AU2015201699B2

AU2015201699B2 - Apparatus and method to prevent the starting or operating of a vehicle by an intoxicated person

Info

Publication number: AU2015201699B2
Application number: AU2015201699A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Riebschlaeger; Alexander Sarcinelli
Original assignee: Draeger Safety AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Draeger Safety AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 2014-04-05
Filing date: 2015-04-02
Publication date: 2016-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2035-04-02
Also published as: DE102014004961A1; AU2015201699A1; SE538516C2; SE1550382A1

Abstract

Described is a method as well as an apparatus to prevent the starting or operating of a vehicle by a drug-intoxicated driver. The device is provided with a hand-held unit (1), which comprises a mouthpiece (2) for providing a breath sample and/or a saliva sample, an analysis unit (3) for determining the drug content of the supplied sample, at least one control unit (4) in which, depending on the determined drug content, a signal can be generated that can be transmitted to a control unit and/or switch unit, which is either internal or external to the hand-held unit, to influence at least one electric circuit of a vehicle, as well as a display (6) through which the driver is able to receive at least one message in relation to a test implementation and/or a test result. The described engineering solution is characterised in that the mouthpiece (2) is disposed at the front of hand-held unit (1), which faces the driver during the provision of the breath sample, and that the display (6) is disposed at the rear of hand-held unit (1), on the side opposite the mouthpiece (2), and that the message can at least some time be shown on the display (6) in such a way that said message is legible to the driver in plain text when looking into the rear vision mirror (7) of the vehicle. (Fig. 1) 1/1 2013_1113DE rr~1 1 6,6 a) b) Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Description

1 Apparatus and method to prevent the starting or operating of a vehicle by an intoxicated person FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The invention concerns an apparatus as well as a method to prevent the starting or operating of a vehicle by an intoxicated person, in which a hand-held unit is provided for supplying and analysing a breath sample and/or a saliva sample, through which a corresponding signal is transmitted to a vehicle starting device if a certain threshold value is exceeded. 10 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Measuring instruments installed in vehicles for determining the alcohol content in the breath of the driver are known in the prior art. Measuring instruments of this kind are usually connected to the vehicle's control system in 15 such a way that starting, or operating, of the vehicle is prevented if a threshold or limit value is exceeded. To this end, the driver is requested, prior to taking the vehicle into operation, to provide a breath sample, usually via a mouthpiece, into a hand-held unit. At a certain point in time, which depends, for example, on the breath volume blown through the mouthpiece, a pump system withdraws a 20 sample from the respiratory flow and feeds it to a suitable sensor. The sensor determines the alcohol concentration in the breath sample and, depending on the result of the measurement, a signal is transmitted to a vehicle control unit, in particular a starter unit, and the measuring result is shown on a display on the hand-held unit. For the testing process to be reliable it is necessary for the driver 25 to perform all steps in the process in the correct order. The user is usually provided with an operating manual that explains the steps for the provision of a sample. Other systems are furthermore known, which additionally lead the driver prior, during and after the sample provision, in different ways through the process of supplying the sample. 30 In this respect, patent document DE 10 2012 008 165 B3 describes a generic device to prevent the starting of a vehicle. The device comprises a breath test analyser which is disposed in a corresponding hand-held unit. Beside the 2 indication as to when the driver should start providing the breath sample and when to stop, the display of the hand-held unit also shows if a so-called repeat test is to be carried out once the vehicle has been started and operated for certain time during a journey. The aim of such repeat tests is to ensure that the 5 driver who has supplied the initial breath sample prior to the starting process is also the driver in the driver's seat during the journey. In the above described systems, as well as on all currently known systems, the display is located on the side of the hand-held unit that faces the user. Likewise, 10 the opening that accepts the mouthpiece into which the driver supplies the breath sample, is also provided on that same front of the hand-held unit. In all probability the mouthpiece is located above the display. If a driver initiates the starting process, in particular through operation of an 15 ignition key, the breathalyser, in particular the hand-held unit, switches on first automatically. After the warming-up phase of the breathalyser is complete, the display indicates to the driver that the unit is now ready to receive and analyse a breath sample. Further text-based messages indicate to the driver whether a sufficiently large volume of respiratory gas has been provided so that the driver is 20 able to end the breath sample provision. However, since during this time the driver is holding the mouthpiece in his mouth, the display is obscured, or at least very difficult to read. This often leads to operating errors since the user is unable to see the messages provided by the unit; particularly the sample supply is often terminated too early, which renders the test unusable. 25 To circumvent the disadvantage of a covered display, or to dispense with the display altogether, generic breathalysers are known that emit audible signals. The sounds or sound sequences generated must of course be interpreted correctly by the driver to ensure the proper use of the device. If the sound level inside the 30 vehicle changes, for example because the radio is powered up at the same time that the vehicle ignition is switched on, the sound signals may not be heard, or not be heard clearly. Hence even when using audible signals, there are often operator errors, so that the tests have to be repeated on many occasions, which 3 severely limits the comfort and the acceptance of respective breathalysers in motor vehicles. Having regard to the above described problems and using currently known 5 engineering solutions as a starting point, it would be beneficial to further develop a device to prevent the starting or operating of a vehicle by an intoxicated person in such a way that the user (ie the vehicle driver or operator) is able to receive information, reliably and error-free, via a display while using the drug / alcohol measuring device, in particular in a hand-held unit. It would be advantageous to 10 achieve integration of a display into currently used hand-held units in a simple manner and, moreover, use commercially available displays. Performing the relevant breath or saliva-based alcohol (or other drugs) measurements should also be simplified from the user's perspective, and the occurrence of error measurement situations, and thus delays in starting the vehicle, are to be 15 reduced reliably or even avoided. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus to prevent the starting or operating of a vehicle by a person who is intoxicated as a 20 result of drug or alcohol consumption. The apparatus comprises a hand-held unit which has a mouthpiece through which the vehicle driver can provide a breath and/or saliva sample, an analysis unit to determine the drug / alcohol content of the sample provided by the driver, at least one control unit arranged for generating a signal as a function of the drug / alcohol contents of the sample, 25 wherein the signal is transmittable to a hand-held unit-internal or a hand-held unit external control and/or switch unit for influencing at least one electrical circuit of the vehicle, and a display through which messages about how to conduct the drug / alcohol test and/or the results of such test following evaluation of the sample can be displayed to the driver. According to this aspect of the invention, 30 this apparatus has been developed further in such a way that the mouthpiece is disposed at the front of the hand-held unit facing the driver during the provision of the breath and/or saliva sample, and the display is disposed on the rear of the hand-held unit, opposite the mouthpiece carrying front side, and in such further 4 way that the message which is shown on the display at least some of the time is legible by the driver in 'plain text' in a rear vision mirror of the vehicle. In this respect attention is drawn to the fact that any information may be shown in form of graphical representations, for example pictures, but also in text form. A combination of graphical representation and text is also possible of course. The term "plain text" in this respect means that the driver is able to clearly recognise, in the rear vision mirror, the pictorial and/or text components of the message. However, the representation of the respective pictures and/or text on the display is mirror inverted, Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof, An intoxicated vehicle driver in the sense of the invention is a person who, due to the consumption of at least one drug or illicit stimulant, is negatively affected in driving a vehicle due to the awareness-changing and perception-changing effect of the drugs / substances that were consumed. The term 'drug' as used herein in particular comprises alcohol, since there are currently no methods available to detect the concentration in the breath of a person of other type of drugs that can affect the safe operation of a vehicle. To the extent that corresponding analysis systems for detecting the concentration of other drug types in breath, which include drug substances, in particular medication, cannabis products, opiates and other highly effective psychotropic substances and their preparations, are developed, it is basically also conceivable to combine these types of analysis systems with the engineering solution according to the invention. This concerns also the application of saliva tests to detect the consumption of such other drugs, but also alcohol. Provided that corresponding analysis methods are available, they can be combined with the solution according to the invention in a preferred way, 4a One of the core elements of the invention will be seen in that the display, which is disposed on the hand-held unit, is located on the side opposite to where the mouthpiece is present, so that the display is located on the side of the hand-held unit that faces away from the driver (or user), when moving the mouth piece to the mouth, Moreover, a special mode of operation is provided in which at least one message is shown on the display in mirror image, so that the driver, in particular 5 as he/she holds the mouthpiece in his/her mouth for providing the sample, is able to see the information required to provide the sample, in the rear vision mirror in plain text, that is, not in mirror image. In a modification of the display process, the message on the display is alternately displayed in mirror image and non-mirror 5 image, so that, as a function of the different stages in doing the drug test and depending in particular on each test step currently undertaken, a changeover between the two operating modes takes place in a suitable way. The driver is thus able to either read the message on the display directly, or read said message in plain text in the rear vision mirror, as required. This takes place 10 preferably depending on the respective positioning of the hand-held unit, in particular depending on the orientation of the display. In this way, the user is able to read the individual required test steps in a mirror in for him/her legible form, even in the time span during which the driver moves the hand-held unit with its mouthpiece to the mouth, using in particular the vehicle rear vision mirror, for 15 which the internal rear vision mirror is particularly suitable. Based upon the drug content detected in the sample, a signal is generated in the control unit. Based upon this signal, an electrical circuit in the vehicle is either activated or left deactivated. The signal generated in the control unit of the hand 20 held unit is preferably transmitted to a monitoring unit disposed in the vehicle. According to a particular embodiment, a signal is transmitted to a vehicle-internal monitoring unit, which ensures that the vehicle starter relay is closed and the vehicle's engine can be started, provided that the determined drug content of the sample, in particular the breath alcohol content, is less than that of an admissible 25 limit value. To achieve this, the monitoring unit is also preferably provided with a relay, which permits the activation of the starter relay and consequently that of the starter circuit after operating the ignition key, based upon the signal transmitted from the 30 control unit inside the hand-held unit when a limit value is not reached. According to a special further development, the monitoring unit is provided with at least one further switching means, in particular a relay, with which at least one further electrical circuit of the vehicle can be energised depending on the drug content 6 that was detected in the sample. This makes it possible, for example, to switch on the horn, the lights and/or the indicators of the vehicle if a limit value has been exceeded. 5 It is equally conceivable that the signal that was generated as a result of the drug content in breath or saliva, or data that contains information regarding the detected drug content, is transmitted via a data interface in the hand-held unit, wirelessly or by a cable, to an external interface, in particular a vehicle-internal interface, and from there to a control and/or data processing unit. In particular in 10 the instance where a limit value has been exceeded, this permits the transmission of driver-specific data to a vehicle control unit or an external data processing unit. According to a special further development of the invention, based upon the detected drug content of the breath or saliva sample, preferably by taking into 15 account a corresponding signal and/or a corresponding data transfer, a starting device of the vehicle can be deactivated, preferably in that a vehicle immobiliser is activated. In this way it is possible to reliably prevent a drug-intoxicated driver from starting a vehicle, or taking it into operation respectively, that is fitted with the corresponding measuring device. Such intoxicated states, which are detectible 20 with known measuring systems, are caused in particular through the excessive consumption of alcohol. A corresponding sample from the driver is preferably provided both prior to taking the vehicle into operation as well as at certain time intervals during the journey. 25 This is to ensure that a change of drivers after the starting process was completed is reliably detected. Advantageously, the drug measuring system is supplied with a camera, which may be arranged optionally also in the hand-held unit or in the vicinity of the vehicle's cockpit so as to take pictures of the driver at predetermined time intervals and/or at certain events, and to compare those with 30 previously taken pictures or with one saved in a memory unit. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the display on the hand-held unit, provided with the drug measuring system, has a changeover 7 mechanism that can be activated in a special way so that the display can be switched from a first operating mode, in which the at least one message is provided in plain text via the display, into a second operating mode in which the at least one message is shown in mirror image. A corresponding changeover 5 preferably takes place as part of the test implementation, in particular depending on the respective test step to be carried out and/or under consideration of the hand-held unit's position. For this purpose it is basically conceivable to provide a sensor, or a combination of sensors, so as to detect an orientation or positioning, a movement and/or an acceleration of the hand-held unit. According to a special 10 further development of the invention it is conceivable that the message on the display shows in normal text when the hand-held unit of the drug measuring system is, for example, located in a support bracket mounted in the vehicle, or it is located in the hand of the driver in a position where the display faces the driver. Thus in this operating state the messages are not shown in mirror image on the 15 display but in plain, legible text. However, as soon as the driver moves the hand-held unit with its mouthpiece to the mouth, or the mouthpiece is already in the mouth, so that the display of the hand-held unit is on the side facing away from the driver, at least one message is 20 shown on the display in mirror image. If the hand-held unit is now held by the driver in such a way that he is able to see the display in a mirror, in particular in the internal rear vision mirror of the vehicle, he is able to see the message that is shown on the display in mirror image, such as text and/or a graphical representation, in the mirror in plain, legible text, that is, not in mirror image. Thus 25 the test implementation has been made significantly easier for the driver, since the test process, or the individual required steps of the test respectively, which he has to undertake, are legible via the display shown in the mirror. It is therefore possible to indicate to the driver in a preferred manner the starting 30 time for providing the breath or saliva sample, as well as its end. The driver is thus shown unambiguously when he can start with providing the sample, and he is also told when a sufficient amount of respiratory gas or saliva has been provided into the mouthpiece to analyse the drug content, in particular the alcohol 8 content. It is also conceivable to issue further instructions such as, for example, the instruction to suck in the respiratory gas from the mouthpiece, in particular in the so-called "blow-suck" mode. 5 According to a particular further development of the invention, the representation in mirror image on the display is tied to the relevant respective processing step to be carried out in the test procedure. This assumes that certain steps such as, for example, the message "Ready for Test", will always be read with the unit held in the hand, whereas other steps require that the hand-held unit is located at the lips 10 of the user, thus requiring a mirror image representation on the display. It is also conceivable to make the changeover of the display from the first to the second operating mode dependent on special process steps in the test procedure. Such an event may be the start of the provision of a sample, which is 15 detected by the flow or saliva intake measured in the hand-held unit. The end of the sample provision is preferably also detected, and the display is then switched back into the operating mode in which the display shows a normal representation. According to a further special design it is also conceivable to utilise a camera that 20 is provided with the drug measuring system, or which is located inside the vehicle, to detect the orientation, or position respectively, of the hand-held unit to cause a respective changeover of the display operating mode, depending on the detected position and/or orientation. 25 In this respect it is preferable that the hand-held unit and its position, or orientation respectively, is detected relative to the camera and/or to the mouth. To this end special markings are preferably provided on the hand-held unit that are recognised by the camera that has an attached or integrated processing unit. One engineering solution excels in particular, in which the hand-held unit is provided 30 with at least one LED, in particular at least one infrared LED, which is recognised by a camera that has an attached or integrated processing unit.

9 In a further special design of the invention, the mouthpiece of the hand-held unit is detected by a suitable unit that comprises a camera and a processing unit, and as soon as the mouthpiece is obscured by the hand-held unit, the representation on the display is changed from legible, plain text into a mirror image 5 representation. Alternatively, or in addition it, is also basically conceivable to provide a switching element in the drug measuring system, in particular in the hand-held unit, with which the display can be changed from the first into the second operating mode. 10 With respect to connecting the hand-held unit to the vehicle, or to the control unit in the vehicle, it is generally conceivable to have a wired or a wireless data connection, in particular a W-LAN, radio or Bluetooth connection. Aside from a measuring device for preventing the starting of, or taking into 15 operation, a vehicle by an intoxicated driver, the invention concerns, moreover, a method for determining the drug content in a breath sample and/or a saliva sample of a driver, in which a sample provided by the driver is fed through a mouthpiece to an analysis unit for determining the drug content of the provided sample and, depending on the drug content detected, a signal is generated by a 20 control unit that is transmitted to a switching and/or control unit so that at least one electrical circuit of the vehicle is influenced. The driver is then provided at least sometimes during the test with at least one message in relation to the test implementation and/or to a test result via the display. The method that is implemented according to the invention is characterised in that the message is 25 issued at least some time during the implementation of the test in such a manner that it is clearly legible in plain text in a rear vision mirror of the vehicle. In a preferred way it is in this instance conceivable that the message shown via the display, which can be read in plain text in a mirror, contains a message in relation to the test implementation, in particular to individual process steps that occur 30 during the implementation of a test. In this respect it is particularly conceivable that the driver is given a message concerning the time at which the sample provision should start and when it can be ended.

10 In the following, other aspects of the invention will also become apparent from the ensuing detailed description of a preferred embodiment which is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. Of course, it will be clear that the preferred embodiment is not limiting of the invention. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 illustrates schematically the front and the back of a hand-held unit of a drug measuring system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and 10 Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the application of the hand-held unit with display of a drug measuring system installed in a vehicle. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 15 Fig. 1 depicts in two views, that is, in a front view (Fig. 1a)) and in a rear view (Fig. 1 b)), the hand-held unit 1 of a drug measuring system as it is commonly used in motor vehicles. Using the system described below it is possible to determine, in a preferred manner, the alcohol concentration in a breath sample of a driver and, depending on the measuring result, to prevent the starting of the 20 vehicle. The hand-held unit 1 is provided, as shown in Fig. 1a), with a mouthpiece 2 at its front, which is detachably mounted on a not-depicted mouthpiece holder of hand held unit 1, through which the driver provides a breath sample prior to taking the 25 vehicle into operation, said breath sample being subsequently analysed for its alcohol content in the analysis unit. The mouthpiece 2, which is detachable from the mouthpiece holder, is generally used only once, or for one journey only, and is thus designed as a disposable item so as to ensure a hygienic operation of the system even if there is a change of drivers. 30 The alcohol content of the breath sample is determined by the analysis unit 3. The resulting value is compared with a limit value in a control circuit 4 that is integrated into hand-held unit 1, or it is transmitted via a data cable 5 to an 11 external control unit to carry out the comparison. As long as the detected alcohol concentration is below a limit value that is stored or, in particular, one that is legally prescribed, a corresponding signal is transmitted to a switch unit that ensures that the starter circuit of the vehicle is supplied with power. If the limit 5 value is exceeded, said signal is not transmitted to the switch unit so that the starter circuit remains de-energised and the vehicle's engine cannot be started. A relay of a monitoring unit is used as a switching unit, which is disposed in the hand-held unit or in the vehicle. It is also conceivable that the signal contains breath alcohol-specific data that is transmitted to a vehicle control unit and/or to 10 an immobiliser of the vehicle. In this way it can be reliably ensured that a driver, who is unfit for driving due to the consumption of alcohol, and in future perhaps also due to the consumption of cannabis, opiates and/or medications, is unable to take a vehicle that is fitted with 15 the described measuring system into operation. As shown in Fig. 1 b, a display 6 is located on the rear of hand-held unit 1, by means of which the driver is provided with messages regarding the operational state as well as with instructions regarding individual process steps during the 20 test. After the driver has operated the ignition key of the vehicle, the display 6 of the hand-held unit 1, which is at this stage located in a holder mounted in the vehicle, shows the message that the measuring system is switched on and that the analysis unit 3 is in a warming-up phase. As soon as the system is ready to process a breath sample, the display 6 indicates this to the driver in plain text. 25 The driver can now remove the hand-held unit 1 from the holder and move it with the mouthpiece to the mouth. As the driver begins to provide a breath sample, a flow sensor in the vicinity of the respiratory gas inlet detects this action and, as a result of this, the display 6, which is located on the rear of the hand-held unit and 30 is facing away from the driver, is switched from a first to a second operating state. Every message on the display in this second operating state is shown in mirror image. While the driver holds the mouthpiece 2 in his mouth he is able to position the hand-held unit 1 in such a way that the display 6 can be read in the internal 12 rear vision mirror 7 of the vehicle. Due to the representation in mirror image on the display, the driver is able to read the necessary messages in plain text, that is, not in mirror image. 5 As soon as a sufficient amount of respiratory gas has been provided by the driver into mouthpiece 2, this is indicated to him via display 6 and the internal rear vision mirror 7 of the vehicle. Should, however, the provision of the breath sample not take place correctly because the driver stops blowing into the mouthpiece 2 too early, for example, or he begins to suck on the mouthpiece 2 at an inadmissible 10 time, the control unit recognises this too and a corresponding error message is issued via the display 6 and rear vision mirror 7. The driver is also in this instance able to recognise the incorrect operation immediately in the rear vision mirror 7 and initiate a corresponding correction while he is holding the mouthpiece in his mouth. 15 The loss of time during the implementation of the test as well as any unsuccessful measurement is thus reliably avoided. The driver is notified as soon as a sufficient amount of respiratory gas has been blown into the mouthpiece 2, after which he removes the mouthpiece 2 from the mouth. The flow sensor now detects that no 20 respiratory gas is flowing into the hand-held unit 1, which causes the display 6 to switch from the second to the first operating state and the messages on display 6 appear again in plain text, that is, not in mirror image. The driver is now able again to read the messages on display 6 normally. After 25 completing the test, the driver places the hand-held unit 1 back into the holder that is mounted in the vehicle and, provided that no limit values in regards to the alcohol content in the breath sample were exceeded, the vehicle can be started immediately. 30 Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the hand-held unit 1 of a drug measuring system, in particular an alcohol measuring system, in operation. In the instance shown, the driver holds the hand-held unit 1 in his hand and the mouthpiece 2 is in the driver's mouth. As soon as the flow sensor recognises that 13 the driver has begun providing a breath sample, the display 6 is switched from a first to a second operating state in which the messages appear in mirror image on the display 6 so that the messages can be recognised in plain text in the internal rear vision mirror. 5 The hand-held unit 1 of a drug or alcohol measuring system respectively, as shown in Fig. 2, is connected via data cable 5 to the starter unit of the vehicle. A monitoring unit with a relay is provided in the vehicle, which enables the supply of power to the vehicle's starter circuit as soon as it receives a control signal from 10 the hand-held unit. Prior to the supply of the breath sample and the implementation of the respiratory gas analysis, the starter unit is disabled so that the vehicle cannot be taken into operation at that time. Communication between the control unit 4, which is integrated into the hand-held unit 1, and the starter unit, or the monitoring unit connected to the starter unit respectively, takes place 15 via signal interface 8 in the hand-held unit, the cable 5 and a correspondingly suitable signal interface 9 in the vehicle. It is of course conceivable to provide a wireless data transfer, for example using WLAN or Bluetooth technology, instead of a data transfer via cable. 20 Provided that the analysis of the breath sample confirms that the driver is not intoxicated, or that the alcohol content is below the legally stipulated limit value respectively, a signal is generated in the control unit 4 and transmitted via the previously described signal path. This causes a switch unit in the vehicle to operate and supply the starter circuit with power. 25 In the second operating state shown in Fig. 2, the issue of messages via the display 6 occurs in mirror image. As soon as the driver has positioned the hand held unit in such a way that the display 6 can be seen in the internal rear vision mirror 7 of the vehicle, he is able to read in plain text the message that is shown 30 on display 6 in mirror image. This makes it possible to issue messages to the driver with respect to the operational state of the measuring system, especially the hand-held unit 1, and preferably messages about the required process steps, 14 as well as errors in the implementation of the test whilst the driver holds the mouthpiece 2 of the hand-held unit 1 in his mouth. The engineering solution according to the invention, which is based upon an 5 arrangement of a display 6 on the rear of the hand-held unit 1, facing away from the mouthpiece 2, of a drug measuring system, or in particular an alcohol measuring system, as well as a corresponding changeover of a display-specific operating state of the display, ensures that a driver can be reliably provided with messages regarding the implementation of the alcohol test even if he holds the 10 mouthpiece 2 of the hand-held unit 1 in his mouth. Incorrect operation and the resulting unsuccessful tests lead to a delay in taking the vehicle into operation, even with drivers that are not intoxicated. Such delays are perceived as uncomfortable and are hereby reliably prevented, or at least significantly reduced.

15 List of reference numbers 1 hand-held unit 2 mouthpiece 5 3 analysis unit 4 control unit 5 signal cable 6 display 7 rear vision mirror 10 8 signal interface in hand-held unit 9 signal interface in vehicle 15

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing an intoxicated person from starting or operating a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a hand-held unit that includes a mouthpiece for providing a breath and/or saliva sample; an analysis unit arranged for determining a drug content of the breath and/or saliva sample submitted, at least one control unit arranged for generating a signal as a function of the drug content determined by the analysis unit, wherein said signal is transmittable to a further control unit and/or switch unit which is arranged to act on at least one electric circuit associated with a starter system of the vehicle, and a display through which the driver of the vehicle can be issued with at least one message concerning steps in conducting a drug test with the hand-held unit and/or a test result, characterised in that the mouthpiece is disposed on a front side of the hand-held unit which in use faces the driver while providing the breath sample, in that the display is disposed on the rear side of the hand-held unit opposite the mouthpiece., and in that the message(s) shown on the display is selectively presented in a format that is legible to the driver in plain text when looking into a rear view mirror of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal that was generated depending on the determined drug content is used by a vehicle-internal monitoring unit to control the supply of power to the at least one electric circuit of the vehicle. 17

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hand-held unit is provided with a data interfacefor transmitting data related to the drug content and/or the signal generated depending on the determined drug content, to an external data interface.

4, The apparatus according to claim 3., further comprising means to effect wireless data and/or signal transmission,

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterised by being arranged to cooperate with a vehicle immobiliser via the data interface of the hand held unit and a vehicle-internal data interface,

6, The apparatus according to any one of claims I to 5, further comprising a display changeover switch for switching the display between a first operating state, in which the at least one message is displayed in plain text, and a second operating state, in which the at least one message is displayed in mirror image,

7, The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a switching elementfor switching the display from the first to the second operating state.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a display control unit for generating a signal that uses the detected operating state as a trigger event for changing the display from the first to the second and/or from the second to the first operating state.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the trigger event for changing over the display from the first to the second and/or from the second to the first operating state, is the supply of the breath and/or saliva sample,

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the display control unit is configured to generate a signal, depending on data generated by a 18 movement and/or orientation sensor, for changing the display from the first to the second and/or from the second to the first operating state,

11, The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a camera unit connected via a data transmission path to the at least one control unit,

12, A method for determining the drug content of a breath sample and/or a saliva sample from a driver, the method comprising the steps of. providing the breath and/or saliva sample to an analysis unit through a mouthpiece for determining a drug content of the sample provided; generating a signa.i as a function of the drug content determined, transmitting the signal to a switching unit and/or control unit whereby at least one electric circuit of a vehicle starter system is influenced, providing the driver with at least one message in relation to the implementation of the method and/or a test result by means of a display, and providing the message in such a way that said message is legible to the driver in plain text in a rear vision mirror of the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a message in relation to providing of the breath sample is issued via the display. WATERMARK PATENT AND TRADE MARKS ATTORNEYS DRAEGER SAFETY AG & CO KGAA P40054AU00