Abstract: A chemical vapor sensor is provided that passively measures a suspect chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity, for use with safety systems. A vapor concentrator amplifies a suspect chemical vapor concentration to a detectible level, for use with an infrared detector. Compensation is provided for environmental variations that may influence the passive measurement of the chemical vapor sensor. Environmental variations may include extrinsic vapors in the surrounding air, or air currents that divert the sample vapor as it drifts from the suspect vapor source to a sampling intake. In an example, ethanol vapor is measured and carbon dioxide tracer measurements are used to calculate an ethanol vapor measurement that is adjusted for environmental variations. In an aspect, a time artifact filter sets the output of the carbon dioxide sensor to match the time dependence of the ethanol sensor, to calculate blood alcohol concentration.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a temperature including: a temperature sensor including: a substrate resistance configured to be primarily responsive to a temperature of a substrate; and a membrane resistance configured to be primarily responsive to a temperature of a membrane. The substrate resistance and the membrane resistance are arranged in a series circuit configured to facilitate measurement of a voltage responsive to a temperature change. The system also includes a controller in operable communication with the temperature sensor. The method includes: receiving a temperature signal, the temperature signal indicative of a composite temperature variation including a first varying portion and a second varying portion; configuring the temperature signal to eliminate the second varying portion; and generating a temperature value based on the configuring wherein the temperature value is substantially based on the first varying portion.

Abstract: A chemical vapor sensor is provided that measures a chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity. In an aspect, an ethanol vapor sensor is provided, sized for being inconspicuous and on-board a vehicle, having a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode, for detecting a motor vehicle driver that exceeds a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), for use with vehicle safety systems. For the passive mode, a vapor concentrator is utilized to amplify a sampled vapor concentration to a detectible level for use with an infrared (IR) detector. In an aspect, ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin is passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. In an aspect, an active breathalyzer is used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An automotive occupant position restraint apparatus senses a position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. An optical energy source emits optical energy that is substantially limited to a first range of wavelengths that corresponds to an atmospheric absorption peak. An optical energy receiver receives the optical energy emitted by the optical energy source after the optical energy has been reflected within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. A range of wavelengths that the receiver is operable to receive is substantially limited to a second range of wavelengths that corresponds to the atmospheric absorption peak.

Abstract: Respiration and heart rate are monitored using a fluid-filled bladder, where the bladder pressure is measured and processed to identify minute pressure variations corresponding to the respiration and heart rate of a subject that is directly or indirectly exerting a load on the bladder. The respiration rate is identified by band-pass filtering the measured pressure to isolate or extract a pressure component in range of 0.15-0.5 Hz, and the heart rate is identified by band-pass filtering the measured pressure to isolate or extract a pressure component in the range of 2-7 Hz. The extracted pressure components are preferably converted to a digital format and tabulated for comparison with specified thresholds to identify abnormalities and/or anomalies.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a temperature including: a temperature sensor including: a substrate resistance configured to be primarily responsive to a temperature of a substrate; and a membrane resistance configured to be primarily responsive to a temperature of a membrane. The substrate resistance and the membrane resistance are arranged in a series circuit configured to facilitate measurement of a voltage responsive to a temperature change. The system also includes a controller in operable communication with the temperature sensor. The method includes: receiving a temperature signal, the temperature signal indicative of a composite temperature variation including a first varying portion and a second varying portion; configuring the temperature signal to eliminate the second varying portion; and generating a temperature value based on the configuring wherein the temperature value is substantially based on the first varying portion.