Blood constituent concentration detector and starter for transporter

• US 8,306,595 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Osaki, Rie, Inagaki, Mitsuo, Komura, Takashi, Tatsumoto, Hirohiko
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/588,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20100125187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 600/322
• US Class Current: 600/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol

Abstract

A blood constituent concentration detector includes: a detection portion having an optical window for measuring a blood constituent concentration of a part of a living body in an optical manner when the part of the living body is pressed on the detection portion; a load determination element for determining whether a load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than a first threshold, and smaller than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is larger than the first threshold; and a measurement element for measuring the blood constituent concentration when the load determination element determines that the load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than the first threshold, and smaller than the second threshold.

Claims

1. A starter for controlling start of a power source of a transporter based on operation of a starter switch by a driver, the starter comprising:

a detection portion having an optical window for measuring an alcohol concentration in blood of the driver in an optical manner;

a load determination element for determining whether a load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than a first threshold, and smaller than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is larger than the first threshold;

a measurement element for measuring the alcohol concentration in the blood when the load determination element determines that the load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than the first threshold, and smaller than the second threshold;

a starting permission element for determining start permission of the power source based on determination whether the alcohol concentration in the blood is smaller than a predetermined standard;

a permission lamp for showing the start permission of the power source; and

a starting controller for controlling the start of the power source,

wherein the permission lamp turns on when the starting permission element determines the start permission of the power source,

wherein, when the load determination element determines that the load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than both the first threshold and the second threshold, after the permission lamp turns on, the starting controller determines that the operation of the detection portion by the driver provides the operation of the starter switch by the driver, and

wherein the starting controller starts the power source when the starting permission element determines the start permission of the power source, and the operation of the detection portion by the driver provides the operation of the starter switch by the driver.

2. The starter according to claim 1,

wherein the starting controller starts the power source when the starting permission element determines the start permission, the load determination element determines that the load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than the second threshold, and the operation of the detection portion by the driver provides the operation of the starter switch by the driver.

3. The starter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a warning lamp for showing a start prohibition,

wherein the warning lamp turns on when the starting permission element determines the start prohibition of the power source.

4. The starter according to claim 3,

wherein, when the load determination element determines that the load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than the first threshold, and is smaller than the second threshold, a power source position is switched to an accessory position,

wherein the measurement element measures a pulse wave using two wavelengths of light, and calculates a ratio of wave heights in a same pulse beat of the pulse wave according to the wave heights of two pulse wave signals using two wavelengths of light, so that the measurement element measures the alcohol concentration in blood,

wherein the starting permission element compares the ratio of wave heights with a standard wave height ratio,

wherein, when the ratio of wave heights is smaller than the standard wave height ratio, the starting permission element determines the start permission of the power source, and

wherein, when the ratio of wave heights is equal to or larger than the standard wave height ratio, the starting permission element determines the start prohibition of the power source.

5. The starter according to claim 1, wherein the detection portion is a starter switch for the transporter.

6. A starter for controlling start of a power source of a vehicle based on an operation of a starter switch by a driver, the starter comprising:

a detection portion having an optical window configured to optically measure an alcohol concentration in blood of the driver;

a load determination element configured to determine whether a load to the detection portion is either smaller than a first threshold or equal to or larger than the first threshold, and is configured to determine whether the load to the detection portion is either smaller than a second threshold or equal to or larger than the second threshold, wherein the second threshold is larger than the first threshold;

a measurement element configured to measure the alcohol concentration in the blood when the load determination element determines that the load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than the first threshold, and smaller than the second threshold;

a starting permission element configured to determine whether the power source may be started based on a determination as to whether the alcohol concentration in the blood is smaller than a predetermined standard, and configured to indicate when the power source may be started;

a permission lamp configured to turn on when the starting permission element indicates that the power source may be started; and

a starting controller configured to control a start of the power source;

wherein the starting controller is further configured to determine that the operation of the detection portion by the driver indicates the operation of the starter switch when the load determination element determines that the load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than both the first threshold and the second threshold, after the permission lamp turns on, and wherein the starting controller is further configured to start the power source when the starting permission element indicates that the power source may be started, and when the starting controller determines that the operation of the detection portion by the driver indicates the operation of the starter switch.

7. The starter according to claim 6, further comprising:

a warning lamp configured to turn on when the starting permission element indicates that the power source may not be started.

8. The starter according to claim 6,

wherein the measurement element is configured to measure a pulse wave using two wavelengths of light, and is configured to calculate a ratio of wave heights in a same pulse beat of the pulse wave according to the wave heights of two pulse wave signals using two wavelengths of light, so that the measurement element is configured to measure the alcohol concentration in blood,

wherein the starting permission element is configured to compare the ratio of wave heights with a standard wave height ratio,

wherein the starting permission element is configured to determine that the power source may be started when the ratio of wave heights is smaller than the standard wave height ratio, and

wherein the starting permission element is configured to determine that the power source may not be started when the ratio of wave heights is equal to or larger than the standard wave height ratio.

9. The starter according to claim 6, wherein the detection portion is a starter switch for the transporter.