Electrochemical sensor arrangement, breathalyzer and method for determining a vitality of electrodes of an electrochemical sensor

1 . An electrochemical sensor arrangement for a breath alcohol measuring device, the electrochemical sensor arrangement comprising:

an electrochemical sensor with at least two electrodes;

a heat source configured and arranged to, upon activation, controllably heat one of the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor more than another; and

a control device configured to determine a vitality of the electrodes based on the controlled heating of the one electrode and based on a voltage between the electrodes generated by the controlled heating and a current flow generated thereby.

2 . An electrochemical sensor arrangement in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the heat source is a light-emitting diode, LED.

3 . An electrochemical sensor arrangement in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the control device is configured to:

activate the heat source over a predefined time period in order to controllably heat the one electrode of the sensor;

determine a flow of current between the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor, wherein the flow of current is based on a voltage, which is caused by the one controlled heating of the one electrode by the heat source; and

determine a vitality of the sensor based on a signal shape of the flow of current.

4 . An electrochemical sensor arrangement in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising a graphic output unit configured to output information on a vitality of the sensor, wherein information on a vitality of the electrodes is determined based on the controlled heating of the one electrode.

5 . An electrochemical sensor arrangement in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to:

activate the heat source over a predefined time period in order to controllably heat the one electrode of the sensor;

determine a flow of current between the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor, wherein the flow of current is based on a voltage, which is caused by the one controlled heating of the one electrode by the heat source; and

determine a vitality of the sensor based on a signal shape of the flow of current.

6 . An electrochemical sensor arrangement in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a graphic output unit configured to output information on a vitality of the sensor, wherein information on a vitality of the electrodes is determined based on the controlled heating of the one electrode.

7 . A process for determining a vitality of electrodes of an electrochemical sensor of an electrochemical sensor arrangement, the process comprising:

activating a heat source over a predefined time period to controllably heat one of the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor more than another of the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor;

determining a flow of current between the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor, wherein the flow of current is based on a voltage, which is caused by the one controlled heating of the one electrode by the heat source; and

determining the vitality of the sensor based on a signal shape of the flow of current.

8 . A process in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising providing information on the vitality of the sensor via a graphic output unit.

9 . A process in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the information on the vitality of the sensor comprises information on an estimated remaining duration of a usability of the electrochemical sensor, based on a predefined minimal measuring accuracy.

10 . A process in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the process is carried out by the electrochemical sensor arrangement, comprising a device that comprises the electrochemical sensor and the heat source, wherein the process is carried out as part of a self-test of the device.

11 . A process in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising:

determining a compensation parameter based on the vitality of the sensor, the compensation parameter depicting to what extent the vitality of the sensor has an effect on the measurements of the sensor; and

carrying out measurements by means of the electrochemical sensor based on the compensation parameter.

12 . A process in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the electrochemical sensor arrangement comprises a control device configured to determine the vitality of the electrodes based on the controlled heating of the one electrode and based on a voltage between the electrodes generated by the controlled heating and a current flow generated thereby.

13 . A process in accordance with claim 12 , wherein a graphic output unit is provided that is configured to output information on a vitality of the sensor, wherein information on a vitality of the electrodes is determined based on the controlled heating of the one electrode.

14 . A process in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the heat source comprises a light-emitting diode.

15 . A breath alcohol measuring device comprising an electrochemical sensor arrangement, the electrochemical sensor arrangement comprising:

an electrochemical sensor with at least two electrodes;

a heat source configured and arranged to, upon activation, controllably heat one of the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor more than another of the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor; and

a control device configured to determine a vitality of the electrodes based on the controlled heating of the one electrode and based on a voltage between the electrodes generated by the controlled heating and a current flow generated thereby.

16 . A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the heat source comprises a light-emitting diode.

17 . A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the control device is configured to:

activate the heat source over a predefined time period in order to controllably heat the one electrode of the sensor;

determine a flow of current between the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor, wherein the flow of current is based on a voltage, which is caused by the one controlled heating of the one electrode by the heat source; and

determine a vitality of the sensor based on a signal shape of the flow of current.

18 . A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 16 , further comprising a graphic output unit configured to output information on a vitality of the sensor, wherein information on a vitality of the electrodes is determined based on the controlled heating of the one electrode.

19 . A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the light-emitting diode is arranged entirely outside of the electrochemical sensor.

20 . A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the control device is configured to:

activate the heat source over a predefined time period in order to controllably heat of the one electrode of the sensor;

determine a flow of current between the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor, wherein the flow of current is based on a voltage, which is caused by the one controlled heating of the one electrode by the heat source; and

determine a vitality of the sensor based on a signal shape of the flow of current.

21 . A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising a graphic output unit configured to output information on a vitality of the sensor, wherein information on a vitality of the electrodes is determined based on the controlled heating of the one electrode.

22 . A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the heat source comprises a light source and the light source is positioned such that the one electrode is arranged between the light source and the other electrode.