Abstract:
Apparatus for detecting alcohol on the breath including a microprocessor programmed to test breath temperature to guard against circumvention of the test. When the temperature test is passed, the breath alcohol concentration is measured. Responsive to the alcohol concentration, the microprocessor either: enables the ignition for a sober driver; enables the ignition for a tipsy but not drunk driver; disables the ignition, and imposes a programmed wait before allowing the test to be attempted again.

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 462,815, filed Feb. 1, 1983. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to alcohol testing devices and specifically to a device which uses the results of a sobriety breath test to control a switch in an automobile ignition system or in other machinery. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Automobile driving by intoxicated persons is a serious problem responsible for thousands of accidental deaths and extensive property damage every year, yet despite various preventive efforts the problem has defied solution. Many schemes have been suggested to prevent drunks from driving, but because the schemes have all involved some driver inconvenience, none has gained widespread acceptance. Alcohol intoxication can be detected in various ways, all suffering from some drawback. A practical preventive test must be executed automatically without supervision. 
     Reaction time and dexterity test results such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,665,447 and 3,610,943 respectively depend on individual abilities, are only indirectly related to degree of intoxication, and are not always meaningful. Alcohol intoxication is directly measured in a driver&#39;s breath by U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,508 by measuring the optical property change of a chemical solution which is bleached by reacting with alcohol fumes. This system requires an inconvenient frequent change of the solution. U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,382 tests intoxication directly by an exothermic reaction of chemical granules with alcohol in a breath sample with a mercury thermostat to measure the amount of heat generated. The thermostat must be replaced after a failed test. U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,945, tests intoxication by oxidizing any alcohol in a breath sample and measures the heat given off by a change in the electrical resistance of a sensor. That system is relatively complex and expensive. 
     In short, prior art drunk-driving prevention devices generally can be evaded, are inaccurate, unreliable, tedious, inconvenient, or complex and prohibitively expensive. For these and other reasons, no drunk-driving prevention system has gained wide-spread acceptance. There remains, therefore, a real need for a convenient, reliable, and inexpensive sobriety interlock system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved sobriety interlock which takes advantage of a microprocessor to achieve convenient, reliable, and economical control over operation of automobiles or other machinery by inebriated persons. The microprocessor is programmed to make more flexible and advantageous use of breath sensors than was previously known. The interlock requires only a simple connection to an electrical starter system and derives its power from the starter system. No chemicals are used and routine replacement of material is not required. The microprocessor first tests breath temperature, using a thermocouple, to guard against circumvention of the test. When the temperature test is passed, the breath alcohol concentration is measured based on the balance between adsorption and desorption of ethanol at the surface of a semiconductor sensor. The balance causes a measurable resistance change. 
     Responsive to the alcohol concentration, the microprocessor either: activates a steady green light and enables the ignition for a sober driver; activates a blinking yellow light and enables the ignition for a tipsy but not drunk driver; or activates a steady red light, disables the ignition, and imposes a programmed wait before allowing the test to be attempted again. The test may be repeated, after waiting each time until passed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the sobriety interlock 10 used with a controlled system 100; 
     FIG. 2 is a preferred embodiment of the invention showing details of circuits that may be used for the blocks in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are examples of alternative circuits that may be used for the blocks in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of the sobriety interlock, showing the mouthpiece attached to a housing containing the electronic circuitry of the invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but enlarged to show the placement of a thermocouple relative to a breath port or orifice. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention, a sobriety interlock 10, may be inserted as in FIG. 1 into a system controller, to test a human operator for sobriety and to prevent system use until the test has been passed. For example, the invention may be used in the ignition system 78 (FIG. 2) of an automobile, or in other machinery that should not be operated by intoxicated persons. The sobriety interlock is installed in an automobile 100 by disconnecting line 98 between the key switch 97 and the solenoid in the starter system 99. The ends of disconnected line 98 are reconnected to the input 89 and to the output 96 of an ignition enable circuit 90 controlled by microprocessor 80 (FIGS. 1 and 2), preferably Intel Model No. 8048. The interlock uses five volt power line 5 supplied by power supply 40 which is connected directly to the 12 volt car battery, not shown, allowing the interlock to operate regardless of whether key switch 97 is closed. In low temperatures, contaminants gradually adsorb into, and bias the characteristics of, sensor 14 (FIG. 2), which is preferably Model No. TGS 812 made by the Figaro Engineering Co. Continuous standby activation of heater coil 15 (FIG. 2) by heater driver 70 keeps alcohol sensor 14 free of contamination. 
     One begins the sobriety test by turning the key in ignition switch 97. Referring to FIG. 2, the current in line 89 passes through clipper 26 which clips spikes and smooths the voltage level to produce an &#34;ignition on&#34; signal on line 27. &#34;Ignition on&#34; signal 27 resets processor 80 and starts it on a routine such as the program in Appendix A, which works with an Intel 8048 as processor 80. First, a &#34;heater on&#34; signal is applied through line 71 to driver circuit 70 for several minutes to heat coil 15 and sensor 14 from standby to ready condition. Computer 80 may activate heater driver 70 by a 12 volt supply from line 41 alternated with, or instead of, 5 volt line 5 in order to heat sensor 14 faster. During the heat-up period, computer 80 blinks the three LEDs 85 in rotation. Each LED preferably has its cathode connected through a 220 ohm resistor to a computer I/O pin, and its anode connected to the 5 volt supply. Even when free of previous contamination, the sensitivity of alcohol sensor 14 is affected by temperature. 
     Heater coil 15 maintains the sensor at a known constant temperature to minimize the effect of ambient air temperature. Heater 15 is turned off by a low voltage on driver 70, which pulls the base of transistor 74 low and prevents it from turning on the transistor. A high voltage on driver 70 provides sufficient current through resistor 73 and the base and emitter of transistor 74 for the transistor to conduct current to its grounded emitter from collector line 75, heater coil 15, and 5 volt supply 5 (or 12 volt supply 41). If alcohol sensor output line 16 were connected directly (not shown) to one of the computer input pins, the computer could measure the voltage drop across semiconductor sensor 14 to determine its resistance and thereby its temperature, indicating whether the sensor is ready. 
     When the sensor is heated and ready for a test, green LED 81 lights steadily. The prospective driver then breathes into port 12. To guard against circumvention of the sobriety interlock, a breath temperature sensor 20, preferably a type J monolithic thermocouple amplifier model AD594 by the Analog Devices Co., is used to measure the air temperature in breath port 12. Temperature sensor 20 varies the voltage on line 22 according to the (breath) temperature at point 21 in breath port 12. To determine whether the temperature in port 12 is within a ±5° F. range around normal 98° F. human breath temperature, the line 22 test voltage is compared by temperature comparators 60 against a temperature floor reference 37 and a ceiling reference 39. The temperature references may be supplied through adjustable 5K ohm resistors 36 and 38 in a reference voltage supply circuit 30. 
     Floor reference voltage 37, representing 95° F., is applied to the negative input terminal of comparator 67, and ceiling voltage 39, representing 105° F., is applied to the positive input of comparator 69. The temperature test voltage 22 is applied through respective resistors 23 and 24, both preferably 12K ohms, to the positive input of floor comparator 67, and to the negative input of comparator 69. Temperature voltages 22 above the floor and below the ceiling cause both comparators 67 and 69 to act as sources of current flowing out through resistor 65, preferably 9.1K ohms, to supply voltage line 5. This results in greater than 5 volts on &#34;Temp OK?&#34; line 68, which acts as a &#34;wired AND&#34; gate providing input to pin C28 of computer 80. Although the temperature indication voltage on line 22 will always satisfy at least one of the comparisons and that comparator will raise the voltage on line 68, if the line 22 voltage does not also satisfy the other comparison, that other comparator will act as a sink and pull the line 68 voltage below the signal threshold of computer input pin C29. When &#34;Temp OK&#34; line 68 has remained high for the programmed number of seconds, LED display 85 changes from steady green to all three blinking in unison while the alcohol level is tested for about 1.5 seconds. 
     Rather than using comparators 50 and 60, voltage reference supply 30, and their output lines, A-D converter 25 may be used to supply digitized values of temperature 22 and alcohol 16. Computer 80 is thus self-calibrating and would then compare against values stored internally. 
     The proportion of alcohol present in the breath is measured by gas sensor 13. Sensor 13 includes a tin dioxide semiconductor 14 whose resistance is changed by absorption and desorption of ethanol according to the gaseous concentration at the sensor surface (as well as the resistance being changed by temperature). The sensor output voltage on line 16 indicates the ethanol concentration. Current flowing to ground through resistors 17 and 19, preferably 1.5K ohms and 6.8K ohms respectively, reduces the voltage from line 16 to a lower voltage in line 18. 
     Empirical tests have determined that the breath of a person having a blood alcohol level of 0.05% (tipsy, but not considered legally impaired) will cause the sensor 14 to produce 3.1 volts on line 18. Testing a person having a 0.10% blood alcohol level will produce 1.9 volts on line 18. Reference voltage supply circuit 30 provides alcohol reference voltages 33 and 35, equal to these levels, derived through variable resistors 32 and 34 by which the references may be calibrated. Comparator 55 compares the alcohol level voltage on line 18 against the 0.05% (lower) standard on line 35, and produces a current in its output line 56 through resistor 57 according to the outcome of the comparison. An alcohol level less than low reference 35 causes comparator 55 to act as a current sink, reducing the voltage in line 56 to less than 5 volts. Conversely, a test result voltage 18 greater than low reference 35 causes comparator 55 to act as a current source raising the voltage in line 56 above 5 volts. 
     Comparator 53 operates similarly to cause a current through preferably 9.2K ohm resistor 52 and produce less than 5 volts in line 54 for alcohol test results less than the high reference in line 33, and more than 5 volts in line 54 for test results greater than reference line 33. 
     Microprocessor 80 uses the temperature verification signal 68 and the alcohol level comparison results 54 and 56 to decide whether the sobriety test has been passed. An alcohol level below 0.05% activates the green LED continuously, and a high voltage &#34;OK to Drive&#34; signal output on line 88 preferably through a 1K ohm resistor 47. A high signal on line 88 to the base of transistor 91, preferably a 2N4401, and preferably current from the 5 volt supply through a 10K ohm resistor 48, cause the transistor to conduct current through its collector and a coil 92 in relay 93, preferably an AROMAT HBZE. Current flowing in coil 92 creates a magnetic field which attracts arms 94 towards contacts 95, completing the circuit around disconnected line 98. 
     A blood alcohol level between 0.05% and 0.10% provides a &#34;tipsy&#34; flashing yellow LED 82 which means that the vehicle should be driven with caution. A high &#34;OK to Drive&#34; signal enables relay 93. 
     If the blood alcohol level is above 0.10%, the breath test is failed and interlock 10 will not allow the car 100 to be started. &#34;OK to Drive&#34; line 88 is held low, and red LED 83 blinks. The key switch 97 must be turned off and back on again to bring computer 80 to a &#34;power up&#34; condition and to restart the test. A four minute &#34;long warm up&#34; must be endured while heater 15 clears the sensor and hopefully the kidneys clear the blood, of alcohol contamination. 
     A preferred embodiment of the structure defining the mouthpiece and the support for the electronic circuitry of sobriety interlock 10 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. This structure includes a housing 110 which is of a suitable material, such as rigid plastic, and which is rugged in construction. The housing is provided to contain and to protect the circuit boards and other electronic components contained therewithin against damage, such as in the event that the housing is dropped on a surface. One of the circuit boards 112 is shown in FIG. 8 within housing 110. A cable 114 having leads 116 extending outwardly therefrom connects the electronic circuitry with an external power source, such as the battery of a vehicle, and also connects the circuitry with the ignition system of the vehicle. 
     Housing 110 has a tubular neck 118 to which a tubular extension 120 is secured. Member 120 is rigid and can be formed from any suitable material, such as aluminum. For purposes of illustration, extension 120 includes a metallic member 121; such as of aluminum and a rigid plastic member 123 secured to and extending outwardly from one end of member 121. The outer surface of member 121 has annular ribs 122 thereon to help in dissipating heat absorbed in the member. 
     Sensor 14 is mounted in any suitable manner, such as by a press fit within member 121 near the outer open end thereof. Gas sensor 14 is adjacent to a number of spaced openings 124 through member 121 so that the space 126 adjacent to the outer face of gas sensor 14 communicates with the atmosphere to assist in cleaning the sensor as hereinafter described. 
     Member 123 contains a tubular, heat insulating element 130 typically of cork for shielding a portion of the breath temperature sensor 20 which is coupled by leads 132 to the circuitry in housing 110, leads 132 extending through member 120 as do a pair of leads (not shown) coupled with gas sensor 14. Such leads are connected to the circuitry contained in housing 110. Temperature sensor 20 includes a thermocouple 134 shown in more detail in FIG. 9. 
     A mouthpiece member 136 is secured to the outer end of member 123 and has an outer end 138 over which the mouth is placed for blowing a breath sample into mouthpiece member 136. An internal bore 140 in mouthpiece 136 contains a tubular element 142 having a fluid flow passage 144 therethrough, whereby the breath sample under pressure in bore 140 can enter the space 146 containing thermocouple 134. 
     Thermocouple 134 is shown in its preferred location in FIG. 9 at the downstream end of passage 144. It can be seen from FIG. 9 that the thermocouple junction 135 is physically at the end of passage 144. The reason for this is that the thermocouple will be immediately sensitive to the temperature of the breath before the breath expands into space 146 and is thereby cooled. 
     Thermocouple 134 has a heating element 148 in heat exchange relationship thereto at a location spaced a short distance, such as 0.25 to 0.50 inch, from junction 135 as shown in FIG. 9. Heater 148 comprises a heating coil within a vacuum envelope 150 surrounding a portion of thermocouple 134. The purpose of heating coil 148 is to eliminate the tendency for sobriety interlock 10 to automatically turn itself on if the ambient temperature was about 98° F. To eliminate this problem, the heater 148 is placed in heat exchange relationship to the thermocouple, specifically to both wires thereof, to heat the thermocouple to a temperature above the 98° normal breath temperature. For example, it can be heated to 130° F. and this is controlled by microprocessor 80 so that the temperature of the heated portion of the thermocouple remains at about 130° F. A small transistor can be switched on and off to regulate and stay at this temperature level, this heating being done by conduction to the junction 135 of the thermocouple. Thus, when a person blows into mouthpiece member 136 with the breath temperature at about 98° F., the thermocouple cools down from the 130° F. temperature so that sobriety interlock 10 can then commence a valid test. 
     Another important feature of the structure shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is the use of passage 144 which typically has a diameter of 0.075&#34; to 0.130&#34;. Thus, passage 144, which provides, in effect, a small orifice, forces a person to blow into the mouthpiece such that a slight air pressure is developed in the mouthpiece member. This forces the lips of the person to maintain an air seal about the mouthpiece member so as to prevent outside air from entering the breath sample directed into and through passage 144. Outside air would otherwise alter the results of the operation of sobriety interlock 10. 
     Passage 144, because it has a finite length, directs the breath flow onto the thermocouple junction 135 and then through extension 120 and onto gas sensor 14. To do this, a temperature of 95° F. must be sensed by the thermocouple for a period of at least four seconds so that a deep lung breath sample is measured. Since openings 124 (FIG. 8) are provided in member 121, the gas sensor will be in free air which is essential for cleanup of the sensor. With the use of openings 124, it is possible to conduct a first test and have the sensor cleaned up in order to make a next test in less than 15 seconds. 
     Another feature of the present invention with respect to the cleanup of gas sensor 14 involves the use of a frequency (about 10 to 100 Hz) controlled voltage source applied to the sensor during the cleanup period. This frequency controlled voltage source is used instead of a steady voltage source to heat the sensor. Ordinarily, with a steady voltage, the cleanup period is about ten seconds as recommended by the manufacturer of the gas sensor. By using a frequency controlled, variable voltage source generated by microprocessor 80 to heat the sensor, this cleanup time is cut to less than five seconds. It is also possible to improve the accuracy of the gas sensor results. This is done by using the microprocessor 80 to check the level at which gas sensor 14 is cleaned up to, at the time a test is started. This starting point has a significant bearing on the results of an alcohol breath test. In the analog to digital version of sobriety interlock 10, compensation for any variation to starting point can be adjusted automatically by the microprocessor 80. 
     Details have been disclosed to illustrate the invention in a preferred embodiment of which adaptions and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is limited only by the following claims. 
     The program can also contain in software an option such that, if a vehicle is not operated for 48  hours or other time period, the automatic cleaning cycle for the gas sensor is overridden to prevent the drain on the battery of the vehicle which supplies power to the circuitry. Thus, the circuit shuts itself off. The only disadvantage of this is that cleaning of the gas sensor may take a minute when the vehicle is next operated rather than 10 seconds for normal operation. 
     A control program for use with interlock 10 is shown on the following pages. ##SPC1## ##SPC2##