Patents by Inventor Leigh Wallington

Leigh Wallington has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11885795
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring breath alcohol concentration of a user. A flow of an expired breath sample is passed through a fuel cell sensor giving an output signal proportional to the amount of alcohol present in the breath sample. By measuring the flow rate, the volume of the breath sample may be calculated, whereas the breath alcohol concentration is calculated based on the fuel cell output signal. Both the sample volume and the breath alcohol concentration values are continually updated by integrating the measured instantaneous flow rate and the fuel cell output signal over time. If the user stops blowing, flow compensation is performed to obtain a compensated fuel cell output signal using a stored calibration volume. Hence, an improved method for accurately measuring the breath alcohol concentration of a test person is achieved, capable of handling varied expired volumes of breath, which obviates the need for a sampling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventors: Nigel Evans, Leigh Wallington
  • Publication number: 20210270804
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring breath alcohol concentration of a user. A flow of an expired breath sample is passed through a fuel cell sensor giving an output signal proportional to the amount of alcohol present in the breath sample. By measuring the flow rate, the volume of the breath sample may be calculated, whereas the breath alcohol concentration is calculated based on the fuel cell output signal. Both the sample volume and the breath alcohol concentration values are continually updated by integrating the measured instantaneous flow rate and the fuel cell output signal over time. If the user stops blowing, flow compensation is performed to obtain a compensated fuel cell output signal using a stored calibration volume. Hence, an improved method for accurately measuring the breath alcohol concentration of a test person is achieved, capable of handling varied expired volumes of breath, which obviates the need for a sampling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Nigel Evans, Leigh Wallington
  • Patent number: 10942168
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring breath alcohol concentration of a user. A flow of an expired breath sample is passed through a fuel cell sensor giving an output signal proportional to the amount of alcohol present in the breath sample. By measuring the flow rate, the volume of the breath sample may be calculated, whereas the breath alcohol concentration is calculated based on the fuel cell output signal. Both the sample volume and the breath alcohol concentration values are continually updated by integrating the measured instantaneous flow rate and the fuel cell output signal over time. If the user stops blowing, flow compensation is performed to obtain a compensated fuel cell output signal using a stored calibration volume. Hence, an improved method for accurately measuring the breath alcohol concentration of a test person is achieved, capable of handling varied expired volumes of breath, which obviates the need for a sampling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Nigel Evans, Leigh Wallington
  • Patent number: 9345423
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring user breath alcohol concentration. A flow of an expired breath sample is passed through a fuel cell sensor giving an output signal proportional to the amount of alcohol present in the sample. By measuring pressure, the volume of the sample may be calculated by integrating pressure over expiration time of the sample, whereas breath alcohol concentration is calculated based on the fuel cell output signal. Both sample volume and breath alcohol concentration values are continually updated by integrating measured instantaneous pressure and fuel cell output signal over time, irrespective of breath sample volume. When the user stops blowing, volume compensation is performed to obtain a compensated fuel cell output signal using a stored calibration volume. Hence, an improved method for accurately measuring breath alcohol concentration of a user is achieved, capable of handling varied expired volumes of breath, obviating the need for sampling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Alco Systems Sweden AB
    Inventors: Nigel Evans, Leigh Wallington
  • Publication number: 20150335265
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring user breath alcohol concentration. A flow of an expired breath sample is passed through a fuel cell sensor giving an output signal proportional to the amount of alcohol present in the sample. By measuring pressure, the volume of the sample may be calculated by integrating pressure over expiration time of the sample, whereas breath alcohol concentration is calculated based on the fuel cell output signal. Both sample volume and breath alcohol concentration values are continually updated by integrating measured instantaneous pressure and fuel cell output signal over time, irrespective of breath sample volume. When the user stops blowing, volume compensation is performed to obtain a compensated fuel cell output signal using a stored calibration volume. Hence, an improved method for accurately measuring breath alcohol concentration of a user is achieved, capable of handling varied expired volumes of breath, obviating the need for sampling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Nigel Evans, Leigh Wallington
  • Publication number: 20130281873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring breath alcohol concentration of a user. A flow of an expired breath sample is passed through a fuel cell sensor giving an output signal proportional to the amount of alcohol present in the breath sample. By measuring the flow rate, the volume of the breath sample may be calculated, whereas the breath alcohol concentration is calculated based on the fuel cell output signal. Both the sample volume and the breath alcohol concentration values are continually updated by integrating the measured instantaneous flow rate and the fuel cell output signal over time. If the user stops blowing, flow compensation is performed to obtain a compensated fuel cell output signal using a stored calibration volume. Hence, an improved method for accurately measuring the breath alcohol concentration of a test person is achieved, capable of handling varied expired volumes of breath, which obviates the need for a sampling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: ALCO SYSTEMS SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Nigel Evans, Leigh Wallington