# US 9,038,436 B2 · Fuel cell for use in an alcohol breath tester

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- Number: US 9,038,436 B2
- Document ID: US9038436B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/782,652
- Filed: 2013-03-01
- Published: 2014-01-30
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2012-07-30
- Assignees: Alcotek, Inc.
- Applicants: Alcotek, Inc.
- Inventors: Joe Fodor; Karl R. Wolf, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038436B2

## CPC

- G01N 27/403: Cells and electrode assemblies
- G01N 27/4045: {for gases other than oxygen}
- G01N 33/4972: {Determining alcohol content (for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06)}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

An improved alcohol fuel cell sensor and alcohol breath tester assembly where wires for connection to the electrodes are bent to have a generally planar base portion which may be positioned toward the center of the electrodes and an upright that then extends to the outside of the case. The uprights are generally perpendicular to the base allowing the wires to exit the housing toward the center, as opposed to toward an edge.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell sensor comprising:
a generally flat wafer having:
two opposing major surfaces;
a hole; and
an electrode on each of said two opposing major surfaces said electrode extending to an outer periphery; and
a plurality of elongated wires having a major dimension, each of said wires including:
a base portion; and
an upright;
wherein said base portion is arranged to be all of the following:
non-linear in said major dimension;
generally planar within a perimeter; and
said perimeter being smaller than said outer periphery;
wherein said upright of said first of said plurality of elongated wires extends through said hole and said upright of said plurality of elongated wires is above said hole; and
wherein said upright is generally linear in said major dimension;
wherein said base portion of a first of said plurality of elongated wires is arranged parallel to and in contact with a first of said electrodes; and
wherein said base portion of a second of said plurality of elongated wires is arranged parallel to and in contact with a second of said electrodes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 1 wherein said base portion and said upright are arranged so that said upright is generally orthogonal to the plane of said base portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 1 further comprising a clamping pin, said clamping pin including: a pin base, said pin base being adjacent to said base portion of said first of said elongated wires; and a column, said column extending through said hole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 3 wherein said column further includes: a first groove through which said upright of said first of said plurality of elongated wires extends; and a second groove through which said upright of said second of said plurality of elongated wires extends.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 4 wherein said base further includes a groove corresponding to said base portion of said first of said elongated wires.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 5 further comprising a sleeve, said sleeve including a central opening corresponding in size and shape to said column so that said sleeve can fit over said column.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 6 wherein said sleeve includes a geometric tab feature, said geometric tab feature mating with the slot on said clamping pin.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 3 wherein said hole passes through the center of said electrodes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 8 wherein said fuel cell is enclosed in a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion including a central hole, and both said upright of said first of said plurality of elongated wires and said upright of said second of said plurality of elongated wires extend through said hole in said upper portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 9 wherein said base portion of said first of said plurality of elongated wires is closer to said lower portion than said upper portion and said base of said second of said plurality of elongated wires is closer to said upper portion than said lower portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 10 wherein a gas sample is supplied through a gas intake port in said lower portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 1 wherein said electrodes comprise platinum.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 1 wherein said wires comprise platinum.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell sensor of claim 1 wherein said wires are selected from the group consisting of: round wires and wire ribbons.