WO2022008939A1

WO2022008939A1 - Equipment built into the vehicle to detect drivers who are under the influence of psychoactive drugs and to protect the vehicle against thievery

Info

Publication number: WO2022008939A1
Application number: PCT/HU2021/050045
Authority: WO
Inventors: Péter Pál VERES
Original assignee: Veres Peter Pal
Priority date: 2020-07-09
Filing date: 2021-07-07
Publication date: 2022-01-13
Also published as: HUP2000226A1

Abstract

The invention is an equipment (1) built into the vehicle in order to prevent driving a vehicle by people who are under the influence of psychoactive drugs and to protect the vehicle against thievery. The equipment (1) contains a control unit (3) that is connected to the central computer (2) of the vehicle, further there are a camera and a breathalyzer and/or a drug probe and detector(s) i s/a re connected to the control unit that is/are capable of driver identification. There is a camera system connected to the control unit (3) of the equipment (1) which is capable of face recognition and that includes a main camera (6), a camera on the left side (7) and a camera on the right side (8). Further there are detectors that are capable of driver identification, a sensor (9) that is capable of voice recognition and/or a fingerprint reader (10) and/or a weight detector integrated into the driver's seat (11) connected to the control unit (3)

Description

EQUIPMENT BUILT INTO THE VEHICLE TO DETECT DRIVERS WHO ARE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS AND TO PROTECT THE

VEHICLE AGAINST THIEVERY

The invention is an equipment built into the vehicle in order to prevent driving a vehicle by people who are under the influence of psychoactive drugs and to protect the vehicle against thievery, this equipment contains a control unit that is connected to the central computer of the vehicle, further a camera and a breathalyzer and/or a drug probe and detector(s) capable of driver identification is/are connected to the control unit.

There are still many accidents nowadays on the roads caused by drunk drivers. In many cases they end with death, unfortunately there are many victims as well. In some countries 30% of traffic accidents are caused by drivers who are under the influence of alcohol.

When driving drunk (often under the influence of drugs), the driver of the vehicle begins or would like to begin, continue or finish the driving in such a physical or mental state which doesn’t make him capable of safely participating in traffic. It doesn’t depend on what the driver feels or thinks of his own current state of being, whether he feels or thinks that he is capable of driving. The delinquents have in the most cases a different opinion about their state of drunkenness and about their driving ability as the sober people. Most of the drunk drivers feel that they are not so drunk, which would make them incapable to reach their destination safely. In order to make sure that drunk people or people who are under the influence of stimulants, drugs could not use their vehicle, there are various solutions (first of all to detect the drunk state).

The NISSAN automobile factory uses a high-sensitivity alcohol sensor built into the transmission shift knob, (Resource: https://www.nissan-qlobal.com/EN/TECHNOLOGY/OVERVIEW/dpcc.html). which is capable to detect the presence of alcohol in the perspiration of the driver's palm as he attempts to start driving. When the alcohol-level detected is above the pre-determined threshold, the system automatically locks the transmission and immobilizing the car. A “drunk-driving” voice alert is also issued via the car navigation system. Additional alcohol odor sensors are also incorporated into the driver's and passenger seats to detect the presence of alcohol in the air inside the vehicle cabin. When alcohol is detected, the system issues both a voice alert and a message alert on the navigation system monitor. A camera is mounted on the instrument cluster facing the driver to monitor the driver's face. The system is calibrated to monitor the driver's state of consciousness constantly. When the system detects signs of drowsiness, a voice and message alert is triggered via the navigation system. Additionally, a seat-belt mechanism is activated which tightens around the driver to gain his attention. At Nissan the system can be cheated as also another person can use the transmission shift not just the person who attempts to drive the vehicle, it will be not controlled by the system of Nissan. Further, the alcohol odor sensors in the vehicle cabin can give false information, because the system can be triggered when only the passengers consumed alcohol and not the driver. It’s important to note that the built-in camera at Nissan only monitors the driver's state of consciousness/drowsiness and it wasn’t designed to identify the person who attempts to drive the vehicle.

The Volvo automobile factory brings immobilizers combined with breathalyzer into circulation (https://soforhivo.hu/szonda-a-slusszkulcsban/). This solution can be cheated easily too as it is not determined who has to blow into the breathalyzer before the driving. The voluntary use of the breathalyzer can only help when we don’t know exactly whether the few hours earlier consumed glass wine was already absorbed. Is the solution of Volvo a breathalyzer built into the ignition key. This is a mobile unit and blowing into that the equipment based on fuel cell technology sends signals to the electronic system of the car, which can react depending on the forwarded signals as follows: 0.0-0.1 gl/alcohol, the car engine can be started; in case of 0.1-0.2 gl/alcohol the vehicle can be started, but the driver should not drive; in case of 0.2 gl/ or higher alcohol level the car engine can’t be started.

The Drager Safety Hungaria Kft. (1135 Budapest, Szent Laszlo Lit 95., Hungary) brings into circulation an alcohol, respectively drug tester integrated into the immobilizer that prevents the vehicle starting in case of alcohol and drug-influence. This solution can be cheated easily, when not the driver of the vehicle uses it before starting the vehicle.

The international patent No. WO 2006/116186 A1 describes a system containing breathalyzers and sensors for driver identification which can be applied in the vehicle, which system does not allow starting the vehicle or stops it, if the blood alcohol level of the driver exceeds the pre determined threshold.

This document is about an invention that was designed to detect the people who are under the influence of alcohol and attempt to drive a vehicle, but in a different way than the present invention. The example mentioned applies control devices and sensors which this invention (e. g. sensors on the body) does not use.

There are many inventions with the function to detect drunk drivers (e. g. Volvo Alcoguard), but the problem is the same in every case, namely, each one of them can be cheated (even the solution according to WO 2006/116186 A1). When it comes to detection of people who are under the influence of alcohol - still before the control - the primary and most important task is the inevitable identification of the person who attempts to drive. Otherwise, the protection can be cheated that can have serious consequences later. The examples mentioned are not capable of 100% safe identification. Our solution is, besides the 100% safe detection, whether the target person (driver of the vehicle) performs the test, it also should happen with 100% security that the person who performed the test drives the vehicle between starting and stopping the vehicle without switching places with someone else. The system has to perform this task without causing too much annoyances to the driver of the vehicle. The identification technology according to the solution No. WO 2006/116186 can be cheated.

On the website https://www.researchqate.net/publication/341262864 Effects of a Motion Seat System on Driver%27s Passive Task-Related Fatigue An On-

Road Driving Study can be found the following study with the title ..Effects of a Motion Seat System on Driver’s Passive Task-Related Fatigue: An On-Road 10 Driving Study” which describes a completely different function comparing to the solution provided by our invention. The only similarity is that a camera capable of face recognition monitors the driver of the vehicle, which is essential at every camera system built into a car for monitoring and identifying a person. In case of a camera system there are only restricted options to locate the cameras. There are three places in the vehicle (that is monitoring/identifying the driver) which are capable to perform the task. The “pillar A” on the right and the left side, respectively the instrument board/steering wheel. Every other surface facing the driver of the vehicle is glass surface. The camera system of the solutions is put on the given places, because only these places are suitable for locating a camera in a vehicle.

The document titled Development Of Non-lnvasive Steering-Type Blood Pressure Sensor For Driver State Detection (International Journal of Innovative Computing, Information and Control ICIC International Volume 14, Number 4, August 2018) that can be found on the website https://www.researchqate.net/publication/323829822 Development of non- invasive Steeringtype blood pressure sensor for Driver State detection deals with the blood-pressure control of the driver of the vehicle. The primary function of the invention is not the blood-pressure control of the driver of the vehicle, (it’s just an additional option), but the inevitable identification of the person who attempts to drive a vehicle and after it, the detection if the identified person is under the influence of alcohol and/or drug, so that the possible accident causation can be avoided.

The invention applies well-known technological devices or devices that can be developed according to the current state of technology, which were not applied earlier in the compilation according to the invention. Not even by knowing the prior art and the documents referred by us a person skilled in the art cannot be expected to realize the system according to the present invention. The fact of the estimation of inventor activity can’t be in correlation with the expertism. A technical solution/invention comes in every case from an idea that is not necessarily in correlation with the “specialized” qualification of the inventor.

In case of the present invention a key element is the weight detector integrated into the driver's seat, its application doesn’t mean simultaneously that an expert with a specialized qualification must recognize it automatically, especially in relation to this solution. The present invention was planned to solve a global problem, that occurs in our everyday lives in a passive or active way, accordingly anyone can recognize such a solution that can be used to solve the problem. The design of the present invention that can be used in the automobile production is a result of studying and thinking of many years. The solution of the present invention is definitely the result of the inventive work of the present inventor.

The novelty in the present invention is that it is realized by such component parts and elements that have not yet been assembled in a manner disclosed here. The excogitation was a unique idea, its realization cannot be expected not even from the expert who is familiar with the current state of the technology.

The solutions known till now were uncapable of the inevitable exclusion of people driving a vehicle who were not capable of driving. At the same time our system enables performing certain secondary examinations as well.

Our goal was the development of such a vehicle security equipment which is capable of detection of drivers who are under the influence of psychoactive drugs and ensures protection against thievery.

It has been realized that if an equipment is developed that is capable of the accurate identification of the driver of the vehicle, as well as accurate identification of driver who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and/or after the alcohol and drugs probe, then we can achieve our goal. In order to achieve this, the development of such an equipment is necessary that has data connection to the control unit of the vehicle and is capable of sending commands to the control unit of the vehicle referring to authority or non-authority of starting the vehicle. The accurate identification of the driver of the vehicle ensures at the same time safety-technology protection and protection against thievery. Via the monitoring the non- invasive blood-pressure measure of the driver we can secure the monitoring of health functions too.

The present invention is an equipment built into the vehicle in order to prevent driving a vehicle by people who are under the influence of psychoactive drugs. The equipment is at the same time capable of protection of the vehicle against thievery as well. The equipment contains a control unit that is connected to the central computer of the vehicle, further a camera and a breathalyzer and/or a drug probe and detector(s) capable of driver identification is/are connected to the control unit. There is a camera system connected to the control unit of the equipment which is capable of face recognition, the system includes a main camera, a camera on the left side and a camera on the right side. Further there are detectors that are capable of driver identification, a sensor that is capable of voice recognition and/or a fingerprint reader and/or a weight detector integrated into the driver's seat connected to the control unit. Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in the appended claims. The structure of the equipment is shown in the figure, where:

Figure 1 is the block diagram of the equipment.

The equipment 1 according to the present invention is designed to prevent driving a vehicle by people who are under the influence of psychoactive drugs and to protect the vehicle against thievery via prevention of starting the vehicle. The construction of the equipment 1 can be seen in Figure 1. The equipment 1 contains a control unit 3 that is connected to the central computer

2 of the vehicle. The control unit 3 contains the central unit 14, a memory 15 containing the operation system and connected to the central unit 14, a storage device 16, further a WIFI module 17 and a Bluetooth module 18. The memory 15 basically stores the program of the application and the storage device 16 typically stores the measurement data. The WIFI module 17 ensures the remote data connection without cable typically via the internet, the Bluetooth module 18 ensures the closer connection without cable. Both of these connection methods are capable of the communication with smartphones.

More face recognizing cameras, namely the main camera 6, the left side camera 7 and the right side camera 8 are connected to the control unit 3. The main camera 6 is located close to the center of the frontal windscreen, above the windscreen. The main camera 6 is provided with a 1/1 ,28” sensor of at least 50Mp, with a resolution of at least ultra-HD 4K. The left-side camera 7 is fixed to the left pillar A of the vehicle, the right-side camera 8 is fixed to the right pillar A of the vehicle. The breathalyzer 4 and if necessary, the drug probe 5 are connected to the control unit 3.

The sensors capable of driver identification is the face recognizing camera system containing the cameras described above. Further, for driver identification a voice recognizing sensor 9 and the fingerprint reader 10 are used. The weight detector integrated into the driver's seat 11 is also designed for driver identification. Each of the previously described sensors, the cameras 6, 7, 8, the of voice recognizing sensor 9, the fingerprint reader 10 and the weight detector 11 are all suitable of certain identification of the driver, in other words of prevention the thievery of the vehicle.

The non-invasive blood-pressure monitoring sensor 12 which is connected to the control unit

3 can show the current physical and health conditions of the driver. If necessary, this informs the driver if he needs to do some measurement in order to regain his health. A digital backup breathalyzer 13 can be connected manually to the central unit 3.

To the equipment 1 belongs a personal application (Android, IOS), that can be configured by the owner of the vehicle freely with a master code provided for him. Only the values set by the manufacturer are exceptions. The application among others performs monitoring of the cabin, but it also can be used for giving information to the owner of the vehicle when the weight detector 11 integrated into the driver's seat detects that someone is taking place on the driver’s seat. In the application in addition to using the master code the user can configure control methods, data input and data record and other functions. The control unit 3 works via communication with the central computer 2 of the vehicle. The weight detector 11 integrated into the driver's seat and the high-resolution main camera 6, the high-resolution panoramic camera on the left side 7 and on the right side 8 are connected to the control unit 3. Into the surface of the start button or a further control button a fingerprint reader 10 is integrated, a breathalyzer 4 is built into the steering wheel and if necessary, a further backup breathalyzer 13 is installed with fingerprint reader 10 that can be connected to the system manually, which are also connected to the control unit 3. The latter one is required when the built-in breathalyzer fails or when besides the basic test options performing further tests (will be described later) is needed.

Optionally a drug probe 5 provided with an integrated fingerprint reader 10, a voice recognizing sensor 9 and a non-invasive blood pressure sensor 12 can be connected to the control unit 3. When during the use of the equipment 1 , a person under the influence of psychoactive drugs is detected, the weight detector 11 detects that someone is sitting on the driver’s seat. By the starting the vehicle the system recognizes the fingerprint of the person who is sitting on the driver’s seat (it can be found among the data that was input earlier with the master code). During this, the main camera 6, the left-side camera 7 and the right-side camera 8 can see the person sitting in the driver’s seat (the face recognition is associated with his fingerprint). Thereafter the system requires the alcohol test with the breathalyzer 4. The person who attempts to drive the vehicle blows into the breathalyzer, then within the set limits the vehicle can be started. In case of a level which is higher than the set limit the person who performed the test cannot use the vehicle; the vehicle cannot be started. The person who is sitting in the driver’s seat and attempted to start the vehicle and used the breathalyzer 4 is registered by the system in its own system, based on the data of the weight detector 11 , the of face recognizing cameras 6, 7 and 8 and the fingerprint reader 10. In case of an unsuccessful test the user has three more options to perform a new test. When the further tests are showing a result that differs from the standard, there is a chance to perform another three tests with the manually connectable backup breathalyzer 13, this way eliminating all kinds of mistakes. Although the modern test devices are reliable, in spite of this the system ensures more options in order to avoid mistakes, in this way the manufacturer is protected as well.

When a person who did not drink alcohol starts the vehicle than he gets out of the car and another person sits on his place, the system detects the difference of the registered data, the equipment 1 does not allow the vehicle to participate in the traffic. In this case the system requires an alcohol test from the person sitting on the driver’s seat who did not start the vehicle. According to the registered data the system detects the identity, when the same person gets in or out, so it does not require a new test within a certain programmable time interval. When after testing the vehicle comes into traffic, the system can require the driver to perform a control alcohol test with blowing into the breathalyzer 4 according to the pre-determined time frame detecting this way along with a voice signal if alcohol was consumed during the ride. In the case, when the driver of the vehicle does not perform the control alcohol test despite of the command besides the three voice alerts, the system can work as follows:

- If the vehicle is installed with self-driving technology and the driver does not perform the control alcohol test despite of the multiple commands, the self-driving system of the vehicle withdraws the vehicle within the shortest time and on the safest way, as long as the driver does not perform the required test.

- In the case, when the vehicle is not installed with self-driving technology and the driver doesn’t perform the control alcohol test despite of the multiple commands, the support system of the manufacturer contacts the driver of the vehicle and requires him to perform the test. When this does not happen, the support system proceeds accordingly to its inner regulation, for example it informs the authority, assuming the drunk-driving.

In the case, when the vehicle stops, but the driver of the vehicle does not get out (the equipment 1 detects this of course), the system does not require control within a pre determined time interval, but after a preset time it requires the control with the breathalyzer 4. When it is detected that the driver who is under the influence of drugs the system performs the drug probe on its own independently of the alcohol test. The process is the same as the process of the alcohol test. The test is performed by the drug probe 5 provided with the fingerprint reader 10 installed in the vehicle. In case of a built-in alcohol test the drug probe operates as follows:

- after performing the alcohol test with the breathalyzer 4 the system requires the person who attempts to drive the vehicle to perform the drug probe. The test person holds the drug probe 5 in his hands and starts the drug probe 5 with his finger, that was registered in the start button and stored by the system and performs the test. If the drug probe 5 does not show a state influenced by drugs, the vehicle can be put into operation, otherwise the test performing person cannot start and drive the vehicle.

The operation of the drug probe when there is no built-in alcohol test in the system:

- The person who attempts to drive a vehicle gets into the vehicle, then the weight detector 11 detects that someone is sitting iin the driver’s seat. When starting the vehicle the system recognizes the fingerprint of the person who is sitting in the driver’s seat through the fingerprint reader 10. The main camera 6, the left-side camera 7 and the right-side camera 8 can see and record the person sitting on the driver’s seat and the system requires the performance of the drug probe. The person who attempts to drive the vehicle takes the drug probe 5 in his hand und puts it into operation with the built-in fingerprint reader 10 and then performs the test. In case of the system does not detect the use of drugs, the vehicle can be started, otherwise the vehicle cannot be started.

The drug probe can be programmed for one test before the ride or for the control mechanism according to the alcohol test, so the system can require the control test during the ride in order to detect the consuming of drug during the ride. By long-term parking, the equipment 1 also can require the performance of control test. In case of getting in and out of the car the system operates according to the principle of the alcohol test.

In case of using the equipment 1 of detection of people who attempt to use the vehicle unauthorized, the detection of unauthorized user function is assigned to the equipment 1. In order to do so, the data of the people who can use the vehicle should be scanned. The input and storage of data can happen in two ways: main users, in this case the input and storage can be done with the master code or the guest users (the input of the data of guest users happens with the master code, the data can be deleted easily without the master code). During input the following data are registered: the weight of the target person by the weight detector 11, his fingerprint by the fingerprint reader 10, his face by the cameras 6, 7, 8 and his voice by the voice recognizing sensor 9. Recording of the data into the system is performed with the master code given by the manufacturer which is accomplished by the owner of the vehicle.

In the menu of the application that belongs to the system the owner of the vehicle can configure what kind of a control method or methods for weight detection, face recognition, voice recognition or fingerprint identification he wants to use in order to recognize the unauthorized user. The data recording can be accomplished through the system of the application or the menu system of the vehicle as well.

The master code can be changed by the owner of the vehicle. In case the owner is changed, it is recommended to do so, with deleting the memory 15. The weight of the people registered in the system can change with time. If the system detects weight-change in case of the person to whom the finger print and face recognition is assigned, it automatically requires the modification of data that the owner of the vehicle has to approve by means of the master code. If the breathalyzer 4 or the drug probe 5 or both of them are built in the system, detection of the person who attempts to use the vehicle under the influence of psychoactive drugs the system automatically performs the control based on the recorded data When the voice recognition function is active, after performing the alcohol test, and/or the drug probe, the system requires the voice recognition as well. During this the voice is received by the voice recognizing sensor 9. It is noted that by the alcohol test and drug probe the operation of the voice recognizing sensor 9 is not an active part of the measure.

When the owner of the vehicle only sets the detection of people who are under influence of psychoactive drugs, then the equipment controls the user according to the registered data in the system based on the previous detailed process automatically. In addition, a further optional function may be assigned to the system, namely an automatic non-invasive blood pressure monitoring sensor 12 with alert function integrated in the vehicle for monitoring the health and eliminating the possibility of accidents. The non-invasive blood-pressure monitoring sensor 12 is connected to the control unit 3 of the system. The blood-pressure measurement is programmable for many methods. The basic detail is the age of the user, because the system assigns the measurement results to this. It can be configured so that during a longer driving period the system requires the driver to perform blood-pressure measurement from time to time. In case of too high measurement results, the system informs the support system of the manufacturer about the measured data that contacts the driver and if necessary, informs the health service. Furthermore, the driver of the vehicle can start the blood-pressure measurement himself, when he feels that it’s necessary, with this he can save his own life and the lives of others as well, and/or he can avoid an accident that can occur as a consequence of a sudden sickness.

The operation mode of the system in every case is determined by the manufacturer. The manufacturer decides, whether they connect the system to the starting of the vehicle, whether they obligate the performance of tests in the vehicle or they just recommend the use of them to the user. The manufacturer can ensure full access to the user to the configuration of the system.

The benefit of the present invention is that the system detects the drunk drivers, and/or people influenced by drugs, ensures protection against thievery and last but not least has the function of monitoring the health state. Therefore, the accidents can be reduced significantly. It can be prevented that people under the influence of psychoactive drugs can drive a vehicle. Further some kind of sickness could be prevented, which signs the people concerned although can feel, but they don’t know its reason. The supporting system, knowing about this, can take measures in time. Additional benefit of the present invention is that it can detect the people who are under the influence of psychoactive drugs in an inevitable way in a minimum of time (without disturbing the driving experience). Further benefit of the invention is that it is looking ahead to the future, knowing, that more and more accidents happen, where the influence of drugs plays a role. The system is suitable to detect this. According to my current information in the USA from 2024 every automobile factory will be obligated to install in every vehicle - that will be brought into circulation - an equipment, that is responsible for the detection of drunk drivers. There are some agreements about a similar law in the European Union as well, just like in the USA, so definitely it will be obligated also in the EU to install in every vehicle brought into circulation an equipment, that is responsible for this detection. Regarding this can be found an article on the website https://uzletem.hu/europai-unio/ion-a-beepitett-alkoholszonda-ui- szabalyokat-iavasol-az-europai-parlament-az-ui-gepiarmuvekre. Further benefit of the present invention is that it can restrict the vehicle theft, respectively it can give a signal to the rightful owner about the attempt related to an unauthorized use of the vehicle.

Claims

1. Equipment built into the vehicle in order to prevent driving a vehicle by people who are under the influence of psychoactive drugs and to protect the vehicle against thievery, the equipment contains a control unit that is connected to the central computer of the vehicle, further a camera and a breathalyzer and/or a drug probe and detector(s) is/are connected to the control unit that is/are capable of driver identification, characterized in, that there is a camera system connected to the control unit (3) of the equipment (1) which is capable of face recognition and that includes a main camera (6), a left-side camera (7) and a right- side camera (8), and detectors that are capable of driver identification, a voice recognizing sensor (9) and/or a fingerprint reader (10) and/or a weight detector integrated into the driver's seat (11) connected to the control unit (3).

2. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in, that the left-side camera (7) is fixed to the left pillar-A of the vehicle.

3. Equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in, that the right-side camera (8) is fixed to the right pillar-A of the vehicle.

4. Equipment according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in, that a non-invasive blood- pressure monitoring sensor (12) is connected to the control unit (3).

5. Equipment according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in, that a digital manually connectable backup breathalyzer (13) is connected to the control unit (3).

6. Equipment according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in, that the control unit (3) consists of a central unit (14), a memory (15) containing the operation system and connected to the central unit (14), a storage device (16) a WIFI-module (17) and a Bluetooth module (18)