Alcohol interlock system with wireless data transmission and safety function

• US 8,240,419 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Inventors: Morley, Stefan, Zimmermann, Martin, Reinhart, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRISBY, KEITH J
• Application Number:
  US12/772,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20100314190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 180/272, 340/576, 73/233, 701/1
• US Class Current: 180/272
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol

Abstract

An interlock system (1) for a vehicle is provided with an alcohol tester (4), which is designed to measure the alcohol level of a driver of the vehicle. A control device (2) is coupled with the alcohol tester (4) and is designed to make it possible to start the vehicle or to prevent the vehicle from being started depending on the measured alcohol level. A transceiver module (3) is coupled with the control device (2) and is designed to send data to a remotely located control system in a wireless manner or to receive data from said control system in a wireless manner. The transceiver module (3) is designed, furthermore, to release the control device (2) in response to data received in a wireless manner in order to make it possible to start the vehicle regardless of the operating state of the control device.

Claims

1. An interlock system for a vehicle, the interlock system comprising:

an alcohol tester for measuring an alcohol level of a driver of the vehicle;

a control device coupled with said alcohol tester for allowing starting of the vehicle or preventing the vehicle from being started depending on the measured alcohol level; and

a transceiver module coupled with said control device for sending data to a remotely located control system in a wireless manner and for receiving data in a wireless manner, said transceiver module releasing said control device in response to data received in a wireless manner in order to allow starting of the vehicle regardless of an operating state of said control device, said control device having a switching device coupled with a starter of the vehicle, said switching device being switched by means of an analyzing unit of said control device depending on the measured alcohol level, said transceiver module having a transceiver module switching device connected in parallel to said switching device of said control device, said transceiver module switching device being switched in response to data received in a wireless manner.

2. An interlock system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said alcohol tester is a breath alcohol tester comprising a hand-held device connected to said control device via an electric cable.

3. An interlock system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control device turns on or blocks a power supply to the starter of the vehicle depending on the measured alcohol level.

4. An interlock system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transceiver module is connected to said control device via an electric cable, wherein said electric cable has at least one data line, power supply lines and lines for bypassing said switching device provided in said control device and coupled with the starter of the vehicle.

5. An interlock system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said transceiver module and said control device have a memory written to and read by means of wireless data transmission.

6. An interlock system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transceiver module releasing said control device in response to data received in a wireless manner has a time limitation or a duration of release is reported to said transceiver module by means of data transmitted in a wireless manner.

7. An interlock system in accordance with claim 1, wherein maintenance of the interlock system and/or a self-test of the interlock system can be performed by means of wireless data transmission, wherein the result of the self-test and/or individual checked values are transmitted to said control system in a wireless manner.

8. An interlock system in accordance with claim 1, wherein parameter settings of the interlock system can be modified and/or software updates of the interlock system can be performed by means of wireless data transmission.

9. An interlock system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wireless data transmission takes place at regular intervals or is triggered by a certain event.

10. An interlock system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control device and said transceiver module are embodied on a common printed circuit board.

11. An interlock system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transceiver module is coupled directly with said control device and is electrically connected to said control device by means of corresponding connections.

12. An interlock system for a vehicle, the interlock system comprising:

an alcohol tester for measuring an alcohol level of a driver of the vehicle;

a control device coupled with said alcohol tester for allowing starting of the vehicle or preventing the vehicle from being started depending on the measured alcohol level; and

a transceiver module coupled with said control device for sending data to a remotely located control system in a wireless manner and for receiving data in a wireless manner, said transceiver module releasing said control device in response to data received in a wireless manner in order to allow starting of the vehicle regardless of an operating state of said control device, wherein said transceiver module is supplied with voltage independently from said control device in order to be able to release said control device in case of a technical defect of said control device in response to data transmitted to said transceiver module in a wireless manner.

13. An interlock system for a vehicle, the interlock system comprising:

an alcohol tester for measuring an alcohol level of a driver of the vehicle;

a control device coupled with said alcohol tester for allowing starting of the vehicle or preventing the vehicle from being started depending on the measured alcohol level; and

a transceiver module coupled with said control device for sending data to a remotely located control system in a wireless manner and for receiving data in a wireless manner, said transceiver module releasing said control device in response to data received in a wireless manner in order to allow starting of the vehicle regardless of an operating state of said control device wherein said control device has a semiconductor switching means coupled with a starter of the vehicle, said semiconductor switching means being switched by means of an analyzing unit of said control device depending on the measured alcohol level, said semiconductor switching means comprising one or more power transistors, thyristors or MOSFETs.

14. An interlock system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said transceiver module comprises a transceiver module semiconductor switching means connected in parallel to said semiconductor switching means of said control device, said transceiver module semiconductor switching means being switched in response to data received in a wireless manner.

15. An interlock system for a vehicle with a battery and a starter and an ignition circuit between the battery and the starter, the interlock system comprising:

an alcohol tester for measuring an alcohol level of a driver of the vehicle;

a control device coupled with said alcohol tester and with a switching device in said ignition circuit with an off switch state preventing the vehicle from being started and a switched on state for allowing starting of the vehicle, said control device changing the state of said switching device depending on the measured alcohol level;

a supply voltage bypass circuit electrically connected to the battery and electrically connected to the starter and bypassing said control device; and

a transceiver module coupled with said control device for sending data from said control device to a remotely located control system in a wireless manner and for receiving data in a wireless manner, said transceiver module including a transceiver module switching device in said supply voltage bypass circuit with an off switch state blocking current flow in said supply voltage bypass circuit from the battery to the starter and a switched on state not blocking current flow in said supply voltage bypass circuit from the battery to the starter for allowing starting of the vehicle, said transceiver module switching device assuming said switched on state in response to data received in a wireless manner in order to allow starting of the vehicle regardless of the operating state of said control device.

16. An interlock system in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

said alcohol tester is a breath alcohol tester comprising a hand-held device connected to said control device via an electric cable; and

said control device turns on or blocks a power supply to a starter of the vehicle depending on the measured alcohol level.

17. An interlock system in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said switching device of said control device has a relay coupled with the starter of the vehicle, said relay being switched by means of an analyzing unit of said control device depending on the measured alcohol level; and

said transceiver module switching device has a transceiver module relay in said supply voltage bypass circuit connected in parallel to said relay of said control device, said transceiver module relay being switched in response to data received in a wireless manner.

18. An interlock system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said transceiver module is connected to said control device via an electric cable, wherein said electric cable has at least one data line, power supply lines and lines for bypassing the relay provided in said control device, coupled with the starter of the vehicle and forming said supply voltage bypass circuit.

19. An interlock system in accordance with claim 18, wherein at least one of said transceiver module and said control device have a memory written to and read by means of wireless data transmission.

20. An interlock system for a vehicle, the interlock system comprising:

an alcohol tester for measuring an alcohol level of a driver of the vehicle;

a control device coupled with said alcohol tester for allowing starting of the vehicle or preventing the vehicle from being started depending on the measured alcohol level; and

a transceiver module coupled with said control device for sending data to a remotely located control system in a wireless manner and for receiving data in a wireless manner, said transceiver module releasing said control device in response to data received in a wireless manner in order to allow starting of the vehicle regardless of an operating state of said control device, said transceiver module being connected to said control device via an electric cable, said electric cable having at least one data line, power supply lines and lines for bypassing a relay provided in said control device and coupled with a starter of the vehicle.