Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of Breath alcohol detection to prevent drunk driving, and more particularly to an improved breath alcohol detection system by combining user Voice recognition with user breath sampling taken during user given password speech, to insure the unsupervised test measurement based on user voice signature. Various attempts have been made to develop devises which prevent automobiles and the like from being operated by drunk individuals. A typical breath testing sobriety interlock, of this type is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,333 to collier, teaches a breathalyzer interlock system used for monitoring the performance of an identity confirming the physical act by the operator, said identity confirming act requiring a sufficient degree of skill as to be incapable of performance in fewer than predetermined number of attempts by substantially all persons other then designated operators who possess said degree of skill. Collier physical act identity confirming requires skilled person using at least one of lips, mouth, tongue and vocal chords to generate at least one tone in a specific frequency range. This has proven to be less than completely desirable because it can not surely Identify the operator, since it requires operator of special skill to move a lip or set the mouth at a certain position into a tube to make a certain frequency sound with a vocal cord. The user in some occasion may not be able to produce said frequency, or some one else with little training easily can reproduce said certain vocal frequency. Another Method and apparatus for sonic breath determination is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,090 to Koppel which teaches a method and a apparatus for verifying an expiratory breath flow utilizing the sonic characteristic of a standardized breath as reference, where a breath sample is analyzed for the presence and absence of predetermined audio frequency components generated by the expiratory process. Breath sample validity is based upon a match between both the required and missing components. This technique is used to determine a certain frequency produced by the human breath exhale to ascertain the air given into the breathalyzer is that of human or bogus air. Which in this case the prior art fails to identify the user. In addition other methods has been illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,377 to Fuller where in a remote location the prisoner under home arrest is being identified by pictorial image taken by a videophone and user voice tone given into a breathalyzer tube, said information is beening sent to a monitoring station through standard phone line. Another problem encountered with the system of the &#39;377 patent is that, it can operate by a skilled person trained to blow into a tube and produce a certain frequency vocal sound into said tube without removal of mouth from the tube. Fuller technique is not easy and practical for use, the production of certain human vocal sound easily can be reproduced by another person. For User Identification The use of video image is a good concept but requires constant human surveillance. U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,613 to Williams which teaches a remote confinement system, unsupervised test to determine the presence, identity or conduct of prisoner, is performed by a transmitter attached to the prisoner and a receiver at the remote location, a voice test performed to identify a specific prisoner and breath alcohol test to determine the prisoner&#39;s soberly. Events which include test results are sent to a monitoring station through standard phone line. Williams et al. System is highly useful and represents a significant improvement in the art, it does not address the problem addressed by the present invention, namely because the monitoring station can not monitor the presence and perform sobriety test to a person to be monitored when said person is in mobile condition or said person is in a automobile. In reference to Williams et al. the prisoner in order to be in compliance must perform test at a predetermined time at a location, the prisoner must inhale and exhale into a tube regardless of being sober or intoxicated. The present invention if user given password does not contain alcohol, it will not be necessary for user to give full lung inhale exhale breath into the voice recognition breathalyzer. Even though prior art are useful and good inventions, prior arts fail to provide unsupervised test using voice recognition process to determine the identity and Breath alcohol content of a vehicle operator during giving spoken password. In addition in prior arts, the monitoring station fails to supervise and give instruction to a mobil vehicle operator to perform soberly test with user voice recognition and fails to identify the driver and locate the vehicle location by use of GPS/GSM.  
           [0002]    It is according to the primary objective of the present invention that it provides a voice recognition breathalyzer system which uses the voice of the vehicle&#39;s operator to thereby provide a operator identification and detection of alcohol during operators given spoken password, if alcohol is present in operators breath during given speech into said breathalyzer said vehicle ignition will remain immobilized. The present invention provides a vehicle ignition interlock CPU which is passive arming. It is according to present invention additionally the vehicle operator carries a tamper proof wrist mount RF transceiver with a built-in vibrator to communicate with the vehicle mount breathalyzer CPU which is able to identify the operator and it&#39;s presence within a particular vehicle and accordingly signal to the operator of a particular vehicle by vibrating or producing audiovisual signal, reminding the operator to produce given voice recognition breath test prior starting the vehicle engine and to signal the particular vehicle operator to perform given verbal breath rolling test during driving. In a preferred embodiment said Voice recognition breathalyzer is in a hand held (Key Fob) which has a built-in transmitter to communicate with vehicle installed ignition interlock devise to disarm said vehicle ignition interlock and or to start said vehicle engine. In an other embodiment of the invention, said voice recognition breathalyzer is within a mobile phone to communicate with particular user given breath test data to a monitoring station, or with a vehicle mount GSM phone unit to disarm said vehicle engine interlock device with DTMF, or voice command, or send RF command signals to said vehicle ignition interlock CPU. Additionally, said voice recognition breathalyzer during user given password speech, if it detects breath alcohol presence, the breathalyzer CPU produce&#39;s audio-visual signals to the operator to give full long inhale exhale breath into said voice recognition breathalyzer, to measure precise breath alcohol content of the operator. If given password breath into said voice recognition breathalyzer does not contain alcohol, it is not necessary for user to give full long inhale exhale breath test, thus eliminating unnecessary deep lunge breath inhale exhale into the breathalyzer unit in order to operate the vehicle. Finally In the present invention during rolling test, If vehicle operator fails voice recognition sobriety test, the monitoring station is capable of locating said vehicle and immobilizing said vehicle engine at a safe speed by use off GPSIGSM module.  
           [0003]    The breathalyzer, the ignition interlock, and GPSIGSM module with antenna, used in the present invention, are of temper-proof design, an authorized removal any of the units or tempering with power supply, or harness will immobilize the vehicles engine by interrupting the flow of needed data sent from said units to said vehicle electronic fuel pump, ignition or starter controller CPU unit. In addition in the present invention said vehicle installed GSM unit is capable sending said temper signal to the monitoring station.  
           [0004]    The components used in the present invention, are easily obtainable, for example the Voice recognition processor is commonly used in many different voice operated applications. Breathalyzer sensor are successfully used with many law enforcement agencies applications, and GPS/GSM phones are commonly used today with many communication and monitoring companies and are easily obtainable off the shelf and reasonable priced.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides a sobriety test and method which, without requiring human supervision, confirms the identity of a vehicle operator by user voice recognition during given password command, and breath content into a voice recognition breathalyzer. If giving password is valid and breath sample is non toxic, the vehicle breathalyzer CPU disables the vehicle ignition interlock and the operator can start the vehicle successfully. If the given speech breath content contains alcohol the operator can not start the vehicle, the voice recognition breathalyzer signals the operator to give a deep long sample of breath to assure a precise reading. If reading result is at high set threshold the operator can not start the vehicle. If the reading result is at a lower then set threshold the operator can start the vehicle The technique avoids the unnecessary deep lunge breath inhale exhale test for every time operator desires to start the vehicle. In addition the invention provides secure operation by identifying the operators voice signature. In the present invention multiple user voices could be programed into the system. The system could be pre programed into such as it will be not necessary for all user given password to be analyzed for Breath alcohol content. The system will be responsive to analyze breath content of specific operators upon their voice recognition by the system. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the voice recognition breathalyzer is portable and it&#39;s built in to a remote RF transmitter (Key Fob) with a voice recognition circuitry and breath alcohol sensing circuitry, to identify the user and analyze user breath content for alcohol and transmit user test (passed or fail) data signal by user voice recognition and breath sampling. Said pass signal is used for disarming a vehicle installed ignition interlock or a car alarm system, or used for starting a vehicle engine. Said vehicle engine immobilizer CPU being passive arming, it will automatically engage the engine interlock circuitry when said vehicle ignition is being turned off. In the present invention the vehicle Immobilizer CPU passive arming future could be temporarily bypassed by operators speech command who&#39;s voice is not programmed to be tested for breath alcohol. It is according to the present invention additionally, the vehicle operator carries a tamper proof wrist mount RF transceiver has a built in vibrator, to communicate with the vehicle mount breathalyzer CPU to identify the operator, and it&#39;s presence within a particular vehicle and accordingly signal the operator of said particular vehicle by vibrating, or audio-visual signal for operator to produce given verbal password into said breathalyzer prior to starting the vehicle engine, or signal the particular vehicle operator to produce given verbal password during rolling breath test. In addition, in the present invention, the voice recognition breathalyzer could be installed in a mobile phone capable of analyzing users breath sampling with user voice recognition for user identification and send said data to a monitoring station, or signaling said vehicle ignition interlock CPU through said vehicle GPS/GSM or pager unit, to disable said vehicle ignition interlock devise, or to start said vehicle engine. In the present invention, a monitoring station is capable of signaling the user to give a verbal password into said voice recognition breathalyzer mobil phone, during user given verbal speech, if alcohol is detected, said user ID and alcohol detection data through said mobile phone will be sent to a monitoring station. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a person to be monitored is carrying a portable video phone, or the vehicle operated by such individual is equipped with a “mobile video phone” which will be utilized for additional identification. Said video images are sent to a monitoring station through an RF link. If needed the mobile phone or videophone used in the invention could be connected to medical instruments which are capable of measuring persons blood pressure, heart rate (EKG) Blood analyses, cholesterol, Blood sugar Etc. and sent said information data to a monitoring station via RF link. In preferred embodiment of the invention, during rolling test, if the driver fails to comply or alcohol is detected in the operators breath during given password speech said vehicle emergency lights starts flashing, and vehicles horn honks. Additionally said vehicle could be equipped with GPS/GSM or pager unit. The GSM modem sends said vehicle/driver ID and it&#39;s location to a monitoring station. If the driver of the vehicle pulls over and turns the vehicle engine off, the emergency lights stop flashing and the horn stops honking. If the operator does not comply, the monitoring station sends a signal through the GPS/GSM or pager to said vehicle immobilizer CPU to shut down said vehicle ignition interlock at a safe speed, and notify authorities with it&#39;s location. In the present invention, if person to be tested “Looses their voice” or “catches a cold,” their voice may not be recognizable by the system, or if the voice recognition circuitry malfunctions, In this case the operator calls the monitoring station through the vehicle mount GPS/GSM phone to identify themselves ask for system override signal from the monitoring station. And finally in the present invention The monitoring station are connected to a server and said data information could be accessed by patrol vehicle mount PC or hand held PC through mobile server or by web server. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 
         [0007]    A—Is a Remote RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzer.  
         [0008]    B—Indicates Audio Visual functionality of Remote breathalyzer  
         [0009]    C—Indicates LCD visual functionality of Remote Breathalyzer  
         [0010]    D—Is a Mobile Phone with Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  
         [0011]    E—Is a Video phone with Voice recognition Breathalyzer  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2A—Is a Voice Recognition Breathalyzer Immobilizer and Alarm Module With wiring Diagram.  
         [0013]    B—Is a Wriest Transceiver watch style unit with built in Vibrator.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 Is general Block Diagram of a RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzer with Vehicle control system.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    For the better understanding of the present invention, an RF remote control Voice Recognition Breathalyzer operational signal will be first describe and a vehicle installed breathalyzer immobilizer interlock devise and further on, a Mobile phone with a voice recognition breathalyzer along with videophone breathalyzer will be described.  
         [0016]    As shown in FIG. 1-A. RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzer system  80  comprises of, a RF Transmitter  27  for transmitting a unique remote control RF signals controlled by a processor using a microphone  81  and a breath sensor  82  connected to said processor to process user given verbal password with breath, during said given password speech.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1-B Illustrates Extendable mouthpiece  23  used for full lung inhale exhale test. A Tri-Color LED  22  is used to indicate visual operation status. A multi-tone Beeper  20  is used to indicate audible operation status. A reset button  24  is used to turn the system On. Transmit Buttons  26  and  28  is used for transmitting RF commands.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1-C Illustrates alphanumeric LCD display  25  indicating Visual operation status.  
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 1-D Illustrates a Mobil Phone with a built-in Voice recognition Breathalyzer  90  comprises, a Microphone  81  and a breath sensor  21  circuitry connected to a processor to process user given password and breath content and a speaker  91  for user to receive verbal instruction. And a RF transceiver  95  to communicate with a monitoring station or to transmit verbal or DTMF commends to a vehicle mount immobilizer CPU.  
         [0020]    Additionally FIG. 1-E Illustrates a videophone with a built-in Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  70  comprises, a microphone  81  and a breath sensor  21  circuitry in handset  78  connected to a processor to process user given password and breath content. A Camera  71  to take video images of the user. A TFT screen  72  used as a monitor and a transceiver  95  to communicate with a monitoring station.  
         [0021]    As shown in FIG. 2-A an immobilizer CPU  36  for receiving commands from Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  48  or receiving  32  RF commands from RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80 . And communicate with wrist transceiver  40  for monitoring the presence of person to be monitored and transmit  37  a signal to vibrate the operators wrist transceiver for the operator to give verbal breath test. Receive command signals and sent event reports through a GSM phone/pager  29  and to communicate with a monitoring station  60 . A buzzer/speaker  30  is used to create audible or verbal signal to alert the operator to give verbal breath test and controlling vehicle mount LED  38  indicating system arm disarm status. Controlling vehicle horn  31  to hunk during operator sobriety test fail. Controlling the flashing of vehicle emergency lights  33  to indicate operator sobriety test fail. Controlling vehicle ignition interlock  34  and  39  and controlling vehicle mount vibrator  47  to signal driver to give random breath sobriety test. Battery  35  is used as power supply.  
         [0022]    As shown in FIG. 2-B a watch style wrist transceiver  40  having a battery  44  as power supply for transmitting a unique ID coded signal to vehicle mount immobilizer CPU. And Receiving signals from a vehicle mount immobilizer CPU and upon receiving said signal vibrate the built-in vibrator  46  to signal the operator of vehicle to give verbal breath test into the breathalyzer. And a temper proof conductive strap  42  is being used to avoid the operator from removing the wriest transceiver.  
         [0023]    The present invention utilizes a RF Remote Control Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  powered by a battery  17 . In order to operate the RF Voice recognition breathalyzer  80  user voice must be programmed first. Pressing button  24  turns the power on. then pressing buttons  26  and  28  together three times the Voice recognition breathalyzer  80  will enter in voice learning mode. The LED  22  will flash Red/Yellow indicating the system is in learning mode, the operator gives given password speech, LED  22  start to flash again RED/Yellow signaling to the operator to repeat given password again for confirmation. If proper password given The LED  22  blinks one time Green indicating given password has been learned successfully. If person operating the Voice Recognition Breathalyzer is required to be tested every time to operate the Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  then button  26  must be press one time within time window right after completion of voice learning process. Note: when button  26  is pressed right after voice learning process only one person one time can be programed in the system. If button  28  is pressed right after learning process multiple user voice can be programed, by first user first giving given spoken password into the voice recognition breathalyzer and then entering the system into voice learning mode. If password learning process failed the LED  22  Blinks one time yellow. User will repeat the process again.  
         [0024]    Operation: In order to operate the RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzer the user first pushes the reset button  24  to power up the system, within few seconds the built in beeper  20  beeps and LED  22  flashes green or the Alphanumeric LCD  25  displays system ready symbol or letters. The operator gives a given spoken password into the microphone  81  and breath sensor  21  by holding the Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  an inch away from operators mouth. Once given speech and breath received the Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  analyzes user given verbal password and breath breath content. If no alcohol found, the LED  22  turns momentary green or LCD  25  display indicates “pass” symbol, the Voice Recognition breathalyzer  80  transmits a Test Pass signal or at a given time window allows the user to press button  26  to transmit said pass signal to a vehicle mount receiver  32  CPU  36  which upon receipt of said signal disables said vehicle ignition immobilizer  34  and  39  and the operator successfully can start the vehicle. If the operator given verbal password breath contains alcohol. The RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  produces a warning beep through the built-in beeper  20  and LED  22  will flash red or LCD  25  displays “Failed” symbol and The Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  automatically transmits a unique RF failed coded signal, giving the operator “0” tolerance to operate any vehicle or machinery. In some application the Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  could be programed not automatically to transmits “Fail” RF signal Transmission. In the preferred embodiment of the invention if operator is allowed to operate a vehicle with certain amount of BAC in his or her system. the present invention allows the vehicle operator within a short time frame after given verbal “failed” test, to give a full lung inhale exhale breath test into said breathalyzer mouth piece  23  which require full lung exhale breath pressure in order to let given breath to pass through said mouth piece to determine exact amount of alcohol in operators system. If full lung exhale test is below certain setting threshold, then the Voice recognition breathalyzer  80  will transmit a unique “pass” code signal with breath alcohol content data. If full lung inhale exhale test failed, then the Voice Recognition breathalyzer  80  Transmits a Breath Test “fail” signal containing data information amount of BAC found in the operators system. After given verbal breath “Fail” test, if operators full lung breath exhale sample given does not contain any amount of alcohol, because it is off some one else&#39;s given breath or bogus air Exp. air from a balloon. Or a bike pump or given in un properly, the RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzers  80  Beeper  20  will beep. LED  22  turns on momentary “RED” or Alphanumeric LCD screen Displays “error” symbol and transmits a RF “error” coded signal. In order to save battery The present invention has auto power shut down features. And if and when there is low battery condition within the RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  the LED  22  turns steady yellow or alphanumeric LCD  25  displays “low Battery “signal”. And RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzer transmits a low battery RF unique coded signal. In the present invention A voice Recognition Breathalyzer not necessarily has to be a remote control  80  operated. According to the invention A Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  48  could be installed in a vehicle and connected to a vehicle mount immobilizer CPU  36   
         [0025]    RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzer could be used in many deferent application, such as when it&#39;s used with a vehicle mount immobilizer CPU  36  unit. When the immobilizer CPU  36  receives breath test “pass” signal from Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  unit, the operator can start the vehicle engine successfully. During vehicle ignition “On” position the immobilizer CPU  36  will random prompt audio-visual signal through beeper  30 . LED  38 . Vibrator  47  to the operator of vehicle in order the operator to give verbal given password into said RF Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  or into Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  48  during driving to avoid the driver from drinking during driving. If driver gives the proper password containing nontoxic breath. The Voice Recognition RF breathalyzer  80  or Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  47  transmits a “pass” code signal. The immobilizer CPU  36  upon receiving the “pass” signal, it operates in its normal operating mode. If the operator fails to give proper password or no password at all or gives password containing toxic breath within a predetermine time, the immobilizer CPU  36  will flash the vehicle lights  33 . Honks the vehicle horn  31 , and immobilize the vehicle ignition  34 , or fuel pump circuitry. The vehicle mount Immobilizer CPU  36  capable of receiving unique coded signal from an RF Voice Recognition remote control unit. Wherein an RF voice recognition Remote control unit is used by individuals for whom it is not necessary for breath sobriety test to disarm said vehicle immobilizer CPU. The immobilizer CPU  36  will disarm by receiving coded RF signal from said voice recognition remote control unit. Said vehicle immobilizer CPU  36  upon receiving said unique coded signal will not initiate random audio-visual  30  and  38 , or vibrating signals  46  and  47  to the operator, for the operator to give given verbal password into said voice recognition breathalyzer.  
         [0026]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention a GPS receiver  49  is connected to a mobile phone/pager  29  or a satellite modem, and said Mobile phone  29  is connected to said vehicle CPU  36  unit. If and when said vehicle immobilizer CPU  36  receives a unique test “fail” signal from said Voice Recognition Breathalyzer  80  and  48 . The vehicle immobilizer CPU  36  sends a signal containing information relating to said vehicle and driver ID along with sobriety test fail code to said vehicle GSM phone, or Pager unit  29 , and said GSM phone/pager unit  29 , signals a monitoring station  60  with information containing operator ID with breath test fail data, Vehicle ID along with it&#39;s location. Said monitoring station upon receiving said signal can locate said vehicle by using a PC containing GPS map software, and send a signal to said particular vehicle immobilizer CPU  36 , through said vehicle mount GSM/phone or pager  29 , to immobilize said vehicle engine at a safe speed. In the present invention, the monitoring station could utilize a data base server or a internet server, which could give law enforcement agency direct access to said database via portable or desk PC. In the present invention, the monitoring station  60  at any given time can sent verbal or audible signal to the operator of a particular vehicle to give given verbal password into a voice recognition breathalyzer  48  and  80 , for on spot sobriety test, through said vehicle mount GSM phone or pager modem.  
         [0027]    The present invention could be used in a more effective way, by utilizing a temper proof wrist watch style transceiver unit  40 , warn by the person to be monitored, transmitting a RF coded signal periodically, or upon receiving a RF signal from said vehicle mount Transceiver CPU  36 . When the immobilizer CPU  36  receives wrist transmitter signal, at a predetermine time the immobilizer CPU  36  will initiate audio-visual  30  and  38 , vibrating signal  47 , or a RF signals to a wrist transceiver  40  to vibrate the built-in vibrator  46 , signaling to the operator to give a given verbal password into said voice recognition breathalyzer  80  or  48 .  
         [0028]    In addition a Voice Recognition Breathalyzer, could be utilized in a phone, or a mobile phone  90 , capable of analyzing user breath content. When person to be monitored gives the given password into said voice recognition phone, the Phone  90  and  70  has a built in microphone with voice recognition circuitry  81 , to receive and analyze given password. A breath sensor with breathalyzer circuitry  21  to receive and analyze given breath sample(s). And a phone transceiver  90  and  70 , to communicate with a monitoring station or to give commands to disarm vehicle immobilizer or to start the vehicle. A LCD  92  or TFT screen  72  to display alphanumeric given commands or used as a monitor. And a camera to capture the photo images of the user and sent the photo image to a monitoring station  60 . Operation: User(s) voice is preprogrammed into the voice recognition Breathalyzer phone  90  and  70 . The User first press the reset button to power up the voice Recognition Breathalyzer Phone. When user gives given password into said Voice Recognition phone  90  and  70 , the voice processor upon voice recognition signals the breathalyzer processor to process users given breath sample, if given sample is nontoxic, the operator can give verbal or DTMF commands to disarm a particular vehicle equipped with a immobilizer CPU  36  through a vehicle mount GSM phone or a pager  29  receiver unit. If given password breath is toxic, then the speaker gives a warning beep and the LCD display indicates “fail” symbol, the user can not sent verbal or DTMF commands. In the present invention, a monitoring station  60 , can signal a phone user at any given time by giving verbal or audible signals through said phone  90  and  70 , for the operator of said phone  90  and  70 , to give verbal password into said voice recognition breathalyzer phone  90  and  70 , for system to identify and to analyze user given breath sample, during given speech, and send said user IID information along with breath test Fail information to a monitoring station  60 .The monitoring station  60  to determine precise BAC reading, signals the operator to perform full lung inhale exhale breath into said Voice Recognition Breathalyzer Phone  70  and  90 , and said phone breathalyzer processor circuitry  21  upon analyzing said given verbal password with breath content, sends said process breath content data to a monitoring station  60 . In addition the built in camera  72  can capture and send photo images through a modem to a monitoring station  60 , for pictorial identification verification of the user by said monitoring station PC.

Technology Category: 7