ILS sensors for drug detection within vehicles

• US 6,067,167 A
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovative Lasers Corporation
• Original Assignee: Innovative Lasers Corporation
• Inventors: Atkinson, George H., Wolperdinger, Markus A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ratliff, Reginald A.
• Application Number:
  US09/317,663
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 356/437, 356/436, 356/326, 356/442, 356/439
• US Class Current: 356/437
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/39 using tunable lasers

Abstract

On-board ILS sensors for detecting illegal drugs and based on intracavity laser spectroscopy (ILS) are provided for detecting the presence of drugs and their metabolized by-product vapors in an enclosed space, such as a vehicle. The sensor comprises: (a) a laser comprising a gain medium having two opposed facets within a laser resonator and functioning as an intracavity spectroscopic device having a first end and a second end, the first end operatively associated with a partially reflecting (i.e., partially transmitting) surface; (b) a reflective or dispersive optical element (e.g., a mirror or a diffraction grating) operatively associated with the second end to define a broadband wavelength laser resonator between the optical element and the first end and to thereby define an external cavity region between at least one facet of the gain medium and either the first end or the second end or both ends; (c) the external cavity region being exposed to air in the enclosed space to enable any drugs or their metabolized by-product molecules to enter thereinto; (d) a detector spaced from the first end; (e) appropriate electronics for measuring and analyzing the detector signal; (f) a housing for containing at least the laser, the partially reflecting surface, and the optical element, the housing being configured to prevent escape of stray radiation into the enclosed space and to permit air from the enclosed space to continuously circulate through the external cavity region for analysis; and (g) means for driving the laser (e.g., electrical or optical). A method is provided for measuring concentration of drug vapors and their metabolized by-product vapors in the vehicle or other enclosed space employing the on-board sensor. The method comprises: (1) sensing any drugs and their metabolized by-product vapors in the enclosed space by the on-board sensor; and (2) providing a signal indicative of presence of any drugs or metabolized vapors.

Claims

1. An ILS sensor for detecting the presence of drug vapors, other than ethyl alcohol vapors, or metabolized by-product vapors in an enclosed space, said sensor, comprising:

(a) a laser comprising a gain medium having two opposed facets within a laser resonator and functioning as an intracavity spectroscopic device having a first end and a second end, said first end operatively associated with a partially reflecting surface;

(b) a reflective or dispersive optical element operatively associated with said second end to define a broadband wavelength laser resonator between said optical element and said first end and to thereby define an external cavity region between at least one facet of said gain medium and either said first end or said second end or both ends;

(c) said external cavity region being exposed to air in said enclosed space to enable any drug vapors or metabolized by-product molecules to enter thereinto;

(d) a detector spaced from said first end and providing an output detector signal;

(e) electronic means for measuring and analyzing said detector signal;

(f) a housing for containing at least said laser, said partially reflecting surface, and said optical element, said housing being configured to prevent escape of stray radiation into said enclosed space and to permit air from said enclosed space to continuously circulate through said external cavity region for analysis; and

(g) means for driving said laser.

2. The ILS sensor of claim 1 wherein said gain medium has an anti-reflective coating to maximize transmission and minimize interference effects.

3. The ILS sensor of claim 1 wherein said first end has a reflectivity to effectively utilize the gain of the laser medium to achieve threshold for laser action.

4. The ILS sensor of claim 1 wherein said reflective or dispersive optical element comprises a mirror or a diffraction grating, respectively.

5. The ILS sensor of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a photodiode sensitive to a selected wavelength related to an absorption frequency of said drug vapors or metabolized by-product.

6. The ILS sensor of claim 5 wherein said wavelength is within a range of about 1 to 4 μ

m.

7. The ILS sensor of claim 6 wherein said wavelength is selected to be about 3.45 μ

m for cocaine.

8. The ILS sensor of claim 1 wherein said detector is operatively associated with an internal indicator.

9. The ILS sensor of claim 1 wherein said detector is operatively associated with an external indicator.

10. The ILS sensor of claim 9 wherein said external indicator is a light mounted external to said enclosed space.

11. The ILS sensor of claim 9 wherein said external indicator is accessible by a portable sensor or a remote test station or transmits a signal to a satellite.

12. The ILS sensor of claim 1, wherein said detector is capable of detecting said drug vapors or metabolized by-product vapors in a concentration of at least 1 part per billion.

13. The ILS sensor of claim 1 wherein said laser is selected from the group consisting of external cavity diode lasers and superluminescent diode lasers.

14. The ILS sensor of claim 1, wherein said detector comprises a photodiode.

15. The ILS sensor of claim 1, wherein said enclosed space is a cabin of a vehicle and said drug vapors or metabolized by-product vapors result from the presence of drugs or drug use by a driver.

16. A method for measuring concentration of vapors, other than ethyl alcohol vapors, resulting from drug presence or metabolization of such drugs and representative of air in an enclosed space employing an ILS sensor comprising

(a) a laser comprising a gain medium having two opposed facets within a laser resonator and functioning as an intracavity spectroscopic device having a first end and a second end, said first end operatively associated with a partially reflecting surface;

(b) a reflective or dispersive optical element operatively associated with said second end to define a broadband wavelength laser resonator between said optical element and said first end and to thereby define an external cavity region between at least one facet of said gain medium and either said first end or said second end or both ends;

(c) said external cavity region being exposed to air in said enclosed space to enable any drug vapors or metabolized by-product vapors to enter thereinto;

(d) a detector spaced from said first end;

(e) electronic means for measuring and analyzing said detector signal;

(f) a housing for containing at least said laser, said partially reflecting surface, and said optical element, said housing being configured to prevent escape of stray radiation into said enclosed space and to permit air from said enclosed space to continuously circulate through said external cavity region for analysis; and

(g) means for driving said laser, said method comprising;

(1) sensing any said drug vapors or said metabolized by-product vapors representative of air in said enclosed space by said ILS sensor; and

(2) providing a signal indicative of presence of any said drug vapors or said metabolized by-product vapors.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said signal is internal to said enclosed space and provides a warning to an occupant within said enclosed space.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said signal is external to said enclosed space.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said signal activates an external indicator comprising a light external to said enclosed space.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said signal activates an external indicator that is accessible by a portable sensor or a remote test station or transmits a signal to a satellite.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein said detector is capable of detecting drug vapors or metabolized by-product vapors in a concentration of at least 1 part per billion.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein said enclosed space is a cabin of a vehicle and said drug vapors or metabolized by-product vapors result from the presence of drugs or drug use by a driver.