Alcohol sensitive apparatus and method for vehicles

• US 20040083031A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pathfins C. Okezie
• Original Assignee: Pathfins C. Okezie
• Inventors: Okezie, Pathfins C.
• Application Number:
  US10/426,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20040083031A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed comprising a blood alcohol content sensing device which senses that a potential driver of a vehicle has a blood alcohol content above a limit. The blood alcohol sensing device sends a signal which causes operation of the vehicle to be disabled. At least part of the blood alcohol content sensing device may be incorporated into a steering wheel covering. The apparatus may further include a driver visual indicator device which provides a visual indication to the potential driver of the vehicle when the blood alcohol content of the potential driver is above the limit. A telecommunications device may send a communication signal to a monitoring center when the blood alcohol content of the potential driver is above the limit. A blood alcohol content limit for a particular jurisdiction may be transmitted by a transmitter and received by a vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising

transmitting a signal providing data specifying a blood alcohol content limit for driving vehicles for a particular jurisdiction.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

receiving the signal at a vehicle;

determining a driver'"'"'s blood alcohol content;

comparing the driver'"'"'s blood alcohol content versus the particular jurisdiction'"'"'s blood alcohol content limit for driving vehicles;

and causing operation of a vehicle to cease if the driver'"'"'s blood alcohol content is greater than the particular jurisdiction'"'"'s blood alcohol content limit for driving a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising

saving the data specifying the particular jurisdiction'"'"'s blood alcohol content limit for driving vehicles in memory located at the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein

the signal is transmitted near a border between the particular jurisdiction and another jurisdiction.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein

the particular jurisdiction is a state of the United States of America.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein

the particular jurisdiction and the another jurisdiction are two different states of the United States of America.

7. A method comprising

receiving a signal at a vehicle, wherein the signal includes data specifying a blood alcohol content limit for driving vehicles for a particular jurisdiction;

determining a driver'"'"'s blood alcohol content;

comparing the driver'"'"'s blood alcohol content versus the particular jurisdiction'"'"'s blood alcohol content limit for driving vehicles;

and causing operation of a vehicle to cease if the driver'"'"'s blood alcohol content is greater than the particular jurisdiction'"'"'s blood alcohol content limit for driving a vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising

displaying an indication of the blood alcohol content limit for the particular jurisdiction on a visual display indicator device of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising

providing an audible warning to the driver when the signal is received.

10. An apparatus comprising

a device for receiving a signal, wherein the signal includes data specifying a blood alcohol content limit for driving vehicles for a particular jurisdiction;

a device for determining the blood alcohol content of a driver of a vehicle; and

a processor; and

wherein the processor compares the driver'"'"'s blood alcohol content versus the particular jurisdiction'"'"'s blood alcohol content limit for driving vehicles.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein

the processor causes operation of the vehicle to cease if the driver'"'"'s blood alcohol content is greater than the particular jurisdiction'"'"'s blood alcohol content limit for driving a vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising

a memory;

and

wherein the processor saves the data specifying the particular jurisdiction'"'"'s blood alcohol content limit for driving vehicles in memory.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein

the particular jurisdiction is a state of the United States of America.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising

a driver visual indicator device which displays an indication of the blood alcohol content limit for the particular jurisdiction.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein

the processor provides an audible warning to the driver when the signal is received via a speaker device.