Detecting device, method, program and system

• US 8,306,278 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Okamoto, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US12/345,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20090169068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol

Abstract

In a detecting device for detecting a fake test of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) that another testee different from an actual driver takes on behalf of the actual driver of a vehicle using an alcohol measurement device, the face image of the testee taking the BAC test is shot during measurement of the BAC and the face image of the driver of the vehicle is shot within a predetermined period of time before or after the measurement of the BAC. The testee and the driver are checked whether they are the same person based on the face images of the testee and the driver.

Claims

1. A detecting device for detecting a fake test of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) that a person different from driver of a vehicle takes on behalf of the driver using an alcohol measurement device, comprising:

a testee image pick-up means for picking up a face image of a testee shot during an alcohol measurement;

a driver image pick-up means for picking up a face image of the driver shot within a predetermined period of time before or after the alcohol measurement; and

a checking means for checking the testee and the driver based on the face images of the testee and the driver,

wherein the alcohol measurement device displays a predetermined change in an appearance thereof during the alcohol measurement, the appearance change being shot together with the face of the testee,

wherein the detecting device further comprises a measurement judging means for judging whether the alcohol measurement is performed properly based on the appearance change of the alcohol measurement device appearing in the face image of the testee, and

wherein the detecting device further comprises;

a seat-leaving monitoring means for monitoring whether the driver leaves the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle; and

a vehicle control means for limiting driving the vehicle when it is judged that the testee and the driver do not coincide or the driver left the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, and releasing driving the vehicle when it is judged that the testee and the driver coincide and the measured BAC is below a certain level.

2. The detecting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle control means for limiting driving the vehicle when the testee and the driver do not coincide.

3. The detecting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle control means for limiting driving the vehicle when the measurement judging means judges that the alcohol measurement is not performed properly.

4. The detecting device according to claim 1:

wherein the checking means picks up the face images of the driver shot at given timings and repeats to check the testee and the driver based on the face image of the testee and the newly picked up face image of the driver.

5. A detecting method for detecting a fake test of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) that a person different from driver of a vehicle takes on behalf of the driver using an alcohol measurement device, the method comprising:

picking up a face image of the testee shot during the alcohol measurement;

picking up a face image of the driver within a predetermined period of time before or after the alcohol measurement; and

checking the testee and the driver based on the face images of the testee and the driver,

wherein the alcohol measurement device displays a predetermined change in an appearance thereof during the alcohol measurement, the appearance change being shot together with the face of the testee,

wherein the detecting device further comprises a measurement judging means for judging whether the alcohol measurement is performed properly based on the appearance change of the alcohol measurement device appearing in the face image of the testee, and

wherein the detecting method further comprises;

monitoring whether the driver leaves the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle; and

limiting driving the vehicle when it is judged that the testee and the driver do not coincide or the driver left the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, and releasing driving the vehicle when it is judged that the testee and the driver coincide and the measured BAC is below a certain level.

6. A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium comprising instructions for executing all the steps of the method according to claim 5, when the computer program is executed on a computer.

7. A detecting system for detecting a fake test of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) that a person different from driver of a vehicle takes on behalf of the driver, comprising:

an alcohol measurement device for measuring the BAC;

a camera for taking pictures of a testee undergoing the alcohol measurement using the alcohol measurement device and for taking pictures of the driver of the vehicle;

a testee image pick-up means for picking up a face image of the testee from the camera shot during the alcohol measurement using the alcohol measurement device;

a driver image pick-up means for picking up a face image of the driver of the vehicle from the camera shot within a predetermined period of time before or after the alcohol measurement; and

a checking means for checking the testee and the driver based on the face images of the testee and the driver,

wherein the alcohol measurement device displays a predetermined change in an appearance thereof during the alcohol measurement, the appearance change being shot together with the face of the testee, and

wherein the detecting device further comprises a measurement judging means for judging whether the alcohol measurement is performed properly based on the appearance change of the alcohol measurement device appearing in the face image of the testee,

wherein the detecting system further comprises;

a seat-leaving monitoring means for monitoring whether the driver leaves the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle; and

a vehicle control means for limiting driving the vehicle when it is judged that the testee and the driver do not coincide or the driver left the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, and releasing driving the vehicle when it is judged that the testee and the driver coincide and the measured BAC is below a certain level.