Arrangement for blocking the operation by an operator of a vehicle or a machine

• US 6,075,444 A
• Filed: 09/08/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Draeger Sicherheitstechnik GmbH (Draegerwerk AG & Co KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Dräger Sicherheitstechnik GmbH (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Sohege, Jurgen, Matthiessen, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/149,083
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 340/576, 340/439, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/539, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 180/272, 180/275
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

Abstract

The invention is directed to an arrangement for blocking the operation by an intoxicated operator of a machine or a motor vehicle. The arrangement has a measuring apparatus which determines the blood alcohol content of the operator and an evaluation unit connected to the machine or motor vehicle. The evaluation unit receives measurement data supplied by the measurement apparatus and enables the machine or motor vehicle when the measurement data satisfies at least one predetermined condition. The arrangement is improved in that the sobriety of the operator is recognized before the starting operation of the machine or motor vehicle without it being necessary to supply a breath sample. The measuring apparatus includes a gas sensor which is a sensor for measuring the blood alcohol content via permeation through the skin of the operator. The measuring apparatus is configured so that it can be worn by the operator preferably on the leg or arm.

Claims

1. An arrangement for blocking an intoxicated operator from operating a motor vehicle having an electric ignition, the intoxicated operator having a blood alcohol content and the arrangement comprising:

a measuring apparatus for determining the blood alcohol content of the operator;

said measuring apparatus including a strap for attaching said measuring apparatus to a limb of said operator;

said measuring apparatus also including a gas sensor mounted therein and said gas sensor being disposed so as to lie against the surface of the skin of said operator to measure said blood alcohol content via permeation through the skin;

an evaluation unit physically separate from said measuring apparatus and operatively connected to said motor vehicle and having an output for emitting an enable signal to said motor vehicle to permit said operator to start and operate said motor vehicle;

an interface between said measuring apparatus and said evaluation unit for passing a signal representing measurement data indicative of said blood alcohol content from said measuring apparatus to said evaluation unit;

said interface being a wireless, bidirectional transmission path between said measuring apparatus and said evaluation unit;

said evaluation unit including means for evaluating said measurement data and for outputting said enable signal via said output when said measurement data satisfies at least one predetermined condition;

said measuring apparatus including a memory for storing an identifier specific to said operator; and

,

said evaluation unit including;

means for detecting said identifier;

means for comparing said measured data to said predetermined condition only after detection and identification of said identifier; and

,

said output of said evaluation unit being connected to said electric ignition of said motor vehicle so that said motor vehicle can be started only after said enable signal is outputted.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, said evaluation unit further including an internal clock which is activated after said enable signal is outputted and said internal clock functioning to output a signal within said evaluation unit in accordance with a pregiven time pattern for triggering a renewed comparison of said measurement data then present to said at least one predetermined condition so as to permit a continuous control of the blood alcohol content of said operator during the operation of said vehicle.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a breath alcohol measuring device connected to said evaluation unit so that said vehicle can be started and operated by a person not equipped with said measuring device for measuring alcohol blood content via permeation through the skin.

4. An arrangement for blocking an intoxicated operator from operating a motor vehicle, the intoxicated operator having a blood alcohol content and the arrangement comprising:

a measuring apparatus for determining the blood alcohol content of the operator;

said measuring apparatus including attachment means for attaching said measuring apparatus to a body portion of said operator;

said measuring apparatus also including a gas sensor mounted therein and said gas sensor being a sensor measuring said blood alcohol content via permeation through the skin of said operator;

an evaluation unit operatively connected to said vehicle and having an output for emitting an enable signal to said vehicle to permit said operator to operate said vehicle;

a wireless transmission path between said measuring apparatus and said evaluation unit for passing a signal representing measurement data indicative of said blood alcohol content from said measuring apparatus to said evaluation unit;

said evaluation unit including means for evaluating said measurement data and for outputting said enable signal via said output when said measurement data satisfies at least one predetermined condition;

said evaluation unit further including an internal clock which is activated after said enable signal is outputted and said internal clock functioning to output a signal within said evaluation unit in accordance with a pregiven time pattern during the operation of said motor vehicle for triggering a renewed comparison of said measurement data then present to said at least one predetermined condition so that a continuous control of said alcohol blood content is made during said operation of said motor vehicle; and

,

a breath alcohol measuring device connected to said evaluation unit so that said vehicle can be started and operated by a person not equipped with said measuring apparatus for measuring alcohol blood content via permeation through the skin.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, said attachment means comprising a strap for attaching said apparatus to a limb of said operator.

6. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein said wireless transmission path is a bidirectional transmission path.

7. The arrangement of claim 4, said measuring apparatus including a first memory for storing an identifier specific to said operator;

and, said evaluation unit including;

means for detecting said identifier; and

, means for comparing said measured data to said predetermined condition only after detection and identification of said identifier.

8. An arrangement for blocking an intoxicated operator from operating a motor vehicle, the intoxicated operator having a blood alcohol content and the arrangement comprising:

a measuring apparatus for determining the blood alcohol content of the operator;

said measuring apparatus including attachment means for attaching said measuring apparatus to a body portion of said operator;

said measuring apparatus also including a gas sensor mounted therein and said gas sensor being a sensor measuring said blood alcohol content via permeation through the skin of said operator;

an evaluation unit mounted on said vehicle and being physically separated from said measuring apparatus;

said evaluation unit being operatively connected to said vehicle and having an output for emitting an enable signal to said vehicle to permit said operator to operate said vehicle;

a wireless interface between said measuring apparatus and said evaluation unit for passing a signal representing measurement data indicative of said blood alcohol content from said measuring apparatus to said evaluation unit;

said evaluation unit further including an internal clock which is activated after said enable signal is outputted and said internal clock functioning to output a signal within said evaluation unit in accordance with a random time pattern during the operation of said motor vehicle for triggering a renewed comparison of said measurement data then present to said at least one predetermined condition so that said operator cannot know when the next measurement evaluation is made and so that a continuous control of said alcohol blood content is made during said operation of said motor vehicle;

said evaluation unit including means for evaluating said measurement data and for outputting said enable signal via said output when said measurement data satisfies at least one predetermined condition.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, said attachment means comprising a strap for attaching said apparatus to a limb of said operator.

10. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said transmission path is a bidirectional transmission path.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, said measuring apparatus including a first memory for storing an identifier specific to said operator;

said evaluation unit including;

means for detecting said identifier; and

, means for comparing said measured data to said predetermined condition only after detection and identification of said identifier.

12. The arrangement of claim 8, further comprising a breath alcohol measuring device connected to said evaluation unit so that said vehicle can be started and operated by a person not equipped with a measuring device for measuring alcohol blood content via permeation through the skin.