Alcohol detection system for vehicle driver testing with integral temperature compensation

• US 9,296,298 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TransBiotec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TransBiotec, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Nolann George, Williams, Ronald Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Assistant Examiner(s): INGRAM, THOMAS P
• Application Number:
  US14/564,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20150165903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0836 due to alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/04 by investigating resistance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/14 of an electrically-heated body in dependence upon change of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4833 of solid biological material, e.g. tissue samples, cell cultures tissue in vivo A61B5/00; cell suspensions G01N33/48735
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/98 involving alcohol, e.g. ethanol in breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/90 Breath testing

Abstract

An alcohol detection system incorporates a resistive touch sensor mountable in a vehicle for determining presence of alcohol based on changed skin resistance. An ignition interlock is provided in the vehicle and a microcontroller is connected to and receives data from the touch sensor and provides a signal to open the interlock to disable the vehicle upon receipt of data from the touch sensor exceeding a predetermined value. The system also employs operator identification and vehicle location systems with a data logger allowing the microcontroller to store data on test results, operator identification and vehicle location. Additionally, the system may employ a cellular communication system to allow reporting of the data to a remote location.

Claims

1. An alcohol detection system comprising:

a resistive vapor sensor having internal components of an alcohol vapor sensor element and a heating element, mountable in a vehicle for determining presence of alcohol based on ethanol content of vapor excreted from skin, said vapor sensor triggered for an initial reading by a touch sensor and triggered for a second reading at a predetermined time differential, one of the internal components, said alcohol vapor sensor element or said heating element, connected to automatically provide temperature compensation;

an ignition interlock in the vehicle;

a microcontroller connected to the internal component and providing feedback control to a heater in the resistive vapor sensor for temperature compensation and receiving data from the vapor sensor for comparison of the initial reading and the second reading, the microcontroller further connected to the ignition interlock and providing a signal to open the interlock to disable the vehicle upon a determination of differential of data from the vapor sensor at the initial reading and the second reading exceeding a predetermined value.

2. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 1 further comprising an identity verification system for an operator touching the touch sensor, said identify verification system selected from the set of a fingerprint reader, said fingerprint reader connected to and providing data to the microcontroller or a camera providing image data to the microcontroller.

3. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 2 wherein the identity verification system includes an operator detector.

4. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 1 wherein said heating element internal to the resistive vapor sensor is connected to automatically provide temperature compensation.

5. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 4 wherein the microcontroller receives a voltage differential across the internal heater and provides a responsive control output to an operational amplifier as a control input to a transistor intermediate a power source and the resistive vapor sensor.

6. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 4 wherein the microcontroller receives a voltage differential across the internal heater and provides a responsive control output to a pulse width modulation circuit as a control input to a power source providing power to the resistive vapor sensor.

7. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 4 wherein the microcontroller receives a voltage differential across the alcohol vapor sensor element and provides a responsive control output to an operational amplifier as a control input to a transistor intermediate a power source and the resistive vapor sensor.

8. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 4 wherein the microcontroller receives a voltage differential across the alcohol vapor sensor element and provides a responsive control output to a pulse width modulation circuit as a control input to a power source providing power to the resistive vapor sensor.

9. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 1 said alcohol vapor sensor element internal to the resistive vapor sensor is connected to automatically provide temperature compensation.

10. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a data logger connected to the microcontroller, said data logger receiving and storing data from the microcontroller including touch sensor data.

11. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a GPS locator connected to and providing location data to the microcontroller.

12. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a global system for modular communications transmitter/receiver connected to the microcontroller, whereby the touch sensor data may be transmitted to a remote facility by the microcontroller.

13. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 1 wherein the touch sensor is a tin oxide Taguchi type sensor and the predetermined time differential is 6 seconds.

14. The alcohol detection system as defined in claim 1 further comprising operator indicators including a first LED connected to the microcontroller and illuminating upon activation by the microcontroller at a predetermined time for initiating an alcohol test, a second LED connected to the microcontroller and illuminating upon commencement of an alcohol test and remaining illuminated for the predetermined time differential and a third LED connected to the microcontroller and illuminating upon a failed alcohol detection test.

15. An alcohol detection system for installation in a vehicle comprising:

a resistive touch sensor and a fingerprint reader mounted in a detector case in a vehicle, said touch sensor for determining contact of a finger based on skin resistance and presence of alcohol based on ethanol content of vapor excreted from skin, said resistive touch sensor including a vapor sensor having a heater element and an alcohol vapor sensor element integral to said sensor, a selected one of said heater element and alcohol vapor sensor element monitored for temperature compensation, with power to said vapor sensor controlled by feedback from said selected one of said heater element and alcohol vapor sensor element, said vapor sensor triggered for an initial reading upon touch and triggered for a second reading at a predetermined time differential, a determination of differential of data from the vapor sensor at the initial reading and the second reading compared to a predetermined value, and said fingerprint reader for verifying the identity of an operator touching the resistive touch sensor;

an ignition interlock in the vehicle;

a microcontroller connected to and receiving data from the touch sensor and the fingerprint reader, the microcontroller further connected to the ignition interlock and providing a signal to open the interlock to disable the vehicle upon determination of the differential of data from the touch sensor exceeding a predetermined value;

operator indicators including a first LED connected to the microcontroller and illuminating upon activation by the microcontroller at a predetermined time for initiating an alcohol test, a second LED connected to the microcontroller and illuminating upon commencement of an alcohol test and remaining illuminated during a predetermined test period, and a third LED connected to the microcontroller and illuminating upon a failed alcohol detection test;

a location system incorporating a GPS locator connected to and providing location data to the microcontroller;

a data logger connected to the microcontroller, said data logger receiving and storing data from the microcontroller including touch sensor data, fingerprint reader data and location data; and

,

a global system for modular communications transmitter/receiver connected to the microcontroller, whereby the touch sensor data, identity data and location data may be transmitted to a remote facility by the microcontroller.

16. A method for disabling a vehicle with an alcohol detection system including a resistive touch sensor comprising:

initiating a microcontroller by powering an alcohol detection system on;

directing a data logger with the microcontroller to record a startup time;

activating an operator indicator with the microcontroller to notify an operator that a test is required at a predetermined time programmed into the microcontroller;

temperature correcting a vapor sensor having an alcohol vapor sensor element and a heater element using a selected one of the alcohol vapor sensor element or heater element;

reading vapor sensor data with the microcontroller when the operator places a finger on a touch sensor;

activating a second operator indicator with the microcontroller that the test is in process;

activating the elements of an identity verification system and location and anti-theft system with the microcontroller;

collecting data with the microcontroller from the vapor sensor at a predetermined time differential, identity verification system and a location and antitheft system;

if the operator removes his finger before testing is completed at the predetermined time interval, returning to the step of activating the operator indicator a requiring the operator to restart the test;

extinguishing the second operator indicator notifying the operator that the test is complete;

storing time/date information and data from the touch sensor, identity verification system and location and anti-theft system in a data logger;

if the test result shows impairment based on determination of a differential of data from the touch sensor at the predetermined time differential exceeding a predetermined value, notifying operator by illuminating a third operator indicator with the microprocessor to show test failure;

opening the ignition interlock under control of the microprocessor preventing operation of the vehicle; and

, if no impairment is shown by the test, inactivating the microcontroller for a predetermined period until additional testing is required.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

transmitting data commanded by the microcontroller using a global system for modular communications transmitter/receiver with test result data, vehicle location and driver identification.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of opening the ignition interlock further comprises illuminating a vehicle hazard flasher under control of the microprocessor.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of activating the elements of an identity verification system includes activating a fingerprint reader with the microcontroller and activating a camera with the microcontroller for photographic images of the operator.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of temperature correcting comprises providing feedback from the internal component to control power to the vapor sensor.