Alcohol ignition interlock system and method

• US 7,413,047 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Annie D Minter, Betty J Brown
• Original Assignee: Annie D Minter, Betty J Brown
• Inventors: Minter, Annie D., Brown, Betty J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US11/089,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20050230175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 180/272, 340/576
• US Class Current: 180/272
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles

Abstract

The alcohol ignition interlock system and method has a transdermal blood alcohol concentration blood alcohol concentration reader in combination with a vehicle ignition interlock circuit that prevents an intoxicated person from operating a vehicle. The blood alcohol concentration reader utilizes a sensor that continuously measures very low levels of transdermal alcohol mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle beneath a porous cover. The readings are communicated to a microprocessor-controlled control unit and ignition interlock circuitry that either enables or disables start-up of the vehicle, as well as continued operation thereof. Not only does the system prevent an intoxicated person from starting the vehicle, but should the system detect the driver'"'"'s subsequent intoxicated state while in operation of the vehicle, the driver is given a period of time and distance in which to pull off the road prior to the ignition system being disabled.

Claims

1. An alcohol ignition interlock system for a vehicle having a battery, an ignition switch, a starter motor and an ignition system, the system comprising:

a steering wheel;

means for testing the mental and physical faculties of a user, said means comprising;

a numeric keypad mounted to said steering wheel;

a display mounted to said steering wheel, said display being in communication with said numeric keypad, said numeric keypad being adapted for entry of an authorizing numeric code by the user;

a blood alcohol concentration sensor disposed on the steering wheel; and

an ignition interlock control unit, the input to the control unit being connected to the output of the blood alcohol concentration sensor and to said means for testing the mental and physical faculties of the user, the control unit being adapted for being electrically connected to the vehicle'"'"'s ignition switch, the starter motor and the battery, the control unit being programmed to disable the starter and the ignition system when the sensor detects a blood alcohol concentration exceeding a programmed limit, the starter further only being enabled upon entry of the authorizing numeric code by the user.

2. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 1, further comprising a porous steering wheel cover disposed over the blood alcohol concentration sensor on the steering wheel.

3. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 1, wherein the ignition interlock control unit includes means for receiving and processing the output of the blood alcohol concentration sensor.

4. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 1, further comprising an audible alarm coupled to the ignition control unit.

5. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 1, further comprising a visual alarm coupled to the ignition control unit.

6. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 1, wherein the numeric code is selected from the group consisting of a pre-set numeric code and a randomly generated numeric code.

7. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 1, further comprising means for resetting the alcohol ignition interlock system.

8. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 7, wherein the means for resetting the interlock system comprises a user input keypad.

9. A method of disabling a vehicle having a battery, an ignition switch, a starter motor, an ignition system and a control unit, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the state of the ignition switch;

reading a blood alcohol concentration of a user;

testing mental and physical faculties of the user through entry of an authorizing numeric code; and

,

based on the blood alcohol concentration and the tested mental and physical faculties, of the user and the state of the ignition switch, instructing the control unit to control a flow of current to the ignition system and the starter motor.

10. The method of disabling a vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising the step of generating an alarm selected from the group consisting of an audible message, a flashing alert, and a combination thereof.

11. The method of disabling a vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

randomly generating the authorizing numeric code; and

displaying the authorizing numeric code to the user.

12. The method of disabling a vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising the step of setting a timer.

13. An alcohol ignition interlock system for a vehicle having a battery, an ignition switch, a starter motor and ignition system, the system comprising:

a steering wheel;

means for testing mental and physical faculties of a user, said means comprising;

a numeric keypad mounted to said steering wheel;

a display mounted to said steering wheel, said display being in communication with said numeric keypad, said numeric keypad being adapted for entry of an authorizing numeric code by the user;

means for measuring transdermal alcohol concentration incorporated into the steering wheel; and

means for disabling the starter and the ignition system when a programmed blood alcohol concentration limit is exceeded, the means for disabling the starter being connected to the means for measuring transdermal alcohol concentration.

14. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 13, wherein the means for measuring transdermal alcohol concentration comprises a blood alcohol concentration sensor.

15. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 14, further comprising a porous steering wheel cover disposed over the steering wheel.

16. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 14, wherein the means for disabling the starter and the ignition system comprises an ignition interlock control unit, the blood alcohol concentration sensor producing an output signal received by the control unit, the control unit further being electrically connected to the vehicle'"'"'s ignition switch, starter motor and the battery, the control unit being programmed to disable the starter and the ignition system when the sensor output signal corresponds to a blood alcohol concentration exceeding a limit programmed into the control unit.

17. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 13, further comprising an alarm coupled to the means for disabling the starter and the ignition system, said alarm being selected from the group consisting of an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a combination thereof.

18. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 13, wherein the numeric code is selected from the group consisting of a pre-set numeric code and a randomly generated numeric code.

19. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 18, further comprising a random number generator.

20. The alcohol ignition interlock system according to claim 13, further comprising means for resetting the alcohol ignition interlock system.