Safe-Driving Promotion System and Safe-Driving Promotion Device

• US 20080041652A1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hiroshi Kamiki
• Original Assignee: Hiroshi Kamiki
• Inventors: Kamiki, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/272
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4883 Interlock systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

Abstract

[Object] An object of the present invention is to provide a safe-driving promotion system for obliging a driver to wear a seat belt and effectively preventing drunk driving and/or drug driving.

[Constitution] The safe-driving promotion system includes attachment sensing means 100 for sensing that a male part 11 of the seat belt of an automobile 1 has been attached to a female part 12, and for outputting a first start permission signal α; start controlling means 200 for receiving the first start permission signal α and putting a motor 20 of the automobile 1 into a startable state; breath component concentration determining means 300 for detecting alcohol contained in the breath of the driver of the automobile 1 and performing concentration determination of the alcohol; and attachment preventing means 400 for preventing the attachment between the male part 11 and the female part 12 of the seat belt. The attachment preventing means 400 is configured to allow attachment of the male part 11 to the female part 12 in accordance with a determination result of the breath component concentration determining means 300.

Claims

1. :

A safe-driving promotion system employed in an automobile, which is equipped with attachment sensing means for sensing that a male part of a seat belt of an automobile has been attached to a female part of the seatbelt and outputting a first start permission signal, and start controlling means for receiving the first start permission signal and putting a motor of the automobile into a startable state, the system comprising;

breath component concentration determining means for detecting alcohol and/or drug contained in breath of a driver of the automobile and performing concentration determination of the alcohol and/or drug; and

attachment preventing means for preventing attachment between the male part and the female part of the seat belt,

wherein the attachment preventing means is configured to allow attachment of the male part of the seat belt to the female part in accordance with a determination result of the breath component concentration determining means.

2. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment preventing means is provided in the female part of the seat belt, and is configured to open and close an insertion slot of the female part for receiving the male part.

3. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment preventing means is provided in the female part of the seat belt, and is projectable and retractable within an insertion slot of the female part for receiving the male part.

4. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment preventing means is provided in the male part of the seat belt, and is projectable and retractable along an insertion part of the male part, the insertion part insertable into an insertion slot of the female part.

5. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment preventing means is configured such that an insertion part of the male part of the seat belt can move into and out of a male part main body.

6. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, further comprising biometric means for reading physical characteristics of the driver to authenticate the driver,

wherein the breath component concentration determining means is adapted to detect the alcohol and/or drug in the breath of the driver only when the biometric means determines that the driver is authentic.

7. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 6, wherein the breath component concentration determining means is adapted to detect the alcohol and/or drug in the breath of the driver only within a predetermined period of time after the biometric means determines that the driver is authentic.

8. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, wherein the breath component concentration determining means is separately provided from the attachment preventing means and the attachment sensing means.

9. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 6, wherein the breath component concentration determining means is provided together with the biometric means, and is separately provided from the attachment preventing means and the attachment sensing means.

10. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, wherein a global positioning system transmitter is provided in the male part or the female part of the seat belt.

11. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 8, wherein the global positioning system transmitter is provided together with the breath component concentration determining means.

12. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 8, wherein the breath component concentration determining means is incorporated in a mobile telephone.

13. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, wherein the start controlling means is a body controller of an automobile for controlling the start of a motor of an automobile, so as to put the motor into the startable state only when receiving the first start permission signal.

14. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, further comprising signal output means for outputting a second start permission signal to put a motor of an automobile into the startable state,

wherein the start controlling means puts the motor of the automobile into the startable state only when receiving both of the first and second start permission signals.

15. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1,

wherein the start controlling means comprises first blocking means that is adapted to open and close a keyhole of the automobile, and

wherein the first blocking means opens the keyhole upon receiving the first start permission signal from the attachment sensing means.

16. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, wherein the start controlling means is projectable and retractable within a keyhole of the automobile, and is configured to be retracted from a projected position with respect to the keyhole in response to the first start permission signal of the attachment sensing means.

17. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, further comprising receiving means for receiving a second start permission signal for putting a motor of an automobile into the startable state, which is outputted from signal output means,

wherein the start controlling means comprises second blocking means for openably blocking a receiving unit of the receiving means, and releases the receiving means in accordance with the first start permission signal of the attachment sensing means.

18. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 1, further comprising a start operating unit operated to start the motor of the automobile,

wherein the start controlling means comprises operation preventing means for preventing the operation of the start operating unit, and puts the start operating unit into an operable state in accordance with the first start permission signal of the attachment sensing means.

19. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 18, wherein the start controlling means comprises third blocking means for openably blocking an operating surface of the start operating unit, and opens the start operating unit upon receiving the first start permission signal of the attachment sensing means.

20. :

The safe-driving promotion system according to claim 18,

wherein the start operating unit is a push switch,

wherein the start controlling means comprises engagement means for engagement with the start operating unit or a housing of an automobile where the start operating unit is provided, to prevent the pushing operation of the start operating unit, and,

wherein, upon receiving the first start permission signal of the attachment sensing means, the start controlling means brings the engagement means out of engagement with the start operating unit or the housing of the automobile where the start operating unit is provided.

21. :

A safe-driving promotion device comprising;

breath component concentration determining means for detecting alcohol and/or drug contained in breath of a driver of an automobile and performing concentration determination of the alcohol and/or drug; and

attachment preventing means for preventing attachment between a male part and a female part of a seat belt,

wherein the attachment preventing means is configured to allow attachment of the male part of the seat belt to the female part in accordance with a determination result of the breath component concentration determining means.