Vehicle ignition interlock systems with mouth alcohol contamination sensor

• US 7,377,352 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monitech, LLC (LMG Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Monitech, LLC (LMG Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, James R., McMillin, Brian, Edwards, Jimmy H., Mobley, Larry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Application Number:
  US11/113,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20060239856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 73/233, 180/272, 340/576
• US Class Current: 180/272
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

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 includes 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 of the vehicle operator. The controller may require a breath alcohol retest of the vehicle operator via the breath analyzer in response to detecting the presence of a contaminant within the mouth of the vehicle operator.

Claims

1. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:

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 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 alcohol sensor, to the mouth contamination 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 trigger a breath alcohol retest of the vehicle operator via the breath analyzer in response to detecting the presence of a contaminant within the mouth of the vehicle operator.

2. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 1, wherein the mouth contamination sensor comprises a metal oxide semiconductor sensor.

3. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 2, wherein the mouth contamination sensor comprises a Taguchi sensor.

4. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 1, wherein the mouth contamination sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

5. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 1, 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.

6. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller displays operational messages via the user interface.

7. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller provides audible operational messages and prompts via the user interface.

8. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 7, wherein the controller provides voice messages in one or more languages via the user interface.

9. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 1, further comprising a user selectable option that allows an individual to perform a breath alcohol test via the breath analyzer without enabling the vehicle ignition system.

10. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 1, further comprising 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.

11. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 8, wherein the operator identification device comprises a fingerprint identification device.

12. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:

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 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, wherein the mouth contamination sensor comprises a metal oxide semiconductor sensor;

a controller operably connected to the alcohol sensor, to the mouth contamination 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 trigger a breath alcohol retest of the vehicle operator via the breath analyzer in response to detecting the presence of a contaminant within the mouth of the vehicle operator, 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.

13. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 12, wherein the mouth contamination sensor comprises a Taguchi sensor.

14. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 12, wherein the mouth contamination sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

15. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 12, 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.

16. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 12, further comprising a user interface operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller displays operational messages via the user interface.

17. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 12, further comprising a user interface operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller provides audible operational messages and prompts via the user interface.

18. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 17, wherein the controller provides voice messages in one or more languages via the user interface.

19. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 12, further comprising 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.

20. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 19, wherein the operator identification device comprises a fingerprint identification device.

21. A vehicle ignition interlock system, comprising:

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 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, wherein the mouth contamination sensor comprises a metal oxide semiconductor sensor;

a controller operably connected to the alcohol sensor, to the mouth contamination 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 trigger a breath alcohol retest of the vehicle operator via the breath analyzer in response to detecting the presence of a contaminant within the mouth of the vehicle operator; 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.

22. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 21, wherein the mouth contamination sensor comprises a Taguchi sensor.

23. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 21, wherein the mouth contamination sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

24. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 21, 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.

25. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 21, further comprising a user interface operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller displays operational messages via the user interface.

26. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 21, further comprising a user interface operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller provides audible operational messages and prompts via the user interface.

27. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 26, wherein the controller provides voice messages in one or more languages via the user interface.

28. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 21, further comprising a user selectable option that allows an individual to perform a breath alcohol test via the breath analyzer without enabling the vehicle ignition system.

29. The vehicle ignition interlock system of claim 21, wherein the operator identification device comprises a fingerprint identification device.