Dual sensor types in intoxicant detection
Embodiments include breath intoxicant monitoring systems and methods of operating a breath intoxicant monitoring system. In an embodiment, a breath intoxicant monitoring system, includes a first detection element, a second detection element, and a control module. The first detection element can be operable to detect a level of an intoxicant in a user's breath and to provide a continuous signal indicating the level of intoxicant. The second detection element can be operable to detect a level of the intoxicant. The second detection element includes a different type of element than the first detection element. The second detection element can have greater accuracy than the first detection element. The control module to selectively operate the second detection element based on the signal received from the first detection element, and to indicate whether the level of intoxicant in the user's breath exceeds a threshold. Other embodiments are also included herein.
1. A breath intoxicant monitoring system, comprising:
a first detection element operable to detect a level of an intoxicant in a user's breath;
a second detection element operable to detect a level of the intoxicant in the user's breath, the second detection element comprising a different type of element than the first detection element; and
a control module operable to receive a signal from the first and second detection elements indicating the level of intoxicant in the user's breath, to measure the signal from the first detection element before taking a sample with the second detection element, to selectively operate the second detection element based on the signal received from the first detection element, avoid taking a breath sample using the second detection element if the signal from the first detection element indicates a level of intoxicant in the user's breath exceeding a threshold, and to indicate whether the level of intoxicant in the user's breath measured from at least one of the first and second detection elements exceeds a threshold.
2. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 1 , the control module further operable to selectively restrict operation of a vehicle based on whether the level of intoxicant in the user's breath measured from at least one of the first and the second detection elements exceeding a threshold.
3. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the first detection element operable to provide a continuous signal indicating a level of intoxicant in a user's breath.
4. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the first detection element comprises one of the group consisting of a metal oxide sensor, a complementary metal oxide sensor, a semiconductor sensor, and an infrared (IR) sensor.
5. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the second detection element has greater accuracy than the first detection element.
6. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 5 , wherein the second detection element comprises a fuel cell.
7. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is operable to measure an environment signal from the first detection element to monitor air surrounding the system for contamination before prompting a user to perform a test and taking a sample with the second detection element.
8. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the control module is further operable to delay a test or a retest if the environment signal exceeds a threshold.
9. A breath intoxicant monitoring system, comprising:
a first detection element operable to detect a level of an intoxicant in air surrounding the system, the first detection element operable to provide an environmental signal indicating the level of intoxicant in the air surrounding the system;
a second detection element operable to detect a level of intoxicant in a user's breath, the second detection element comprising a different type of detection element than the first detection element; and
a control module operable to:
receive the environmental signal from the first detection element before prompting a user to provide a breath sample;
prompt the user to provide a breath sample;
determine a level of an intoxicant in the breath sample with the second detection element; and
receive a signal from the second detection element indicating the level of intoxicant in the breath sample.
10. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the first detection element is less susceptible to contamination than the second detection element, wherein the control module is operable to delay determining the level of intoxicant in the breath sample using the second detection element if the environmental signal from the first detection element indicates a level of intoxicant in the air surrounding the system exceeding a contamination threshold.
11. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the control module is operable to delay determining the level of intoxicant in the breath sample using the second detection element if the signal from the first detection element indicates a level of intoxicant in the air surrounding the system that would affect the level of intoxicant detected by the second detection element.
12. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the control module is operable to indicate whether the level of intoxicant in the breath sample measured from the second detection element exceeds a threshold.
13. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 12 , the control module further operable to selectively restrict operation of a vehicle based on whether the level of intoxicant in the breath sample determined by the second detection element exceeds the threshold.
14. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 9 , the control module further operable to delay determining the level of intoxicant in the breath sample or conducting a retest with the second detection element if the signal from the first detection element indicates a level of intoxicant in the air surrounding the system that exceeds a threshold.
15. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the first detection element is operable to provide a continuous signal and comprises one of the group consisting of a metal oxide sensor, a complementary metal oxide sensor, a semiconductor sensor, and an infrared (IR) sensor.
16. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the second detection element has greater accuracy than the first detection element.
17. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the first detection element is less susceptible to contamination than the second detection element.
18. The breath intoxicant monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the first detection element is further operable to detect the level of intoxicant in the user's breath, wherein the control module is further operable to receive a breath signal from the first element indicating the level of intoxicant in the user's breath, and selectively operate the second detection element based on the breath signal received from the first detection element by avoiding taking a breath sample using the second detection element if the breath signal from the first detection element indicates a level of intoxicant in the user's breath exceeding a breath alcohol threshold.
19. A method of operating a breath intoxicant monitoring system, comprising:
detecting a level of an intoxicant in a user's breath using a first detection element operable to provide a signal indicating a level of intoxicant;
receiving in a control module a signal from the first detection element indicating the level of intoxicant in the user's breath before taking a sample with a second detection element,
selectively operating via the control module a second detection element operable to detect a level of intoxicant in the user's breath based on the signal received from the first detection element and avoiding taking a breath sample using the second detection element if the signal from the first detection element indicates a level of intoxicant in the user's breath that would contaminate the second detection element, wherein the first detection element comprises a different type of element than the second detection element, wherein the first detection element is less susceptible to contamination than the first detection element; and
indicating whether the level of intoxicant in the user's breath measured from at least one of the first and second detection elements exceeds a threshold.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second detection element comprises a fuel cell.