BREATH ALCOHOL IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE WITH BIOMETRIC FACIAL RECOGNITION WITH REAL-TIME VERIFICATION OF THE USER

• US 20100108425A1
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biometric Equipment & Safety Technology Labs, Inc., Best Label Co., Inc. (Resource Label Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Best Label Co., Inc. (Resource Label Group LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alex, Crespo, Pierre M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/272
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• 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: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol

Abstract

An interlock system using biometrics scans to identify in real-time an individual who seeks to operate a mechanical device, such as an automobile. Biometrics features that uniquely identify an individual are selected. If a real-time biometrics scan of the individual does not match a stored image of an authorized operator, the interlock system will lock the mechanical device to prevent operation. The interlock system may be used in conjunction with a breath alcohol analyzer to determine impairment. If the biometrics testing indicates that the individual is required to be tested for impairment, the mechanical device will not operate until the testing is completed. If the biometrics testing automatically indicates that the operator of the mechanical apparatus and the individual exhaling into the breath alcohol analyzer component of the ignition interlock is not the same person, the ignition system of the mechanical apparatus, which operates in conjunction with the ignition interlock of the present invention, provides a programmable software option to prevent the apparatus from starting. If the test indicates that the individual is impaired the interlock system will lock the mechanical device to prevent operation.

Claims

1. A breath alcohol ignition interlock device, comprising:

a 3-D infrared scanning device for performing a biometrics infrared facial scan of an individual positioned proximate to the device and proximate to an ignition of a mechanical device, wherein the 3-D scanning device analyzes both hard and soft tissue to determine real-time identity of the individual;

a CPU having memory capabilities;

3-D biometrics infrared facial scan images of at least one authorized operator of the mechanical device stored in the memory;

means for comparing the stored infrared facial scan images of an authorized operator of the mechanical device from memory with a real-time image of the individual to determine that the individual is one of the authorized operators;

a detection device in communication with the CPU to ascertain the presence and amount of a controlled substance consumed by the individual; and

an interlock device in communication with the detection device and the CPU, wherein the interlock device prevents operation of the mechanical device when the means for comparing stored facial images with the real-time image indicates that the individual is not one of the authorized operators and when the detection device indicates the presence and amount of a controlled substance consumed by the individual exceeds a legal limit for the controlled substance.

2. A breath alcohol ignition interlock device, comprising:

a 4-D infrared scanning device for performing a biometrics infrared facial scan of an individual positioned proximate to the device and proximate to an ignition of a mechanical device, wherein the 4-D scanning device analyzes both hard and soft tissue to determine real-time identity of the individual;

a CPU having memory capabilities;

4-D biometrics infrared facial scan images of at least one authorized operator of the mechanical device stored in the memory;

means for comparing the stored infrared facial scan images of an authorized operator of the mechanical device from memory with a real-time image of the individual to determine that the individual is one of the authorized operators;

a detection device in communication with the CPU to ascertain the presence and amount of a controlled substance consumed by the individual; and

an interlock device in communication with the detection device and the CPU, wherein the interlock device prevents operation of the mechanical device when the means for comparing stored facial images with the real-time image indicates that the individual is not one of the authorized operators and when the detection device indicates the presence and amount of a controlled substance consumed by the individual exceeds a legal limit for the controlled substance.

3. An interlock system, comprising:

a scanning device for performing a biometrics scan of a feature of an individual positioned proximate to the scanning device and proximate to an ignition of a mechanical device, wherein the scanning device analyzes a characteristic that is unique to the individual to determine in real-time the identity of the individual;

a CPU;

a memory storage device;

a biometrics image of at least one operator authorized to operate the mechanical device stored in the memory storage device;

means for comparing the stored biometrics image stored in the memory storage device with a real-time image generated by a biometrics scan of the individual proximate the ignition to ascertain that the individual is an authorized operator;

an interlock unit in communication with the CPU and the means for comparing the stored biometrics image with the real-time biometrics scan.

4. The interlock system of claim 3 wherein the interlock unit prevents operation of the mechanical device when the means for comparing the stored biometrics image with the real-time biometrics scan indicates that the individual proximate the ignition is not an authorized operator of the mechanical device.

5. The interlock system of claim 3 wherein the CPU includes the memory storage device combined in a single integral unit.

7. The interlock system of claim 3 wherein the real-time biometrics scan and the stored biometrics image include a 3-D infrared scan of the individual proximate the ignition and a 3-D image of the head of at least one authorized operator.

8. The interlock system of claim 3 wherein the real-time biometrics scan and the stored biometrics image include a 4-D facial biometric scan of the individual proximate the ignition and a 4-D facial biometric image of at least one authorized operator.

9. The interlock system of claim 3 wherein the real-time biometrics scan and the stored biometrics image include an ocular biometrics scan of the individual proximate the ignition and an ocular biometrics image of at least one authorized operator.

10. The interlock system of claim 9 wherein the ocular biometrics scan is a biometrics scan of at least one feature of the eye selected from the group consisting of an iris, a retina, a cornea, and a blood vessel pattern of the individual proximate the ignition and the stored ocular image is a pupil biometric image of at least one authorized operator.

11. The interlock system of claim 4 wherein the interlock unit prevents operation of the mechanical device when scanning device performing the real-time biometrics scan indicates that the individual proximate the ignition is not at least one authorized operator of the mechanical device.

12. The interlock system of claim 3 wherein the system further includes a detection device in communication with the CPU to ascertain whether the individual positioned proximate the device and proximate the ignition is impaired.

13. The interlock system of claim 12 wherein the detection device determines the presence and amount of a controlled substance consumed by the individual positioned proximate the device and proximate to the ignition of the mechanical device.

14. The interlock system of claim 13 wherein the detection device analyzes a breath sample to determine a blood alcohol level.

15. The interlock system of claim 12 wherein the means for comparing further ascertains that the individual is an authorized user that is required to utilize the detection device to ascertain whether the individual is impaired, and the interlock device prevents operation of the mechanical device until the individual utilizes the detection device.

16. The interlock system of claim 15 wherein the interlock device prevents operation of the mechanical device when the individual positioned proximate the interlock device utilizes the detection device and the detection device determines the individual is impaired.

17. The interlock system of claim 12 wherein the scanning device performs a real-time ocular biometrics scan of an ocular feature of the individual proximate the ignition and the memory storage device includes an image of an ocular feature of at least one operator authorized to operate the mechanical device.

18. The interlock system of claim 17 wherein the detection device utilizes the real-time ocular biometrics scan wherein the real-time ocular biometrics scan measures pupil eye dilation and pupil eye movement by measurement to ascertain whether the individual positioned proximate the device and proximate to the ignition is impaired.

19. The interlock system of claim 17 wherein the real-time biometrics scan of the pupil eye dilation and the pupil eye movement are compared against a baseline measurement stored in the memory storage device to ascertain whether the individual positioned proximate the device and proximate to the ignition is impaired.

20. The interlock system of claim 3 further including a GPS device that determines the location of the vehicle, records the location of the vehicle at a predetermined frequency and stores the recorded location in a memory storage device.

21. The vehicle interlock device of claim 15 further including a two-way communications system wherein the two-way communications system transmits recorded positions stored in memory and receives notification for an operator to report to a predetermined location.

6. The interlock system further including a memory storage device in electronic communications with the CPU.