Apparatus for evaluation of fitness of a motor vehicle operator to performance of a predetermined motor ability test

• US 4,158,198 A
• Filed: 07/11/1977
• Issued: 06/12/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ochiai, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/814,440
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 340/279, 340/576, 180/99, 128/2 N, 35/11, 35/12 D, 35/22 R, 35/11 R, 35/11 A
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles

Abstract

A thyristor circuit and an apparatus using the circuit for the prohibition of operation of a motor vehicle by an intoxicated person may be fabricated by combining an ignition switch with an engine locking and unlocking means, timing means, sensing means and an indication means. The normal ignition circuit of a motor vehicle is interrupted by an engine locking and unlocking means. A timing signal is generated by the timing means by selectively charging a circuit in turn is responsive to the performance of the operator in a motor ability test such as the ability to maintain a predetermined amount of steady pressure on a brake pedal. If the operator is successfully performing the test, the charged node achieves a preselected potential and an indication means produces a first cognizable signal which indicates a successful performance. After the operator has successfully performed the test for a predetermined duration, a second cognitive signal is produced by the indication means which indicates that the operator is qualified to operate the vehicle. The normal ignition circuit is then completed by the engine locking and unlocking means in response to the timing signal. The motor vehicle may then be started in the conventional fashion.

Claims

1. Apparatus for evaluation of fitness of a motor vehicle operator to perform a predetermined motor ability test, comprising:

a. sensing means for electrically sensing the exertion of an operating force within a predetermined range by said vehicle operator, said sensing means comprising;

a pressure switch of the type which turns on when the hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic pressure brake circuit is below a first predetermined hydraulic pressure;

turns on when the same exceeds a second predetermined hydraulic pressure; and

turns off when the same is between the first and the second predetermined hydraulic pressures;

b. a judging circuit connected to said sensing means, said circuit being adapted to produce a pass signal when said predetermined operating force has continued for a predetermined period, the result of said fitness test being judged satisfactory;

c. indicator means connected to said sensing means and judging circuit, which indicator effects display of a first indication when said sensor detects said predetermined operating force and a second indication when the latter has continued for said predetermined period; and

d. engine locking means connected to said judging circuit, said means being adapted to render the vehicle engine operative responsive to said pass signal.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressure switch comprises a fixed contact element connected to an electrode and a movable contact element formed integral with a diaphragm which is deformable in response to the fluid pressure to be detected, one of said fixed and moveable contact elements being adapted to come in contact with the other at two different positions spaced apart in the direction the diaphragm deforms.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said judging circuit includes:

a. a condenser connected to said pressure switch and adapted to be charged and discharged, respectively, in response to off and on states of said pressure switch; and

b. a switching circuit connected to said condenser and adapted to be made "on" and "off" depending on the state of charge of said condenser.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further including:

a holding circuit connected to said switching circuit and adapted to hold an output signal from said switching circuit.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said holding circuit is a thyristor.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said indicator means includes:

a. indicating lamp; and

b. indicating lamp operating circuit, which circuit is adapted to activate said indicating lamp continuously when said sensing means does not detect said predetermined force exerted by the vehicle operator, to flash said indicating lamp when said sensing means continues to detect said predetermined force when exerted by the vehicle operator after having detected said predetermined force, and to turn out said indicating lamp when said predetermined force is maintained for said predetermined period.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said indicator means comprises:

a. indicating lamp; and

b. an indicating lamp operating circuit connected to said judging circuit and indicating lamp, which operating circuit is adapted to light said indicating lamp when said predetermined operating force has continued for said predetermined period.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said engine locking means includes:

a. a relay contact connected in a serial circuit wherein a starter motor is connected to a power source via a starter switch; and

b. a relay coil connected to said judging circuit, which coil being adapted to turn on said contact when said judging circuit judges the result of the fitness test satisfactory and turn off when otherwise.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said judging circuit includes:

a. a pulse generator for generating electric pulse signals in a predetermined frequency;

b. a counter connected to said sensor and pulse generator said counter being adapted to count the pulse signals from said pulse generator while the sensor senses said predetermined operating force; and

c. a comparator circuit connected to said counter and adapted to generate an output only when the number of countings by said counter reaches a predetermined number.

10. Apparatus for evaluation of fitness of a motor vehicle operator to perform a predetermined motor ability test, comprising:

a. an pressure switch of the type which turns on when the hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic pressure brake circuit is below a first predetermined hydraulic pressure;

turns on when the same exceeds a second predetermined hydraulic pressure; and

turns off when the same is between said first and second predetermined pressure;

b. a condenser having both ends connected to said pressure switch, which condenser is adapted to be charged when said pressure switch turns off;

c. a power switch adapted to connect a power source across said condenser thereby charging said condenser when said pressure switch turns off;

d. a first transistor having the base and emitter connected to opposite ends of said condenser, which transistor is adapted to turn on when said condenser is charged to a predetermined level of voltage;

e. a thyristor having the gate connected to the emitter of said first transistor, which thyristor maintains the "on" state after said first transistor has turned on;

f. a relay in serial connected to said thyristor, which relay is adapted to turn on when the thryistor turns on;

g. a starter switch disposed in parallel connection to said power switch;

h. a starter motor for starting a vehicle engine, said starter motor being connected to said power source via said starter switch and relay;

i. a multi-vibrator connected to the power source via said power switch and having one transistor and a further transistor whose bases are connected via said thyristor and pressure switch, respectively, to ground;

j. a red lamp connected to said one transistor, which red lamp is adapted to light when said thyristor turns off and pressure switch turns on, to flash when both of said two elements turn off, and to turn off when said thyristor turns on;

k. a further transistor having the base connected to said thyristor;

l. a blue lamp connected to said further transistor, which lamp is adapted to turn on when said thyristor and further transistor turn on; and

m. an alternator connected to the base of said further transistor and being adapted to generate electricity by rotation of the engine.

11. Apparatus for evaluation of fitness of a motor vehicle operator to perform a predetermined motor ability test, comprising:

a pressure switch means which generates an "on" signal when a pressure greater or less than a predetermined pressure is applied to said switch and an "off" signal when said predetermined pressure is applied to said switch;

a clock pulse generator;

an AND gate having its inputs coupled to said pulse generator and said pressure switch means;

a counter having a counting input and a reset input, said counting input being coupled to output of said AND gate and said reset input coupled to said pressure switch means such that said counter is reset whenever an "on" signal is generated;

a reference value circuit for setting a reference value;

a comparator circuit for comparing an output of said counter and said reference value for generating a pass signal whenever said reference value and said output of said counter are equal;

a thyristor responsive to said pass signal; and

an engine disabling means responsive to said thyristor.