Sobriety interlock with unsupervised confirmation of operator identity
First Claim
1. A method of avoiding circumvention of a vehicle sobriety interlock by confirming that the operator thereof is a designated operator, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring the performance of an identity confirming physical act by the operator, said identity confirming act requiring a sufficient degree of skill as to be incapable of performance in fewer than a predetermined number of attempts by substantially all persons other than designated operators who possess said degree of skill;
(b) determining whether said identity confirming physical act is correctly performed by the operator in fewer than said predetermined number of attempts and, if so,(c) generating an identity-confirmation signal as a precondition for enabling a vehicle connected to the interlock to be started if the operator also delivers a breath sample to the interlock having an alcohol level sufficiently low to pass a breath sobriety test.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sobriety interlock system prevents a vehicle or other equipment from being started unless the identity of a designated operator is confirmed by the system and the operator passes a breath sobriety test. The designated operator is trained to perform a physical act, the successful completion of which can be determined by the system and which requires at least a predetermined number, N, of attempts to learn. A necessary precondition for starting the vehicle is satisfied when the system determines that the identity-confirming act has been performed in fewer than N attempts.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. A method of avoiding circumvention of a vehicle sobriety interlock by confirming that the operator thereof is a designated operator, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring the performance of an identity confirming physical act by the operator, said identity confirming act requiring a sufficient degree of skill as to be incapable of performance in fewer than a predetermined number of attempts by substantially all persons other than designated operators who possess said degree of skill; (b) determining whether said identity confirming physical act is correctly performed by the operator in fewer than said predetermined number of attempts and, if so, (c) generating an identity-confirmation signal as a precondition for enabling a vehicle connected to the interlock to be started if the operator also delivers a breath sample to the interlock having an alcohol level sufficiently low to pass a breath sobriety test. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of confirming the identity of an operator of a sobriety interlock for a vehicle and assuring a deep lung sample of breath, comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring the performance of an identity confirming physical act by the operator, said identity confirming act requiring a sufficient degree of skill as to be incapable of performance in fewer than a predetermined number of attempts by substantially all persons other than designated operators who possess said degree of skill; (b) sensing a parameter correlated to the flow of breath to determine whether breath has been exhaled essentially continuously without interruption in excess of a minimum flow for at least a minimum period, said minimum flow and said minimum period having been selected to insure a deep lung sample of breath and, if so, (c) generating a validity signal to satisfy a first required condition for enabling the vehicle to be started; (d) determining whether said identity confirming physical act is performed in fewer than said predetermined number of attempts and if so, (e) generating an identity-confirmation signal to satisfy a second required condition for enabling the vehicle to be started. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for avoiding circumvention of a vehicle sobriety interlock by confirming that the operator thereof is a designated operator, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) identity-confirmation sensing means operable to monitor the performance of an identity confirming physical act by the operator, said identity confirming act requiring a sufficient degree of skill as to be incapable of performance in fewer than a predetermined number of attempts by substantially all persons other than designated operators who possess said degree of skill, and (b) identity-confirmation signal generating means responsive to said confirmation sensing means for generating an identity-confirmation signal when said physical act has been performed in fewer than said predetermined number of attempts, generation of said identity-confirmation signal being a required condition for enabling the vehicle to be started. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A vehicle sobriety interlock method, comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring the alcohol content of a breath sample from an operator, then; (b) determining whether said operator is a designated operator based on the ability of the operator to perform a predetermined identity confirming physical act in fewer than a predetermined number of attempts, said identity confirming act requiring a sufficient degree of skill as to be incapable of performance in fewer than said predetermined number of attempts by persons other than designated operators who possess such skill, said determining step being performed only if said alcohol content does not exceed a predetermined limit, then; (c) permitting the vehicle to be started only if said operator is determined to be a designated operator after said alcohol content of said breath sample has been measured and found not to exceed said predetermined limit.
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47. A sobriety interlock for a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) measuring means for measuring the alcohol content of a breath sample from an operator; (b) identity confirmation means for determining, whether said operator is a designated operator based on the ability of the operator to perform a predetermined identity confirming physical act in fewer than a predetermined number of attempts, a said identity confirming act requiring a sufficient degree of skill as to be incapable of performance in fewer than said predetermined number of attempts by persons other than designated operators who possess such skill; (c) enabling means operably connected to said measuring means and said identity confirmation means to enable said identify confirmation means only if said alcohol content as measured by said measuring means does not exceed a predetermined limit; and (d) means for permitting the vehicle to be started only if said operator is determined by said identity confirmation means to be a designated operator after said breath sample measured by said measuring means not to exceed said predetermined limit.
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48. A vehicle sobriety interlock method, comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring the alcohol content of a breath sample from an operator, then; (b) disabling identity confirmation means to prevent determining whether said operator is a designated operator only if said measured alcohol content exceeds a predetermined limit, otherwise; (c) enabling identity confirmation means of said alcohol contant does not exceed said predetermined limit to determine whether said operator is a designated operator, then; (d) permitting the vehicle to be started only if said operator is determined by said identity confirmation means to be a designated operator after said alcohol content of said breath sample measured by said measuring means has been found not to exceed said predetermined limit.
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49. A sobriety interlock for a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) measuring means for measuring the alcohol content of a breath sample from an operator; (b) identity confirmation means for determining whether said operator is a designated operator based on the ability of the operator to perform a predetermined identity confirming physical act in fewer than a predetermined number of attempts, said identity confirming act requiring a sufficient degree of skill as to be incapable of performance in fewer than said predetermined number of attempts by persons other than designated operators who possess such skill; (c) enabling means operably connected to said measuring means and said identity confirmation means to enable said identity confirmation means only if said alcohol content measured by said measuring means does not exceed a predetermined limit and otherwise, to disable said identity confirmation means; and (d) means for permitting the vehicle to be started only if said operator is determined by said identity confirmation means to be a designated operator after said alcohol content of said breath sample measured by said measuring means has been found not to exceed said predetermined limit.
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50. A method of avoiding circumvention of a vehicle sobriety interlock by confirming that the operator thereof is a designated skilled operator, said method comprising the steps of;
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(a) monitoring the performance of an identity confirming physical act by the operator, wherein said identity confirming act can be learned by a previously unskilled operator only by attempting said act more than a predetermined number of times; (b) determining whether said identity confirming physical act is correctly performed by the operator in fewer than said predetermined number of attempts and, if so, (c) generating an identity-confirming signal as a precondition for enabling a vehicle connected to the interlock to be started if the operator also delivers a breath sample to the interlock having an alcohol level sufficiently low to pass a breath sobriety test.
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51. A method of confirming the identity of an operator of a sobriety interlock for a vehicle and assuring a deep lung sample of breath, comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring the performance of an identity confirming physical act by the operator, wherein said identity confirming act can be learned by a previously unskilled operator only by attempting said act more than a predetermined number of times; (b) sensing a parameter correlated to the flow of breath to determine whether breath has been exhaled essentially continuously without interruption in excess of a minimum flow for a least of minimum period, said minimum flow and said minimum period having been selected to insure a deep lung sample of breath and, if so, (c) generating a validity signal to satisfy a first required condition for enabling the vehicle to be started; (d) determining whether said identity confirming physical act is performed in fewer than said predetermined number of times and if so, (e) generating an identity-confirmation signal to satisfy a second required condition for enabling the vehicle to be started.
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52. An apparatus for avoiding circumvention of a vehicle sobriety interlock by confirming that the operator thereof is a designated skilled operator, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) identity-confirmation sensing means operable to monitor the performance of an identity confirming physical act by the skilled operator, wherein said identity confirming act can be learned by a previously unskilled operator only by attempting said act more than a predetermined number of times; (b) identity-confirmation signal generating means responsive to said confirmation sensing means for generating an identity-confirmation signal when said physical act has been performed in fewer than said predetermined number of attempts, generation of said identity-confirmation signal being a required condition for enabling the vehicle to be started.
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53. A sobriety interlock for a vehicle which requires operation by a skilled operator to enable vehicle operation said interlock comprising:
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(a) means for confirming receipt of an acceptable breath sample; (b) means for confirming the performance of an identity cofirming act by said skilled operator in fewer than a predetermined number of attempts, said act being incapable of performance by substantially all unskilled operators in less than said predetermined number of attempts, both confirmations being required for operation of said interlock to enable vehicle operation. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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55. A sobriety interlock for a vehicle, said sobriety interlock comprising:
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(a) identity confirming means for monitoring the performance of an identity confirming physical act by a prospective operator and generating an identity confirmed signal upon performance of said act to satisfy a first necessary precondition for enabling said vehicle to be started, said identity confirming act requiring a sufficient degree of skill as to be incapable of performance by substantially all persons other than designated operators who possess said degree of skill; (b) breath alcohol testing means adapted to receive a breath sample from the prospective operator and determining the alcohol content of said sample and, in the event said alcohol content is acceptable, generating a pass signal to satisfy a second necessary precondition for enabling said vehicle to be started; and (c) enabling means connected to said identity confirming means and said breath alcohol testing means and connecting to the vehicle to enable the vehicle to be started when at least said first and second necessary preconditions have been satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A sobriety interlock method for controlling starting of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) confirming the identity of a prospective operator as a designated individual by requiring said operator to perform an identity confirming physical act, said act requiring a sufficient degree of skill as to be incapable of performance by substantially all persons other than designated individuals who possess said degree of skill; (b) generating an identity confirmed signal to satisfy a first necessary precondition for enabling the vehicle to be started in the event said identity confirming act is performed; (c) testing the alcohol content of a breath sample delivered by the prospective operator to determine the alcohol content of said sample; (d) generating a pass signal if said alcohol content is acceptable to satisfy a second necessary precondition for enabling the vehicle to be started; and (e) enabling the vehicle to be started when at least said first and second preconditions have been satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification