Multistage safety screening of equipment operators

• US 7,227,472 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vehicle Intelligence and Safety LLC
• Original Assignee: Kevin Roe
• Inventors: Roe, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US11/143,830
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/576, 422/84, 73/233
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2244 Exhaled gas, e.g. alcohol detecting

Abstract

Methods and systems to screen equipment operators for impairments, such as intoxication, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment, to selectively test the equipment operators and control the equipment if impairment of the equipment operator is determined. One embodiment is a method to screen an equipment operator for intoxication. A second embodiment is a method to screen an equipment operator for impairment, such as intoxication, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment. A third embodiment is an equipment operator screening system to determine impairment, such as intoxication, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment.

Claims

1. A method to screen an equipment operator for intoxication, comprising:

measuring at least one type of chemical in the air in proximity to an equipment operator, wherein said at least one type of chemical is associated with intoxication;

selectively testing said equipment operator when said at least one type of chemical is detected at a sufficient level to indicate intoxication of said equipment operator; and

controlling operation of said equipment if said selective testing of said equipment operator indicates said intoxication of said equipment operator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring at least one characteristic of said equipment operator, wherein said at least one characteristic is associated with intoxication; and

selectively testing said equipment operator when said at least one characteristic of said equipment operator indicates intoxication of said equipment operator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said measuring at least one characteristic of said equipment operator includes measuring one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

at least one chemical in proximity to said equipment operator, blood pressure of said equipment operator, pulse rate of said equipment operator, electrical resistance of a portion of skin of said equipment operator, electrical conductivity of a portion of skin of said equipment operator, temperature of a portion of skin of said equipment operator, one or more optical characteristics of at least one eye of said equipment operator, optical response to at least one stimulus of at least one eye of said equipment operator, at least one speech characteristic of said equipment operator, comparison of at least one speech characteristic of said equipment operator to a reference speech characteristic of said equipment operator, a speed of dexterity of said equipment operator in performing at least one task, and a consistency of dexterity of said equipment operator in performing at least one task.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said selective testing includes at least one test requiring an active participation by said equipment operator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said controlling operation of said equipment includes one or more control responses selected from the group of control responses consisting of:

disabling said equipment, disabling said equipment after a time delay, temporarily disabling said equipment for a pre-selected time duration, shutting off power to said equipment, limiting operation of said equipment to a lower speed of operation, limiting the operation of said equipment to allow only return of said equipment to a pre-selected state, limiting the operation of said equipment to allow only return of said equipment to a pre-selected location, denying entry to said equipment, activating an alarm, sending a warning message to another entity for assistance, issuing a warning message to an impaired equipment operator, and making a request for another equipment operator to replace an impaired equipment operator and then restricting operation of said equipment if said request is not obeyed within a pre-selected time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said selective testing increases selective testing if initial testing indicates possible intoxication of said equipment operator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said selective testing selectively changes according to one or more other factors chosen from the group of factors consisting of air temperature, oxygen level, carbon dioxide level, presence of one or more gases, air humidity, air pressure, time of day, time duration of vehicle parking, voice loudness levels in proximity to said equipment, history of operation of said equipment by said equipment operator, initial beginning of operation of said equipment by said equipment operator, and ongoing operation of said equipment by said equipment operator.

8. A method to screen an equipment operator for impairment, comprising:

measuring the power level of at least one type of sound frequency in proximity to an equipment operator, wherein said at least one type of sound frequency is usually associated with impairment of said equipment operator;

selectively testing said equipment operator when said at least one type of sound frequency is detected at a sufficient power level to indicate impairment of said equipment operator; and

controlling operation of said equipment if said selective testing of said equipment operator indicates said impairment of said equipment operator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said impairment of said equipment operator includes intoxication of said equipment operator.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said impairment of said equipment operator includes physical impairment of said equipment operator.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

measuring at least one characteristic of said equipment operator, wherein said at least one characteristic is associated with impairment of said equipment operator; and

selectively testing said equipment operator when said at least one characteristic of said equipment operator indicates impairment of said equipment operator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said measuring at least one characteristic of said equipment operator includes measuring one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

at least one chemical in proximity to said equipment operator, blood pressure of said equipment operator, pulse rate of said equipment operator, electrical resistance of a portion of skin of said equipment operator, electrical conductivity of a portion of skin of said equipment operator, temperature of a portion of skin of said equipment operator, one or more optical characteristics of at least one eye of said equipment operator, optical response to at least one stimulus of at least one eye of said equipment operator, at least one speech characteristic of said equipment operator, comparison of at least one speech characteristic of said equipment operator to a reference speech characteristic of said equipment operator, a speed of dexterity of said equipment operator in performing at least one task, and a consistency of dexterity of said equipment operator in performing at least one task.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said selective testing includes at least one test not requiring an active participation of said equipment operator.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said controlling operation of said equipment includes one or more control responses selected from the group of control responses consisting of:

disabling said equipment, disabling said equipment after a time delay, temporarily disabling said equipment for a pre-selected time duration, shutting off power to said equipment, limiting operation of said equipment to a lower speed of operation, limiting the operation of said equipment to allow only return of said equipment to a pre-selected state, limiting the operation of said equipment to allow only return of said equipment to a pre-selected location, denying entry to said equipment, activating an alarm, sending a warning message to another entity for assistance, issuing a warning message to an impaired equipment operator, and making a request for another equipment operator to replace an impaired equipment operator and then restricting operation of said equipment if said request is not obeyed within a pre-selected time.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said selective testing includes more selective testing if initial testing indicates possible impairment of said equipment operator.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein said selective testing selectively changes according to one or more other factors chosen from the group of factors consisting of:

air temperature, oxygen level, carbon dioxide level, presence of one or more gases, air humidity, air pressure, time of day, time duration of vehicle parking, voice loudness levels in proximity to said equipment, history of operation of said equipment by said equipment operator, initial beginning of operation of said equipment by said equipment operator, and ongoing operation of said equipment by said equipment operator.

17. An equipment operator screening system, comprising:

a sound meter to measure the power level of at least one type of sound frequency in proximity to an equipment operator, wherein said at least one type of sound frequency is associated with impairment;

a screening module to selectively test said equipment operator when said at least one type of sound frequency is detected at a sufficient power level to indicate impairment of said equipment operator; and

a control module to control operation of said equipment if said selective testing of said equipment operator by said screening module indicates said impairment of said equipment operator.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said control module to control operation of said equipment uses one or more control responses selected from the group of control responses consisting of:

disabling said equipment, disabling said equipment after a time delay, temporarily disabling said equipment for a pre-selected time duration, shutting off power to said equipment, limiting operation of said equipment to a lower speed of operation, limiting the operation of said equipment to allow only return of said equipment to a pre-selected state, limiting the operation of said equipment to allow only return of said equipment to a pre-selected location, denying entry to said equipment, activating an alarm, sending a warning message to another entity for assistance, issuing a warning message to an impaired equipment operator, and making a request for another equipment operator to replace an impaired equipment operator and then restricting operation of said equipment if said request is not obeyed within a pre-selected time.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said impairment of said equipment operator includes intoxication of said equipment operator.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said screening module includes at least one module to measure at least one characteristic of said equipment operator selected from the group of characteristics consisting of:

at least one chemical in proximity to said equipment operator, electrical resistance of a portion of skin of said equipment operator, blood pressure of said equipment operator, pulse rate of said equipment operator, electrical conductivity of a portion of skin of said equipment operator, temperature of a portion of skin of said equipment operator, one or more optical characteristics of at least one eye of said equipment operator, optical response to at least one stimulus of at least one eye of said equipment operator, at least one speech characteristic of said equipment operator, comparison of at least one speech characteristic of said equipment operator to a reference speech characteristic of said equipment operator, a speed of mechanical dexterity of said equipment operator in performing at least one task, and a consistency of mechanical dexterity of said equipment operator in performing at least one task.