Abstract:
A method for providing an automotive safety system, comprising the steps of: collecting and analyzing data from the proximity of a potential driver, determining whether the potential driver is under the influence of intoxicating substances, and disabling an automotive ignition system if the potential driver is determined to be under the influence of intoxicating substances.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to copending U.S. provisional application entitled, “Drug and Alcohol Sensor Safety System and Methods” having Ser. No. 60/519,466, filed Nov. 12, 2003, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present disclosure is generally related to automotive safety and, more particularly, is related to a system and method for improving automotive safety by sensing drugs and alcohol on a prospective driver.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Many resources are committed each year to reducing and preventing the losses associated with DUI/DWI including stiff criminal penalties, zero-tolerance enforcement practices, significant financial liabilities, social stigmatism, and education. Although these measures have proven somewhat effective in varying degrees, society still experiences significant losses associated with DUI/DWI. One device designed to prevent an impaired person from operating a vehicle requires the input of numerical data in a keypad in a short amount of time before starting the vehicle. The effectiveness of this device is limited in that some people can perform tasks of this nature even while intoxicated. Additionally, the task could be performed by a sober party on behalf of an intoxicated driver, hence effectively bypassing the system.  
         [0004]     Thus, a heretofore-unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system for improving automobile safety, comprising: an intoxicating substance sensor for detecting the presence of intoxicating substances in a potential driver; a time delay switch communicatively coupled to the intoxicating substance sensor, wherein a delay signal is activated when the intoxicating substance sensor detects the presence of an intoxicating substance; an interface, for electrically coupling the time delay switch of an automotive ignition system, wherein the automotive ignition system is disabled while the delay signal is activated; and a reset switch, electrically coupled to the time delay switch, wherein the reset switch deactivates the delay signal such that the automotive ignition system is not disabled.  
         [0006]     Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be viewed as providing methods of an automotive safety system, comprising the steps of: collecting data from the proximity of a potential driver, wherein the data is collected through a sensor; analyzing the data for the presence of intoxicating substances; determining whether the potential driver is under the influence of intoxicating substances; and disabling an automotive ignition system if the potential driver is determined to be under the influence of intoxicating substances.  
         [0007]     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a system as disclosed herein.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an intoxicating substance sensor under the systems and methods disclosed herein.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a simplified circuit of an embodiment of the systems and methods herein.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method disclosed herein.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a response to the presence of an intoxicating substance.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary sensor array used in an embodiment of the systems and methods herein.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a system as disclosed herein. An intoxicating substance sensor  110  is provided for detecting the presence of an intoxicating substance on a potential automobile driver. In an embodiment, the sensor may be configured to perform a scanning, sampling or sensing function at specific time intervals, such as, for example, once every two seconds. Alternatively, the sensor may be configured to perform the scanning, sampling or sensing operation as a trigger to specific events, such as, for example, the opening of a door, the insertion of a key into the ignition switch, or a change in the electrical current being drawn from the automobile electrical system.  
         [0016]     The intoxicating substance sensor  110  is electrically coupled to a time delay switch  120  for initiating a time delay function when an intoxicating substance is detected by the intoxicating substance sensor. An embodiment of the time delay function provides for the generation of a signal voltage for a specific predetermined period of time after the time delay function is initiated. For example, the time delay signal may be generated for one hour after the time delay function is initiated by the intoxicating substance sensor  110 .  
         [0017]     The time delay switch  120  is communicatively coupled to an automotive ignition interface  130 . In an embodiment, communicative coupling between the time delay switch  120  and the automotive ignition interface  130  may be in the form of a conductive electrical connection. Alternatively, the devices may be coupled inductively, optically or through the use of radio frequency wireless technology.  
         [0018]     The automotive ignition interface  130  is in communication with the automotive ignition system  140  and serves to disable the automotive ignition system for the duration of the time delay signal. In one embodiment, the automotive ignition interface  130  provides an electrical interrupt, such as in the form of an open electrical contact in the automotive ignition system. Alternative embodiments may provide a signal level interrupt to a processor or other supervisory control unit, which consequently disables the automotive ignition system  140 .  
         [0019]     Additionally, a reset switch  150  is provided to discontinue the time delay signal. In an embodiment, the reset switch  150  is electrically coupled to the time delay switch  120 . The reset switch  150  may be located or configured to prevent an intoxicated driver from resetting the system and thus operating the automobile. For example, the reset switch  150  may be located in an area requiring specific tools or keys to access.  
         [0020]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an intoxicating substance sensor under the systems and methods disclosed herein. The intoxicating substance sensor  210  contains a sensor signal consolidation unit  230  which, in this embodiment, has a common electrical bus  232  configured to contain positive and negative voltage bus components. The common electrical bus  232  provides a positive voltage external connection  215  and a negative voltage external connection  216 . The intoxicating substance sensor  210  provides for sensor element locations at multiple locations in the passenger compartment in order to provide a reliable and timely signal that a potential driver is intoxicated. The sensor elements can be located in the driver seat belt  225 , the driver door panel  224 , the front dash board  223 , the steering wheel  222  and the headliner above the driver  221 . Although the sensor elements  221 - 225  of this embodiment are illustrated as configured to provide, for example, a closed contact across the two bus components to signal the presence of an intoxicating substance, one of ordinary skill in the art knows or will know that the systems and methods disclosed herein could utilize signal level analog, signal level digital, inductively coupled, optically coupled or radio frequency wireless coupled communication between the sensor elements  221 - 225  and the sensor signal consolidation unit  230 . Similarly, the above listed methods could also be utilized in the communication between the intoxicating sensor  210  and other components under these systems and methods.  
         [0021]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , which is a block diagram illustrating a simplified circuit of an embodiment of the systems and methods herein. The system  300  comprises an intoxicating substance sensor  311  which has a negative voltage level conductor  316  electrically coupled to a time delay switch body  317  and a positive voltage level conductor  315  electrically coupled to a time delay switch  313 . A reset switch  314  is also coupled to the time delay switch  313 . The time delay switch is electrically coupled to ignition circuitry  320  of, for example, an automobile.  
         [0022]     The operation of this circuit commences when the intoxicating substance sensor  311  detects the presence of intoxicating substances proximate to a potential driver. The intoxicating substance sensor provides a positive voltage level  315  to the time delay switch  313 . The time delay switch  313  subsequently provides a time delay signal to the ignition circuitry  320  for a predetermined period of time, causing the ignition circuitry  320  to disable the ignition for the duration of the time delay. One of ordinary skill in the art knows or will know that consistent with the systems and methods disclosed herein, the time delay signal can be in the form of an open or closed contact, a line or signal level voltage either conducted or transmitted inductively, an optical signal or a wireless radio frequency signal to an ignition interface.  
         [0023]     The reset switch  314  serves to remove the time delay signal transmitted to the ignition circuitry  320  and thus restore the functionality of the ignition system. The countdown or delay timer value corresponding to the predetermined period of time is also reset to its initial value.  
         [0024]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method disclosed herein. The method  400  first collects data from a sensor, which is proximate to a potential driver  410 . The sensor may provide for data collection from multiple locations proximate to a potential driver including the driver&#39;s safety restraint, the automobile headliner, the steering wheel, the dash board or instrument cluster and the driver&#39;s door panel. The data is then analyzed for the presence of intoxicating substances, indicators, or derivatives  420 . Based on the results of the data analysis, a determination is made as to whether the potential driver is intoxicated  430 . If the driver is determined to be intoxicated, the automotive ignition system is disabled for a predetermined period of time  440 .  
         [0025]     Brief reference is made to  FIG. 5 , which is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a response to the presence of an intoxicating substance. When the presence of an intoxicating substance is signaled, a time delay function is initiated to provide a time delay signal for a predetermined period of time  510 . The time delay signal functions to interrupt the automotive ignition circuit during the predetermined period of time  520 . When actuated, a resetting input restores the time delay to its initial value and restores the functionality of the ignition circuit  530 .  
         [0026]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 6 , which is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary sensor array used in an embodiment of the systems and methods herein. The sensor array  600  includes, for example, distinct substance detection technologies, which may be employed in each sensor element. For example, under this embodiment, the sensor array includes a detection technology for alcohol  610 , marijuana  620 , cocaine  630  and heroin  640 . Although certain embodiments are presented as utilizing samples of air proximate to the potential driver, alternative embodiments may utilize sensors receiving other types of data inputs including but not limited to skin conductivity, bio-electrical impulses, temperature and perspiration chemical content to detect the presence of intoxicating substances.  
         [0027]     Further, one of ordinary skill in the art knows or will know that although the systems and methods herein are presented in the context of an automotive environment, these concepts are applicable to the operation of any vehicle or device, which, if used by an impaired operator, could result in serious bodily injury or death to the user or others.  
         [0028]     Any process descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure.  
         [0029]     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any illustrated embodiments, are possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claims.