the output signal when the selected capacitor is connected with the capacitive probe;
- and
- third means for comparing the read value with a value to be produced when the alcohol concentration sensor is exposed to an alcohol concentration predetermined for the selected capacitor to test the alcohol concentration sensor.
An apparatus for testing an alcohol concentration sensor used in measuring an alcohol concentration of a fluid containing alcohol, the alcohol concentration sensor including a capacitive probe having a capacitance dependent upon the alcohol concentration of the fluid, and a circuit responsive to the capacitance of the capacitive probe for producing an output signal indicative of a sensed alcohol concentration, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of capacitors having different capacitances each corresponding to a predetermined alcohol concentration;
- first means for connecting the capacitors in parallel with the capacitive probe in a predetermined sequence;
- second means for reading a value of the output signal each time the capacitor connected to the capacitive probe is changed from one capacitor to another;
- and
- third means for comparing the read values with respective values specifying an output characteristic of a normal alcohol concentration sensor to test the alcohol concentration sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.