Vehicle ignition interlock systems that detect the presence of alcohol within vehicles
First Claim
1. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:
- a breath analyzer located within a vehicle, wherein the breath analyzer is configured to detect breath alcohol levels of an operator of the vehicle, and wherein the breath analyzer is configured to detect the presence of alcohol within the vehicle; and
a controller operably connected to the breath analyzer and to an ignition system of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to compare detected breath alcohol levels of the vehicle operator with a threshold value, and wherein the controller is configured to prevent vehicle ignition if a breath alcohol level detected by the breath analyzer is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and wherein the controller is configured to trigger a breath alcohol test of the vehicle operator via the breath analyzer in response to detecting the presence of alcohol within the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle ignition interlock system includes a breath analyzer and a controller operably connected to the breath analyzer and to an ignition system of the vehicle. The breath analyzer detects the breath alcohol level of a vehicle operator and is configured to prevent vehicle ignition if a breath alcohol level is greater than or equal to a threshold value. The controller requires the vehicle operator to periodically take breath analyzer “retests” after vehicle ignition in order to allow vehicle operation to continue. The breath analyzer also detects the presence of alcohol within the vehicle, such as alcohol emanating from an open container of alcohol. The controller may override one or more periodic retests if alcohol is not detected within the vehicle over a predetermined period of time. In addition, the controller may increase the frequency of periodic retests of the vehicle operator in response to detecting alcohol within the vehicle.
63 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:
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a breath analyzer located within a vehicle, wherein the breath analyzer is configured to detect breath alcohol levels of an operator of the vehicle, and wherein the breath analyzer is configured to detect the presence of alcohol within the vehicle; and a controller operably connected to the breath analyzer and to an ignition system of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to compare detected breath alcohol levels of the vehicle operator with a threshold value, and wherein the controller is configured to prevent vehicle ignition if a breath alcohol level detected by the breath analyzer is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and wherein the controller is configured to trigger a breath alcohol test of the vehicle operator via the breath analyzer in response to detecting the presence of alcohol within the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:
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a breath analyzer located within a vehicle, wherein the breath analyzer comprises an alcohol sensor that is configured to detect breath alcohol levels of an operator of the vehicle, and wherein the breath analyzer is configured to detect the presence of alcohol within the vehicle; a controller operably connected to the breath analyzer and to an ignition system of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to compare detected breath alcohol levels of the vehicle operator with a threshold value, wherein the controller is configured to prevent vehicle ignition if a breath alcohol level detected by the breath analyzer is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and wherein the controller is configured to increase the frequency of periodic breath alcohol tests of the vehicle operator via the breath analyzer in response to detecting the presence of alcohol within the vehicle, and wherein the controller provides a user selectable option that allows an individual to perform a breath alcohol test via the breath analyzer without enabling the vehicle ignition system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:
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a breath analyzer located within a vehicle, wherein the breath analyzer comprises an alcohol sensor that is configured to detect breath alcohol levels of an operator of the vehicle, and wherein the breath analyzer is configured to detect the presence of alcohol within the vehicle; a controller operably connected to the breath analyzer and to an ignition system of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to compare detected breath alcohol levels of the vehicle operator with a threshold value, wherein the controller is configured to prevent vehicle ignition if a breath alcohol level detected by the breath analyzer is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and wherein the controller is configured to increase the frequency of periodic breath alcohol tests of the vehicle operator via the breath analyzer in response to detecting the presence of alcohol within the vehicle; a user interface operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller displays operational messages via the user interface; and an operator identification device operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to verify the identity of the vehicle operator via the operator identification device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:
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a breath analyzer located within a vehicle, wherein the breath analyzer is configured to detect breath alcohol levels of an operator of the vehicle, and wherein the breath analyzer is configured to detect the presence of alcohol within the vehicle; and a controller operably connected to the breath analyzer and to an ignition system of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to compare detected breath alcohol levels of the vehicle operator with a threshold value, wherein the controller is configured to prevent vehicle ignition if a breath alcohol level detected by the breath analyzer is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and wherein the controller is configured to require periodic breath alcohol tests of the vehicle operator via the breath analyzer, and wherein the controller is configured to increase the frequency of the periodic breath alcohol tests of the vehicle operator via the breath analyzer in response to detecting the presence of alcohol within the vehicle.
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21. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:
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a breath analyzer located within a vehicle, wherein the breath analyzer is configured to detect breath alcohol levels of an operator of the vehicle, and wherein the breath analyzer is configured to detect the presence of alcohol within the vehicle; and a controller operably connected to the breath analyzer and to an ignition system of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to compare detected breath alcohol levels of the vehicle operator with a threshold value, and wherein the controller is configured to prevent vehicle ignition if a breath alcohol level detected by the breath analyzer is greater than or equal to the threshold value; and wherein the breath analyzer comprises a user selectable option that allows an individual to perform a breath alcohol test via the breath analyzer without enabling the vehicle ignition system.
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Specification