Vehicle interlock system

• US 6,097,480 A
• Filed: 01/27/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milton Kaplan
• Original Assignee: Milton Kaplan
• Inventors: Kaplan, Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ratliff, Reginald A.
• Application Number:
  US09/013,724
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 356/39, 356/50
• US Class Current: 356/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles

Abstract

The invention is of a vehicle interlock system which utilizes non-invasive, optically based methods for detecting and measuring levels of certain target chemical substances in the blood or tissues of a user in preventing operation of the vehicle by persons exhibiting higher (or lower) than prescribed levels of such chemicals. The system of the present invention is not limited to simply measuring blood alcohol levels as are presently available breathalizer-based interlock systems, but lends itself to use in detecting unacceptable systemic levels of virtually any chemical for which the system if programmed to measure. In addition, the present system includes components for positively identifying, and during the course of vehicle operation, re-identifying the intended user and alcohol or drug user testee.

Claims

1. An interlock system for controlling operational access to a vehicle comprising:

non-invasive optical analysis means for non-invasively analyzing analytes in blood and tissue fluids of a would-be operator of said vehicle;

identification means for comparing physical features of said would-be operator with stored parameters of an intended operator of said vehicle, for comparing said parameters with said physical features, and establishing or refuting common identity of said would-be operator and said intended operator;

said non-invasive optical analysis means and said identification means being operably interfaced with the ignition system of said vehicle whereby said ignition system is disabled until said non-invasive optical analysis means actuates first switching means integrated into said ignition system upon registering concentrations of said analytes at or below a predetermined level in said blood or tissue fluids of said would-be operator, and until said identification means actuates second switching means upon establishing said common identity.