Alcohol detection system and method for vehicle

• US 8,201,437 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2009
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Takata, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roy, Punam
• Application Number:
  US12/538,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20100043524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 73/232, 180/272, 702/183
• US Class Current: 73/23.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

Abstract

An alcohol detection system for a vehicle has an alcohol sensor, for which alcohol measurement preparation processing such as heating the alcohol sensor to a predetermined temperature is performed, so that the alcohol sensor operates under the stable operation state. The alcohol measurement preparation processing is started, before a driver actually gets in the vehicle. For example, the preparation processing is started, when a predetermined manipulation of a driver on the vehicle before entering the vehicle is detected. The manipulation may be unlocking or opening of a vehicle door.

Claims

1. An alcohol detection system for a vehicle comprising:

an alcohol detection section that detects alcohol concentration in breath air of a user seating in a driver'"'"'s seat in a vehicle, the alcohol detection section including a measurement chamber for receiving the breath air of the user to be measured and a fan for exhausting residual gas in the measurement chamber;

a measurement preparation operation section that performs at least driving operation of the fan, as an alcohol measurement preparation operation, which changes the alcohol detection section from an initial state to a predetermined stable operation state;

a travel control section that permits normal travel of the vehicle when alcohol concentration measured under the predetermined stable operation state is below a predetermined threshold level, and prohibits travel of the vehicle over a predetermined travel speed when the alcohol concentration is over the threshold level;

a pre-driving output signal detection section that detects a predetermined pre-driving output signal outputted necessarily before an ignition switch is manipulated by the user entering the vehicle from an outside of the vehicle; and

a measurement preparation operation start instruction section that instructs the measurement preparation operation section to start the measurement preparation operation when the pre-driving output signal is detected.

2. The alcohol detection system according to claim 1, wherein:

the alcohol detection section changes to the stable operation state by being heated to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined sensor part; and

the measurement preparation operation section performs a heating operation as the measurement preparation operation.

3. The alcohol detection system according to claim 1, wherein:

the per-driving output signal is generated when the user is outside the vehicle and before entering the vehicle.

4. The alcohol detection system according to claim 1, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a predetermined output signal generated when the user performs a predetermined pre-driving operation required in a pre-driving period.

5. The alcohol detection system according to claim 4, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section is operatively coupled with a smart entry system of the vehicle, which transmits a polling wave in a predetermined key search area around the vehicle, checks an ID code received from a smart key in response to the polling wave, permits unlocking of a door based on a check result of the ID code, and unlocks the door in response to detection of a predetermined door unlock operation of the driver; and

the pre-driving output signal detection section defines, as the pre-driving operation, an area entering operation, in which the user carrying the smart key enters in the predetermined key search area, and detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a predetermined output signal generated in the smart entry system in response to reception of a radio signal transmitted from the smart key or a predetermined output signal generated in a course of operation performed in the smart entry system following the reception of a radio signal.

6. The alcohol detection system according to claim 5, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a predetermined output signal generated in the smart entry system to indicate permission of the unlocking of a door as a result of checking of the ID code.

7. The alcohol detection system according to claim 5, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a predetermined output signal generated in the smart entry system in response to the detection of a predetermined door unlock operation under a condition that the check result of the ID code indicates that the unlocking of a door is permitted.

8. The alcohol detection system according to claim 4, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section is operatively coupled with a keyless entry system of the vehicle, which receives a door unlock request signal and an ID code from a portable key of the driver, checks the ID code, and unlocks a door based on a check result of the ID code and the door unlock request signal; and

the pre-driving output signal detection section defines, as the pre-driving operation, a predetermined door unlock operation made on the portable key carried by the user, and detects, as the pre-driving output signal, an output signal generated in the keyless entry system in response to reception of a radio signal transmitted from the portable key or an output signal generated in a course of operation performed in the keyless entry system following the reception of a radio signal.

9. The alcohol detection system according to claim 8, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a predetermined output signal generated in the keyless entry system to unlock the door based on the check result of the ID code and the door unlock request signal.

10. The alcohol detection system according to claim 4, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section defines, as the pre-driving operation, a door unlock operation by the user outside the vehicle, and detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a predetermined output signal generated when a door of the vehicle is unlocked in response to a predetermined door unlocking manipulation of the driver performed before entering the vehicle.

11. The alcohol detection system according to claim 4, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section defines, as the pre-driving operation, a door opening operation by the user outside the vehicle, and detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a predetermined output signal generated when a door of the vehicle is opened from a closed state before entering the vehicle.

12. The alcohol detection system according to claim 1, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section detects, the measurement preparation operation start instruction means detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a reference time signal generated at a predetermined measurement preparation start time, which is set to be earlier than a predetermined reference time.

13. The alcohol detection system according to claim 1, wherein:

the measurement preparation start instruction section outputs a drive instruction for starting the measurement preparation operation in response to detection of the pre-driving output signal outputted from a device mounted in the vehicle; and

the measurement preparation start instruction section drives an operation part for performing the measurement preparation operation when the drive instruction is outputted, by power supply from a battery mounted in the vehicle.

14. The alcohol detection system according to claim 2, wherein:

the per-driving output signal is generated when the user is outside the vehicle and before entering the vehicle.

15. The alcohol detection system according to claim 2, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a predetermined output signal generated when the user performs a predetermined pre-driving operation required in a pre-driving period.

16. The alcohol detection system according to claim 2, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section detects, the measurement preparation operation start instruction means detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a reference time signal generated at a predetermined measurement preparation start time, which is set to be earlier than a predetermined reference time.

17. The alcohol detection system according to claim 2, wherein:

the measurement preparation start instruction section outputs a drive instruction for starting the measurement preparation operation in response to detection of the pre-driving output signal outputted from a device mounted in the vehicle; and

the measurement preparation start instruction section drives an operation part for performing the measurement preparation operation when the drive instruction is outputted, by power supply from a battery mounted in the vehicle.

18. The alcohol detection system according to claim 3, wherein:

the pre-driving output signal detection section detects, as the pre-driving output signal, a predetermined output signal generated when the user performs a predetermined pre-driving operation required in a pre-driving period.

19. The alcohol detection system according to claim 3, wherein:

the measurement preparation start instruction section outputs a drive instruction for starting the measurement preparation operation in response to detection of the pre-driving output signal outputted from a device mounted in the vehicle; and

the measurement preparation start instruction section drives an operation part for performing the measurement preparation operation when the drive instruction is outputted, by power supply from a battery mounted in the vehicle.

20. The alcohol detection system according to claim 4, wherein:

the measurement preparation start instruction section outputs a drive instruction for starting the measurement preparation operation in response to detection of the pre-driving output signal outputted from a device mounted in the vehicle; and

the measurement preparation start instruction section drives an operation part for performing the measurement preparation operation when the drive instruction is outputted, by power supply from a battery mounted in the vehicle.