Breath alcohol-measuring device with an illuminated mouthpiece

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2007 002 505.1 filed Jan. 17, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention pertains to a breath alcohol-measuring device with an illuminated mouthpiece.

[0003] Breath alcohol-measuring devices have a generally replaceable tubular mouthpiece, into which the test person releases a breath sample. A breath sample is taken by the breath alcohol-measuring device by means of a pumping or suction means from the breath flow flowing through the mouthpiece, in general, via a hole in the mouthpiece, and this breath sample is analyzed in the measuring device especially by means of electrochemical or infrared optical alcohol sensors or optionally also by means of alcohol sensors on the basis of semiconductor elements with respect to the measurable breath alcohol concentration.

[0004] The general design of such a breath alcohol-measuring device with a replaceable mouthpiece is described, for example, in DE 103 16 333 B3.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to perfect the breath alcohol-measuring device, which is known per se, in terms of improved handling for the performance of the breath alcohol sampling of a test person even under poor visibility conditions.

[0006] According to the invention, a breath alcohol-measuring device is provided with a mouthpiece which can be inserted or attached. The mouthpiece has a blow-in opening and has a blow-out opening and with a hole for a breathing gas sampling for an alcohol sensor. The breath alcohol-measuring device is equipped with a radiation source and with a light guide receiving the radiation of the radiation source. The light guide is arranged extending from the housing of the breath alcohol-measuring device up to the blow-out opening of the mouthpiece such that the light guide is used as an illuminating means for the mouthpiece.

[0007] The essential advantage of the present invention is that the handling of the breath alcohol-measuring device for the operator is markedly improved in terms of the positioning and attaching of the mouthpiece with components that are known per se.

[0008] The sampling is facilitated for the test person by the good recognizability of the mouthpiece.

[0009] The light guide may act as a stop for positioning the mouthpiece, which can be inserted or attached.

[0010] The radiation source may advantageously be an LED and the light guide may be a glass fiber element. The light guide may be an injection-molded element.

[0011] The radiation source may emit radiation in different color ranges. The different color ranges may correspond to different operating or functional states of the breath alcohol-measuring device.

[0012] The alcohol sensor may advantageously be an electrochemical sensor. The radiation source and the light guide may be designed as an optical component in one assembly unit.

[0013] An exemplary embodiment of the subject of the present invention will be explained below on the basis of the drawings. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

[0017] Referring to the drawings in particular, the mouthpiece 1 is made in the form of a hollow cylinder from an at least partially transparent plastic as the wall material.

[0018] A breathing gas sampling is started by the breath alcohol-measuring device 2 as a function of the breath flow (flow) detected via a hole in the mouthpiece 1, which hole is connected to a pump 7 by means of a flow line via an alcohol sensor 6.

[0019] The mouthpiece 1 has a blow-in opening on the right, which is characterized by the arrow pointing to the left with the label “FLOW” corresponding to the direction of the breath flow released by a test person. The blow-out opening of the mouthpiece 1 is located on the left.

[0020] The additional grip element 5 optionally present at the mouthpiece 1 is used additionally for the correct orientation for receiving the mouthpiece 1 in the housing of the breath alcohol-measuring device 2.

[0021] A light-emitting radiation source 3, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED), which, in this embodiment, guides the light radiated in by means of a light guide 4, for example, glass fiber element, from the housing of the breath alcohol-measuring device 2 into the blow-out-side opening of the attached or plugged-in mouthpiece 1, is located in the housing of the breath alcohol-measuring device 2.

[0022] The light guide 4 is also used at the same time as a stop for the correct positioning of the mouthpiece 1 in or on the alcohol-measuring device 2. The light emitted by the light guide 4 is radiated diffusely into the environment through the mouthpiece 1, which is thus illuminated from the inside and consists of a plastic which is transparent to light (or translucent), so that handling is substantially improved for both the operator of the mouthpiece 2 and the test person in terms of recognizability and handling.

[0023] The radiation source 3 and the light guide 4 may also be embodied in one assembly unit as an optical element.

[0024] Depending on the desired use, the illumination is present permanently after the breath alcohol-measuring device 2 has been switched on or it is activated temporarily by a separate actuation of a switch element.

[0025] The radiation source 3 emits radiation in different color ranges. Different operating states of the breath alcohol-measuring device 2, for example, for the sampling phase, an analysis phase or readiness for measurement, can be displayed by varying the color of the light emitted by the radiation source 3. A control unit 8 is connected to the pump 7 and the alcohol sensor 6. The electronic control unit 8 is also connected to the radiation source 3 and controls the radiation source to emit predetermined colors of the different color ranges based on current different operating or functional states of the breath alcohol-measuring device

[0026] The power supply and the switching of the radiation source 3 is connected to the electronic control unit 8 of the breath alcohol-measuring device 2.

[0027] While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.