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Publication Number
US-12109885-B2
Publication Date
2024-10-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A driver intoxication test system is provided for a vehicle including: a quick intoxication pre-test subsystem for quickly determining whether there is reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated; an intoxication validation test subsystem for determining whether the driver is intoxicated; and a controller is configured to determine whether the quick intoxication pre-test subsystem has detected a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated. When a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated has been detected, an intoxication validation test is conducted and it is determined whether the driver has passed the intoxication validation test. When a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated has not been detected, the controller does not instruct the intoxication validation test subsystem to conduct an intoxication validation test.
Core Innovation
A vehicle driver intoxication test system includes a sensor assembly configured for mounting in the vehicle to detect at least one intoxicating substance within the vehicle, and an intoxication validation test subsystem configured for mounting in the vehicle to determine whether the driver is intoxicated. A controller in communication with the sensor assembly and the intoxication validation test subsystem determines whether the sensor assembly has detected an intoxicating substance.
When the sensor assembly has detected an intoxicating substance, the controller instructs the intoxication validation test subsystem to conduct an intoxication validation test and determines if the driver has passed the intoxication validation test. When the sensor assembly has not detected an intoxicating substance, the controller does not instruct the intoxication validation test subsystem to conduct an intoxication validation test. This architecture links detection of an intoxicating substance to whether a validation test is performed.
A related approach provides a quick intoxication pre-test subsystem for quickly determining whether there is reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated, and an intoxication validation test subsystem for determining whether the driver is intoxicated. The controller determines whether the quick intoxication pre-test subsystem has detected a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated, and only when such suspicion is detected does the controller instruct the intoxication validation test subsystem to conduct an intoxication validation test.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00011, and clm-00020. Across these claims, the coverage centers on conditional execution of an intoxication validation test based on a preceding detection/pre-test, with resulting control of whether the vehicle may start.
Vehicle-mounted intoxicating substance sensor and conditional intoxication validation
A driver intoxication test system for a vehicle comprising a sensor assembly configured for mounting in the vehicle to detect at least one intoxicating substance within the vehicle, an intoxication validation test subsystem configured for mounting in the vehicle to determine whether the driver is intoxicated, and a controller configured to determine whether the sensor assembly has detected an intoxicating substance and, when the sensor assembly has detected an intoxicating substance, instruct the intoxication validation test subsystem to conduct an intoxication validation test and determine if the driver has passed; and, when the sensor assembly has not detected an intoxicating substance, not instruct the intoxication validation test subsystem.
Quick pre-test for reason to suspect intoxication before validation
A driver intoxication test system for a vehicle comprising a quick intoxication pre-test subsystem for quickly determining whether there is reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated, an intoxication validation test subsystem configured to determine whether the driver is intoxicated, and a controller configured to determine whether the quick intoxication pre-test subsystem has detected a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated and, when detected, instruct the intoxication validation test subsystem to conduct an intoxication validation test and determine if the driver has passed; and, when not detected, not instruct the intoxication validation test subsystem.
Ignition lock-out controlled by pre-test and validation test results
A method for testing whether a driver is intoxicated within a vehicle having a vehicle ignition lock-out, comprising performing a quick intoxication pre-test using a sensor subassembly to quickly determine whether there is reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated; when the quick intoxication pre-test has detected a reason to suspect, performing an intoxication validation test; when the intoxication validation test determines that the driver is intoxicated, sending a signal to the vehicle ignition lock-out to prevent the vehicle from starting; when the intoxication validation test determines that the driver is not intoxicated, sending a signal to the vehicle ignition lock-out to allow the vehicle to be started; and when the quick intoxication pre-test has not detected a reason to suspect, sending a signal to the vehicle ignition lock-out to allow the vehicle to be started without conducting the intoxication validation test.
The independent claims require a vehicle intoxication testing architecture where an intoxication validation test is performed only after a preceding detection/pre-test indicates a reason to suspect intoxication, and the method further controls a vehicle ignition lock-out based on whether the driver is intoxicated or not and whether validation is conducted.
Stated Advantages
Faster testing by avoiding lengthy validation when no suspicion is detected.
Improved test control tied to whether detection/pre-test indicates intoxication suspicion, to support accurate validation outcomes.
Use of vehicle components including an image sensor in a rearview assembly and other sensor modalities referenced in the dependent claim set.
Mitigation of driver switching by monitoring identity/seat/occupancy and retesting when driver changes.
Documented Applications
Vehicle driver intoxication testing using a vehicle ignition lock-out to prevent vehicle starting when the driver is intoxicated and to allow vehicle starting based on pre-test and/or validation outcomes.
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