MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 3,824,538 A
• Filed: 06/08/1973
• Issued: 07/16/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cecil Slemp
• Original Assignee: Cecil Slemp
• Inventors: Slemp, Cecil
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/368,229
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52R,53,237,279 180/99
• US Class Current: 180/272
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles

Abstract

A motor vehicle operator monitoring system having control interlocks to disable an operated vehicle in graduated stages when the vehicle operator is found to have impaired faculties, including a system insuring that the operator periodically submits to testing on penalty of vehicle disablement, a system assessing test results, a system responsive to unsatisfactory test results to warn the vehicle operator, the public, and to bring the vehicle to a safe gradual stop taking terrain into account.

Claims

1. In a system for detecting the presence or absence of a foreign substance in the physiology of a vehicle operator, and for regulating operation of a vehicle by said operator accordingly, the improvement comprising:

means for testing said an operator prior to operation of the device;

means for displaying the result of said testing to said an operator;

means for preventing operation of the device following a first type test result and for enabling operation of the device following a second type test result;

means for requiring periodic retest of said an operator during operation of the device, and means for progressively impairing operation of the device following a first type retest result and for permitting continued operation of the device following a second type retest result.

2. In a system as recited in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a motor vehicle having an ignition system and a fuel system, wherein the means for testing the operatoR prior to operation of the device comprises a breath testing means including means for taking a breath sample;

means for analysing the breath sample and for yielding a test result, pursuant to the analysis, and means for discriminating between the first type test result and the second type test result.

3. In a system as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for preventing operation of the motor vehicle following a first type test result includes means for preventing operation of the ignition system of the motor vehicle.

4. In a system as recited in claim 3, wherein the means for requiring periodic retest comprises:

means for periodically signalling to said an operator a requirement for retest of said an operator and means responsive to the means for periodically signalling, for actuating said means for progressively impairing operation on failure of said an operator to retest on receipt of a periodic signal.

5. In a system as recited in claim 4, wherein the means for progressively impairing operation comprises means for reducing flow of fuel in said fuel system to a pre-set minimal amount.

6. In a system as recited in claim 5, wherein means is provided for establishing a pre-set interval beginning with the time of said reducing of the fuel flow, and means for interrupting operation of said ignition system of the motor vehicle after said pre-set interval.

7. In a system as recited in claim 6, and means for suspending said interruption of operation of the ignition system of the motor vehicle during downhill travel of the motor vehicle.

8. In a system as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for testing additionally comprises means for mentally testing said an operator prior to said breath testing, including combination switching means, means for preliminarily signalling said an operator to enter a predetermined combination in said combination switching means, and means for enabling operation of the breath testing means on entry of the predetermined combination in the combination switching means.

9. In a system as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for taking a breath sample comprises the following units:

a mouthpiece, a check valve, a first tube, means for storing the first tube, an expansible chamber, a solenoid valve, a tank;

breath conductive means for connecting all said units in series, means responsive to the means for storing the tube for closing the solenoid valve when the tube is unstored, thereby permitting a said breath sample when taken to expand the expansible chamber, and means for opening the solenoid valve when the tube is stored for thereby permitting a said breath sample in the expansible chamber to pass through the solenoid valve to the tank.

10. In a system as recited in claim 9, additionally, means responsive to said breath conductive means for preventing closure of the solenoid valve when the breath conductive means is removed from the chemical tank.

11. In a system as recited in claim 10, wherein the means for analysing the breath sample comprises:

means for transmitting light through the tank, means for altering transmissivity of light through the tank in response to presence of said foreign substance in said a breath sample conducted to the tank through the breath conductive means, and wherein the means for yielding a test result comprises means for electrically indicating degree of transmissivity of light through the tank, said means for discriminating being means for electrically discriminating between a first and a second degree of said electrical indication for thereby indicating respectively said first type test result and said second type test result.

12. In a system as recited in claim 11, wherein the vehicle has accessories and wherein the means for displaying the results comprise:

a bell, first lighting means, second lighting means, means for controlling vehicle accessories and means responsively connecting the means for discriminating for actuation of all said first and second light means and means for controLling.

13. In a system as recited in claim 11, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a light source positioned for illuminating at least a portion of the tank, wherein the means for altering transmissivity comprises a solution of chemicals within the tank, wherein the means for electrically indicating degree of transmissivity comprises a photoelectric detector, and means for responsively connecting the photoelectric detector with said means for discriminating.

14. In a system as recited in claim 13, wherein the means for discriminating comprises a voltage sensitive switch, a timing mechanism, and means operatively connecting the voltage sensitive switch and the timing mechanism.

15. In a system as recited in claim 14, wherein the voltage sensitive switch comprises a vertically arranged first solenoid having a frame and armature with a shaft affixed to the armature, said first solenoid comprising a portion of the means for periodically signalling, inner and outer sleeves deployed coaxially around the first solenoid shaft, the inner sleeve fixed with respect to the frame of the solenoid, the first solenoid shaft having upper and lower recesses spaced along the length thereof, the inner sleeve having at least one aperture through the wall thereof, a circular member retained by the aperture;

the diameter of the circulat member being such that together with the radial dimensions of the first solenoid shaft and outer sleeve, the outer sleeve moves freely in a longitudinal direction with the circular member positioned in a recess in the first solenoid shaft but is restrained from moving with the circular member positioned at a point on the first solenoid shaft outside a recess, the lower said recess being located to receive the circular member at the lowest point of motion of the first solenoid shaft and the higher said recess being located to receive the circular member at the highest point of motion of the first solenoid shaft.

16. In a system as recited in claim 16, wherein the timing mechanism includes a second solenoid having a shaft affixed to the second solenoid armature and slidably connective with said outer sleeve and the means on the end thereof for constraining the downward motion of the outer sleeve, means for lowering the second solenoid armature shaft proportionally to passage of time, and means for actuating the second solenoid for raising all said second solenoid shaft and outer sleeve.

17. In a system as recited in claim 16, wherein the voltage sensitive switch includes:

first switching means positioned for actuation by motion of the first solenoid shaft in the upper range of said motion, second switching means positioned for actuation by motion of the outer sleeve at the upper end of said motion, and third switching means positioned for actuation by downward motion of the second solenoid shaft at the lower end of said motion.

18. In a system as recited in claim 17, wherein the means for actuating the second solenoid for raising all said second solenoid shaft and outer sleeve comprises a switch positioned for actuation on expansion of said expansible chamber when a breath sample is given, and a line for supplying power through said expansible chamber operated switch to the second solenoid on expansion of the expandible chamber.

19. In a system as recited in claim 18, wherein the means for responsively connecting the photoelectric detector with the means for discriminating comprises an amplifier and a lead connecting the amplifier with the first solenoid, wherein a said second type test result includes a signal of relatively low voltage raising the first solenoid armature and shaft a distance positioning the upper said recess on the first solenoid shaft above the circular member and the lower said recess below the circular member, thereby restraining the outer sleeve from lowering with second solenoid shaft on passage of time, and wherein a first type test result includes a signal of relatively higher voltage placing the lower recess in the firSt solenoid shaft opposite the circular member, allowing the outer sleeve to lower.

20. In a system as recited in claim 19, wherein said vehicle accessories include horn and headlights, wherein means are provided operatively connecting the first switching means with the horn and headlights for energization thereof on actuation of the first switching means by raising of the first solenoid shaft to the top of travel thereof, wherein a circuit including operable means is provided for connecting the second switching means for energization of the means for progressively impairing operation of the vehicle on actuation of the second switching means by lowering of the outer sleeve;

and wherein means are provided for operating said operable means for connecting the second switching means with the means for progressively impairing operation of the vehicle, on lowering of the second solenoid shaft.

21. In a system as recited in claim 20, wherein means are provided for operatively connecting the first switching means with the first lighting means for thereby indicating a use condition of said solution of chemicals, and wherein means are provided for operatively connecting the second and third switching means with the bell and with the second lighting means for thereby signalling by sounding a warning and indicating that a further breath sample is needed for operation of the vehicle.

22. In a system as recited in claim 21, wherein the means responsive to the means for periodically signalling for actuating said means for progressively impairing operation, comprises a time switch actuating means, wherein a time switch is provided with means in said time switch for delaying switching in response to said actuation, wherein a fuel valve having a full opening therein and a bypass opening which is small relative to the full opening is provided, and a circuit connecting the time switch for closing the full opening in said fuel valve.

23. In a system as recited in claim 22, the means for preventing operation including a first circuit;

the means for suspending interruption of operation including a second circuit operable for paralleling the first circuit, including attitude responsive means for operating the second circuit to parallel the first circuit.

24. In a system as recited in claim 7, the means for suspending interruption of operation of the ignition system of the motor vehicle during downhill travel comprising attitude sensitive means and means for switching responsively connected with the attitude sensitive means.

25. In a system as recited in claim 24, means for preventing the attitude responsive means from operating the second circuit prior to expiration of said pre-set interval following the reduction of fuel flow.

26. In a system as recited in claim 2, wherein the vehicle ignition system includes an ignition coil, a relay in the ignition coil housing having a pair of contacts serially connective in the coil circuit and a relay coil circuit, and means making said relay coil circuit operable solely at electric voltage and frequency other than the electric voltage and frequency required for operation of said ignition coil of the vehicle.