US3890826A - Intoxicated driver capability tester - Google Patents

Intoxicated driver capability tester Download PDF

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Publication number
US3890826A
US3890826A US341844A US34184473A US3890826A US 3890826 A US3890826 A US 3890826A US 341844 A US341844 A US 341844A US 34184473 A US34184473 A US 34184473A US 3890826 A US3890826 A US 3890826A
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Prior art keywords
output signal
driver
alcohol
output
driving
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Expired - Lifetime
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US341844A
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English (en)
Inventor
Fumiyuki Inose
Takaji Suzuki
Hideki Kohno
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Hitachi Ltd
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Hitachi Ltd
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/16—Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
    • A61B5/18—Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state for vehicle drivers or machine operators
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/483—Physical analysis of biological material
    • G01N33/497—Physical analysis of biological material of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
    • G01N33/4972—Determining alcohol content

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT An intoxicated driver capability tester comprising a Foreign Appllcatlon Priority Data bridge circuit for producing an unbalanced output by Mar. 17, 1972 Ja an 47-27863 detecting alcohol, a NOT circuit for producing an output 1 when said unbalanced output is more than a ref- [52] US. Cl 73/27 R erence value, a display device for random numbers [51] Int. Cl.
  • G01n 31/00 which is activated by one output of the NOT circuit, [58] Field of Search 73/27 R, 421.5 R, 432 R; and a NAND gate for receiving the other output of the 180/99; 340/53, 279; 128/2 C NOT circuit as one input thereof and receiving the output of the display device for random numbers as [56] References Cited the other input thereof.
  • This invention relates to an intoxicated driver capability tester and particularly to a device detecting the degree of intoxication and deciding the adaptability for automobile driving.
  • deciding device includes a device wherein the driver is shown random numbers for a while and after the random numbers are removed, the driver pushes buttons of said device depending on his memory so as to input the same random numbers, and the drivers capability for driving is decided from the speed and accuracy of his push-button-operation, and then when it is decided that the driver is not adaptable for driving the device functions to prevent the engine from being started for a predetermined time interval.
  • This device has defects in that the driver must carry out the above test every time before driving even if he has not taken any alcohol or even when he has an urgent business and the test is very troublesome. Further, it is possible that the driver is in a hurry so that he could not operate correctly the device, resulting in failure to start the engine.
  • An object of this invention is to provide an intoxicated driver capability tester to decide rapidly and reliably whether an intoxicated driver has the capability of driving or not.
  • the intoxicated driver capability tester comprises in combination a detecting device to detect the amount of alcohol in a drivers body and a device to decide the capability of driver, whereby in case that the amount of alcohol in a drivers body is detected to be less than a predetermined value, the tester permits the engine to be started without deciding the capability of the driver for driving.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an embodiment according to this invention.
  • FIGS. 2 and 4 show respective embodiments of alcohol detecting devices according to this invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operating characteristics of the devices shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an embodiment, in which numeral 1 designates a detecting device to detect the amount of alcohol in a drivers body and to produce an output signal 1 (high level) in case that the amount of alcohol is less than a predetermined value, and (low level) in case that it is larger than the predetermined value.
  • Numeral 2 designates a deciding device of capability for driving which may be of a type of the conventional display device for random numbers.
  • the deciding device 2 is activated by an output 0 of the detecting device I, that is, when the amount of alcohol is larger than a predetermined value, and produces an output I when it is decided that the driver is capable to drive the vehicle and an output 0 when it is decided the driving is not to be permitted.
  • Numerals 3 and 4 designate NOT circuits and numeral 5 designates a NAND circuit.
  • the circuits 3, 4 and 5 constitute a circuit of logical sum.
  • FIG. 2 shows a circuit construction of an alcoholdetecting device being employed in the invention, which utilizes the fact that the temperature of a temperature-sensitive element connected in a bridge circuit changes its temperature depending or the amount of alcohol.
  • Numeral 21 designates a power source for the bridge circuit
  • numerals 22, 23, 24 and 25 designate resistance elements composing an electrical bridge
  • numeral 26 designates an output terminal
  • numeral 27 designates a main tube for expiration to be measured
  • numeral 28 designates an inlet tube
  • numeral 29 designates an outlet tube.
  • the resistance elements 24, 25 are both exposed to the expiration.
  • the resistance elements 24 and 25 have characteristics such that their resistances vary by application of alcohol, and the characteristics of them are different for alcohol but not for other fluids.
  • the temperature-sensitive elements 24 and 25 are made of resistance wires having a temperature coefficient, and one of them, for example the wire 25 is coated a chemical catalyzer such as a platinum black which reacts oxidation with a specific material so that it is able to measure the amount of the material from the difference in temperature due to heating by chemical reaction.
  • a chemical catalyzer such as a platinum black which reacts oxidation with a specific material so that it is able to measure the amount of the material from the difference in temperature due to heating by chemical reaction.
  • An amount of heat transmission AQ is given in the abscissa and the ordinate shows resistance values R and R of the elements 24 and 25.
  • AG is the sum of a heat quality 1 R in selfheating by a bridge current and a heat quantity 8Q produced by chemical reaction and/or transmitted by thermal conduction, thermal radiation, thermal convection and heat transmission.
  • the resistances of 24 and 25 are held at a resistance value corresponding to the temperature determined by the balancing of 1 R and 80.
  • a curve 10 shows a characteristic of the resistance 24 in FIG. 2 and a curve 11 shows that of the resistance 25.
  • the bridge circuit is balanced at the points of a and b.
  • the values R and R of the resistances 24 and 25 are determined depending on the impedance values of the branches 22 and 23 of the bridge circuit.
  • the catalyzer activates chemical reaction, the temperature value of the resistance element 25 is changed and consequently, the resistance value of the element 25 is shifted to b from b and then there exists a difference AR between the resistances of the elements 24 and 25.
  • the balancing state of the bridge is changed and the variation is given as an output at the output terminal 26.
  • a comparator (not shown) receives that variation as one input and a voltage corresponding to a predetermined amount of alcohol as the other input. By comparing both inputs the comparator produces an output 0 in case the variation is over a predetermined standard value and produces I when it is less than the standard value.
  • an amount of alcohol to be detected is able to increase or decrease by changing the standard value.
  • the resistance values of 24 and 25 are possible to change from a and b to a and b by fluids, other than alcohol, contained in the expiration of a driver or by the change of composition of the fluid, thereby producing an undesired difference AR, resulting in producing an output of the sum of AR and AR at the output terminal 26.
  • the device indicates a different value from the correct value AR.
  • adjusting resistances are provided at the branches of the bridge circuits in series or parallel with the temperature-sensitive elements 24 and 25, in order to make the characteristics and 11 of the elements 24 and 25 substantially identical.
  • Numerals 24 and 25' designate variable resistors provided in series with the temperature-sensitive elements at the respective branches of the bridge circuit. Other numeral numbers indicate the same elements as those in FIG. 2. Since the variable resisters 24 and 25' are connected in series with the temperature-sensitive elements 24 and 25, the resistances of the branches provided with the elements 24 and 25 are changeable. Accordingly, the characteristic curves 10 and 11 described in FIG. 3 are respectively changeable.
  • variable resisters 24' and 25 are adjusted so as to make the point a" be in agreement with the point b in FIG. 3 thereby making the characteristic curves 10 and 11 substantially identical. After thus being adjusted, the resistance values of the variable resisters 24 and 25 are fixed. Then, the bridge circuit is in a condition that the error AR is eliminated.
  • the operation of an embodiment employing the alcohol-detecting device as above mentioned is de' scribed hereunder.
  • the alcohol-detecting device 1 produces an output 1 which is applied to the NOT circuit 3, and the NOT circuit produces an output 0 which is applied to the NAND circuit 5 as an input and which is applied to the deciding device 2 of capability for driving as a control signal.
  • the output of the NOT circuit 3 is 0, the operation of the deciding device is not started. Since the input 0 is applied to the NAND circuit 5, the output 1 is produced from the NAND circuit 5, and the display device (not shown) displays the state that the driver is capable of driving.
  • the alcohol-detecting device 1 produces an output 0 which is applied to the NOT circuit 3, and the NOT circuit 3 produces an output 1 which is applied to the NAND circuit 5 as an input and which is applied to the deciding device 2 of capability for driving as a control signal.
  • the output of the NOT circuit 3 is l, the operation of the deciding device is started and the drivers capability is decided by means of the display of random numbers. If it decides that the driver is capable of driving, an output 1 is produced from the deciding device 2 and the output 1 is put in the NOT circuit 4, then an output 0 is produced from the NOT circuit 4 and an output 1 is produced from the NAND gate 5 and then the display device indicates the state that the driver is capable of driving.
  • an output 0 is produced from the deciding device 2 and the output is put in the NOT circuit 4 and thereby an output 1 is produced from the NOT circuit 4 and is put in the NAND circuit 5 as another input.
  • the NAND circuit is supplied with an input 1 at each of the input terminals, and hence an output 0 is given from the NAND circuit 5, and the state that the driving is impossible is displayed.
  • the output 0 of the NAND circuit 5 may be utilized to operate a relay (not shown) thereby cutting off the cell motor of an engine from a power source or making the engine key inoperative to start the engine.
  • the degree of intoxication is rapidly determined and the dangerous drive by an intoxicated driver is prevented.
  • An intoxicated driver capability tester comprising: means for detecting alcohol in a drivers body which generates a first output signal when the amount of alcohol in the drivers body is less than a predetermined reference value and which generates a second output signal when the amount of alcohol in the drivers body is greater than the predetermined reference value; first signal generating means for generating a third output signal when the first output signal is applied from said alcohol detecting means and for generating a fourth output signal when the second output signal is applied from said alcohol detecting means;
  • deciding a drivers capability for driving said deciding means being responsive to the fourth output signal from said first signal generating means for initiating an operation to be effected by the driver to determine the drivers capability for driving, said deciding means being responsive to the operation effected by the driver for generating a fifth output signal when the driver is in a state capable of driving and for generating a sixth output signal when the driver is not in a state capable of driving;
  • second signal generating means for generating a seventh output signal when the fifth output signal is applied from said deciding means and for generating an eighth output signal when the sixth output signal is applied from said deciding means; and third signal generating means having one input for receiving the output signals from said first signal generating means and another input for receiving the output signals from said second signal generating means, said third signal generating means generating a ninth output signal indicative of a state capable of driving in response to said third output signal being applied to the one input thereof, generating a tenth output signal indicative of a state capable of driving in response to said seventh output signal being applied to the another input thereof, and generating an eleventh output signal indicative of a state not capable of driving in response to the fourth output signal being applied to the one input thereof and the eighth output signal being applied to the another input thereof.
  • each of said first and second signal generating means includes a NOT circuit
  • said third signal generating means includes a NAND circuit
  • said alcohol detecting means comprises a bridge circuit, at least one branch of which includes an impedance element whose impedance is adaptable to change by application of alcohol, a power source connected to said bridge circuit, and comparator means for comparing an unbalance output of said bridge circuit with the predetermined reference value, said unbalance output of the bridge circuit being produced by the impedance variation of said impedance element by alcohol.
  • said impedance element includes a temperature compensation impedance element.
  • said alcohol detecting means comprises a bridge circuit, at least one branch of which includes an impedance element whose impedance is adaptable to change by application of alcohol, a power source connected to said bridge circuit, and comparator means for comparing an unbalance output of said bridge circuit with the predetermined reference value, said unbalance output of the bridge circuit being produced by the impedance variation of said impedance element by alcohol.
  • said impedance element includes a temperature compensation impedance element.
  • An intoxicated river capability tester comprising:
  • signal generating means having a first input for receiving the output signals from said alcohol detecting means and a second input for receiving the output signal from said deciding means, said signal generating means providing a fifth output signal indicative of a state capable of driving in response to the first output signal being applied to the one input thereof, providing a second output signal indicative of a state capable of driving in response to the third output signal being applied to the another input thereof, and providing a seventh output signal indicative of a state not capable of driving in response to the second output signal being applied to the one input thereof and the fourth output signal being applied to the another input thereof.
  • each of said alcohol detecting means and said deciding means includes NOT circuit means at the output stages thereof, and said signal generating means includes a NAND circuit.

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JP47027863A JPS5135286B2 (en(2012)) 1972-03-17 1972-03-17

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1567999A4 (en) * 2002-10-30 2006-02-22 Bradley L Gotfried SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING ACCESS
WO2009007844A3 (en) * 2007-07-10 2009-03-12 Toyota Motor Co Ltd Breathalyzer test device
US20100084156A1 (en) * 2006-09-22 2010-04-08 Kurabe Industrial Co., Ltd. Ptfe porous body, ptfe mixture, method for producing ptfe porous body, and electric wire/cable using ptfe porous body

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS51629U (en(2012)) * 1974-06-18 1976-01-06
JP5213109B2 (ja) * 2008-04-10 2013-06-19 ホーチキ株式会社 酒気帯び運転防止装置
JP5266414B2 (ja) * 2012-09-24 2013-08-21 ホーチキ株式会社 エチルアルコール検知装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3552930A (en) * 1968-03-06 1971-01-05 Robert F Borkenstein Breath sampling and analyzing apparatus
US3600134A (en) * 1968-04-11 1971-08-17 Corning Glass Works Method for the determination of alcohol and other oxidizable organic compounds in respired air and body fluids
US3607095A (en) * 1967-10-09 1971-09-21 Lucien Etzlinger Apparatus for dosing a liquid or gaseous fluid by comparison
US3695848A (en) * 1970-04-07 1972-10-03 Naoyoshi Taguchi Gas detecting device
US3755776A (en) * 1972-04-07 1973-08-28 Gen Motors Corp Vehicle operation inhibitor control system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3607095A (en) * 1967-10-09 1971-09-21 Lucien Etzlinger Apparatus for dosing a liquid or gaseous fluid by comparison
US3552930A (en) * 1968-03-06 1971-01-05 Robert F Borkenstein Breath sampling and analyzing apparatus
US3600134A (en) * 1968-04-11 1971-08-17 Corning Glass Works Method for the determination of alcohol and other oxidizable organic compounds in respired air and body fluids
US3695848A (en) * 1970-04-07 1972-10-03 Naoyoshi Taguchi Gas detecting device
US3755776A (en) * 1972-04-07 1973-08-28 Gen Motors Corp Vehicle operation inhibitor control system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1567999A4 (en) * 2002-10-30 2006-02-22 Bradley L Gotfried SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING ACCESS
US20100084156A1 (en) * 2006-09-22 2010-04-08 Kurabe Industrial Co., Ltd. Ptfe porous body, ptfe mixture, method for producing ptfe porous body, and electric wire/cable using ptfe porous body
WO2009007844A3 (en) * 2007-07-10 2009-03-12 Toyota Motor Co Ltd Breathalyzer test device

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JPS5135286B2 (en(2012)) 1976-10-01
JPS4894125A (en(2012)) 1973-12-04

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