VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20140297111A1
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Akio
• Application Number:
  US14/228,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20140297111A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/00 Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions for electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; road vehicle drive control systems for purposes not related to the control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/00; drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/02 responsive to conditions relating to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0836 due to alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/186 Status of parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers

Abstract

A vehicle control system includes an alcohol detector which detects an alcohol intake level of a driver in a vehicle, and a controller which controls the alcohol detector so that a detection of the alcohol intake level is started during a run of the vehicle just after the vehicle starts up and initially moves. The controller determines whether the driver is a drunk person based on a detection result obtained from the alcohol detector, and the controller stops the vehicle when the controller determines that the driver is the drunk person.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system comprising:

an alcohol detector which detects an alcohol intake level of a driver of a vehicle; and

a controller which controls the alcohol detector so that a detection of the alcohol intake level is started during a run of the vehicle just after the vehicle starts up and initially moves,

wherein the controller determines whether the driver is a drunk person based on a detection result obtained from the alcohol detector, and

wherein the controller stops the vehicle when the controller determines that the driver is the drunk person.

2. The vehicle control system according to claim 1,

wherein in a case where the controller determines that the driver is not the drunk person, the controller controls the alcohol detector so that a new detection of the alcohol intake level is not started until at least one of a first condition in which a shift position of the vehicle is shifted to a position other than a drive position and a second condition in which an operation of a parking brake of the vehicle is performed, is established, and

wherein when at least one of the first condition and the second condition is established, the controller controls the alcohol detector so that the new detection of the alcohol intake level is started, and determines whether the driver is the drunk person based on a new detection result obtained from the alcohol detector.

3. The vehicle control system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller regulates a speed of the vehicle to a predetermined speed or less until a determination result indicating whether the driver is a drunk person is obtained.

4. The vehicle control system according to claim 1,

wherein the alcohol detector includes a breathalyzer type alcohol sensor provided farther outside than a steering wheel of the vehicle in a width direction of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, further comprising

a human body communicator which carries out a human body communication using the driver as a communication medium,

wherein the alcohol detector includes a touch type alcohol sensor provided on a steering wheel of the vehicle,

wherein the human body communicator carries out the human body communication between the steering wheel, and a driver seat or an acceleration pedal of the vehicle, and

wherein the controller determines whether a person holding the steering wheel is the same as a person who sits in the driver seat or operates the acceleration pedal, based on a state of the human body communication carried out by the human body communicator.