Intoxicated Vehicle Driver Accident Reduction System

• US 20170096146A1
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Published: 04/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Jones
• Original Assignee: Daniel Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,137,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2040/0836 due to alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/087 where the control system corrects or modifies a request from the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/281 between sensors and control unit
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/60 said parameters being related to the driver demands or status
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/26 by applying a torque limit
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/11 After-sales modification devices designed to be used to modify an engine afterwards
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0097 using means for generating speed signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/10 said parameters being related to driver demands or status
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 11/04 Preventing unauthorised use of engines of vehicles B60R25/04; ignition locks H01H27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1502 using one central computing unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

Abstract

A sobriety ignition interlock system including an engine control device and a method for managing available vehicle engine power using the sobriety ignition interlock system. The engine control device includes an engine control processor (ECP) that is electronically connected in between an engine control unit (ECU), an engine sensor assembly, and a sobriety processor. The sobriety processor determines a sobriety level of a vehicle driver and sends a corresponding sobriety signal to the ECP. The ECP intercepts an engine signal transmitted from the engine sensor assembly to the ECU and manipulates the engine signal according to the sobriety signal, in order to manage the available power of the vehicle engine.

Claims

1. An engine control device for use in a sobriety ignition interlock system comprises:

a housing, an engine control processor (ECP), an electronic input port for connecting to an engine sensor assembly, an electronic output port for connecting to an engine control unit (ECU), and a wiring harness for connecting to a sobriety measuring device;

the ECP being positioned within the housing;

the electronic input port and the electronic output port being mounted into the housing;

the ECP being electronically connected in between the electronic input port, the electronic output port, and the wiring harness;

the ECP being configured to receive a sobriety signal from the sobriety measuring device;

the ECP being configured to intercept an engine signal transmitted from the engine sensor assembly to the ECU; and

the ECP being configured to manipulate the engine signal in response to the sobriety signal.

2. The engine control device for use in a sobriety ignition interlock system as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the ECP being configured to terminate the engine signal, wherein the engine signal is not relayed to the ECU.

3. The engine control device for use in a sobriety ignition interlock system as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the ECP being configured to transform the engine signal into a modified engine signal; and

the ECP being configured to transmit the modified engine signal to the ECU.

4. The engine control device for use in a sobriety ignition interlock system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ECP is configured to alter the voltage of the engine signal.

5. The engine control device for use in a sobriety ignition interlock system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ECP is configured to interrupt signal pulses of the engine signal.

6. The engine control device for use in a sobriety ignition interlock system as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the ECP being configured to continuously monitor the engine sensor assembly.

7. The engine control device for use in a sobriety ignition interlock system as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

both the electronic input port and the electronic output port corresponding to a specific vehicle engine platform.

8. A sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle comprises:

an engine control device, a sobriety measuring device, an engine control unit (ECU), and an engine sensor assembly;

the engine control device comprises an engine control processor (ECP);

the sobriety measuring device comprising a sobriety processor;

the ECP being electronically connected in between the sobriety processor, the ECU, and the engine sensor assembly;

the sobriety processor being configured to produce a sobriety signal;

the ECP being configured to receive the sobriety signal from the sobriety processor;

the ECP being configured to intercept an engine signal transmitted from the engine sensor assembly to the ECU; and

the ECP being configured to manipulate the engine signal in response to the sobriety signal.

9. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the engine control device further comprising an electronic output port, an electronic input port, and a wiring harness; and

the ECP being electronically connected in between the electronic input port, the electronic output port, and the wiring harness.

10. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 9 comprises:

the ECU comprising a wiring harness; and

the wiring harness of the ECU being terminally connected to the electronic output port.

11. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 9 comprises:

the engine sensor assembly comprising a wiring harness; and

the wiring harness of the engine sensor assembly being terminally connected to the electronic input port.

12. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 9 comprises:

the sobriety measuring device further comprising a signal-out port;

the signal-out port being electronically connected to the sobriety processor; and

the wiring harness of the engine control device being terminally connected to the signal-out port.

13. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the ECP being configured to terminate the engine signal, wherein the engine signal is not relayed to the ECU.

14. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the ECP being configured to transform the engine signal into a modified engine signal; and

the ECP being configured to transmit the modified engine signal to the ECU.

15. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ECP is configured to alter the voltage of the engine signal.

16. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ECP is configured to interrupt signal pulses of the engine signal.

17. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the ECP being configured to continuously monitor the engine sensor assembly.

18. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the sobriety measuring device further comprising a blood alcohol content (BAC) sensor;

the BAC sensor being electronically connected to the sobriety processor;

the sobriety processor being configured to calculate a sobriety level from a sensor reading derived from the BAC sensor; and

the sobriety processor being configured to produce the sobriety signal according to the sobriety level.

19. The sobriety ignition interlock system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the sobriety measuring device further comprising a haptic input device;

the haptic input device being electronically connected to the sobriety processor;

the sobriety processor being configured to calculate a sobriety level derived from a driver input into the haptic input device; and

the sobriety processor being configured to produce the sobriety signal according to the sobriety level.

20. A method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method comprises the steps of:

providing a vehicle engine, an engine control processor (ECP), a sobriety processor, an engine control unit (ECU), and an engine sensor assembly;

calculating, by the sobriety processor, a sobriety level for a vehicle driver;

comparing, by the sobriety processor, the sobriety level to a sobriety threshold in order to produce a sobriety signal;

sending, by the sobriety processor, the sobriety signal to the ECP;

intercepting, by the ECP, an engine signal transmitted from the engine sensor assembly to the ECU; and

manipulating, by the ECP, the engine signal according to the sobriety signal.

21. The method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method as claimed in claim 21 further comprises the step of:

terminating, by the ECP, the engine signal, if the sobriety level is above the sobriety threshold.

22. The method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method as claimed in claim 21 further comprises the step of:

sending, by the ECP, the engine signal to the ECU, if the sobriety level is below the sobriety threshold.

23. The method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method as claimed in claim 21 further comprises the steps of:

transforming, by the ECP, the engine signal into a modified engine signal, if the sobriety level is above the sobriety threshold; and

sending, by the ECP, the modified engine signal to the ECU.

28. The method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method as claimed in claim 21 further comprises the step of:

eliminating, by the ECU, electric current to spark plugs of the vehicle engine in response to the modified engine signal.

29. The method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method as claimed in claim 21 further comprises the steps of:

receiving, by the sobriety processor, a sensor reading from a blood alcohol content (BAC) sensor; and

calculating, by the sobriety processor, the sobriety level from the sensor reading.

30. The method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method as claimed in claim 21 further comprises the steps of:

receiving, by the sobriety processor, a driver input from a haptic input device; and

calculating, by the sobriety processor, the sobriety level from the driver input.

24. The method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method as claimed in claim 24 further comprises the step of:

retarding, by the ECU, an ignition timing of the vehicle engine in response to the modified engine signal.

25. The method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method as claimed in claim 24 further comprises the step of:

reducing, by the ECU, a quantity of fuel supplied to the vehicle engine in response to the modified engine signal.

26. The method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method as claimed in claim 24 further comprises the step of:

repeatedly interrupting, by the ECP, the engine signal in order to produce the modified engine signal.

27. The method of managing available vehicle engine power, the method as claimed in claim 24 further comprises the step of:

preventing, by the ECU, ignition of the vehicle engine.