DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR RECOGNIZING A CORRECT USE OF AN ALCOHOL MEASURING DEVICE

• US 20100251804A1
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Inventors: Huth, Andreas, Köhler, Ulrich, Morley, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,795,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/23.300
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

Abstract

A device and a process are provided for recognizing a correct use of an alcohol measuring device by a test subject. At least one alcohol measuring device is provided with a signal transmitter, an analysis and control unit and a camera unit. An image field of the camera unit is divided into an inner image field area and an outer image field area. The inner image field area detects at least the face area of the test subject. The camera unit records changes at a boundary between the inner image field area and the outer image field area. A signal sent by the signal transmitter in the inner image field area can be detected by the camera unit.

Claims

1. A device for recognizing a correct use of an alcohol measuring device by a test subject, the device comprising:

an alcohol measuring device;

a camera unit with a camera unit image field divided into an inner image field area and an outer image field area wherein the inner image field area registers at least a face area of the test subject;

a signal transmitter provided with said alcohol measuring device, said camera unit detecting a signal sent by said signal transmitter in said inner image field area; and

an analysis and control unit for receiving and analyzing said signal sent by said signal transmitter.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the alcohol measuring device includes breath alcohol measuring means for measuring an alcohol content of a breath sample provided by the test subject.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said camera unit comprises an infrared camera and said signal transmitter sends an infrared signal, where the infrared signal is one of a variable or modulated infrared signal and an infrared signal switched on and off alternatingly.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the camera unit operates in the visible spectral range.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the signal transmitter includes optical transmission means for sending an optical signal or a light-reflecting element for reflecting an optical signal provided by a light source for illuminating the signal transmitter.

6. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said optical transmission means sends alternatingly red and yellow light.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner image field area of the camera unit has an oval shape.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer image field area of the camera unit has an oval shape.

9. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the camera unit detects motions from the inner image field area to the outer image field area and/or from the outer image field area to the inner image field area, and the analysis and control unit analyzes data received from the camera unit relating to the motions.

10. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a boundary between the inner image field area and the outer image field area is designed as a boundary area.

11. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a memory unit provided for recording images of the inner image field area.

12. A system for recognizing a correct use of an alcohol measuring device by a test subject and for checking the alcohol content of the test subject, the system comprising:

a device for recognizing a correct use of an alcohol measuring device by a test subject, the device comprising an alcohol measuring device, a camera unit with a camera unit image field divided into an inner image field area and an outer image field area wherein the inner image field area registers at least a face area of the test subject, a signal transmitter provided with said alcohol measuring device, said camera unit detecting a signal sent by said signal transmitter in said inner image field area and an analysis and control unit for receiving and analyzing said signal sent by said signal transmitter;

a vehicle with a driver'"'"'s seat and with a vehicle immobilizer, said vehicle immobilizer being in connection with the alcohol measuring device, the camera unit being arranged in the vehicle such that the inner image field area completely covers an area of said driver'"'"'s seat.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the alcohol measuring device includes breath alcohol measuring means for measuring an alcohol content of a breath sample provided by the test subject.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said signal transmitter sends one or more of an infrared signal and a visible optical signal.

15. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the camera unit detects motions from the inner image field area to the outer image field area and/or from the outer image field area to the inner image field area, and the analysis and control unit analyzes data received from the camera unit relating to the motions.

16. A process for recognizing a correct use of an alcohol measuring device by a test subject, the process comprising the steps of:

providing a camera unit with an image field divided into an inner image field area and an outer image field area;

recording the inner image field area and the outer image field area with the camera at the beginning of an alcohol measurement;

providing a signal transmitter at the alcohol measuring device;

sending a signal during the alcohol measurement from the signal transmitter, which signal can be recorded by the camera unit;

providing an analysis and control unit;

analyzing the signal with the analysis and control unit; and

recognizing the alcohol measurement as valid by the analysis and control unit when the signal is detected as from the signal transmitter within the inner image field area during the alcohol measurement.

17. A process in accordance with claim 16, wherein the camera unit is activated at least one of prior to the alcohol measurement and after initiating a vehicle starting operation.

18. A process in accordance with claim 16, wherein a number of persons is detected by the camera unit in the inner image field area in the step of recording the inner image field area and the outer image field area with the camera at the beginning of an alcohol measurement and a signal is sent and/or the alcohol measurement is not started if more than one person is detected in the inner image field area.

19. A process in accordance with claim 16, wherein in the step of sending a signal during the alcohol measurement from the signal transmitter, which signal can be recorded by the camera unit, the signal transmitter sends an infrared signal, including one of a variable or modulated infrared signal and a turned alternatingly on and off signal, or sends at least one light signal including one of an alternatingly red and yellow light signal and a variable light intensity light signal.

20. A process in accordance with claim 16, wherein the camera unit detects changes at a boundary between the inner image field area and the outer image field area starting from the beginning of the alcohol measurement and the analysis and control unit analyzes the changes.