CAR ALCOHOL MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20110057800A1
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephanie Sofer
• Original Assignee: Stephanie Sofer
• Inventors: Sofer, Stephanie
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data

Abstract

An alcohol monitoring system for monitoring a driver of a car includes a vapor analyzer system for detecting the amount of alcohol in a driver operating the car. A speed controller is provided for setting the maximum speed of the car to a predetermined level in the event that the amount of alcohol detected in the driver is above a predetermined threshold. A cell phone is configured to automatically call a remote call center, in the event that the amount of the alcohol detected in the driver is above the predetermined threshold. Furthermore, a location system is configured to provide the location of the car to said remote call center. A mapping database in said remote call center is configured to provide nearest resting locations to said car so as to guide the driver to drive the car to any one of said locations.

Claims

1. An alcohol monitoring system employed in a vehicle comprising:

a system for detecting amount of alcohol in a driver operating the vehicle to determine whether the driver is deemed intoxicated;

a speed controller for setting a maximum speed of the vehicle to a predetermined level above zero in the event that the amount of alcohol detected in the driver is above a predetermined threshold and said driver is deemed intoxicated, said speed is set so as to reduce the impact of a collision while the vehicle is being driven by said intoxicated driver;

a telecommunication system configured to automatically call a remote location, in the event that the amount of the alcohol detected in the driver is above the predetermined threshold;

a speaker and microphone unit so as to allow hands free communication between the driver and a person located at said remote location so as to allow said person located at said remote location to safely guide said driver to a nearby safe location wherein information on said safe location is retrieved from a database located at said remote location; and

a global positioning satellite system that provides the geographical location of the vehicle to said remote location for providing further assistance to said driver based on said remote location,

wherein said driver receives from said remote location an indication that a designated driver will arrive at said driver'"'"'s location, wherein said remote location identifies said designated driver based on information stored in a database in said remote location identifying at least one designated driver who is close to said driver.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein an emergency message is played to said driver, via said speaker and microphone unit, providing instructions to pull over for safety.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

a steering wheel having a plurality of pores for conducting vapor generated from driver'"'"'s perspiring pores, wherein said alcohol detecting system includes a vapor analyzer that produces an electrical signal in proportion to an amount of alcohol present in said vapor.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a camera system configured to provide an image of the driver to said remote location so as to determine whether said driver is authorized to drive the vehicle.