Breathalyzer with voice recognition

• US 6,726,636 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Loran Technologies, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Loran Technologies, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Der Ghazarian, Viken, Der Ghazarian, Ohanes
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/866,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20020084130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 600/532, 73/233, 422/84
• US Class Current: 600/532
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data

Abstract

A Voice recognition Breathalyzer comprises of a microphone for transducing spoken expression into electronic signals and a breathalyzer sensor for transducing given breath content into electronic signals.

An audio and breathalyzer sensor circuit for conditioning said electronic signals from said microphone and breathalyzer sensor;

a memory storage for storing speech templates and toxic breath setting;

a processor for processing said conditioned electronic signals and for simultaneously comparing the processed, conditioned electronic signals with said speech templates and said toxic breath setting threshold stored in said memory storage, said processor generating a unique signal when said processed, conditioned electronic signals are substantially similar to one of said speech templates and below said toxic breath setting threshold. In the preferred embodiment of invention said voice recognition breathalyzer is mobil and it'"'"'s powered by a battery and said unique signals are transmitted by an RF link.

Claims

1. A vehicle voice recognition breathalyzer system comprising:

a. a microphone for receiving spoken expression and generating a signal corresponding to said spoken expression;

b. a breathalyzer sensor receiving a breath sample and generating a signal corresponding to said breath sample;

c. an audio and breathalyzer sensor input circuit for receiving and conditioning said signals generated from said microphone and said breathalyzer sensor;

d. a memory storage for storing speech templates and a breath toxicity setting;

e. a vehicle breathalyzer CPU for receiving said conditioned signals generated from said audio and breathalyzer sensor input circuit, said vehicle breathalyzer CPU being operative to process and compare said conditioned electronic signals with said speech templates and said toxic breath settings stored in said memory storage; and

f. a communications device selected from the group consisting of a pager and mobile phone;

g. a GPS system;

h. wherein said vehicle breathalyzer CPU is further operative to generate a pass signal when said processed, conditioned electronic signals are substantially similar to a respective one of said speech templates stored within said memory and below said breath toxicity setting, respectively; and

i. wherein said vehicle breathalyzer CPU is operative to activate said communications device to transmit a coded signal containing information indicative of a user ID and breath toxicity content to a remote monitoring station and activate said GPS to transmit information indicative of the location of said vehicle when said communications signal is transmitted upon receipt of either;

i. a spoken expression that is not substantially identical to a speech template stored within said memory storage;

or

ii. said conditioned electronic signal corresponding to said breath sample possesses a toxicity exceeding said breath toxicity setting.

2. The vehicular voice recognition breathalyzer system of claim 1 wherein said system further comprises:

a. engine immobilization circuitry operatively coupled to the engine of the vehicle, said engine immobilization circuitry being operative to receive signals from said remote monitoring station and immobilize said engine of the vehicle upon receipt of said signals transmitted by said remote monitoring station.

3. The vehicular voice recognition breathalyzer system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle breathalyzer CPU is operative to permit operation of said vehicle upon generation of said pass signal.

4. A vehicular voice recognition breathalyzer comprising:

a. a vehicle;

b. a remote monitoring station;

c. microphone means for receiving spoken expression and producing a first signal corresponding thereto;

d. breathalyzer sensor means for receiving a breath sample and transmitting a second signal corresponding thereto;

e. an audio and breathalyzer sensor input means for receiving and conditioning said first and second signals;

f. storage means for storing speech templates and breath toxicity settings;

g. a vehicle breathalyzer CPU operative to receive said conditioned signals and compare said signals with said speech templates and said breath toxicity settings stored in said storage means;

h. a communications device selected from the group consisting of a pager and mobile phone, said communications device being installed within said vehicle;

i. a GPS system operatively coupled to said vehicle, said GPS system being operative to produce a signal corresponding to the location of said vehicle; and

j. wherein when spoken expression is provided to said microphone means and a breath sample is provided to said breathalyzer sensor means, said vehicle breathalyzer CPU is operative to produce a pass signal when said spoken expression conforms to said specific speech template for said individual stored within said storage means as prescribed by said unique coded signal and said breath sample possesses a toxicity below a breath toxicity setting stored within said storage means; and

k. wherein said vehicle breathalyzer CPU is operative to actuate said communications device to generate a communication signal to said monitoring station and actuate said GPS device to transmit a signal indicative of said vehicle'"'"'s location upon either;

i. a spoken expression that is not substantially identical to a speech template stored within said storage means;

or

ii. said conditioned electronic signal corresponding to said breath sample possesses a toxicity exceeding said breath toxicity setting, said communications device being operative to transmit a coded signal containing information indicative of user ID and breath alcohol content to a remote monitoring station.

5. A vehicular voice recognition breathalyzer comprising:

a. a vehicle;

b. a remote monitoring station;

c. microphone means for receiving spoken expression and producing a first signal corresponding thereto;

d. breathalyzer sensor means for receiving a breath sample and transmitting a second signal corresponding thereto;

e. an audio and breathalyzer sensor input means for receiving and conditioning said first and second signals;

f. storage means for storing speech templates and breath toxicity settings;

g. a vehicle breathalyzer CPU operative to receive said conditioned signals and compare said signals with said speech templates and said breath toxicity settings stored in said storage means;

h. a first RF transceiver or receiver operatively coupled to said vehicle breathalyzer CPU;

i. a second RF transceiver or receiver adapted to be operatively coupled to an individual, said first and second transceivers or receivers being operative to communicate a unique code signal to one another when said first and second transceivers or receivers are in close proximity relative said vehicle, said unique coded signal being operative to select a specific speech template password and breath toxicity setting stored within said memory storage, said speech template password and said breath toxicity setting being operative to selectively identify said individual;

j. wherein when spoken expression is provided to said microphone means and a breath sample is provided to said breathalyzer sensor means, said vehicle breathalyzer CPU is operative to produce a pass signal when said spoken expression conforms to said specific speech template for said individual stored within said storage means as prescribed by said unique coded signal and said breath sample possesses a toxicity below a breath toxicity setting stored within said storage means; and

k. wherein said vehicle breathalyzer CPU is operative to produce an audio/visual signal when said spoken expression that is not substantially identical to said specific speech template password.