Driving under the influence prevention, and methods of constructing and utilizing same

• US 5,224,566 A
• Filed: 04/25/1991
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David M. Augspurger, Gary L. Stepanian, Robert D. Shimmin
• Original Assignee: David M. Augspurger, Gary L. Stepanian, Robert D. Shimmin
• Inventors: Stepanian, Gary L., Augspurger, David M., Shimmin, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bollinger, David H.
• Application Number:
  US07/691,233
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 180/272, 180/271, 180/287, 128/745, 123/198, 123/198 R, 123/198 B, 123/198 D, 340/576, 340/543, 307/10.2, 307/10.3-10.5, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 180/272
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preventing an impaired person from operating a vehicle. The method includes a means for evaluating the level of the necessary skills for the safe operation of motorized vehicles, including automobiles, watercraft, aircraft and machinery. Once this level is determined on an individual basis, before operation of the motorized vehicle can be effected, each individual must match or surpass the safety level for enabling the ignition of the device. If the individual is impaired such as by drugs or alcohol use, the evidence is retained and the ignition disabled to prevent operation of the motorized vehicle. The apparatus includes an electronic module necessary to activate a test routine or program which also records the time, identity of the user, the number of times passed or failed and any attempts to tamper with our circumvent the system.

Claims

1. A method for preventing impaired operators of motorized vehicles by providing a motor-skill testing device, said method comprising:

recording the normal motor-skill test for the individual operator on a key recording device;

providing a motor-skill testing device in a motorized vehicle the ignition of said motorized vehicle controlled by said testing device;

inserting said key recording device into said testing device, a test program activated and the performance of the individual monitored to measure the individuals ability to safely operate said vehicle;

comparing said performance and said motor skill test;

monitoring of the condition of the vehicle door is conducted to prevent substitution of operators; and

activating said ignition upon satisfactory completion of said test program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

inserting a password is required to ensure the operators identity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said motor-skill testing device providing a delay period between attempts to pass said test program, said delay period increasing with each failed attempt.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

recording the results of said test program on said key recording device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

recording any attempts to circumvent said method on said key recording device.

6. A method for preventing the unsafe operation of a motorized vehicle by an impaired operator comprising:

recording normal motor-skill test results for an operator on an individualized key recording device;

inserting said key recording device in a motor skill testing module installed in said motorized vehicle;

monitoring the position of the vehicle doors to prevent substitution of the operator;

activating a test program for determining the motor-skill abilities of said operator and obtaining the results of said test program;

comparing said results with said normal motor-skill test result for measuring the operators ability to safely operate said vehicle; and

activating the ignition system of said vehicle upon satisfactory completion of said test program.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

delaying a new attempt to satisfactorily complete said test program in a set time period, the time period increases with each attempt to complete the said program.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein:

said test program comprises the testing of the divided attention and tracking dexterity of the operator.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein:

said test program comprises the testing of eye/hand coordination, vision and mental awareness.

10. An apparatus for preventing the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle by an impaired operator, comprising:

a recording device including the individual operators normal motor skill test results electronically stored thereon;

a test module comprising a microprocessor including a recording device reader, a keypad, a test program delay are and means for enabling ignition;

a test program electronically stored in said test module having means for displaying a motor skills test on said display are, means for comparing the results thereof with the test results stored on said recording device and with means for determining the ability of said operator to safely operate said vehicle; and

said test module further including means for monitoring the position of the vehicle doors to prevent substitution of said operator.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said test module includes means for storing on said recording device all attempts to operate said vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said test module includes means for disabling said ignition system until a satisfactory test result is achieved.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said keypad comprises a means for inputting responses to said test program.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said test module means for delaying a new attempt to satisfactorily respond to said test program.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said test program includes means for evaluating-in its place the physical and mental impairment of said operator to determine the operators ability to safely operate said vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said test program includes a random number generator, random numbers displayed on said display area and the speed and accuracy of the operators ability to input the same random numbers evaluated against the normal speed and accuracy stored on said recording device.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said test program includes light generating means for displaying on said display area a pair of light bars;

said operator matching the size of said light bars on a similar pair of light bars by utilizing controls on said keypad; and

the speed and accuracy of said operator compared with the normal test results stored on said recording device for evaluating the operators ability to safely operate said vehicle.