disclosed is an autocpap respirator which comprises a control unit , a respiration blower and a pressure sensor . the control unit comprises a controller for generating a first control signal , which induces the speed of the blower to generate a pressurized breathing gas flow , a controller for generating a periodically variable control signal , which activates the blower such that the speed of the blower varies in an oscillating manner at a frequency in the range of 1 - 20 hz , and a sensor device , which ascertains one or more of instantaneous speed , instantaneous electrical current and instantaneous electrical power of the blower to determine the breathing gas flow and / or breathing gas volume generated by the blower while using characteristic data of the blower stored in a memory .