GB2418488A

GB2418488A - Breathalyser

Info

Publication number: GB2418488A
Application number: GB0421132A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-23
Filing date: 2004-09-23
Publication date: 2006-03-29
Also published as: GB0421132D0

Abstract

A system is provided whereby a user is prevented from using their vehicle if they exceed a predetermined blood alcohol level. The system comprises a portable unit such as a key which is enabled to receive breath of a user and transmit a signal indicative of a user's breath alcohol level to a receiver in the vehicle, which in turn activates a means to prevent operation of the vehicle, if the blood alcohol level is sufficiently high.

Description

24 1 8488 Breathalvser The present invention relates to a system for

preventing a driver who has a blood alcohol level above a predetermined threshold from driving their vehicle.

In the UK, on average 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year in drink drive collisions and 15% of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal limit. The legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, but there is no failsafe guide as to how much you can drink and stay under the limit. The amount and type of lo alcoholic drink and a person's weight, sex, age and metabolism will all play their part.

In order to dissuade potential drink drivers, the police make use of portable breathalyser devices, which have replaced the need for a suspected drink driver having blood taken for analysis in a laboratory at a later date. The obviously impractical nature of blood testing lead to the development of breath alcohol testing devices such as a breathalyzer, intoxilyzer and alcosensor. They all work on the principle that alcohol can be tested from a person's breath.

Alcohol is initially absorbed into the blood stream through the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines. Alcohol is not digested upon absorption, nor is chemically changed, therefore as the blood moves through the lungs, some of the alcohol moves across the membranes of the lung's air sacs (alveoli) into the air, due to the nature of alcohol evaporating from solution.

The concentration of alcohol in the air is related to the alcohol blood alcohol concentration (BAC), such that alcohol in the expelled air can be detected by the breath alcohol testing device. The ratio of the breath alcohol to the blood alcohol is 2100:1.

Breathalyzer type devices have been known for many years, and generally comprise a mouth piece, a tube through which the user blows and a sample chamber where the breath is analysed.

However, this requires trained users, usually the police, to administer the test, resulting in numerous people being on the road with an excess BAC level. The present invention aims to prevent the user from driving a vehicle with a breath alcohol level exceeding a predetermined limit.

According to the present invention, there is provided a system for preventing use of a vehicle by a user exceeding a predetermined breath alcohol value, said system comprising a portable unit including means to receive a user's breath, wherein said portable unit is arranged and configured to transmit a signal indicative of a user's breath alcohol to a receiving means, said system further comprising means for preventative operation of a vehicle in response to a signal from said receiving means indicating that said user's breath alcohol exceeds said predetermined value.

The portable unit is arranged to determine the breath alcohol level of a user, and preferably lo comprises a breathalyzer unit. The portable unit is preferably a key.

The system preferably further comprises means to prevent operation of said vehicle for a predetermined length of time in the event a user's breath alcohol value exceeds a predetermined value.

Beneficially, disruption of the electrical management system prevents operation of said vehicle. This may be in the form of a known vehicle immobilizer type arrangement wherein a circuit is completed provided the specific code is in place. Alternatively, a fuel cut-off prevents operation of said vehicle.

The signal is preferably a radio or infrared signal. It may also be through a direct electrical contact.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key comprising means to receive a sample of a user's breath, said key being arranged and configured to transmit a signal indicative of a user's breath alcohol so as to effect means to prevent operation of a vehicle in the event the breath alcohol value exceeds a predetermined value.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure I shows a schematic diagram of the key into which a user breathes a sample of breath.

Referring to Figure 1, there is a schematic representation of the internal mechanism of the key enabled to receive a driver's breath. The key comprises a shaft 2 which enters the lock mechanism, and a housing (not shown) which houses the means to receive a driver's breath such that the breath alcohol content may be determined. An aperture 4 is provided on either s or both edges of the key housing, into which a driver must breathe. Operation of the vehicle is prevented unless a user breathes into the aperture 4. The aperture 4 is circular in shape. The indentation funnels towards the central portion of the key therefore reduces in diameter as the central portion is approached, then increases in diameter through to the opposing side of the housing, in the shape of a funnel 6. There is a tube 8 which feeds from the central portion of 0 the funnel 6, through which a driver's breath is channelled towards a means to analyse the breath alcohol content 10, and determine if the volume of alcohol exceeds the predetermined allowable amount to drive. The means to determine the breath alcohol content may be of any known type such as a breathalyzer, intoxilyzer or an alcosensor. A micro- processor 12 then stores the 'yes' or 'no' information, relating to if the allowable breath alcohol content is above or belong the predetermined level, for transmission to the central processor unit located within the vehicle. The analyser of the breath alcohol value may be set depending on the local law.

In more detail, there are three stages to the process of testing a user's breath alcohol level and allowing the vehicle to function if the user has a level below the legal limit. The first stage is the breath alcohol level is determined by a breathalyzer 10 located within the key, the key also being fitted with a micro-processor 12. The micro-processor 12 stores the information as 'yes' or 'no', where 'yes' relates to the user having a breath alcohol content less than the predetermined value, and 'no' relates to the user having a breath alcohol value greater than the predetermined value. The predetermined value is commonly 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The second stage of the operation is the key is inserted into the ignition of the vehicle, and the information relating the 'yes' or 'no' information is transferred through the key shaft to the central processor unit (CPU). The third stage of operation is the CPU is linked to the electrical system of the vehicle, such that the vehicle is enabled provided a 'yes' result is received by the CPU.

In a preferred embodiment as described above, the key is inserted into the ignition of a vehicle, and the 'yes' or 'no' information is transferred directly to the central processor unit, which, depending on the result, may enable a function of the vehicle such as the electrics or fuel supply. Alternatively, the vehicle may be already enabled, and a result relating to an excess breath alcohol content disables a function ofthe vehicle. The processor may optionally actuate a timer such that the vehicle is disabled for a predetermined length oftime. It is also envisaged s that this timing function may be related to the breath alcohol reading, wherein a higher reading results in the vehicle disabled for a longer time period. However, this feature is optional as a user is prohibited, in any case, from driving the vehicle until the breath alcohol content is below a designated level.

lo In a further embodiment, the key may be arranged to contain a transmitter to transmit information to a receiver within the vehicle from a remote location, providing information with respect to the driver's breath alcohol content. This information may be transmitted as the user unlocks the car either remotely or by a key, or as the driver gets into the vehicle. It is envisaged that a signal is transmitted from the remote unit in a similar manner to that of a remote locking system of a vehicle, utilising, for example infrared or radio frequency transmissions. The key unit transmits a radio or infrared signal to be received by a receiver which enables prevention of operation of the vehicle should the signal indicate the user has excess alcohol in their breath.

The circuitry is arranged such that the user has a predetermined time between breathing into the key until the car is started. Alternatively or additionally, once the key is entered into the lock and the driver is determined to have a suffcicntly low breath alcohol content, then the car may be started at any time provided the key is not removed from the lock.

2s It is envisaged in an alternative embodiment that the system could for example be applied to the mechanics of door locks of a vehicle, or the vehicle's ignition. The door lock or ignition would therefore be locked and would not open or unfasten with the key if a user had an excess breath alcohol level. This system could be an electronic mechanical system as described above.

The principle could be applied to vehicles enables by a card key, wherein the card is inserted into the designated slot and a push button starts the vehicle.

It is further envisaged that the key unit or receiver unit may be arranged to transmit a signal to a police receiver for example, indicating a user attempting to drive a vehicle whilst having an illegal breath alcohol content.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that alterations and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A system for preventing use of a vehicle by a user exceeding a

predetermined breath alcohol value, said system comprising a portable unit including means to receive a s user's breath, wherein said portable unit is arranged and configured to transmit a signal indicative of a user's breath alcohol to a receiving means, said system further comprising means for preventative operation of a vehicle in response to a signal from said receiving means indicating that said user's breath alcohol exceeds said predetermined value.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said portable unit is arranged to determine the breath alcohol level of a user.
3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said portable unit includes a breathalyser.
4. A system according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said portable unit is a key.
5. A system according to claim 1 comprising means to prevent operation of said vehicle for a predetermined length of time.
6. A system according to claim I wherein disruption of a vehicle's electrical management system prevents operation of said vehicle.
7. A system according to claim I wherein a fuel cut-off prevents operation of said vehicle.
8. A system according to claim 1 where said signal is a radio frequency.
9. A system according to claim I wherein said signal is an infrared frequency
10. A system as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. A key comprising means to receive a sample of a user's breath, said key b eing arranged and configuecd to transmit a signal indicative of a user's breath alcohol level so as to effect means to prevent operation of a vehicle in the event the breath alcohol value exceeds a predetermined value.