COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSOCIATING AN ODOR SUBSTANCE OF A GAS UNDER INVESTIGATION WITH AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and device includes obtaining a first electrical signal on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in a gas and at least one first odor sensor, filtering at least one predetermined odor group out of the gas and obtaining a filtered gas, wherein the odor group comprises at least one odor substance that is to be filtered out, obtaining a second electrical signal on the basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the filtered gas and the first odor sensor and/or at least one second odor sensor, determining a difference between the first and second electrical signals, and assigning this difference to the odor group.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining a first electrical signal on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in a gas sample and at least one first odor sensor; filtering at least one predetermined odor group out of the gas sample and obtaining a filtered gas, wherein the odor group comprises at least one odor substance that is to be filtered out; obtaining a second electrical signal on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the filtered gas and the first odor sensor and/or at least one second odor sensor; determining an odor signal difference in the first and second electrical signals; and assigning the odor signal difference to the odor group.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: creating an odor database that contains at least one entry, wherein the at least one entry characterizes at least the odor group; and processing the at least one entry on a basis of the odor group and the signal difference assigned thereto, such that the at least one entry characterizes the odor group and the signal difference assigned thereto.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one entry in the odor database also characterizes an odor and/or a classification of the odor group, wherein the classification indicates at least one of an illness, a hazardous substance, a poisonous substance, a substance indicating putrefaction, substances indicating burning, a psychotropic substance and/or a drug in the odor group that alters a physical state, consciousness, and/or perception of a user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filtering comprises filtering with a sorption filter, a size-specific filter, or a catalytic filter for filtering out the odor group, and/or wherein the filtering comprises filtering with an electrical field, a mechanical and/or physical separation, and/or chemical conversion, for filtering out the odor group.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining a concentration of the odor group in the gas sample on a basis of the first electrical signal, the second electrical signal, the difference in the first and second electrical signals, the entry in the odor database, and/or the designated odor group.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: issuing a warning signal in response to the odor group being classified as a psychotropic substance and/or a drug, and/or in response to a concentration of the odor group exceeding a predetermined concentration threshold value.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a program that, when executed by a computer device, cause the computer device to perform a method comprising: obtaining a first electrical signal on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in a gas sample and at least one first odor sensor; obtaining a second electrical signal on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in a filtered gas and the first odor sensor and/or at least one second odor sensor, wherein the filtered gas is obtained by filtering at least one predetermined odor group out of the gas sample and wherein the odor group comprises at least one odor substance that is to be filtered out; determining an odor signal difference in the first and second electrical signals; and assigning the odor signal difference to the odor group

8. A device for assigning an electrical signal to at least one odor substance in a gas sample, comprising: at least one first odor sensor configured to obtain a first electrical signal on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in a gas sample and the first odor sensor; at least one filter configured to filter at least one predetermined odor group out of the gas sample and obtain a filtered gas, wherein the odor group comprises at least one odor substance that is to be filtered out; wherein the first odor sensor and/or at least one second odor sensor are configured to obtain a second electrical signal on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the filtered gas and the first and/or second odor sensor; and a processor configured to determine a difference in the first and second electrical signals, and assign the signal difference to the odor group.

9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising: a memory configured to store an odor database that contains at least one entry, wherein the at least one entry characterizes at least the odor group, wherein the processor is also configured to process the at least one entry in the odor database on a basis of the odor group and the difference in the first and second electrical odor signals assigned thereto, such that the entry characterizes the odor group and the signal difference assigned thereto.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one entry in the odor database also characterizes an odor and/or a classification of the odor group, wherein the classification indicates at least one of an illness, a hazardous substance, a poisonous substance, a substance indicating putrefaction, a substance indicating burning, a psychotropic substance and/or a drug in the odor group which alters a physical state, a consciousness, and/or a perception of a user.

11. The device according to claim 8, wherein the filter is a sorption filter, a size-specific filter, and/or a catalytic filter, and/or wherein the filter is configured to filter by means of an electrical filed, a mechanical and/or physical separation, and/or chemical conversion, for filtering out the odor group.

12. The device according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a concentration of the odor group in the gas sample on a basis of the first electrical signal, the second electrical signal, the difference in the first and second electrical signals, and/or the designated odor group.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to issue a warning signal in response to the odor group being classified as a psychotropic substance and/or a drug, and/or in response to a concentration of the odor group exceeding a predetermined concentration threshold value.

14. A vehicle comprising the device according to claim 8.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine an operator operating the vehicle; and require a breath sample from the operator, wherein the first odor sensor is configured to obtain the first electrical breath sample signal for the breath sample on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the breath sample and the first odor sensor, wherein the filter is configured to filter at least one safety odor group out of the breath sample and obtain a filtered breath sample, wherein the safety odor group comprises at least one substance that indicates an illness, a psychotropic substance, and/or a drug, wherein the first odor sensor and/or the second odor sensor are configured to obtain a second electrical breath sample signal for the breath sample on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the filtered breath sample and the first and/or second odor sensor, wherein the processor is also configured to: determine a difference between the first and second electrical breath sample signals, and if there is a difference in the signals, assign this difference to the safety odor group, and issue an ignition lock signal to temporarily prevent operation of the vehicle on a basis of a safety restriction being satisfied, wherein the safety restriction is satisfied in response to the difference in the first and second electrical breath sample signals being assigned to the safety odor group, and/or wherein the safety restriction is satisfied in response to a concentration of the safety odor group in the breath sample exceeding the predetermined concentration threshold value.

16. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the first odor sensor is configured to obtain a first electrical ambient air signal for the ambient air on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the ambient air of the operator and/or the vehicle with the first odor sensor, wherein the filter is configured to filter at least one poisonous odor group out of the ambient air and obtain a filtered ambient air, wherein the poisonous odor group comprises at least a poisonous substance, a hazardous substance, a substance indicating putrefaction, and/or at least a substance indicating burning, wherein the first odor sensor and/or the second odor sensor are configured to obtain a second electrical ambient air signal for the ambient air on a basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the filtered ambient air and the first and/or second odor sensor, wherein the processor is also configured to: determine a difference between the first and second electrical ambient air signals; assign the difference between the first and second electrical ambient air signals to the poisonous odor group; and issue a warning signal indicating a danger to the driver on a basis of a poison safety restriction being satisfied, wherein the poison safety restriction is satisfied in response to the difference between the first and second electrical ambient air signals being assigned to the poisonous odor group, and/or wherein the poison safety restriction is satisfied in response to a concentration of the poisonous odor group in the ambient air exceeding a predetermined concentration threshold value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a device for assigning an electrical signal to at least one odor substance in a gas sample;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of how the first and second odor signals are obtained; and

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of how an electrical signal is assigned to at least one odor substance in a gas sample.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Identical elements or elements that substantially have the same or similar functions have the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a device 100 for assigning an electrical signal to at least one odor substance in a gas sample. The device 100 comprises a first odor sensor 110, a filter 120, a second odor sensor 130, a memory 140, a processor 150 and a transceiver 160. The units in the device 100 are coupled to one another for signal transfer.

[0043] The first and second odor sensors 110, 130 are configured to generate a first and second electrical signal on the basis of an interaction with one or more odor substances in a gas. The odor sensors 110, 130 have surfaces for this that have been treated such that substances and/or compounds that the odor substances are composed of interact with the surfaces, e.g. binding to the surfaces at the molecular level. The electrical signal is altered by the interactions with the respective surfaces of the odor sensors 110, 130. The electrical signals can characterize a first state, in which the surfaces do not interact with the odor substances, and a second state, in which the odor substances do interact with the surfaces. The progressions of the electrical signals can also be plotted over time.

[0044] The filter 120 is configured to filter out a predetermined odor group from a gas and obtain a filtered gas, wherein the odor group comprises at least one odor substance that is to be filtered out. By way of example, the filter can contain a filter membrane with a predetermined minimum pore size. The gas can contain various gas components, or odor substances, of different sizes. When the gas is filtered through the filter 120, those odor substances that are larger than the pores in the filter are filtered out of the gas by the filter membrane. The filtered gas then contains fewer odor substances than the original gas. An odor database containing at least one entry is stored in the memory 140, in which at least one odor group is characterized. The characterized odor group corresponds to the at least one odor group that has been filtered out of the gas. The odor database can also contain filter information representing the characteristics of the filter, e.g. the pore sizes of the filter membrane.

[0045] The transceiver 160 is configured to receive data from the various units in the device 100. The transceiver 160 is also configured to transmit or receive data to or from external units. As FIG. 2 shows, the first odor sensor 110 generates a first electrical signal on the basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in a gas 210 that is to be examined and the first odor sensor 110, in particular the treated surface of the first odor sensor 110.

[0046] The gas 210 that is to be examined is also filtered with the filter 120 such that at least one predetermined odor group 210 is filtered out of the gas 210, wherein the predetermined odor group comprises at least one predetermined odor substance. A filtered gas 220 is obtained with the filter 120 that is then sent to the second odor sensor 130. This filtered gas 220 can also be sent to the first odor sensor 110.

[0047] A second electrical signal is generated on the basis of the interaction between the filtered gas 220 and the second odor sensor 130. The first and second odor signals are then sent to the processor 150.

[0048] The processor 150 is configured to determine a difference between the first and second odor signals. This can take place using an odor signal algorithm, which is a machine learning algorithm in this case. The difference between the odor signals is obtained by subtracting the second signal from first. The difference can then be assigned to the odor group that has been filtered out. The entry in the odor database in the memory 140 is then supplemented and/or modified with regard to this odor group by the signal difference.

[0049] The device 100 can be used in or with a vehicle, as explained below. It can also be used in buildings, spaces, vessels, outdoors, and in transporters, such as containers.

[0050] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the device 100 is contained in a vehicle. The vehicle can be a passenger automobile, truck, bus, scooter, motorcycle, ship, airplane, or an at least partially autonomous vehicle in particular. The vehicle should only be operated by a driver who is subjectively and objectively able to do so. Objective measures comprise, among other things, an alcohol level, which should/must be below a predetermined threshold value. Vehicles also should not be operated after consuming psychotropic substances and/or drugs that alter a physical state and/or consciousness and/or perception, which can also be determined objectively. These objective measures may also be subject to guidelines and legal provisions. Consequently, it may be the case with vehicles that the operator is not allowed to operate a vehicle if evidence of any such substance is detected, or an alcohol level is not below the threshold level.

[0051] In order to increase the safety for the vehicle operator, other potential passengers, as well as other road users, a vehicle is equipped with the device 100 in this aspect of the present disclosure.

[0052] The processor 150 is configured to determine who is operating the vehicle and require a breath sample 210 from the operator. The breath sample 210 can be obtained using a mouthpiece provided for this, with which the submitted breath sample 210 is conducted to the first and second odor sensors 110, 130. Air can also be sampled from inside the vehicle and conducted to the odor sensors 110, 130. A portion of this air can also comprise a breath sample from the operator. The first odor sensor 110 is configured to obtain a first electrical breath sample signal on the basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the breath sample 210 and the first odor sensor 110. At least one safety odor group is also filtered out of the breath sample by the filter 120, which contains at least one safety odor substance classified as a substance indicating illness, psychotropic substances and/or drugs. A filtered breath sample 220 is obtained with the filter 120. The second odor sensor 130 is configured to obtain a second electrical breath sample signal on the basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the filtered breath sample 220 and the second odor sensor 130. The processor 150 determines a difference between the first and second breath sample signals. If the processor 150 determines that there is a difference in the breath sample signals, this difference is assigned to the safety odor group. This can be established if there is a difference in the breath sample signals, or a predetermined threshold value is exceeded. The predetermined threshold value can be selected such that any noise and/or errors in the measurements of the odor signals are suppressed when determining a difference in the breath sample signals. This prevents an inaccurate diagnosis caused by noise and/or errors. Consequently, it may be determined that there is an odor substance in the breath sample that can have an effect on the driving abilities of the vehicle operator. The processor then issues an ignition lock signal that temporarily prevents the vehicle from being operated on the basis of a safety restriction having been satisfied. The safety restriction is satisfied if the difference in the signals from the breath sample is that assigned to the safety odor group. The safety restriction can also be satisfied if a concentration of the safety odor group in the breath sample 210 exceeds the predetermined concentration threshold value. One example of this is when the alcohol concentration in the breath sample 210 exceeds a predetermined concentration threshold level. Consequently, operation of the vehicle can be prevented in accordance with an objective measure for when an operator is not fit to operate a vehicle, thus increasing traffic safety.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a method 300 for assigning an electrical signal to at least one odor substance in a gas 210 sample. The method 300 comprises a step 310 for obtaining a first electrical signal on the basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the gas 210 sample and at least one first odor sensor 110. The method 300 also comprises a step 320 for filtering at least one predetermined odor group out of the gas 210 sample with a filter, and obtaining a filtered gas 220, wherein the odor group comprises at least one odor substance that is to be filtered out. A second electrical signal is obtained in a third step 330 on the basis of an interaction between one or more odor substances in the filtered gas 220 and the first odor sensor 110 and/or at least one second odor sensor 130. The method also comprises a step 340 for determining a difference in the first and second electrical odor signals, and a step 350 for assigning this signal difference to the odor group.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0054] 100 device for assigning an electrical signal to at least one odor substance in a gas sample [0055] 110 first odor sensor [0056] 120 filter [0057] 130 second odor sensor [0058] 140 memory [0059] 150 processor [0060] 160 transceiver [0061] 210 gas [0062] 220 filtered gas [0063] 300 method for assigning an electrical signal to at least one odor substance in a gas sample [0064] 310 obtaining a first electrical signal [0065] 320 filtering at least one predetermined odor group out of the gas sample [0066] 330 obtaining a second electrical signal [0067] 340 determining a difference in the first and second electrical signals [0068] 350 assigning the signal difference to the odor group