VEHICLE OPERATION INHIBITOR CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 3,755,776 A
• Filed: 04/07/1972
• Issued: 08/28/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William A. Kotras
• Original Assignee: William A. Kotras
• Inventors: Kotras, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/241,964
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52R,53,56,63,64,223,279 200/42R,43 180/99 307/1AT 317/134,137
• US Class Current: 180/272
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles

Abstract

A control system for inhibiting vehicle operation until the vehicle operator has performed a physiological test includes a read-only memory which stores a plurality of preselected multidigit numbers. The various locations in the memory are continuously sequentially addressed until operator initiation of a SET pushbutton from a keyboard unit. The location in memory being addressed at the time of actuation of the SET pushbutton is displayed on a display unit for a predetermined interval of time. After the time interval has expired the displayed number must be entered into a comparator by the operator from a keyboard unit in order to start the vehicle. If the number is incorrectly entered or not entered within a predetermined time the operator may select another number from memory by actuating the SET pushbutton. After three consecutive unsuccessful attempts, however, the system is disabled for a thirty minute period. In addition to the primary task a divided attention task is incorporated in the system which requires the operator to perform an unrelated task such as actuation of the brake pedal during the tiee the number is being entered at the keyboard unit. Failure of either the primary or divided attention task prevents operation of the vehicle. The invention further includes apparatus for selecting a predetermined location in memory which is not displayed but must be entered through the keyboard unit by the operator before the primary or divided attention task can be performed. The code number stored in the predetermined location is known only to the owner of the vehicle. Means are provided for bypassing the primary and divided attention task to permit vehicle operation after the correct code number has been inserted. However, when the bypass mode is selected by the operator the vehicle'"'"''"'"'s hazard warning s;ystem is actuated to indicate that the primary and divided attention task have not been performed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for preventing operation of a motor vehicle by an incapacitated person comprising:

random word generating means including a read-only memory containing a plurality of addressable locations, each location storing a word containing a plurality of known symbols, memory address means for sequentially addressing the words stored in said locations, operator actuable input means including first switch means coupled with said memory address means for interrupting the sequential addressing of said memory to thereby select the word stored in the location being addressed at the time of operator actuation of said first switch means, display means coupled with said generating means for displaying the word selected for a first predetermined interval of time, said operator actuable input means further including a plurality of individually actuable switch means each of which is identifiable by a symbol corresponding to a different one of the symbols contained in said words, means for enAbling said individually actuable switch means for a second predetermined interval of time following said first predetermined interval of time, comparator means coupled with said generating means and said operator actuable input means for comparing the word selected with the word entered through said operator actuable input means by said vehicle operator, and control means coupled with said comparator means for permitting vehicle operation only if the word entered through said operator actuable input means corresponds to the word displayed.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including means coupled with said memory address means for forcing said address means to address a predetermined location in said memory means, and second control means responsive to the output of said comparator means for disabling said display means and said first mentioned control means until the word stored in said predetermined location is entered by said operator through said operator-actuable input means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including means responsive to actuation of said first switch means a predetermined number of times for disabling said display means for a predetermined interval of time.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including means coupled with said display means for instructing the operator to interrupt the entry of a word through said operator-actuable input means and to perform an unrelated task, and means for inhibiting said first mentioned control means unless said task is performed.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including additional switch means for bypassing said first mentioned control means to permit vehicle operation, and warning means energizable in response to actuation of said additional switch means.

6. Motor vehicle operation control apparatus comprising read-only memory means containing a plurality of addressable locations, each location storing a multidigit number, memory address means coupled with said memory means for sequentially addressing said locations, keyboard input means including pushbutton switch means identifiable with the digits of said numbers, display means coupled with said memory means, comparator means coupled with said memory means and said input means for comparing a number stored in said memory means with a number entered through said input means, means coupled with said memory address means for jamming said address means to a predetermined location in said memory means, first control means for disabling said display means during jamming of said address means to prevent display of the number stored in said predetermined location, said first control means responsive to the output of said comparator means for terminating jamming of said address means and permitting sequential addressing of said memory means upon entry through said input means of the number stored in said predetermined location, said input means including additional switch means coupled with said memory address means for interrupting the sequential addressing of said memory to thereby select the number stored in the location being addressed at the time of operator actuation of said additional switch means, said first control means responsive to actuation of said additional switch means to energize said display means and display the number selected for a predetermined interval of time and thereafter deenergize said display means and energize said input means for a second predetermined interval of time, second control means responsive to the output of said comparator means for permitting vehicle operation only if the word entered through said input means corresponds to the word previously displayed on said display means.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 further including bypass switch means for bypassing said second control means in response to entry of the word stored in said predetermined location, and warning means energizable in response to actuatIon of said bypass switch means.