JP2012167952A - Alcohol detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an alcohol detector that does not require replacement of the whole system or decomposition for repair even if an alcohol gas sensor is deteriorated or fails.SOLUTION: The alcohol detector includes an alcohol gas sensor part and a body part for controlling and monitoring the alcohol gas sensor part. The body part has an interface part including terminals for interfacing with the alcohol gas sensor part in order to receive electric data output from the alcohol gas sensor part into the body part and to transmit a signal for controlling the alcohol gas sensor part from the body part to the alcohol gas sensor part. The alcohol gas sensor part is detachable from the interface part.

Description

  The invention according to the embodiment of the present application relates to, for example, an alcohol detector.

Patent Document 1 includes a sensor unit that uses an alcohol gas sensor to detect a breath alcohol concentration, displays a measurement result in a digital display, and displays the subject's (measurer) alcohol concentration, and the subject's data is commercially available. Alcohol characterized by a mechanism that can transfer data to a personal computer, etc., and a means for printing (sending) the subject ID code (employee no., Etc.), measurement time, temperature, humidity, total number of measurements, measurement result concentration, etc. A detection system is disclosed.
JP 2004-212217 A

In the system of Patent Document 1, when the alcohol gas sensor becomes obsolete or breaks down, it is necessary to replace the entire system or to disassemble the system for repair.
Furthermore, when wind blows between the subject and the gas sensor, accurate measurement is difficult.

  In addition, it is difficult to easily grasp the measurement result by voice, and it is also difficult to convey the state of measurement to the office when the subject is informing the office that the test is being performed.

The present invention provides the following inventions in order to solve the above problems.
Of course, the description of the scope of claims can be amended based on the description of the specification at the time of filing the application, but at that time, the contents of the following “inventions” are not scheduled to be corrected. (Each "invention" below has the meaning as a gist of disclosure in the present specification).

[Invention 1]
An alcohol gas sensor,
A main body for controlling and monitoring the alcohol gas sensor; and
An alcohol detector comprising:
The main body is configured to capture electric data output from the alcohol gas sensor unit into the main body unit, and to send a signal for controlling the alcohol gas sensor unit from the main body unit to the alcohol gas sensor unit. An interface unit including a terminal group for interfacing with the alcohol gas sensor unit;
The alcohol gas sensor part is detachable from the interface part,
Alcohol detector.

  With this configuration, when the alcohol gas sensor becomes obsolete or malfunctions, it is not necessary to replace the entire system or to disassemble and repair the system, and replace only the sensor unit. It ’s fine.

[Invention 2]
An alcohol detector having an alcohol gas sensor unit,
A pipe fitting mechanism for introducing an exhalation, in which the alcohol gas sensor part invites a subject's exhalation to the alcohol gas sensor part without leakage through a thin cylindrical pipe having a plurality of apertures. Comprising
Alcohol detector.

With this configuration, accurate measurement is possible even when a wind blows between the subject and the gas sensor.

[Invention 3]
An alcohol detector having an alcohol gas sensor unit,
According to the concentration level of alcohol gas detected by the alcohol gas sensor unit, a voice display unit that emits a different voice display is provided.
Alcohol detector With this configuration, it is easy to grasp the measurement result by voice, and when the test subject is informed that the test is underway, It is easy to tell.

[Invention 4]
The alcohol detector according to claim 3, further comprising an error sound uttering means for prompting an input of exhalation again and displaying an error sound when the subject's input of exhalation is unsuccessful.

With this configuration, it is possible to easily recognize that an error has occurred.

  According to one example of the embodiment of the present invention, even when the alcohol gas sensor becomes obsolete or breaks down, it is possible to easily cope with it by replacing only the unit of the sensor portion.

According to another example of the embodiment of the present invention, accurate measurement is possible even when a wind blows between the subject and the gas sensor.
According to still another example of the embodiment of the present invention, it is easy to easily grasp the measurement result by voice, and when the test subject is informed that the subject is under test, It is also easy to tell the state of measurement.

An overview of the alcohol detector 1A01 is represented by a front view from the front side and a front view from the back side. One of the modes of blowing exhalation to the alcohol detector 1A01 is shown. Another one of the modes of spraying the breath on the alcohol detector 1A01 (spraying using a straw) is shown. 1C shows a state in which exhaled breath is input to the alcohol detector 1A01 without leaking even if the thickness of the straw in the embodiment of FIG. 1C is different. An embodiment in which only the alcohol gas sensor portion is replaced in the alcohol detector 1A01 is shown. The generation of a buzzer sound or sound display when exhalation is input in the alcohol detector 1A01 is shown. FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing the electrical configuration of the alcohol detector 1A01 of FIG. 1 shows a system configuration in which the alcohol detector 1A01 of FIG. 1 is connected to a personal computer.

1A01 Alcohol detector 1A03 Sensor unit 1A05 Blow-through port 200 Alcohol detector 201 Sensor unit 203 Data processing unit 207 USB connection terminal

  Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the following description is merely an example of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited by the following description.

It should also be understood that the apparatus, terminal, and system of the present invention are suitable for any known or later-developed device having similar functions.
<System configuration>
Examples of the alcohol detector according to the present invention and a system using the apparatus will be described.

FIG. 1A shows an overview of the alcohol detector 1A01 in a front view from the front side and a rear view from the back side.
In the front view from the left front side, the sensor unit 1A03 and the display panel 1A07 are shown.

The subject performs an operation such as blowing exhalation into the sensor unit 1A03 according to a visual instruction on the display panel 1A07 or according to a voice instruction from a speaker (not shown).
FIG. 1B is a side view showing an overview of the alcohol detector 1A01.

The exhaled air blown from the front side sensor unit 1A03 passes outside through the back opening 1A05.
An expiratory gas sensor (described later) is disposed between the front side sensor unit 1A03 and the rear vent 1A05 to detect alcohol in the exhaled breath.

  FIG. 1C shows another one of the modes of blowing the breath to the alcohol detector 1A01 (spraying using a straw). By inputting exhalation using a straw in this way, accurate measurement is possible even when wind blows between the subject and the gas sensor.

  FIG. 1D shows a state in which exhaled air is input to the alcohol detector 1A01 without leaking even if the thickness of the straw in the embodiment of FIG. 1C is different. It is possible to prevent the leakage of exhalation by making the exhalation input part by the straw of the alcohol detector 1A01 to have such a shape that fits to the diameters of the different straws.

  Normally, there are mainly two types of straws (caliber) in the market, and the breath input part of the alcohol detector 1A01 with straws is almost enough if it is configured to support these two types of apertures. It is.

FIG. 1E shows a mode in which only the alcohol gas sensor portion is replaced in the alcohol detector 1A01.
Thus, by making it possible to replace only the alcohol gas sensor portion, it is not necessary to replace the entire system or to disassemble and repair the system even when the alcohol gas sensor becomes obsolete or malfunctions.

FIG. 1F shows the generation of a buzzer sound or a voice display when exhalation is input in the alcohol detector 1A01.
In this way, the buzzer sound or voice display when exhalation is input makes it easy to understand the level of alcohol concentration in the exhalation of the subject, and even if an error occurs, It is easy to encourage measurement.

For example, from legal standards,
a Alcohol not detected b Alcohol concentration is very high and driving is prohibited c Voice display (such as buzzer sound different from a, b, c, or Japanese voice display) is possible after 2 hours rest is there. More simply, two types of display of alcohol detection or alcohol non-detection may be used.

  In some cases, the subject measures exhalation at the place of departure while contacting the headquarters of the company to which he belongs. This is because at the headquarters it is necessary to check the time and location of the subject's breath measurement, whether the measurement has been performed successfully, and the like.

  In such a case, if the test subject makes a phone call with one hand and inputs exhalation into the alcohol detector 1A01 with the other hand, and a voice display such as a to c is made as described above, the conversation person at the headquarters is informed. However, it will be easier to tell by phone if the measurement was successful.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the alcohol detector 1A01 of FIG.
The alcohol detector 200 is roughly composed of a sensor unit 201, a data processing unit 203, and a power supply unit 205.

The power supply unit 205 supplies power to the sensor unit 201 and the data processing unit 203.
The sensor unit 201 is for detecting the alcohol concentration in the exhaled breath 1B01 of FIG. 1B or 1C.

The data processing unit 203 has a function of giving necessary instructions to the subject, processing the alcohol concentration in the exhaled breath 1B01 detected by the sensor unit 201, and transmitting it to the outside.
The sensor unit 201 is further subdivided into an expiration gas sensor 2011, a sensor measurement control CPU 2013, and a memory 2015.

The data processing unit 203 is further subdivided into the following elements.
(a) CPU 2031 for data processing communication control--controls the above-described functions.
(b) Speaker 2043 --- Provides voice instructions to the subject.
(c) LCD display unit 2037--gives visual instructions to the subject and displays the measured alcohol concentration.
(d) USB communication control unit 2039--controls data exchange with an external device connected by USB.
(e) Calendar clock management unit 2035--outputs the date and time when alcohol concentration measurement was performed. It can be transmitted to the outside in association with the measured data.

Next, a system for using and managing measurement data and the like using the alcohol detector (1A01, 200) described above will be described.
Note that FIG. 3 shows only the components for realizing the functions that should be particularly noted in the usage mode in those drawings in the block diagram of FIG. 2, but the other configurations described in FIG. It does not exclude the element.

FIG. 3 shows a system configuration in which the alcohol detector 1A01 of FIG. 1 is connected to a personal computer (PC) (303).
The alcohol concentration data detected by the sensor unit 3025 is processed by the sensor measurement control CPU 3013 and transmitted to the personal computer 303 via the USB cable 307 by the USB communication control unit 3017.

Data transmitted to the personal computer 303 can be printed by the printer 305.
As an example of the printing result by the printer 305, for example, a tabular output is possible.
Examples of items in the table include, for example, the subject's name, employee ID, and breath measurement date and time location on the vertical axis, and whether or not the alcohol detector is used, whether alcohol is detected, whether alcohol is detected, alcohol concentration value, It is possible to list the status of fatigue, etc. (reported by the subject), the pre-inspection status of the work that the subject is in charge of, the instructions from the employment organization of the subject to the subject, and the like. Furthermore, it is possible to provide the above-mentioned items at different points in time before the start of the work of the subject, during the work, and after the end of the work.

By outputting such a form, the employer can easily perform physical condition management including the alcohol concentration in the breath of the subject.
This specification includes numerous specific examples, which should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what is claimed or can be claimed, but of features specific to a particular embodiment. Should be interpreted as an explanation.

  In the context of separate embodiments, certain features described herein can be further implemented in combination in a single embodiment.

  The embodiment of the present invention can be used in, for example, an alcohol component detection / display system.

Claims (4)

An alcohol gas sensor,
A main body for controlling and monitoring the alcohol gas sensor; and
An alcohol detector comprising:
The main body is configured to capture electric data output from the alcohol gas sensor unit into the main body unit, and to send a signal for controlling the alcohol gas sensor unit from the main body unit to the alcohol gas sensor unit. An interface unit including a terminal group for interfacing with the alcohol gas sensor unit;
The alcohol gas sensor part is detachable from the interface part,
Alcohol detector. An alcohol detector having an alcohol gas sensor unit,
A pipe fitting mechanism for introducing an exhalation, in which the alcohol gas sensor part invites a subject's exhalation to the alcohol gas sensor part without leakage through a thin cylindrical pipe having a plurality of apertures. Comprising
Alcohol detector. An alcohol detector having an alcohol gas sensor unit,
According to the concentration level of alcohol gas detected by the alcohol gas sensor unit, a voice display unit that emits a different voice display is provided.
Alcohol detector   The alcohol detector according to claim 3, further comprising an error sound uttering unit that displays an error sound and prompts an input of the exhalation again when the subject's exhalation input is unsuccessful.

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