Car alcohol monitoring system

• US 7,671,752 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephanie Sofer
• Original Assignee: Stephanie Sofer
• Inventors: Sofer, Stephanie
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US11/354,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 340/576, 340/573.1, 340/575, 180/272, 600/300
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data

Abstract

An alcohol monitoring system for monitoring a driver of a car includes a vapor analyzer system for detecting the amount of alcohol in a driver operating the car. A speed controller is provided for setting the maximum speed of the car to a predetermined level in the event that the amount of alcohol detected in the driver is above a predetermined threshold. A cell phone is configured to automatically call a remote call center, in the event that the amount of the alcohol detected in the driver is above the predetermined threshold. Furthermore, a location system is configured to provide the location of the car to said remote call center. A mapping database in said remote call center is configured to provide nearest resting locations to said car so as to guide the driver to drive the car to any one of said locations.

Claims

1. An alcohol monitoring system for monitoring a driver of a vehicle comprising:

a system for detecting amount of alcohol in a driver operating the vehicle to determine whether said driver is deemed intoxicated;

a speed controller for setting a maximum speed of the vehicle to a predetermined level above zero in the event that the amount of alcohol detected in the driver is above a predetermined threshold and said driver is deemed intoxicated, said speed is set so as to minimize the impact of a collision while the vehicle is being driven by said intoxicated driver;

a cell phone configured to automatically call a remote call center, in the event that the amount of the alcohol detected in the driver is above the predetermined threshold so as to allow an operator at said remote call center to safely guide said driver to a safe location; and

a location system configured to provide the location of the vehicle to said remote call center so as to allow said remote call center to employ a mapping database configured to provide nearest resting locations to said vehicle so as to guide the driver to drive the vehicle to any one of said locations at a speed not more than said maximum speed, wherein said driver receives a communication from said call center based on information stored in a database, and wherein said database stores the identity of a plurality of designated drivers, said database allowing said operator to send a request to at least one of said designated drivers.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a steering wheel having a plurality of pores for conducting vapor generated from driver'"'"'s perspiring pores, wherein said alcohol detecting system includes a vapor analyzer that produces an electrical signal in proportion to an amount of alcohol present in said vapor.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a camera system configured to provide an image of the driver to said remote call center.

4. The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said remote call center further comprises a subscriber database enabling identification of said driver based on said image.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein when said cell phone automatically calls said remote call center, a code sequence is transmitted during a call set up process indicating that the call relates to said driver that has an alcohol level above the predetermined threshold.

6. The alcohol monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said location system tracks the location of the vehicle so as to find designated drivers in the vicinity of said vehicle.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a messaging system that plays an emergency message to said driver, providing instructions to pull over for safety.

8. An alcohol monitoring system employed in a vehicle comprising:

a system for detecting amount of alcohol in a driver operating the vehicle to determine whether the driver is deemed intoxicated;

a speed controller for setting a maximum speed of the vehicle to a predetermined level above zero in the event that the amount of alcohol detected in the driver is above a predetermined threshold and said driver is deemed intoxicated, said speed is set so as to reduce the impact of a collision while the vehicle is being driven by said intoxicated driver;

a telecommunication system configured to automatically call a remote location, in the event that the amount of the alcohol detected in the driver is above the predetermined threshold;

a speaker and microphone unit so as to allow hands free communication between the driver and a person located at said remote location so as to allow said person located at said remote location to safely guide said driver to a nearby safe location wherein information on said safe location is retrieved from a database located at said remote location; and

a global positioning satellite system that provides the geographical location of the vehicle to said remote location for providing further assistance to said driver based on said remote location,

wherein said driver receives from said remote location an indication that a designated driver will arrive at said driver'"'"'s location, wherein said remote location identifies said designated driver based on information stored in a database in said remote location identifying at least one designated driver who is close to said driver.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:

a steering wheel having a plurality of pores for conducting vapor generated from driver'"'"'s perspiring pores, wherein said alcohol detecting system includes a vapor analyzer that produces an electrical signal in proportion to an amount of alcohol present in said vapor.

10. The system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said steering wheel includes a pore cleaning system configured to remove dirt and debris from said pores.

11. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said pore cleaning system further comprises an air blowing system to blow said dirt and debris Out.

12. The system in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a skin temperature monitor to monitor skin temperature prior to performing a skin alcohol test.

13. The system in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a distance measuring monitor to measure the distance of the steering wheel from the person'"'"'s skin so as to provide an indication when a driver'"'"'s hand is moved far enough for the system to indicate an accurate measurement of alcohol.

14. The system in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a pH detector so as to determine whether the driver'"'"'s hands are in direct contact with said steering wheel.

15. The system in accordance with claim 9, wherein if said vapor analyzer system fails to detect alcohol because said driver failed to provide adequate perspiration for analysis said speed controller sets the maximum speed of the vehicle to said predetermined level above zero.

16. The system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a camera system configured to provide an image of the driver to said remote location so as to determine whether said driver is authorized to drive the vehicle.

17. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a fuel injection system coupled to said speed controller so as to control the amount of fuel injected to the vehicle'"'"'s engine.

18. The system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising an air valve unit within a throttle system coupled to said speed controller so as to control the amount of air that can be provided to the combustion mechanism.

19. The system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a gear lock mechanism coupled to said speed controller, configured to set the vehicle'"'"'s gears to a predetermined low level so as to maintain the speed of the vehicle at said predetermined level above zero.

20. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said driver receives from said remote location driving directions to said safe location.

21. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein when said telecommunication system automatically calls said remote location, a code sequence is transmitted during said automatic call to said remote location indicating that the call relates to said intoxicated driver.

22. The system in accordance with claim 8 wherein an emergency message is played to said driver, via said speaker and microphone unit, providing instructions to pull over for safety.