Method to avert an unlawfully intoxicated driver from operating a vehicle by passive measurement of an ethanol vapor concentration in air

• US 8,455,262 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sultan, Michel F., Lambert, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US11/903,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20120152638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,084 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/83, 422/82.01, 436/43, 436/52, 436/181
• US Class Current: 436/181
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/61 Non-dispersive gas analysers G01N21/3504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/117497 with a continuously flowing sample or carrier stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25875 Gaseous sample or with change of physical state

Abstract

A method to avert an unlawfully intoxicated driver from operating a vehicle is provided. The method utilizes a passive ethanol vapor sensor to measure ethanol vapor concentration in air from a vehicle cabin and imposes a safety response when the passive ethanol vapor sensor detects that a sample of vehicle cabin air indicates that a vehicle occupant exceeds the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a motor vehicle driver. The ethanol vapor sensor may have a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode. Ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin may be passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. An active breathalyzer may be used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A method to avert an unlawfully intoxicated driver from operating a vehicle comprising:

utilizing a passive ethanol vapor sensor configured to measure ethanol vapor concentration in air from a vehicle cabin;

passing vehicle cabin air, including sample ethanol vapor, through an adsorber;

measuring an output (designated V_off) of an infrared detector, with an infrared source deactivated;

heating the adsorber;

measuring an output (designated V_on) of the infrared detector, with the infrared source activated;

passing concentrated sample ethanol vapor from the adsorber into and through an infrared absorption cell at a predetermined time;

measuring a change in an output (designated V_sig) of the infrared detector; and

calculating a ratio V_sig/(V_on−

V_off), wherein the ratio V_sig/(V_on−

V_off) is indicative of the ethanol vapor concentration in the vehicle cabin air; and

imposing a safety response when the passive ethanol vapor sensor detects that a sample of vehicle cabin air indicates that a vehicle occupant exceeds a legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a driver.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the infrared detector measures ethanol concentration in the vehicle cabin air of at least 0.1 parts per million (ppm).

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the infrared detector measures ethanol concentration in the vehicle cabin air of 0.1 ppm to 10 ppm, including a standard deviation.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the safety response includes setting a counter which requires an active breathalyzer test utilizing an active ethanol vapor sensor for at least one of a predetermined number of vehicle trips.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the safety response includes setting a counter which requires an active breathalyzer test utilizing an active ethanol vapor sensor for a predetermined time to prevent a vehicle engine from restarting until a driver'"'"'s BAC is measured at a level established as legal to operate a motor vehicle.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the safety response includes warning passengers to fasten seat belts.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the safety response includes transmitting vehicle cabin ethanol measurements to a vehicle recorder.