DE102022210349A1 - Device, method and computer program product for determining a substance in a person's exhaled breath - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for determining a substance from exhaled air of a person, wherein the device comprises an air duct, a communication element and a sensor, wherein the air duct is closed with a cover element, that the sensor is arranged in the air duct, that the communication module is connected to the sensor and the cover element, that the communication element is designed to establish a wireless connection to a mobile terminal, wherein the device is designed such that it functions without contact.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for determining a substance in exhaled air of a person.

Out of WO 2017/217936 A1 an electric scooter is known with an alcohol test arranged on the scooter.

It is an object of the invention to enable a person, in particular a driver of a vehicle, to participate more safely in road traffic.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of the independent claims, by a method according to a subordinate claim and a computer program product according to a further subordinate claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the description, in particular the description of preferred embodiments.

A device is proposed for determining a substance from a person's exhaled air, the device comprising an air duct, a communication element and a sensor. The air duct comprises at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening. For example, the inlet opening is closed with a cover element. The sensor is arranged in the air duct. The communication module is connected to the sensor and the cover element. The communication element is designed to establish a wireless connection to a mobile terminal. The device is designed in such a way that it functions without contact.

The person is in particular a driver of a vehicle. For example, the vehicle is an e-scooter, e-bike, pedelec, motor vehicle, motorcycle, work machine, forklift, pallet truck, etc. The person can also be an operator of one of the aforementioned vehicles.

The substance is, for example, an alcohol content determined from the person's exhaled air, or drugs, e.g. marijuana, or other substances that can be detected in the exhaled air. The air duct is designed so that the person, in particular the driver, can blow into the air duct. In particular, the cover element is provided with an actuator. The actuator is designed as an electric motor, for example. The sensor works, for example, according to the principle of laser spectroscopy, for example infrared laser spectroscopy. The sensor or sensor unit can be integrated in a measuring chamber with a polygonal, elliptical or circular cross-sectional area, with reflective walls on the inside of the measuring chamber. A laser emits laser beams into the measuring chamber to the sensor. Due to the reflective inner sides of the walls of the measuring chamber, the laser beams are reflected several times on the reflective surfaces within the measuring chamber. This means that a path length in the measuring chamber is covered that is greater than the diameter of the measuring chamber. This creates a miniaturized measuring chamber that can be arranged in or on a vehicle with a compact size for exhaled gas analysis in a vehicle. This provides a measuring chamber that has a high sensitivity despite its small size and is therefore suitable for measuring substances in exhaled air arranged on or in a vehicle. The sensor can also work according to a different functional principle that allows the substance in the exhaled air to be detected and quantified, for example like an exhaled air analyzer or an alcohol test. The device can be designed to work together with a vehicle control unit of the vehicle, whereby information about an operating state is exchanged. The communication module is designed, for example, to establish a connection to a network, e.g. the Internet. For this purpose, the communication module comprises a transmitting/receiving unit that is suitable for sending and receiving electromagnetic signals. The communication module can be designed as V2X. For example, the communication module is designed to transmit signals using Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, LTE, NFC, or other signal and data transmission standards for V2X. The communication module can establish a connection to a mobile device, e.g. the driver's smartphone. The communication module can establish a connection to a data network, e.g. a cloud, a storage or program on the Internet or a server. Once the connection is established, data and/or information can be exchanged between the device with the communication module and the data network. The communication module can, for example, work with a mobile device belonging to the driver and/or the user.

Preferably, the air duct comprises two cover elements, with the air duct being closed at each of its ends by a cover element. For example, the air duct is sealed by the cover elements in a weather-resistant manner, in particular in a water- and/or dust-tight manner.

In one design variant, the air duct is angled. For example, the win angle is approximately 90°. In a further embodiment, the air duct has a bend. For example, the air duct can have two or more bends or angles. In particular, the bends or angles are designed with the same or similar angle or radius. For example, the angles or bends are arranged such that an inlet and an outlet of the air duct are arranged opposite one another. Preferably, the sensor is arranged in the air duct such that it is aligned at right angles to the inlet opening in order to avoid contamination.

In a further embodiment, a filter is arranged in the air duct. Several filters can also be arranged in the air duct. For example, a filter to catch larger dirt, e.g. particles, stones, etc. and another filter that catches small particles, e.g. droplets or dust.

A fan can also be arranged in the air duct. In particular to create an air flow through the air duct or to measure existing air movement. The existing air movement can, for example, be the driver's exhaled air, which blows into the air duct.

Furthermore, a lighting element can be arranged adjacent to the cover element of the air duct. For example, the lighting element is designed as an LED, for example the lighting element consists of one or more LED elements. In particular, the lighting elements are arranged in a circle around the opening of the air duct or in strip or band form next to the opening of the air duct.

For example, the light element can indicate a status to the driver, e.g. whether the device is ready for use and/or whether a connection has been established between the communication module and the mobile device. There can also be several light elements, which can also display symbols if necessary. In addition to the light elements, or instead of them, there can be a display that shows information.

For example, the device is designed so that the cover element moves into a second position when the driver enters a command on his mobile device. In particular, the driver can open the cover element of the air duct by entering a command on his mobile device.

The device can be arranged on a handlebar or in the area of an input surface, e.g. next to the steering wheel. For example, the device is attached to the handlebar of the electric scooter or integrated into the handlebar stem of the scooter. The device can also be arranged under a seat or in the area of a luggage rack.

The device can, for example, be installed on a vehicle that the driver wants to rent. Other transfers of use should also be covered by this registration.

Furthermore, the device can establish a connection with the owner of the vehicle via the communication module. The owner of the vehicle is, for example, a rental company for electric scooters, or a rental company for other vehicles, e.g. construction machinery. In particular, the owner of the vehicle is also the rental company of the vehicle.

The invention further includes a method for determining the substance in the person's exhaled air. The person makes an entry on a mobile device. Then the cover element of the device is moved and an air duct of the device is opened. The person blows into the air duct and an initial message is displayed on the mobile device. The substance is determined using the sensor in the air duct. A second notice is then displayed on the person's mobile device.

Furthermore, the determination and evaluation of the substance in the driver's exhaled air can be carried out using the sensor and a control unit. Alternatively, the determination and evaluation of the substance in the driver's exhaled air can be sent to the database, for example to a data center, by transmitting the sensor data via the communication module. Furthermore, data and/or information can be received from the data center via the communication module.

Advantageously, the sensor is neutralized and conditioned before the person blows into the air duct. For this purpose, air from the surroundings of the air duct can be sucked and/or blown through the air duct using the fan until a complete exchange of air has taken place. The neutralization of the device can, for example, include the following sequence: opening the cover elements of the air duct, sucking in air from the outlet opening and blowing it out through the inlet opening. Example The suction and blowing out is carried out by the fan, which can be arranged in the air duct.

If the evaluation determines that the substance in the exhaled air exceeds a predetermined limit, the driver is informed of this. In particular, the second note to the driver contains information about whether or not he is authorized to drive the vehicle based on the evaluation that has been carried out. The predetermined limit value can, for example, be a legally stipulated value up to which a driver may participate in road traffic even under the influence of alcohol. The notification that the limit value has been exceeded can be done by the LEDs on the device and/or by transmitting a signal to the driver's mobile device, on which the message is then displayed.

Furthermore, it can be provided that if the limit value is exceeded, the vehicle is blocked for use by the driver. This driver is then no longer able to continue renting the vehicle or start the vehicle.

For example, the status or process is displayed to the driver on his mobile device while he is blowing, in particular whether the driver has blown long enough and/or hard enough and thus enough exhaled air has reached the sensor to determine the substance. Alternatively or additionally, the light element can light up and/or flash to indicate whether the driver is blowing hard enough and for long enough.

The method is preferably carried out before the vehicle is put into operation or as one of the first steps of the vehicle being put into operation.

In one possible embodiment, the identity of the driver is determined by comparing, for example, image data between an image currently taken by a camera on the mobile device and an image stored in a database belonging to the owner or lessor. Alternatively or additionally, a near-field radar can be used to check whether a person, in particular the driver, is blowing into the air duct.

For example, the evaluation of the measurement and/or the identity check can take place in the cloud or on a server outside the vehicle. Any data, in particular raw data from the sensor, can be sent and received using the communication module. In particular, the evaluation and/or the identity check can be carried out with the support of a machine learning program. The evaluation and/or identity check is preferably AI-based.

The invention further comprises a computer program product for determining the substance in the person's exhaled air. The computer program product comprises instructions which cause a computer to carry out the method steps listed above when the computer program product is executed on a computer or a control device or the like.

Furthermore, the computer program product is designed in such a way that it works with the above-mentioned device in any desired embodiment.

A variant comprises that the computer program is divided into two, wherein a first part of the computer program product is executed on the mobile terminal and a second part of the computer program product is executed in the device.

In a further embodiment of the computer program product, an input from a person is required, wherein the input is made on a mobile terminal of the person, wherein a cover element of a device is then opened, wherein a sensor of the device is activated.

The input into the computer program product can be done by reading in a code, e.g. a 2-D data matrix code.

The evaluation of the sensor data to determine the substance in the driver's exhaled air can be carried out using a machine learning process, e.g. using a trained neural network.

The figures show an embodiment and an exemplary process sequence.

• 1: eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung,
• 2: einen erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrensablauf.

The figures show in detail:

• 1 : a device according to the invention,
• 2 : a process sequence according to the invention.

In 1 a device 1 according to the invention is shown. The device 1 comprises an air duct 2, a communication element 3 and a sensor 4. The air duct 2 has an inlet opening 5 and an outlet opening 6. The inlet opening 5 is closed with a cover element 7. The cover element 7 is in an open position, so that the inlet opening 5 is open. In the air duct 2, a coarse filter 8 and a fine filter 9 are arranged, which stop particles from the driver's exhaled air. A fan 10 is arranged in the air duct 2 and can generate an air flow through the air duct 2. The fan 10 measures the air flow of the driver's exhaled air or sucks in ambient air to clean the air duct 2. The sensor 4 is mounted in the air duct 2 and detects a substance in the driver's exhaled air. The sensor 4 is connected to the communication element 3. The communication element 3 establishes a connection to a control device 11. Data that the sensor has determined can be sent to the cloud 12 for further processing via the control device 11. Data from the cloud 12 is also received. The control device 11 provides a further data connection to a mobile terminal 13 of the driver. Connections for data transmission between control device 11 and cloud 12 and between control device 11 and mobile terminal 13 are shown by arrows. The data connection between communication element 3 and control device 11 is also illustrated by arrows. In a first bend of the air duct 2, a collecting container 14 is attached, in which particles that can get into the air duct 2 when the cover element 7 is open collect. A connection between the cover element 7 and the control device 11, via which the cover element 7 is notified of a change in position, is shown in dashed lines.

In 2 a process sequence according to the invention is shown. In method step 1, a person, in particular a driver, makes an entry on a mobile device. In step 2, the cover element of the air duct opens. In step 3, the air duct is cleaned with air from the environment and the sensor is neutralized. In the next step, step 4, the driver blows into the air duct. If the driver has blown enough exhaled air into the air duct, a message appears on the mobile device in step 5.

Reference symbols

1

contraption

2

Air duct

3

Communication module

4

sensor

5

Entry opening

6

Exit opening

7

Cover element

8th

Coarse filter

9

Fine filter

10

fan

11

Control unit

12

Cloud

13

mobile device

14

Collection container

V1

Process step 1

V2

Process step 2

V3

Process step 3

V4

Process step 4

V5

Process step 5

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2017217936 A1 [0002]

Claims (21)

Device for determining a substance from a person's exhaled air, the device comprising an air duct, a communication element and a sensor, characterized in that the air duct is closed with a cover element, that the sensor is arranged in the air duct, that the communication module with the sensor and the cover element is connected so that the communication element is designed to establish a wireless connection to a mobile terminal, the device being designed such that it functions in a contactless manner. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the air duct comprises two cover elements, the air duct being closed at each of its ends by a cover element, the air duct being sealed in a weatherproof manner by the cover elements. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air duct is designed at an angle. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a filter is arranged in the air duct. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a lighting element is arranged adjacent to a cover element of the air duct. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the person controls the device via an input on the mobile terminal. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is arranged on a vehicle. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the communication element establishes a further wireless connection to an owner of the vehicle. Method for determining a substance in a person's exhaled air, characterized in that the person makes an entry on a mobile terminal, a cover element of a device is moved and an air duct of the device is opened so that the person blows into the air duct, that a first message is displayed on the mobile device, that the substance is determined using a sensor in the air duct and that a second message is then displayed on the person's mobile device. Procedure according to the preceding Claim 9 , characterized in that the sensor is neutralized and conditioned before the person blows into the air duct. Procedure according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the second notice is additionally transmitted to an owner of the device. Method according to one of the preceding Claims 9 until 11 , characterized in that the second indication contains a message as to whether a prohibited substance has been detected in the exhaled air. Method according to one of the preceding Claims 9 until 12 , characterized in that the method is part of the commissioning of a vehicle. Method according to one of the preceding Claims 9 until 13 , characterized in that if a prohibited substance has been detected in the exhaled air and a limit value is exceeded, the vehicle cannot be used by the person. Method according to one of the preceding Claims 9 until 14 , characterized in that the identity of the driver can be determined. Computer program product for determining a substance in a person's exhaled air, characterized in that the computer program product comprises instructions which cause a computer to carry out the steps of the method according to one of Claims 9 until 15 executes when the computer program product is executed on a computer. Computer program product which is designed to be connected to a device according to Claim 1 to work together. Computer program product according to one of the Claims 16 or 17 , characterized in that the computer program is divided into two parts, with one part of the CPP being executed on a mobile terminal and a second part of the CPP being executed in the device. Computer program product according to one of the Claims 16 until 18 , characterized in that input from one person is required is, the input being made on a mobile terminal of the person, whereupon a cover element of a device is opened, with a sensor of the device being activated. Computer program product according to one of the Claims 16 until 19 , characterized in that the input can be a reading of a 2D data matrix code. Computer program product according to one of the Claims 16 until 20 , characterized in that an evaluation is carried out automatically, with a machine learning method being used for the evaluation.

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