Breath alcohol detection system with identity verification

• US 6,967,581 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harry Karsten
• Original Assignee: Harry Karsten
• Inventors: Karsten, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/898,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 340/576, 340/426.11, 180/272, 382/118
• US Class Current: 340/576
• 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 25/25 using biometry

Abstract

A breath alcohol detection system that prevents operation of a vehicle when an operator'"'"'s breath alcohol concentration is above a predetermined threshold limit or when the operator'"'"'s identity is not verified. The device incorporates a breath alcohol detection device that employs an electrochemical fuel cell and an optical skin sensor that positively identifies the operator. The skin sensor is designed to sense skin on the operator'"'"'s face or in the operator'"'"'s mouth. Before a vehicle'"'"'s starter is enabled, the operator must pass a breath alcohol test and the operator must be positively identified. If the breath alcohol test results indicate a breath alcohol concentration above a predetermined threshold, or the operator is not positively identified, the starter is disabled, thus preventing the vehicle from being operated.

Claims

1. A breath alcohol detection system having operator identity verification capabilities, comprising:

a skin sensor device capable of determining a vehicle operator'"'"'s skin characteristics by sensing skin on the operator'"'"'s face or in the operator'"'"'s mouth, the skin sensor being further capable of generating a skin sensor signal based on sensed skin characteristics;

a breath alcohol detection device capable of detecting breath alcohol concentration based on breath alcohol information, the breath alcohol detection device being further capable of generating a breath alcohol signal based on the operator'"'"'s breath alcohol concentration;

a storage medium capable of storing reference skin characteristics and a predetermined breath alcohol threshold level;

a comparison device capable of comparing sensed skin characteristics to reference skin characteristics and generating a first comparison signal based on the compared skin characteristics, the comparison device being further capable of comparing detected breath alcohol information to stored breath alcohol information and generating a second comparison signal based on compared breath alcohol information;

circuitry responsive to the comparison device, the circuitry being capable of generating an enable signal and a disable signal;

wherein the enable signal indicates a non-impaired state of an operator based on breath alcohol concentration test results and identity verification based on sensed skin characteristics, thus enabling the starting of a vehicle, and

wherein the disable signal indicates either an impaired state of the operator based on breath alcohol concentration test results, or nonverification of the operator'"'"'s identity based on sensed skin characteristics, thus disabling the starting of a vehicle.

2. The detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein the skin sensor device is an optical skin sensor device.

3. The detection system as recited in claim 2, wherein the skin sensor device is capable of determining an operator'"'"'s skin characteristics by sensing skin on the operator'"'"'s cheek.

4. The detection system as recited in claim 2, wherein the skin sensor device is capable of determining an operator'"'"'s skin characteristics by sensing skin on the operator'"'"'s lips.

5. The detection system as recited in claim 2, wherein the skin sensor device is capable of determining an operator'"'"'s skin characteristics by sensing skin on the operator'"'"'s tongue.

6. The detection system as recited in claim 2, wherein the skin sensor device is capable of determining an operator'"'"'s skin characteristics by sensing skin on the operator'"'"'s forehead.

7. The detection system as recited in claim 2, wherein the skin sensor device is capable of determining an operator'"'"'s skin characteristics by sensing skin in the area of the operator'"'"'s face below the nose and above the upper lip.

8. The detection system of claim 2, wherein the optical skin sensor further includes a light source that transmits light onto the operator'"'"'s skin, and a spectrum analyzer having at least one photodetector, the spectrum analyzer being capable of inferring physical properties of the operator'"'"'s skin based on skin characteristics.

9. The detection system of claim 2, wherein the breath alcohol detection device further includes a breath induction tube, and wherein the optical skin sensor is positioned with respect to the breath alcohol detection system such that when an operator'"'"'s mouth is placed on the breath induction tube, the optical skin sensor touches at least one of the chin, cheek, forehead, lips, tongue, or the area below the nose and above the upper lip of the operator.

10. The detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein the circuitry further comprises:

a first relay member responsive to the enable signal, said first relay being coupled to a starter member and facilitating starting said vehicle'"'"'s engine based on non-impaired breath alcohol concentration test results and verified skin characteristics; and

a second relay member responsive to the disable signal, said second relay being coupled to a starter member and disabling starting said vehicle'"'"'s engine based on impaired breath alcohol concentration test results or unverified skin characteristics.

11. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the breath alcohol detection device includes an electrochemical fuel cell that generates an electrical current in response to breath alcohol vapor.

12. The detection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display, the display having visible indicators that indicate the status of a breath or identity verification test.

13. The detection system of claim 12, wherein the status information includes initiation of a breath and identification test, abortion of a breath and identification test, and refusal of a breath test.

14. The detection system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

wireless telemetry communication and global positioning sysem circuitry capable of communicating the vehicle'"'"'s location, the vehicle'"'"'s make and model, the license plate number of the vehicle, and the state in which the vehicle was licensed.

15. The detection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery configured to power the breath alcohol detection system; and

a display, said display including a visible indicator that indicates when battery power is low.

16. A vehicle interlock system comprising:

a breath alcohol detection device configured to detect whether breath contains alcohol below a threshold level;

a skin detection system configured to detect whether facial or mouth skin having predetermined characteristics has been placed in close proximity to the skin detection system, wherein the skin detection system is positioned in close proximity to the breath alcohol detection device such that breath alcohol detection and skin detection occur substantially simultaneously; and

an ignition interlock system configured to permit ignition of the vehicle when the breath alcohol detection device detects breath containing alcohol below the threshold level and the skin detection system substantially simultaneously detects skin having the predetermined characteristics.

17. A vehicle interlock method comprising:

detecting whether breath contains alcohol below a threshold level;

detecting whether facial or mouth skin having predetermined characteristics has been placed in close proximity to a skin detection system; and

permitting ignition of the vehicle when the breath alcohol detection device detects breath containing alcohol below the threshold level and the skin detection system substantially simultaneously detects skin having the predetermined characteristics.

18. A vehicle interlock system comprising:

a breath alcohol detection device configured to detect whether breath contains alcohol below a threshold level, the breath alcohol detection system including a breath induction tube configured to be placed against the mouth of an operator of the vehicle;

an optical skin sensor positioned with respect to the breath induction tube so as to come in close proximity to the chin, cheek, forehead, lip, tongue or the area between the nose and upper lip of the operator when the breath induction tube is placed against the mouth of the operator and configured to detect whether a chin, cheek, forehead, upper or lower lip, tongue or the area between the nose and upper lip has predetermined characteristics; and

an ignition interlock system configured to permit ignition of the vehicle when the breath alcohol detection system detects breath containing alcohol below the threshold level and the detection system substantially simultaneously detects the close proximity of a chin, cheek, forehead, upper or lower lip, tongue or the area between the nose and upper lip that has the predetermined characteristics.

19. A vehicle interlock method comprising:

placing a breath induction tube against the mouth of an operator of the vehicle;

placing an optical skin sensor in close proximity to the chin, cheek, forehead, upper or lower lip, tongue, or area between the nose and upper lip of the operator;

determining whether breath from the operator that is directed into the tube contains alcohol below a threshold level;

determining whether the chin, cheek, forehead, upper or lower lip, tongue, or the area between the nose and upper lip of the operator has predetermined characteristics; and

permitting ignition of the vehicle when the breath alcohol is determined to be below the threshold level at the same time as the chin, cheek, forehead, upper or lower lip, tongue or the area between the nose and upper lip is determined to have predetermined characteristics.