Vehicle ignition interlock systems with multiple alcohol sensors
First Claim
1. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:
- a breath analyzer located within a vehicle, wherein the breath analyzer comprises first and second alcohol sensors, each configured to detect breath alcohol levels of an operator of the vehicle, wherein the second alcohol sensor is a backup for the first alcohol sensor and becomes operational if the first alcohol sensor malfunctions; and
a controller operably connected to the first and second alcohol sensors and to an ignition system of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to compare breath alcohol levels of the vehicle operator, as detected by either of the first or second alcohol sensor, 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.
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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 breath alcohol level of a vehicle operator and prevents 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 includes first and second alcohol sensors. The second alcohol sensor is a backup for the first alcohol sensor and becomes operational if the first alcohol sensor malfunctions. The first or second alcohol sensors may be a mouth contamination sensor that distinguishes between mouth contaminants and alcohol contained within a deep lung breath sample. The system also includes sensors configured to detect impact (abuse) and vehicle motion.
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Citations
34 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 comprises first and second alcohol sensors, each configured to detect breath alcohol levels of an operator of the vehicle, wherein the second alcohol sensor is a backup for the first alcohol sensor and becomes operational if the first alcohol sensor malfunctions; and a controller operably connected to the first and second alcohol sensors and to an ignition system of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to compare breath alcohol levels of the vehicle operator, as detected by either of the first or second alcohol sensor, 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:
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a breath analyzer located within a vehicle, wherein the breath analyzer comprises first and second alcohol sensors, each configured to detect breath alcohol levels of an operator of the vehicle, wherein the second alcohol sensor is a backup for the first alcohol sensor and becomes operational if the first alcohol sensor malfunctions, and wherein at least one of the first and second alcohol sensors is a mouth contamination sensor that is configured to distinguish between contaminants in the mouth of a vehicle operator and alcohol contained within a deep lung breath sample; and a controller operably connected to the first and second alcohol sensors and to an ignition system of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to compare breath alcohol levels of the vehicle operator, as detected by either of the first or second alcohol sensor, 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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:
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a breath analyzer located within a vehicle, wherein the breath analyzer comprises first and second alcohol sensors, each configured to detect breath alcohol levels of an operator of the vehicle, wherein the first alcohol sensor is a fuel cell sensor, wherein the second alcohol sensor is a metal oxide semiconductor sensor, wherein the second alcohol sensor is a backup for the first alcohol sensor and becomes operational if the first alcohol sensor malfunctions, and wherein at least one of the first and second alcohol sensors is a mouth contamination sensor that is configured to distinguish between contaminants in the mouth of a vehicle operator and alcohol contained within a deep lung breath sample; and a controller operably connected to the first and second alcohol sensors and to an ignition system of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to compare breath alcohol levels of the vehicle operator, as detected by either of the first or second alcohol sensor, 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, 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 a contaminant within the mouth of the vehicle operator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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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; an impact sensor that is configured to detect impact events experienced by one or more portions of the vehicle ignition interlock system; a controller operably connected to the breath analyzer, to the impact sensor, 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 record impact events detected by the impact sensor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. 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; a motion detector device configured to detect vehicle motion; a controller operably connected to the breath analyzer, to the motion detector device, 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. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification