Sobriety interlock

• US 4,592,443 A
• Filed: 01/16/1984
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack Simon
• Original Assignee: Jack Simon
• Inventors: Simon, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US06/571,013
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 73/23, 73/27 R, 180/272, 128/719, 340/576
• US Class Current: 180/272
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

Abstract

Apparatus for detecting alcohol on the breath including a microprocessor programmed to test breath temperature to guard against circumvention of the test. When the temperature test is passed, the breath alcohol concentration is measured. Responsive to the alcohol concentration, the microprocessor either: enables the ignition for a sober driver; enables the ignition for a tipsy but not drunk driver; disables the ignition, and imposes a programmed wait before allowing the test to be attempted again.

Claims

1. A sobriety interlock comprising:

a power supply;

a ground terminal;

an "ignition on" input terminal;

an "OK to drive" output terminal;

means defining a breath receiving port;

a thermocouple adjacent to and aligned with said port, said thermocouple being connected to said power supply and said ground terminal and having a junction and a temperature output line for electrical signals generated in response to the temperature of a breath sample flowing through said port, said thermocouple having means for heating the junction thereof to a temperature different from that of a breath sample received in said port;

a gas sensor adjacent to and aligned with said port, said gas sensor being connected to said power supply and said ground terminal and having an alcohol level output line for electrical signals generated in response to the alcohol level of a breath sample flowing through said port;

an analog-to-digital converter having a first input connected to the thermocouple output line, a second input connected to the gas sensor output line, and a plurality of output lines for digital signals indicating the temperature and alcohol level of a breath sample flowing through the port;

a microcomputer responsive to a signal at the "ignition on" terminal to read the digital signals on the converter output lines and to provide a signal at said "OK to Drive" terminal as a function of whether the alcohol level in a breath sample is different from a predetermined level.

2. An interlock as in claim 1 further comprising:

a clipper circuit connected to said "ignition on" terminal;

an "ignition enable" circuit connected to said "OK to Drive" line; and

wherein said clipper circuit is adapted to connected to the key switch in a motorized vehicle, and said "ignition enable" circuit is adapted to be connected between the key switch and the starter solenoid in the vehicle.

3. An interlock as in claim 1 further comprising a heater drive circuit connected between said power supply and said gas sensor, said driver circuit being responsive to a signal from said computer to provide a current to said gas sensor, and wherein said gas sensor has a heating element powered by the heater drive.

4. An interlock as in claim 1 further comprising:

a separate indicator connected to each of the plurality of gauge output lines of the computer.

5. An interlock as in claim 1 wherein said analog to digital converter comprises:

a voltage reference circuit connected between said power supply and said ground terminal and having separate output lines on which said reference circuit provides electrical signals indicative of each of;

an alcohol high reference;

an alcohol low reference;

a breath temperature high reference;

a breath temperature low reference;

an alcohol comparator circuit connected to the alcohol sensor output line and having

a first comparator connected to compare the alcohol sensor output to the alcohol high reference;

a first alcohol output line to which the first comparator applies a signal indicative of the high comparison result;

a second comparator connected to compare the alcohol sensor output to the alcohol low reference; and

a second alcohol output line to which the second comparator applies a signal indicative of the low comparison result;

a temperature comparator circuit connected to the thermocouple output line and having

a third comparator connected to compare the thermocouple output to the temperature high reference;

a fourth comparator connected to compare the thermocouple output to the temperature low reference; and

a temperature output line to which said temperature comparator applies a signal indicative of the temperature comparison results.

6. A sobriety interlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said port defining means comprises a mouthpiece member having a fluid passage therein for receiving a breath sample, said temperature sensor being near the downstream end of said fluid passage.

7. A sobriety interlock as set forth in claim 6, wherein the thermocouple junction is near the downstream end of said fluid passage.

8. A sobriety interlock as set forth in claim 7, wherein the junction of the thermocouple is in the fluid passage at said downstream end thereof.

9. A sobriety interlock as set forth in claim 8, wherein the heating means heats the junction of the thermocouple to a temperature of at least 130°

F.

10. A sobriety interlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said heating means includes a sealed envelope surrounding a portion of the thermocouple, and an electrically actuated heating device within the envelope in heat exchange relationship to the thermocouple.

11. A sobriety interlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included a heat insulating tubular member in surrounding relationship to said heating means.

12. A sobriety interlock as set forth in claim 6, wherein is included a tubular extension secured to the mouthpiece and extending outwardly therefrom, said thermocouple extending through at least a portion of said extension, said gas sensor being in said extension downstream of the thermocouple with reference to the direction of flow of a breath sample passing through the extension.

13. A sobriety interlock as set forth in claim 6, wherein is included a housing coupled to the outer end of the extension, said housing containing said converter and said microcomputer, said housing being of a size and weight to permit it to be hand-held as a person blows into the mouthpiece member to deliver a breath sample thereto.

14. A sobriety testing apparatus comprising:

a support;

an elongated, tubular mouthpiece mounted on the support and extending outwardly therefrom, said mouthpiece having a breath-receiving port;

means defining a source of electrical power;

a temperature sensor including a thermocouple carried by the support, said thermocouple having a junction adjacent to and aligned with said port, said temperature sensor being coupled with said power source and having a temperature output line for electrical signals generated thereby as a function of the temperature of a breath sample passing through said port, said thermocouple having means for heating the junction thereof to a temperature higher than that of a breath sample received in said port;

a gas sensor carried by the support adjacent to and aligned with said port, said gas sensor being coupled with said power source and having an alcohol level output line for electrical signals generated thereby as a function of the alcohol level of a breath sample passing through said port;

an analog-to-digital converter having a first input connected to the temperature sensor output line, a second input connected to the gas sensor output line, and a plurality of output lines for digital signals indicating the temperature and alcohol level of a breath sample passing through the port; and

a microcomputer responsive to an input signal for reading the digital signals on the converter output lines and to provide an output signal indicative of whether the alcohol level in the breath sample passing through said portion is different from a predetermined level.

15. An interlock as in claim 14, further comprising:

a clipper circuit,

an enable circuit,

said clipper circuit mdapted to be connected to a switch, and said enable circuit is adapted to be connected between the switch and another operable electrical component.

16. Apparatus as in claim 14, further comprising a heater drive circuit connected between said power source and said gas sensor, said driver circuit being responsive to a signal from said computer to provide a current to said gas sensor, and wherein said gas sensor has a heating element powered by the heater drive.

17. Apparatus as in claim 14, further comprising:

a separate indicator connected to each of the plurality of gauge output lines of the computer.

18. Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said analog to digital converter comprises:

a voltage reference circuit connected to said power source and having separate output lines on which said reference circuit provides electrical signals indicative of each of;

an alcohol high reference;

an alcohol low reference;

a breath temperature high reference;

a breath temperature low reference;

an alcohol comparator circuit connected to the alcohol sensor output line and having

a first comparator connected to compare the alcohol sensor output to the alcohol high reference;

a first alcohol output line to which the first comparator applies a signal indicative of the high comparison result;

a second comparator connected to compare the alcohol sensor output to the alcohol low reference; and

a second alcohol output line to which the second comparator applies a signal indicative of the low comparison result;

a temperature comparator circuit connected to the temperature sensor output line and having

a third comparator connected to compare the temperature sensor output to the temperature high reference;

a fourth comparator connected to compare the temperature sensor output to the temperature low reference; and

a temperature output line to which said temperature comparator applies a signal indicative of the temperature comparison results.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said mouthpiece has a fluid passage therein for receiving a breath sample, said temperature sensor being near the downstream end of said fluid passage.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the thermocouple junction is near the downstream end of said fluid passage.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein the junction of the thermocouple is in the fluid passage at said downstream end thereof.

22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein the heating means heats the thermocouple junction to a temperature of at least 130°

F.

23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said heating means includes a sealed envelope surrounding a portion of the thermocouple, and an electrically actuated heating device within the envelope in heat exchange relationship to the thermocouple.

24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein is included a heat insulating tubular member in surrounding relationship to said heating means.

25. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said support includes a tubular extension secured to the mouthpiece and extending outwardly therefrom, said temperature sensor extending at least a portion of said extension, said gas sensor being in said extension downstream of the temperature sensor with reference to the direction of flow of a breath sample passing through the extension.

26. A sobriety interlock as set forth in claim 19, wherein said support includes a housing coupled to the outer end of the extension, said housing containing said converter and said microcomputer, said housing being of a size and weight to permit it to be hand-held as a person blows into the mouthpiece member to deliver a breath sample thereto.

27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the microprocessor is operable to provide said output signal thereof when the temperature of the thermocouple is in a predetermined temperature range.