Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02788785 2014-01-06
TITLE:
APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING
AND MONITORING BREATH ALCOHOL TESTING PROGRAMS,
USUALLY FROM A FIXED POINT LOCATION, SUCH AS A
HOME
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to systems and methods for implementing and monitoring
breath alcohol testing programs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Analyzing devices, used to determine the blood alcohol content of those about
to
drive vehicles, are commonly available. They emanated from breathalyzers used
by law
enforcement to test whether or not a driver was intoxicated, i.e., over the
legal limit. In
more recent times this traditional use of breathalyzing devices has been
enhanced by
combining a breathalyzer and an ignition locking system to prevent known,
problem
intoxicated drivers from being able to start their vehicle. This has been used
with habitual
violators in order to allow driving for necessary reasons, for example, to
work, after
confirming they are not intoxicated.
Typically at random times after the engine has been started the ignition
interlock
device will require another breath sample. The purpose of this is to prevent a
friend
(imposter) from breathing into the device to pass the test, thus enabling the
intoxicated
person to get behind the wheel and then drive away. If the breath sample isn't
provided, or
the sample given exceeds the ignitions interlock set blood alcohol level, the
device will log
the event, warn the driver, send a command station warning and begin visible
and auditory
warnings such as lights flashing, horn honking, etc.
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Modern ignition interlock devices use an ethanol specific fuel cell for a
sensor. A
fuel cell is an electrochemical device in which alcohol undergoes a chemical
oxidation
reaction at a catalytic electrode surface (often platinum) to generate an
electrical current.
This current is then measured and converted to an alcohol equivalent rating.
If it exceeds
safe limits, warnings are issued.
A device log keeps a record of the activity on the device in the interlock
vehicle
electrical system. This record, or log, is printed out or downloaded each time
the device
sensors are calibrated, commonly at 30, 60 or 90 day intervals. Authorities
may even
require periodic review of the log. If violations are detected, then
additional sanctions can
be implemented. The typical periodic calibrations performed use either a
pressurized
alcohol/gas mixture at known standard alcohol concentration to test accuracy,
or an alcohol
wet bath (Guth) arrangement that contains a known standard alcohol solution.
Cost of
installation, maintenance and calibration are generally paid by the offender,
which typically
can run $100 a month or more.
A breath alcohol ignition interlock device is typically comprised of two
components. One is a handheld component that contains the fuel cell to contain
the
electrochemical reaction and response after gathering the initial breath data.
The second
component is a relay box that relays the information and data from the first
hand held unit
to a command station or to provide a warning alarm, such as lights flashing,
horn honking,
etc or both. Both parts of the device offer opportunities for mischief, if one
is inclined to
try and beat the device and forestall court penalty sanctions, etc. Put
another way, for the
devious user on whom courts have already imposed enforced use of an ignition
interlock
device, often there is a "match of wits" between the ignition interlock device
manufacturer
and the user.
Some obvious attempts at avoiding the consequences of use of an ignition
interlock
device include imposter fraud, i.e., someone else other than the intoxicated
driver provides
the breath sample or no breath sample at all, but simply use of stored fresh
air. A third and
perhaps more daring and reckless attempt by one under the influence is
deactivation,
simply by attempts at disconnecting or even destruction. A fourth and perhaps
a more
subtle evidentiary way of avoiding the consequences of detection of excess use
of alcohol
is simply to deny the accuracy of the device, i.e., a fuel cell that has gone
"haywire".
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Manufacturers have done some things over the years to try and eliminate the
risk of
each of these avoidance techniques. For example, co-owned and commonly
assigned
application of some of these current inventors is U.S. Patent No. 5,426,415
issued June 20,
1995, is a breath temperature sensor to measure temperature of the breath
sample to ensure
that is the same temperature as normal human breath, thereby avoiding use of
other non-
human air sources. The '415 patent also requires rolling retests to ensure
that the driver is
the one that was tested and remains sober. Patent No. 6,748,792 relates to use
of video
camera surveillance to capture the identity of the person being tested. Patent
No. 6,026,674
teaches use of detectors to detect use of alcohol removing filter media, such
as activated
I 0 charcoal by detecting the resultant low pressure caused by the pressure
drop across an
alcohol filter.
From the above it can be seen there are many "wily ways" of seeking to
circumvent
a breath alcohol ignition interlock device. A reliable interlock device avoids
as many of
these as possible, and detects the fraud, sending a signal to a command
station, etc. That is,
a good interlock device records attempts to physically tamper with it, detects
circumvention
or retest fraud attempts including disconnect efforts, and reports non-human
air samples or
attempts to filter out the breath, or mask the amount of alcohol blown into
the device, and
finally records and logs for evidentiary purposes each use.
One of the properties associated with high integrity breath alcohol ignition
interlock
devices is a need for proof of calibration. Calibration is expensive, and
depending on the
device, it needs to occur every 30, 60 or 90 days. Calibration usually
involves the wet
chemistry of known standards or a Guth bath. While necessary problems with
calibration
involve time consumption, expense of distant travel that may be necessary,
inconvenience
discourages expense and the travel to maintain integrity and the user's
knowledge that lack
of an adequately calibrated machine may make the evidence it collects
inadmissible in
court discourages the effort. One way all of this could be avoided is to
develop a machine
that self calibrates. That is to say, it internally reports information that
could be used as
States evidence that it is constantly calibrated. This would save money, time
and expense
of all concerned.
Yet another problem with alcohol ignition interlock devices is constant user
circumvention by imposter fraud. As mentioned there are a variety of existing
state-of-the-
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art techniques that have been used to detect such fraud and also to detect
artificial samples.
Some detectors that are used detect attempts to filter out alcohol from the
breath; others
take a video of the person blowing into the breathalyzer. With the latter,
this can be
avoided by one person blowing into the breathalyzer and then a different
person driving. A
-- circumvention frustration technique that is used by this invention is using
two video
cameras, one to detect the person blowing into the breathalyzer and a second
to detect the
person driving. If different people are recorded on these two different
videos, the system
senses and keeps a video record of this. As far as the present Applicants
know, no one has
so far used two video cameras, one focusing on the person taking the test and
the other
-- focusing on the driver, in order to be sure they are the same.
Another device useful for the present invention to detect circumvention
efforts is
the use of an accelerometer both in the handheld unit and in the relay box to
immediately
sense attempts at destruction and send a warning to a command station that
such activity is
occurring. If desired, this may even be coupled with a GPS to report location.
While most circumvention detection systems focus on the handheld unit, this
invention also makes use of detection systems on the relay unit. Therefore it
even further
frustrates circumvention efforts. In particular, it also uses an internal cell
phone which
calls back to a command station when there is a sobriety violation and it may
use a wireless
link (RFID technology) between the handheld unit and the relay box in order to
avoid
-- circumvention efforts by wire cutting.
In addition to alcohol ignition interlock devices, there are other situations
where it
is necessary or desirable to test, record, and report a person's breath
alcohol level. For
example people under house arrest or on probation may have as a condition of
remaining
out of prison not consuming alcohol, or not getting intoxicated. This can
require random or
-- periodic breath tests, apart from the situation where the involved person
intends to operate
a motor vehicle. These "in-home" breath tests are subject to the same efforts
to defeat or
circumvent the system as the ignition interlock devices. In some cases it is
necessary for
the device to be portable such that the user can take it with them wherever
they are, for
example, home, to provide the necessary breath sample at the required time,
from, for
-- example, work.
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Another disadvantage of many present interlock devices is the time delay in
reporting any transgressions. Systems that merely record violations or
potential violations
in a log for later viewing suffer from a lack of immediacy. Users who are
inclined to
circumvent the system may feel that whatever punishment that will occur at a
remote time
when the violation is eventually reported is not sufficient deterrent to the
immediate desire
for a drink.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a self
calibrating breath alcohol ignition interlock device.
Another important objective as seen from the above discussion is to provide a
unit
with enhanced ability to detect circumvention efforts such as imposter fraud,
artificial air
sample, deviation by destruction, etc. This unit may be in so-called home
united or an
ignition interlock.
The invention features of novelty which characterize it are pointed out with
particularity in the claims which form a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding
of the invention, its operating advantages and how its specific objects are
achieved,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings and the descriptive matter in
which
preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. It is to be understood
that all of
these features need not be used in the same unit, and that improvements in
existing devices
may be achieved by any one of the additional advantageous or improvements
described
herein for either the handheld unit or the relay box used alone or in
combination.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an in-home or office or
other fixed location breath alcohol monitoring apparatus includes a handheld
breath alcohol
testing device capable of receiving a breath sample and testing the breath
sample to
determine an alcohol content. An image recorder adapted to record image data
when the
breath sample is provided. A sealed case encloses an electronic storage medium
that is in
communication to receive information about the determined alcohol content. The
storage
medium is also adapted to receive image data associated with the breath test.
A
communication device is mounted within the sealed case for transmitting data
related to the
determined alcohol content and the associated image data to a remote service
provider.
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The electronic storage medium and the communication device may be contained
within a
relay box mounted inside the sealed case. The relay box may include a compass
and/or an
accelerometer for determining attempts to tamper with the sealed case or the
handheld
testing device. A speaker may be mounted within the sealed case. The sealed
case may
include a cover and a mechanism for detecting attempts to remove the cover. A
GPS
receiver may be provided in communication with the electronic storage medium
to provide
GPS data to the electronic storage medium associated with each breath sample.
An
antenna unit including the GPS receiver and an antenna for the communication
device may
be provided external to the sealed case. A mount may be provided on an
exterior of the
sealed case for supporting the image recorder. The sealed case may have
connection
sockets for electronically connecting the electronic storage medium with: the
image
recorder, the handheld testing device, and a GPS receiver. The electronic
storage medium
may record instances when any of the image recorder, the handheld testing
device, or the
GPS receiver have been disconnected from the electronic storage medium.
Basically this
so-called "in-home unit" has the same features as the ignition interlock
except the ignition
interlock has been eliminated.
According to the embodiment of the present invention directed to a system for
administering an in-home breath alcohol testing program, the system includes a
handheld
breath alcohol testing device capable of receiving a breath sample and testing
the breath
sample to determine an alcohol content, a sealed case enclosing an electronic
storage
medium in communication with the handheld testing device to receive an
indication of the
determined alcohol content, a communication device mounted within the sealed
case for
transmitting data related to the breath alcohol testing, and a service
provider computer
system adapted to receive the data related to the breath alcohol testing. The
service
provider computer system may be adapted to generate a viewable log with
information
regarding the data related to the determined alcohol content, wherein the
viewable log is
stored on the service provider computer system such that it can be viewed via
the Internet
by a monitoring authority provided with access to the viewable log. The
service provider
computer system may be adapted to recognize when the received data related to
the breath
alcohol testing indicate that a protocol established by the monitoring
authority has been
violated and to provide a visual indication within the viewable log of any
such violation.
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The service provider computer system may adapt to generate a message that gets
sent to the
monitoring authority regarding any such violation. The service provider
computer system
may be adapted to recognize when the received data related to the breath
alcohol testing
indicate that any of a plurality of protocols established by the monitoring
authority has been
violated and to provide a visual indication within the viewable log of any
such violation.
The service provider computer may be adapted to generate a message that gets
sent to the
monitoring authority when specified ones of the plurality of protocols are
violated. The
viewable log may include geographic information regarding the location where
the breath
sample was received. The service provider computer system may be adapted to
send a
message to the monitoring authority if the GPS coordinates indicate a
geographic location
that is not acceptable. The data related to the breath alcohol testing may
include image data
recorded when the breath sample was received, and the viewable log may include
an image
created from the image data.
According to another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method
of
administering a breath alcohol testing program that includes the steps of
receiving
information at a service provider computer system from a breath alcohol
testing unit,
automatically generating a viewable log based on the received information, and
permitting
a monitoring authority to access the log via the Internet. The method may also
include
providing a visual indication within the viewable log when the received
information
indicates that a protocol established by the monitoring authority has been
violated. The
method may also include automatically sending a message to the monitoring
authority
when the received information indicates that a protocol established by the
monitoring
authority has been violated. The breath alcohol testing unit may be an in-home
unit or may
be an ignition interlock device. The information related to the breath alcohol
testing may
include geographic information indicating a location where the breath sample
was received,
and a determination may be made as to whether the location where the breath
sample was
received is within a permitted area. The information related to the breath
alcohol testing
may include image data recorded when the breath sample was received, and a
determination may be made as to whether the image data is consistent with the
geographic
information.
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In some embodiments, the invention relates to an improvement in a breath
alcohol
test device that includes within the handheld unit a fuel cell and a
miniaturized self
calibrating test device for the fuel cell thereby avoiding the need for 30, 60
and 90 day
calibration testing. It also relates to various tamper proof or circumvention
improvements
that may be used alone or in combination with the self calibration
improvement.
According to one embodiment the present invention is directed to a vehicle
breathalyzer device that includes a breath alcohol testing device adapted to
collect a breath
sample from a possible driver of a vehicle. The device also includes a first
image recorder
that records an image of the possible driver of the vehicle each time the
driver provides a
breath sample to the breath alcohol testing device and a second image recorder
that records
a verification image each time the breath sample is provided. The verification
image may
permit a determination of whether the possible driver is in a driver's seat of
the vehicle
when the breath sample is provided. The first and second image recorders may
both be
provided in the breath alcohol testing device, or the second image recorder
may be
mounted within the vehicle apart from the breath alcohol testing device in a
location such
as on the windshield. If the first and second image recorders are both
provided as part of a
handheld breath alcohol testing device the second image recorder may be
aligned for
pointing at the steering wheel as the breath sample is taken by a possible
driver in the
driver's seat. Additionally, the alcohol breath testing device may be
associated with a
separate relay box that is connected to the vehicle's electrical circuitry to
impede operation
of the vehicle if an acceptable breath sample is not provided.
According to another embodiment of the present invention a breath alcohol test
device that has a breath tube, a fuel cell chamber in selective communication
with the
breath tube, and a pump for moving breath is improved by including a
miniaturized Guth
bath that periodically tests a headspace above a known-concentration alcohol
sample to test
the accuracy of allow self-calibration of the alcohol test device. The known-
concentration
alcohol sample may be provided within a sponge. The fuel cell chamber may
include an
outlet in communication with the pump and an inlet in communication with a
control valve
that can be adjusted to connect the inlet with the breath tube to test a
breath sample and to
connect the inlet with the headspace to perform a calibration test.
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According to another embodiment, the present invention is a vehicle interlock
breathalyzer system that includes a handheld part that has a breath sample
collection and
testing unit, and a relay box in connection with an electrical system of a
vehicle to impede
operation of the vehicle if an acceptable breath sample is not provided to the
breath sample
collection and testing unit. A first accelerometer is associated with either
the handheld
device part or the relay box part to detect attempts at destruction. The relay
box part may
include a computer memory for recording any detected attempts at destruction.
A cell
phone may be provided in the relay box part to report any recorded attempts at
destruction.
A second accelerometer may be provided in the relay box part or hand held part
so that
both parts include an accelerometer for detecting attempts at destruction. The
first
accelerometer may detect vehicle motion and record detected motion without an
associated
acceptable breath test as a possible violation event.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a vehicle interlock
breathalyzer
system that includes a handheld part with a breath sample collection and
testing unit and a
relay box part in connection with an electrical system of a vehicle to impede
operation of
the vehicle if an acceptable breath sample is not provided to the breath
sample collection
and testing unit, is improved by including: an electrical circuit within the
relay box that
detects the polarity of an ignition circuit of the vehicle, and a computer
processor within
the relay box that adjusts the relay box operation in accordance with the
detected polarity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure I is a schematic showing the components of a breathalyzer ignition
interlock
system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a top front side of a handheld device
according on
one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a bottom rear side of the handheld device of
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bottom shell of the handheld device of
Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the internal components of the
handheld
device of Figure 2.
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Figure 6 is a perspective view of the components of the breath testing
assembly
from the handheld device of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a partial cross-section view of the breath testing assembly of
Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a relay box according to one embodiment of
the
present invention.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the internal components of the relay box of
Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a simplified schematic of an electrical circuit used to interlock
an
ignition according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 is a simplified schematic of an electrical circuit that senses the
polarity of
a vehicle's lights according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of an external camera unit for verifying that
the
person providing the breath sample is the driver according to one embodiment
of the
present invention.
Figure 13 is a detailed circuit diagram of a starter enable relay according to
the
present invention.
Figure 14 is a detailed circuit diagram of a lights relay according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 15 is an isometric front view of a breath alcohol testing system
according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 16 is an isometric rear view of the breath alcohol testing system of
Figure 15.
Figure 17 is an isometric top and rear view of the base unit of the breath
alcohol
testing system of Figure 15 with its top cover removed.
Figure 18 is a schematic showing a system for administering an in-home breath
alcohol testing program.
Figure 19 is a schematic showing a system for administering a breath alcohol
testing program that utilizes an ignition interlock device.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figure 1 shows a breathalyzer ignition interlock device 10 according to one
embodiment of the present invention. The interlock device 10 includes two
primary
components, a handheld unit 100 and a relay unit 200. The embodiment shown in
Figure 1
also includes a separate camera unit 300 that may be omitted in some
embodiments. The
handheld unit 100 contains the alcohol sensor and the user interface portions
of the device
10. The relay box 200 provides a vehicle systems interface and is equipped to
communicate with an outside service provider. The ignition interlock device
10, which
may also be referred to herein as an interlock system, provides a mechanism
for measuring
breath alcohol content, for disabling a vehicle based on the measured alcohol
content, for
preventing or detecting attempts to cheat or tamper with the system, and for
logging and
reporting tested data and imaging.
The general arrangement of the interlock system 10 in use is illustrated in
Figure 1.
A driver 30 that wishes to operate a motor vehicle 20 must first provide a
breath sample to
the interlock system 10 through the handheld unit 100. The handheld unit 100
analyzes the
breath sample, and communicates the results of the test to the relay 200. If
the results of the
test are acceptable, the relay 200 will permit the driver 30 to engage the
ignition and start
the engine of the vehicle 20. If, however, the results of the test indicate
that the blood
alcohol content is above an acceptable level, the relay 200 will lock out the
ignition of the
automobile 20 to prevent operation of the vehicle 20 by an intoxicated driver.
As discussed
in greater detail below, the relay 200 may be provided with a cellular phone
and GPS
device that communicate via satellite 50 and/or cell phone tower 60 with a
remote
computer 40 that may be controlled by a service provider. The service provider
may be a
third party commercial organization that facilitates the monitoring and
maintenance of the
system 10. Alternatively, the service provider could be a governmental agency
or a private
company that has a fleet of vehicles and drivers. Greater detail regarding
each of the
components and operation of the breathalyzer ignition interlock device 10
according to the
present invention are provided below.
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Handheld Device
Figure 2 is an isometric view of a handheld unit 100 according to one
embodiment
of the present invention. The handheld unit 100 includes an outer case formed
by a top
shell 102 and a bottom shell 104. The outer case is preferably a relatively
hard durable
material that serves to protect the internal components of the handheld unit
100. The shells
102 and 104 may be formed by injection molding of hard plastic, or other
similar material.
Preferably, they are joined together in a fashion that permits access to the
internal
components of the device 100 without destruction of the outer case. For
example, threaded
fasteners may be used to join the top shell 102 to the bottom shell 104 (see
Figure 3).
A blow tube 106 is provided at one end of the case. In the embodiment shown,
the
blow tube 106 extends into an opening formed in the bottom shell 104.
Preferably the
blow tube 106 will be removably insertable into the handheld unit 100 by
friction fit, or
similar mechanism. This permits each driver to have their own blow tube 106
for sanitary
reasons, and it also permits easy cleaning or replacement of the blow tube
106. An internal
passage of the blow tube 106 will preferably include obstructions (not shown)
to deflect
and retain saliva or other contaminants that might be expelled while providing
a breath
sample. In this fashion, the external blow tube 106 acts as a spit trap.
The handheld unit 100 also includes a display screen 108 to provide a visual
interface for a user. In a preferred embodiment, the display screen 108 is a
color liquid
crystal display with back lighting. An ambient light sensor 110 may be
provided to
automatically adjust the brightness of the display screen 108. Alternatively,
a user may be
able to adjust the brightness of the display screen 108 as desired. The
display screen 108
may be used to show operating instructions, device status, and communications
from a
service provider.
The handheld unit 100 is provided with a keypad 112 to allow a user to operate
and
control the handheld unit 10. In the preferred embodiment shown, the keypad
includes
arrow keys and other function keys that may be dedicated to a specific
purpose, or may
have "soft" functionality as dictated by the current operating needs of the
system. In
alternative embodiments, the keypad 112 may be a small alpha numeric keyboard
of the
type found on cell phones or may even be a small "qwerty" keyboard as might be
found on
text messaging machines.
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=
The handheld unit 100 may also be provided with a microphone 114 in order to
receive audio input from a user. The audio input may be stored in the form of
digital sound
files, or may be used to communicate through a cell phone that may be provided
in the
handheld unit 100, or more preferably in the relay box 200. The handheld unit
100 may
communicate with the relay box 200 by Bluetooth, radio frequency, or by a wire
connection
between the handheld unit 100 and the relay box 200.
A camera cover 116 is provided in the bottom shell 104 to protect the camera
(not
shown in Figure 2, see Figure 5) that is used to capture the image of a driver
30 as the
driver 30 provides a breath sample into the blow tube 106. The camera cover
116 should
be transparent to permit the camera to capture an accurate image of the driver
30.
Figure 3 shows the handheld unit 100 of Figure 2 flipped over to reveal the
bottom
side of the handheld unit 100. The top shell 102 is fixed to the bottom shell
104 by small
bolts 120. Those skilled in the art will be aware of other suitable mechanisms
for
releasably connecting the top and bottom shells 102 and 104 together. The
shells 102 and
104 are provided with a mechanism for sensing when the case of the handheld
unit 100 has
been opened. For example, the bottom shell 104 may be provided with a
permanent
magnet that is located in close proximity to a Hall effect sensor provided in
the electronics
for the handheld unit 100. If the bottom shell 104 is removed in order to
provide access to
the electronics, the Hall effect sensor will detect the movement of the
permanent magnet
away from the sensor, and the handheld unit 100 will record the event, which
may indicate
that the unit 100 has been tampered with.
An exhaust tube 118 provides an outlet for breath samples that have been
provided
through the blow tube 106. As discussed in more detail below in reference to
Figure 5, the
exhaust tube 118 has provided within it a sensor for sensing the temperature
of the breath
sample to assure that it is at or near body temperature. The exhaust tube 118
has provided
within it a small sample tube (these not shown in Figure 3) from which the
actual breath
sample to be tested is withdrawn. The handheld unit 100 is also provided with
sensors to
sense whether air is being sucked through the exhaust tube, rather than blown
into the blow
tube 106 in an attempt to defeat the system.
Openings 122 are provided in the bottom shell 104 for alignment with a speaker
(see Figure 4).
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An input jack 124 is provided at one end of the handheld unit 100. The input
jack
124 may be an RS 232 serial port or a USB host port. The input jack 124 can be
used to
transfer data back and forth with the relay box 200, and may be used to
provide power to
the handheld unit 100 or to provide power to charge a battery provided within
the handheld
unit 100. Threaded receivers 125 are provided adjacent to the input jack 124
for fixing an
input plug to the input jack 124.
A camera cover 126 is provided in the handheld unit 100 in an opposite end
from
the blow tube 106. The camera cover 126 protects a camera (not shown in Figure
3, see
Figure 5) that may be used to capture an image of the surroundings when a
breath sample is
corrected, in order to verify the location of the handheld unit 100 within the
car 20 at the
time the sample is provided.
Figure 4 shows the interior of the bottom shell 104. Speaker 128 is mounted
within
a speaker holder integrally formed with the bottom shell 104. A battery 130
that is used to
provide power to the various components of the handheld unit 100 is provided
within a
battery holder 131. Preferably the battery 130 is a lithium ion rechargeable
battery. A
permanent magnet 132 is mounted within a sleeve. The permanent magnet 132
aligns with
a Hall effect sensor (see Figure 5) to form a mechanism for detecting when the
case or the
handheld unit 100 has been opened. The bottom shell 104 includes an opening
134 for
receiving the blow tube 106. An opening 136 is provided through the bottom
plate of the
bottom shell 104 to provide an opening for the exhaust tube 118. Each end of
the bottom
shell 104 is provided with an opening 138 for the digital cameras. Six
receivers 140 are
provided around the periphery of the bottom shell 104 for receiving small
bolts 120 that
connect the top shell 102 to the bottom shell 104. A trench 142 is provided
around the
perimeter of the bottom shell 104 for receiving a tongue that protrudes from
the top shell
102 and matingly engages the trench 142 in order to maintain the shells 102
and 104 in
place, and to provide a water tight seal between the two shells 102 and 104.
The internal components of the handheld unit 100 are shown in Figure 5. The
components are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) 144. A first camera
146 is
mounted on the same end of the PCB 144 at the breath tube inlet 148. A second
camera
150 is mounted at the opposite end of the PCB 144 from the first camera 146.
The second
camera 150 is used for capturing images as a breath sample is taken to verify
the location
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of a handheld unit 100 within the vehicle 20. Preferably, the cameras 146 and
150, which
may also be referred to as imagers, image recorders, or image capturing
devices, have the
capability to operate in dark environments using infrared (IR) illumination.
To accomplish
this, the cameras 146 and 150 are provided with IR light emitting diodes 147.
The cameras
146 and 150 include custom lenses that allow the passage of IR wavelengths.
This permits
the cameras 146 and 150 to be operated safely in the vehicle 20 after dark,
when a driver 30
has dark adapted vision, and could be temporarily blinded by a bright light
within the
vehicle 20. The use of IR illumination allows the system to have nearly the
same image
capturing capabilities regardless of ambient light. Generally speaking, images
taken in
daylight will record as color images, and those taken under IR illumination
will record as
monochrome images. The cameras 146 and 150 may be capable of capturing video
images
or still images, or both. The cameras 146 and 150 are connected to a central
processing
unit (CPU) (not shown) provided on the PCB 144. The CPU includes both RAM and
FLASH memory needed for operation and long term storage of data.
The breath tube inlet 148 and the exhaust tube 118 are provided as part of a
breath
directing block 152. The breath directing block includes a side tube 154 that
leads to a
transducer 156 positioned immediately above stream from a constriction in the
airway,
such that the transducer 156 can be used to verify that the sample is being
provided by
blowing through the blow tube 106 and not by sucking air through the exhaust
tube 118.
Also connected with the CPU is a codec (not shown). The codec converts digital
audio information to an analog signal and vice versa. In addition to being
connected to the
CPU, the codec is connected with a microphone 114 (see Figure 2) and the
speaker 128
(see Figure 4). Audio outputs from the CPU are converted from a digital signal
into an
analog signal and then amplified and sent to the speaker. This allows the unit
100 to
provide spoken messages and sounds to the user 30. Similarly, the microphone
converts
sound into an electrical signal that is received by the codec and digitized
into a form that
can be read and stored by the CPU. The CPU can transmit the digital audio
files to the
relay box 200 by Bluetooth, radio frequency, or hardwire connection. The relay
box 200
can log and save the audio files, or may transmit them on to a service
provider 40 (see
Figure 1) via a cellular phone provided in the relay box 200.
CA 02788785 2012-08-31
Each handheld unit 100 contains an integrated circuit programmed by its
manufacturer with a unique serial number. This serial number can be embedded
in any
communications from the handheld unit 100 to uniquely identify the unit.
Breath Test Assembly
A breath alcohol tester assembly 400 is provided on the PCB 144, and is shown
in
more detail in Figures 6 and 7. The breath alcohol tester assembly 400
contains all of the
components needed to detect a breath sample airflow, measure temperature and
pressures
to prevent cheating on the test, convert any alcohol content to a measurable
electrical
signal, and to calibrate itself. With reference to Figures 6 and 7, it can be
seen that the
exhaust tube 118 includes a sample inlet 158. The sample inlet 158 is used to
withdraw a
portion of the breath sample to be tested for alcohol content. The breath
directing block
152 is mounted to a fuel cell 402. The sample inlet 158 provides a passage
into the fuel
cell 402 via a valve 404. The fuel cell 402 is adapted to catalytically
combine any alcohol
in a sample introduced into the fuel cell 402 through the inlet 158 with
oxygen to create an
electrical signal that is amplified and measured to determine an alcohol
concentration in the
breath sample in a known fashion. A pump 406 is connected to the fuel cell 402
by tube
408. The pump 406 is used to supply a vacuum to the fuel cell 402 at the
opposite end of
the sample inlet 158. The pump 406 is used to extract the desired sample
volume at the
desired portion of the breath sample. The pump 406 is mounted within a pump
bracket
410. Outlet wires 412 connect with electrodes inside the fuel cell 402 and
provide the
voltage output for amplification and analysis. A flex heater 414 surrounds the
fuel cell 402
in order to heat the fuel cell 402 to a proper operating temperature. A flex
heater 414 may
also include a temperature sensing mechanism. Preferably the temperature of
the fuel cell
402 is maintained at 34 C to keep it above the sample temperature and to
prevent
condensation of water or vapors. The accuracy of the conversion process is
also aided by
maintaining a known temperature because the fuel cell catalytic process is
temperature
dependent. Also connected to the fuel cell 402 through the valve 404 is a
calibrator
housing 416. The calibration housing 416 includes internally a water alcohol
mixture with
a known alcohol concentration that can be used to calibrate the system. The
valve 404 is a
three-way three position solenoid valve. In a first position, it connects the
sample inlet 158
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CA 02788785 2012-08-31
with the insides of the fuel cell 402. In a second position, the valve 404
connects the
interior space of the calibration housing 416 with the internal compartments
of the fuel cell
402. In a third position, the valve 404 closes all of the inlets. A flexible
heater 418
surrounds the calibration housing 416 to provide heat to the calibration
housing 416 and
maintain it at a desired temperature such that the alcohol vapor concentration
within the
calibration housing 416 is maintained at a proper level. A temperature sensor
is also
provided as part of the heater 418, or as a separate element in order to sense
the
temperature. Preferably, the calibration housing 416 will be made from
aluminum, or other
similar material that readily conducts heat. Second valve 420 is provided in
association
with the calibration housing 416 to control the flow of air at the upstream
side of the
calibration housing 416.
The details of the breath alcohol tester assembly 400 can be seen in Figure 7,
which
shows a cross section of the assembly 400 from Figure 6. When a breath sample
is
provided, the flow of air through the assembly 400 begins at the breath tube
inlet 148. The
majority of the breath sample passes through the inlet tube 148 and out the
exhaust tube
118. The approximate quantity of breath provided is monitored by sight tube
154 that
extends into the breath inlet tube 148 and is used to measure the pressure and
duration of
the blow. The temperature of the sample is also monitored with a thermocouple
(not
shown) within the exhaust tube 118. After a sufficient volume of breath has
been provided
through the inlet tube 148, a small test sample of the breath is withdrawn
through inlet 158
which leads from the exhaust tube 118 to the valve 404. The valve 404 is
adjusted into a
test position that pneumatically connects the inlet passageway 158 with the
inside of the
fuel cell 402 through a fuel cell inlet 422. From there the test sample winds
back and forth
through weir 424 to the fuel cell outlet 426 that leads to the tube 408.
The pump 406 is preferably a small bellows-type pump. The pump 406 is used to
selectively withdraw a test sample through the fuel cell 402. The pump 406 is
preferably
able to selectively provide either a vacuum or a positive pressure through the
tube 408. To
withdraw a test sample through the fuel cell 402 as described above, a vacuum
is applied
through the tube 408. In order to assure no migration of the initial portion
of a blow into
the fuel cell 402, it is preferred to provide a slight positive pressure
through the tube 408
prior to opening the valve 404 to permit the withdrawal of a test sample.
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As the test sample flows through the fuel cell 402, the test sample comes in
contact
with electrode 428. The oxidation of any alcohol within the breath sample
creates a current
which is transformed to a difference between electrode 428 which is in contact
with the
sample and electrode 430. Outlet wires 412 that are connected to the
electrodes 428 and
430 are used to convey the voltage difference to a computer which is able to
convert the
voltage to an estimated alcohol content within the breath sample, and hence an
estimated of
the test subject's test blood alcohol content.
The breath alcohol tester assembly 400 can be set to withdraw a calibration
test
sample from the calibration housing 416. To test a calibration sample, the
valve 404 is
adjusted to connect a head space 432 within the calibration housing 416 to the
fuel cell
inlet 422 through calibration housing outlet 434. Within the calibration
housing 416 is a
sponge 436 is provided that is saturated with a solution of water and alcohol
that has a
known concentration of alcohol. The sponge 436 is held in place within the
calibration
housing 416 between gaskets 438 that space the sponge 436 apart from
breathable covers
440. The breathable covers 440 should be air permeable, water tight. A
material sold
under the brand name GoreTex which has openings or passageways small enough to
prevent water from passing across the fabric, but large enough to permit air
to pass through
the fabric may be used to form the breathable covers 440.
If the calibration housing 416 and therefore the solution within the sponge
436 is
maintained at a known temperature, the concentration of alcohol vapor within
the air in
head space 432 should be a known concentration that correlates with the
concentration of
alcohol within the solution. To withdraw a calibration sample, the pump 406
provides a
vacuum through the tube 408, and the valve 404 is adjusted to connect the
calibration
housing outlet 434 with the fuel cell inlet 422. A calibration sample then
flows from the
head space 432 through the outlook 434, then through valve 404 and into the
fuel cell 402
through the fuel cell opening 422. Once inside the fuel cell 402, the
calibration test sample
flows back and forth through weirs 424 to come into contact with electrode 428
to cause
oxidation and known voltage difference that can be measured. If the measured
voltage
corresponds with the known alcohol content of the sample solution within the
sponge 436,
then the blood alcohol tester assembly 400 is considered to be in proper
calibration. If the
measured voltage does not correspond with the known alcohol content of the
sample
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CA 02788785 2012-08-31
solution, then the unit is not in calibration, and it may be necessary to
obtain a new
handheld unit 100, or to have the breath alcohol tester assembly 400 replaced.
Valve 420 is
used to control the flow of air into the calibration housing 416 through
calibration housing
inlet 442. The valve 420 is normally in a position to close inlet 442, but
when a calibration
sample is being withdrawn, the valve 420 is adjusted to permit the flow of air
into the
calibration housing 416 through inlet 442 in order to equalize the pressure
within the
housing 416.
Relay Box
Figures 8 and 9 show the relay box 200 and its internal components. The relay
box
200 is electrically connected with the electrical system of the vehicle 20 and
can lock out
the vehicle's ignition system unless and until an acceptable breath test
sample has been
given by a driver. The relay box 200 may also be connected to provide control
of the
vehicle's horn and lights. The relay box 200 includes an embedded computer
system (not
shown) to manage the functioning of the ignition interlock system as well as
communications between the handheld unit 100 and the service provider (see
Figure 1).
The computer system implements a file storage system in a non-volatile/memory
to log test
results, tampering events, calibration information, and other pertinent system
information.
The relay box 200 has a power system with three potential sources of power and
the means
for switching between them as the circumstances dictate. The primary power
source for the
relay box 200 is the vehicle battery (not shown). Circuitry is provided to
condition the
vehicle power and prevent damage to the relay box 200 from unwanted transient
events on
the vehicle power system. The relay box circuits are designed to minimize the
draw on the
vehicle battery by actively managing the activity of the relay box 200. The
other voltages
required by the relay box are all generated from the primary power by power
supply
circuits. The computer system is able to measure the voltage provided by the
vehicle
battery to ensure that it is sufficient to operate the relay box 200.
As seen in Figure 8, the relay box 200 includes a rugged outer case 202 that
includes mounting tabs 204 that permit the relay box 200 to be fastened to the
interior of a
vehicle. A relay box insert 206 that includes all of the internal components
of the relay box
200 is shown in Figure 9. The relay box insert 206 slides into and is retained
within the
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CA 02788785 2012-08-31
outer case 202. The insert 206 is held within the outer case 202 by resilient
ears 208. Any
attempt to open the relay box 200 by removing the insert 206 from the outer
case 202 will
activate a switch (not shown). Any activity on the switch is saved by a
circuit and it signals
to the relay box computer system as a tamper event. The tamper event is logged
and
communicated to the service provider.
The components for the relay box 200 are provided on a printed circuit board
210.
The insert 206 is provided with a vehicle interface connector 212 that is used
to connect the
relay box 200 with the various electrical systems of the vehicle. The insert
206 is also
provided with a handheld unit interface connector 214 for hard wire connection
to the
handheld unit 100. A battery insulator 216 provides thermal insulation for a
lithium ion
battery that provides power to continue operation of the relay box 200 for a
short period of
time in the event that a vehicle power is removed from the relay box 200. A
heater may
also be provided within the insulation to assure that the battery is
operational at extreme
cold temperatures. The lithium ion battery is maintained in a full state of
charge using the
vehicle power. A disconnection from the vehicle power system would be recorded
as a
tamper event and reported to the service provider. Circuitry is provided to
monitory the
actual battery temperature and regulate the heater to maintain the battery at
a desired
temperature. A large value capacitor (not shown) is also provided on the PCB
210. The
capacitor provides a final energy storage backup that is utilized only after
the unit has been
disconnected from the vehicle power supply, and the lithium ion battery has
been
exhausted. The capacitor will provide the system with enough operating time to
allow the
computer to log the event, a critical data to the flash memory, and to shut
down in an
orderly manner.
A cellular phone and GPS unit are provided on the insert 206 beneath a
mounting
plate 218. The GPS unit is attached to a GPS antenna jack 220 by wire 222. The
cellular
phone is attached to cellular phone antenna jack 224 by wire 226. The cellular
phone is
used to communicate data to the service provider. The GPS unit is used to
track the
geographic location of the relay box 200 and hence the vehicle to which it is
attached. This
can serve as a backup means of determining vehicle motion, as well as
providing the
location of the vehicle at the time of any tamper event. This function can
also verify
legitimate events such as the vehicle being serviced, if the location is that
of a dealer or
CA 02788785 2014-01-06
garage. Physically, the GPS receiver is built into the cellular phone module.
The cellular
phone, in addition to communicating logs of the test results to the service
provider can
update software installed on the relay box computer. The cellular phone may
permit
messages to be relayed to the operator, via the handheld unit, from the
service provider.
The cellular phone could even be used to notify authorities in the event of a
failed breath
test while the vehicle is in operation.
The Bluetooth short range wireless data link provides two-way communication
between the relay box and the handheld unit. Both digital audio and video can
be
transmitted. Data from breath tests will be transmitted to the relay box for
storage, along
with images captured by the handheld unit cameras as part of the breath test.
Relay box
and vehicle status information can be transmitted from the relay box to the
handheld unit
for display. Communications from the service provider received by the cellular
phone can
be relayed by the handheld via the Bluetooth data link, or through the
handheld unit
interface connector 214. Each relay box 200 contains an integrated circuit
programmed by
its manufacturer with a unique serial number. This serial number can be
embedded in any
communications from the relay box 200 to uniquely identify the unit.
The relay box insert 206 is provided with a three axis accelerometer. This
device
can be used for several purposes. An accelerometer can detect physical shocks
to the relay
box 200 such may be encountered when somebody attempts to defeat the system by
striking it to render it inoperable. The accelerometer can also be used to
detect vehicle
motion, and thus provides a means of detecting if the vehicle is moving
despite them not
having been a successful breath test.
A number of relays are provided on the power circuit board 210 to allow the
relay
box 200 to disable the vehicle from starting, or to communicate that it is
being operated
after the driver has failed a re-test once it has been started. Figure 10
illustrates a
simplified circuit illustrating operation of one such relay. The relay 228 is
placed in series
with a vehicle control signal such as the starter solenoid power. The relay
228 is connected
to the vehicle via two pins on the vehicle interface connector 212, one for
each side of the
brake made in the ignition control circuit. If an operator attempts to start
the vehicle by
closing the ignition switch, the relay box computer senses the attempt. If a
successful
breath test has occurred, the CPU will close the relay 228 to complete the
circuit and
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CA 02788785 2012-08-31
permit the vehicle to be started. In this fashion, any attempt to short
circuit the relay 228
will also be detected, because it will be recorded as an attempt to start the
vehicle without a
successful breath test. A similar circuit to that shown in Figure 10 may be
provided for the
fuel pump as opposed to, or in addition to, the starter circuit. A detailed
example of a
-- starter enable relay is shown in Figure 13.
Additional relays may be provided to control other vehicle functions. These
relay
outputs are intended to be wired in parallel with an existing vehicle control
wire, such as
the power to the horn or the parking lights. A simplified circuit diagram
illustrating this
feature is shown in Figure 11. Two relays may be provided to provide such
control. A first
-- relay 232 to select either a high (typically 12 V) or low voltage
(typically ground) to
activate the function, and a second relay 234 to either send or not send the
selected voltage
to a single pin on the vehicle interface connector 212. This configuration
permits either the
relay box or the intended vehicle switch to activate the function, and the
relay box will not
lock out the function. A detailed circuit diagram of the lights relay is shown
in Figure 14.
-- The typical usage of these controls would be to honk the horn or flash the
parking lights in
order to draw attention to the vehicle in case it has been started without a
successful breath
test, or in case of failure of a rolling breath test. In jurisdictions which
forbid either of
these actions, a failure of a rolling re-test might result in an audible
warning similar to that
emitted by a smoke detector within the confines of the vehicle to discourage
use of the
-- vehicle in the event of a failed re-test.
The computer is able to assess the state of each relay 10 of the vehicle
interface
connector 212 at any time, regardless of the state of the relay. It is also
able to stimulate
each pin through a high resistance which does not allow activation of a
vehicle function
connected to the pin. These capabilities allow the computer to learn the
expected responses
-- of each pin that is connected to the vehicle at the time the unit is
installed. The relay 232 is
adjusted automatically by the CPU to be connected to the appropriate voltage
(typically
either ground or 12 V). Each time a test is performed, or an output changed,
the computer
can sense the state of the various pins and detect any anomalies. The system
is able to
detect if a different wire has been disconnected from the relay box, or if a
pin has been
-- shorted to another pin or external voltage source. Upon detection of an
anomalous
condition, the event is logged as a tamper event in the flash memory, and can
be reported to
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CA 02788785 2012-08-31
the service provider via the cellular phone data link. This is also important
because it
permits simplified installation of the system. For example, in some vehicles
the ignition
switch may be provided between the high voltage in the starter, rather than
between the
starter and the ground.
Additionally, the vehicle interface connector 212 receives a signal that
indicates the
status of the engine tachometer. In conjunction with the ignition switch
circuitry, the
tachometer signal can be used to determine if the vehicle is being driven and
whether
rolling re-tests should be conducted.
External Camera
Figure 12 shows camera unit 300 that may be attached to an internal surface of
the
vehicle, such as the windshield or dashboard. A mounting base 302 may include
a flat
surface or a suction cup with a ball joint 304 that attaches to an extension
306. An
attachment base 308 is connected at the opposite end of the extension 306. The
attachment
base 308 is attached to a camera body 310, so that the camera body 310 is
attached to the
mounting base 302 to allow it to swivel for selectively aligning the camera
body 310 within
the vehicle to point in a desired direction. The camera body 310 has a cord
312 that may be
connected to the relay or to a power source. A camera 314 is provided in the
camera body
310 for recording images of possible drivers as they provide a breath sample.
Preferably
the camera 314 will record images in both the visible spectrum and the
infrared (IR)
spectrum. IR light emitting diodes (LEDs) 316 are provided in the camera base
308 to
provide IR illumination of a possible driver as the camera 314 captures a
digital image of
the possible driver. IR illumination is preferable to standard flash or other
bright visible
lighting that would be distracting, or worse temporarily blinding, to a driver
whose eyes are
accustomed to low light. The camera unit 300 may include an internal memory
for storing
digital files of the images. It may also include structure for downloading the
digital files of
the images to the relay or to the service provider. The digital image files
may be time
stamped or otherwise indexed to associate them with a particular breath
sample. The
image files may be still images or may be short video clips of the breath
sample being
given.
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CA 02788785 2012-08-31
Use of the System
The structures and features described above and shown in the figures may be
used
to test possible drivers of a vehicle before and during operation of the
vehicle to assure that
they are not operating the vehicle in a potentially dangerously intoxicated
state. The
system 10 includes numerous features that can detect and thwart attempts to
bypass or
defeat the breath test interlock.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a user (possible driver) 30 that desires to
operate
the vehicle 20, must first provide an acceptable breath sample to the
breathalyzer ignition
interlock device 10. The vehicle 20 includes a relay box 200 in connection
with an
electrical system of the vehicle 20 to impede operation of the vehicle 20
unless and until an
acceptable breath sample is provided to the hand held testing unit 100. The
driver 30 uses
the keypad 112 to activate the handheld unit 100. A display on the screen 108
indicates
when the device 100 is ready for use, and may display brief instructions on
its use. The
light sensor 110 will automatically adjust the brightness of the screen 108 to
an appropriate
level based on the ambient lighting conditions. It may take a few moments for
the
handheld unit 100 to determine whether the included fuel cell 402 (see Figs. 6
and 7) is at
the appropriate temperature of conducting a test. The internal heater 414
(Fig. 6) may be
activated to warm the fuel cell to a needed temperature. Once the handheld
device
indicates that it is ready, the user 30 may provide a breath sample.
To provide a breath sample, a user 30 grasps the handheld unit 100 and places
the
blow tube 106 in his or her mouth. The camera cover 116 that covers the breath
tube
camera 146 (Figure 5) should be oriented directly above the blow tube 106 and
pointed
directly at the face of the user 30. The user 30 should take a deep breath and
blow into the
blow tube 106 to provide a breath sample. The pressure sensors (see e.g.
transducer 156 in
Figure 5) detect the airflow and make sure that the flow is caused by a
blowing action
rather than a sucking action on the exhaust tube 118 (Figure 3). A temperature
sensing
element provided in the breath stream (see temperature sensor passage 160 in
Figure 6)
provides a reading that permits the unit 100 to determine if the sample is at
a temperature
appropriate to having come from a human lung. The measured pressures allow the
rate of
flow, and ultimately the sample volume to be determined. The sample volume
must be
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CA 02788785 2012-08-31
sufficient to have used air from the deep portion of the lung where the breath
alcohol
content is proportional to that of the user's blood.
As the user 30 provides the breath sample by blowing into the blow tube 106,
the
blow tube camera (image recorder) 146 records a digital image of the user 30
and the
-- second camera 150 records and image that verifies the location of the
handheld unit 100.
For example, the steering wheel of the vehicle 20 may have a special target or
sticker that
can be recognized by the computer when captured as an image from the proper
distance
and alignment. Preferably the sticker would be tamper proof and would be
printed with
permanent ink that is reflective of IR wavelength. Alternatively, it may be
possible to use
-- recognition software that would permit recognition of the steering wheel,
or some other
internal component of the vehicle 20. If the verification image is not
recognized, the test
would be considered not acceptable. In another embodiment the verification
image is
recorded and logged with the test results and the test subject image, but
there is no pre-
recognition required for an acceptable test that permits starting of the
vehicle 20. The
-- handheld unit 100 may give an audio message or a message on the display
indicating that a
re-test is necessary. The handheld unit 100 may give an audio indication when
the
verification image is recognized so that the user 30 knows that it is
acceptable to proceed
with the test.
As best illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, during the initial phase as the user
is blowing
-- into the blow tube, the breath is simply allowed to flow into the inlet
tube 148 and out the
exhaust tube 118. During this initial phase the valve 404 is set such that the
inlet 422 to the
fuel cell 402 is closed. Once a sample has met the criteria of pressure,
temperature, flow
rate and volume, the valve 404 is adjusted to connect the sample inlet 158
with the fuel cell
inlet 422, and the pump 406 provides a slight positive pressure to the fuel
cell outlet 426.
-- The pump 406 then reverses and provides a vacuum at the fuel cell outlet
426 to induce a
portion of the sample from the exhaust tube 118 through sample inlet 158 into
an alcohol-
specific fuel cell 402. The pump 406 is precisely controlled to move a
repeatable volume
of sample into the cell 402 for each test. Preferably the pump 406 will be set
to withdraw
the sample smoothly so that the flow of sample through the fuel cell weirs 424
is smooth
-- and even. The sample portion will interact with the electrode 428 to create
a measurable
current that corresponds with the alcohol content of the sample portion. The
outlet wires
CA 02788785 2012-08-31
412 transmit the measured current to a computer processor within the handheld
unit 100
that translates the voltage into an estimated blood alcohol content for the
user. The test
results will be transmitted to the relay 200 where they will be recorded into
a log and either
immediately or at a later time re-transmitted to a service provider 40. The
test results may
be displayed on the handheld unit display 108.
If the estimated blood alcohol content is above an acceptable level, the relay
200
will not complete the ignition circuit (or in some instances the fuel pump
circuit) (see
Figure 10) and the user 30 will not be able to start the vehicle 20. The
failed test will be
recorded and logged in the memory of the relay computer, and the results will
be
communicated to the service provider 40 by the cellular phone. The identity of
the person
providing the unacceptable test may be determined by review of the associated
digital
image that was captured while the sample was being provided. The system 10 may
lock
out starting of the car for some time period after a failed test. The display
108 of the
handheld unit 100 may indicate the time remaining before another test may be
attempted,
or may provide other information regarding the reason the test was not
acceptable.
If the estimated blood alcohol content is at an acceptable level, the user 30
may start
the vehicle 20. The relay 200 will complete the ignition circuit for the
starter (see Figure
10) and the user 30 will be able to operate the vehicle 20. After a short
interval (sometimes
a few minutes, sometimes a randomly selected time interval), a re-test may be
required.
This is sometimes referred to as a "rolling re-test" as it occurs after the
car 20 has started;
however, for safety reasons it is recommended that the user pull over to a
safe location and
conduct the test with the car in park. The re-test will transpire in much the
same fashion as
the initial test. It will be possible to compare the images of the persons
that performed the
tests to verify that the same person performed both tests.
If an unacceptable sample is given during a re-test, after the vehicle 20 is
started,
the violation will be recorded and logged and transmitted to the service
provider 40 by
cellular phone. Service provider 40 may be able to communicate with the driver
30 either
by sending messages to the handheld via cell phone that are transmitted to the
handheld by
Bluetooth link, or possibly by live communication via cellular phone. The
location of the
vehicle may be determined from the GPS coordinates provided by the GPS unit
within the
relay 200. The service provider 40 may contact authorities in the vicinity of
the vehicle 20
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CA 02788785 2012-08-31
so that the authorities can take action to stop the dangerous situation. The
relay 200 may
also activate vehicle functions to draw attention to the vehicle 20, such as
repeated or
sustained honking of the horn and flashing of the parking lights.
Alternatively, or in
addition to the above, in case of failed re-test, an audio annunciator that is
mounted
externally to the relay box 200 and emits a smoke-alarm-like noise may be
sounded to
discourage the driver 30 from continuing to operate the vehicle 20.
The GPS system within the relay 200 records the location of the vehicle 20. If
the
GPS senses that the relay is changing locations, but an acceptable sample has
not been
provided, this event will be logged and recorded to be considered as a
possible violation.
Similarly, if the accelerometers in the relay 200 sense significant movement
that is
indicative of the vehicle 20 travelling, that is recorded and logged and
considered to be a
violation if it occurs without an acceptable sample having been provided.
Calibration of the unit 10 should be performed periodically to verify that the
fuel
cell is accurately reading the samples. To accomplish this, the computer in
the handheld
unit 100 may be programmed to periodically require the user 30 to initiate a
calibration
before a test can be performed. Alternatively, the computer in the handheld
unit may be
programmed to periodically self-initiate a calibration test. The calibration
test procedure
can best be understood with reference to Figures 6 and 7 and the accompanying
discussion
of those figures above. This calibration system eliminates the need to return
the unit to the
service provider, typically every 60 to 90 days, to be recalibrated. This
results in
substantial cost savings and eliminates the inconvenience to the customer of
returning the
vehicle to an installer location periodically. Additionally, the calibration
results may be
relied upon to verify for evidentiary purposes that a failed test result was
accurate, so that
failed test results may be relied upon to change terms of a violator's
operating privileges.
In-home Monitoring Device
As used herein, it is understood that the phrase "in-home" is exemplary, and
intended to include other fixed locations outside of a vehicle such as work
locations, like
office buildings, etc. The important point being that it is outside of a
vehicle ignition
system connection. The unit may have a 12 volt adapter for use in a 12 volt
vehicle source.
27
CA 02788785 2012-08-31
Figures 15 and 16 show a monitoring apparatus 500 that is intended for in-home
use by a person that needs to periodically provide a breath sample. The
apparatus 500 is
intended to be somewhat portable such that a person who is required to give
periodic breath
samples may take and use the apparatus 500 at different locations and apart
from any
vehicle. Most commonly this might be used in the home of a person who is on
probation
or under house arrest. However, while it may be referred to herein as an "in-
home"
apparatus or system, its use is naturally not limited to use within a home.
The monitoring system 500 includes a base unit 501 and a handheld breath
alcohol
testing device 101. The handheld testing device 101 may be of the same design
as the
handheld unit 100 described in detail above and shown in Figures 2-5. Other
known
designs for a handheld testing device 101 may also be utilized. In the
handheld testing
device 101 shown in Figures 15 and 16, the device 101 includes a power button
103, a
display screen 105, a nine-pin connector 107, a breath inlet 109 for
connection to a breath
tube (not shown, but see Figure 2), and a breath exhaust 111. The handheld
device 101
must be capable of receiving a breath sample, testing that sample's alcohol
content, and
electronically communicating the test results. Those of skill in the art will
be aware of
various designs for the handheld testing device 101 that can be used
advantageously within
the in-home monitoring system 500 of the present invention.
An image recorder, such as digital camera 301 is preferably provided as part
of the
monitoring apparatus 500. The digital camera 301 may be of the same or similar
design to
camera unit 300 described above and shown in Figure 12. The image capturing
device may
be capable to capturing still or video images. As best seen in Figure 16, the
camera 301
may be advantageously mounted to the base unit 501 on a swivel mount 311. A
power and
data cord 309 can be provided to power the camera 301 and provide a path for
transferring
image data to the base unit 501. The camera 301 shown includes light emitting
diodes 305
and 307, which may be standard or IR emitting diodes. A lens 303 is provided
to focus and
capture an image of video of a person giving a breath sample. In use, the
swivel mount 311
permits the camera 301 to be adjusted so that the lens points at the user. The
camera 301
may include an internal memory for storing digital files of the images. The
digital image
files may be time stamped or otherwise indexed to associate them with a
particular breath
28
CA 02788785 2012-08-31
sample. The image files may be still images or may be video clips of the
breath sample
being given.
With continued reference to Figures 15 and 16, the base unit 501 has a sealed
case
formed from various structural members that prevent unauthorized access to
internal
components of the apparatus 500. The case includes a top cover 502 that
generally covers
the top of the unit and is affixed to the other structural members of the case
by fasteners or
screws at the rear and top of the unit 501. The base unit 501 should include
tamper
resistant features, such as frangible seals that indicate if the top cover 502
has been
removed. Hall effect, or similar, sensors may alternatively be provided to
provide a signal
that the top cover 502 has been removed. This may trigger an immediate alert
to a service
provider that the unit 501 has been tampered with. A front cover 504 may
include vent
openings 506 to facilitate heat removal from the internal components. An
antenna 508 may
be provided to facilitate the apparatus 500 communicating with a remove
service provider
as will be described in more detail below. The antenna 508 will include a cord
(not shown)
that connects the antenna 508 with internal components. The antenna 508 may
include a
cellular phone antenna and a GPS receiver. The antenna 508 may be mounted to
the base
unit 501, or, more preferably may be loose such that the antenna 508 can be
maneuvered
and situated slightly apart from the base unit 501 to be located for best
receiving and
transmitting data. In the case where the antenna 508 includes a GPS receiver,
the antenna
will preferably be situated near a south facing (in the northern hemisphere)
window to
facilitate receiving GPS satellite signals.
As best seen in Figure 16, the rear of the base unit 501 includes input jacks
514 for
quick connection to the various external components, namely, the handheld
device 101, the
camera 301, and the antenna 508. A power jack 512 is also provided at the rear
of the unit
501. The power jack 512 may be selectively connected to a power cord (not
shown) that is
connected to an external power source such as a standard wall AC outlet or a
"cigarette
light" type outlet. The power jack 512 is adapted to receive DC current, so if
connected to
an AC source, the power cord must include a rectifier to transform the AC
current to DC
power.
Preferably the handheld device 101 will include the same tamper resistant
features
described above such that additional data is also communicated by the handheld
device
29
CA 02788785 2014-01-06
101. For example, the handheld device 101 should preferably detect, record,
and
communicate attempts to use anything other than unfiltered human breath to
provide the
required samples. The handheld device 101 may include an accelerometer to
detect,
record, and report any attempts to destroy or damage the unit and may include
an optional
compass to detect movement. The handheld device 101 may include sensors or
switches to
sense if the cover has been removed.
Figure 17 shows the monitoring unit 501 with its top cover removed to reveal
the
internal components. The internal wiring has been omitted from the figure to
aid in clarity.
A relay unit 201, of similar to design and functionality to the relay box 200
described in
detail above and shown in Figures 8 and 9 is mounted within the unit 501. In
addition to
the relay unit 201, a speaker 516 is provided within the unit 501 to provide
audio feedback
to a user. A USB connection 518 is provided to provide input to the speaker
516 from the
relay unit 201. The camera cable 520, antenna cable 522, USB speaker cable
524, and
power cable 526 are shown to indicate generally where they can be coiled
within the unit
501. The relay unit 201 generally interconnects and controls the various
components, and
interfaces with the service provider as will be described in more detail
below. The relay
unit will necessarily include an electronic storage medium as part of an
embedded
computer system (microprocessor not shown) to manage the functioning of the
monitoring
unit 501. The computer system may implement a file storage system in a non-
volatile/memory to log test results, tampering events, calibration
information, and other
pertinent system information
Figure 19 shows a system for administering an in-home breath alcohol testing
program according to one embodiment of the present invention. The system is
especially
well-suited for use by users 31 that are required to provide breath samples to
establish that
the absence of alcohol from their system even in situations where they will
not be operating
a motor vehicle. The base unit 501 is placed in a convenient location and a
user 31
positions themselves such that the camera 301 is aimed at their face. They
provide a breath
sample according to the requirements their particular handheld unit 101. The
results of test
are recorded by the relay unit within the base unit 501 in a manner described
above. The
relay unit within the base unit 501 also receives the GPS coordinates from
satellites 50, and
associates the GPS coordinates with the test results. The base unit 501
communicates a log
CA 02788785 2014-01-06
with the test results, GPS data, images, and other associated data to
computers 40 at a
service provider. The service provider computers 40 are connected to receive
and send
data from and to the Internet. The communication between the base unit 501 and
the
service provider computers 40 may occur, for example, from the cellular
communication
equipment provided in the relay unit via cellular towers 60 that are
ultimately in
communication with servers connected to the Internet. Alternatively, the in-
home base unit
501 may be hardwired to an Internet connection in order to communicate the
data files to
the service provider computers 40.
Figure 18 shows a system for administering a breath alcohol testing program
that
utilizes an ignition interlock according to one embodiment of the present
invention. The
rsoyos ot ermd e do f Fby i tghuor er ell a8yi so qn ti t2e0soi mi ni laa rf
nt ha na ht es hr own
described i n F i Figure 9 T
above.
vle.. The
ee relay resultsof t unit s a
200t also
receives the GPS coordinates from satellites 50, and associates the GPS
coordinates with
the test results. The relay 200 communicates a log with the test results, GPS
data, and
other associated data to computers 40 at a service provider. The service
provider
computers 40 are connected to receive and send data from and to the Internet.
The service provider computers 40, which in practice may be more than one
computer linked to operate as a computer system, of both Figures 18 and 19 are
programmed to manipulate and react to the data received from the base unit 501
or relay
200. The service provider computers 40 can be programmed to implement various
protocols established by any monitoring authority. The monitoring authority
might be law
enforcement, correctional authorities, or state departments of transportation.
Alternatively,
the monitoring authority might be a civil organization such as a trucking
company that
monitors the drivers of its fleet of trucks. The service provider computers 40
can be
programmed to implement a variety of protocols established by numerous
monitoring
authorities.
For example, the computers 40 may create log tables that can be viewed via the
Internet or other computer network by remote monitoring authority computers
45. Viewing
access to the log tables may be controlled by password or other known
protections. The
remote monitoring authority computers 45 might be computers operated and
monitored by
law enforcement or correctional authorities. Alternatively, the monitoring
authority might
31
CA 02788785 2012-08-31
be a civil organization such as a trucking company that monitors the drivers
of its fleet of
trucks. The log tables might include in tabular form information about all of
the tests of a
particular user over a period of time. The information could include the date,
time, and
location of the test, and an indication of whether the test was successful or
failed. The
information in the viewable log might also include an image that was captured
when the
breath sample was provided. Alternatively, the table might include a link to
an image or
video of the sample being provided. It has been found that when a user is
aware that an
image or video of the user providing the sample will be provided to the
monitoring
authority, especially in real time, or nearly real time, this knowledge is a
powerful incentive
not to attempt to thwart the system. Furthermore, including the image may
permit a
monitoring authority to determine whether the image data is consistent with
the geographic
information
If the test was failed, an indication of what triggered the failure
categorization can
be included in the viewable log. Examples of reasons for failure might
include: presence
of alcohol in the breath sample, failure to provide a sample, unacceptable
temperature,
unacceptable GPS coordinates for test location, interruption of power, and any
indication of
tampering with the case. Other information indicative of attempts as thwarting
the system
may also be provided. Any failed test may be visually highlighted so it is
apparent at a
glance to the monitoring authority if a user has had a failed test. The user
might also be
provided with access to the log tables so they can monitor their own results.
In addition to providing passive feedback to monitoring authority computer 45,
the
provider computers 40 may be programmed and adapted to trigger affirmative
steps in
response to a failed test. The monitoring authority may wish to only have the
violation
noted in the viewable log for minor violations; whereas major violations, or
violations that
implicate the public health may be appropriate for receiving an immediate
alert such as an
e-mail, text message, automatically generated telephone call, or the like. For
example, if a
breath test indicates the presence of alcohol, but only in trace amounts, it
might be
sufficient to only note the violation in the log. However, if the breath test
indicates a
higher level of alcohol concentration, the monitoring authority may wish to
receive
immediate notice, so that they can determine whether to take action. In still
more dire
situations, the computers 40 may be programmed to dial 911 and provide an
automated
32
CA 02788785 2012-08-31
message based on the GPS location from which the sample was provided if the
information
indicates that a vehicle is being operated by a severely intoxicated driver.
The service provider computers 40 can be adapted to a variety of protocols for
different monitoring authorities that are often operating under different laws
and
regulations. The computers 40 can also be quickly updated to immediately
reflect changes
in the protocols for the same monitoring authority.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been set forth above. It
should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications
may be made in
detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts. Such
modifications
are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention, which is to be
limited only by
the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
33
