Drug and alcohol sensor safety system and methods

• US 7,236,094 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kathryn Jackson
• Original Assignee: Kathryn Jackson
• Inventors: Jones, Micheal P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walk; Samuel J.
• Application Number:
  US10/983,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20050099310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 340/576, 340/573.1, 340/438, 340/632, 436/900, 436/901, 180/272
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/90 Breath testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/901 Drugs of abuse, e.g. narcotics, amphetamine

Abstract

A method for providing an automotive safety system, comprising the steps of: collecting and analyzing data from the proximity of a potential driver, determining whether the potential driver is under the influence of intoxicating substances, and disabling an automotive ignition system if the potential driver is determined to be under the influence of intoxicating substances.

Claims

1. A system for improving automobile safety, comprising:

a plurality of intoxicating substance sensors for detecting the presence of intoxicating substances in a potential driver, the plurality of intoxicating substance sensors comprising a sensor array, wherein the intoxicating substance sensors are configured to detect a plurality of respective distinct intoxicating substances;

a time delay switch communicatively coupled to at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors, wherein a delay signal is activated when the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors detects the presence of an intoxicating substance;

an interface, for electrically coupling the time delay switch and an automotive ignition system, wherein the automotive ignition system is disabled while the delay signal is activated; and

a reset switch, electrically coupled to the time delay switch, wherein the reset switch deactivates the delay signal such that the automotive ignition system is not disabled.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors detects the presence of intoxicating substances through vapor sampling.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors detects the presence of intoxicating substances through skin contact.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors detects the presence of alcohol.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors the presence of marijuana.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors detects the presence of cocaine derived substances.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors detects the presence of opium derived substances.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors is located in the headliner of the passenger compartment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors is located in the front instrument panel.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors is located in the driver door panel.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the intoxicating substance sensors is located in the driver safety restraint.

12. A method for providing an automotive safety system, comprising the steps of:

collecting data from the proximity of a potential driver, wherein the data is collected through a plurality of intoxicating substance sensors for detecting the presence of intoxicating substances in the potential driver, the plurality of intoxicating substance sensors comprising a sensor array, the intoxicating substance sensors being configured to detect a plurality of respective distinct intoxicating substances;

analyzing the data for the presence of at least one of the plurality of distinct intoxicating substances;

determining whether the potential driver is under the influence of the at least one of the plurality of distinct intoxicating substances; and

disabling an automotive ignition system if the potential driver is determined to be under the influence of the at least one of the plurality of distinct intoxicating substances.

13. The method of claim 12, the collecting step comprising sampling the air surrounding the potential driver.

14. The method of claim 12, the collecting step further comprising measuring skin biological signals through skin contact.

15. The method of claim 12, the disabling step comprising:

initiating a time delay function, such that the time delay function counts for a predetermined period of time;

interrupting the ignition circuit during the predetermined period of time, corresponding to the time delay function; and

resetting the time delay function, such that the ignition circuit is restored to an uninterrupted state.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of intoxicating substance sensors are positioned at locations selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle headliner, a driver door panel, a steering wheel, and a driver safety restraint.

17. A system comprising:

means for collecting data from the proximity of a potential driver, wherein the data is collected through a plurality of intoxicating substance sensors for detecting the presence of intoxicating substances in the potential driver, the plurality of intoxicating substance sensors comprising a sensor array, the intoxicating substance sensors being configured to detect a plurality of respective distinct intoxicating substances;

means for analyzing the data for the presence of at least one of the plurality of distinct intoxicating substances;

means for determining whether the potential driver is under the influence of the at least one of the plurality of distinct intoxicating substances; and

means for disabling an automotive ignition system if the potential driver is determined to be under the influence of the at least one of the plurality of distinct intoxicating substances.