BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL SENSING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle is steering wheel with infrared sensors that are able to detect variations in body chemistry from contact with the palms of the hands to determine if a driver is either alcohol impaired or impaired from certain medical conditions that might affect driving. The system has a digital readout that may be located on the dashboard of the vehicle, and the readout may also be transmitted to a cell phone. In the event of an exceedance of a predetermined set point, an interlock will interrupt the start circuit of the vehicle to prevent it from starting.

Claims

1. A blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle comprising: a steering wheel including; a circular grip portion having a front side and a back side; and a plurality of blood chemistry sensors; wherein said front side and said back side of said circular grip portion of said steering wheel are integrally formed such that said circular grip portion has a circular cross section; and wherein said plurality of blood chemistry sensors are located equidistantly around said front side of said steering wheel and adapted to detect a blood chemistry from each palm of a user driver upon contact; a center hub portion; wherein said hub portion is attached to a steering shaft of a steering column of said vehicle and is adapted to provide a steering means for said vehicle; a blood chemistry processor; wherein said blood chemistry processor is adapted to receive a plurality of signals from said plurality of blood chemistry sensors and to transpose said plurality of signals into a numerical value; and wherein said blood chemistry processor is adapted to interrupt a starting circuit of said vehicle when said blood alcohol level of said user driver exceeds a predetermined threshold; a digital display screen; wherein said digital display screen is adapted to receive said numerical value from said blood chemistry processor and to visually display said numerical value to indicate said blood alcohol level of said user driver; a plurality of electric wires; wherein said plurality of electric wires are attached to said plurality of blood chemistry sensors, to said blood chemistry processor, and to said digital display screen such that said blood alcohol level of said user driver is able to be determined via said plurality of blood chemistry sensors and said blood chemistry processor and to output said numerical value to be displayed on said digital display screen; wherein said blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle is useful for determining said blood alcohol level of said user driver via said plurality of blood chemistry sensors and said blood chemistry processor and for displaying said blood alcohol level visually on said digital display screen; and wherein said blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle is useful for disabling said starting circuit of said vehicle when said predetermined set point corresponding to said blood alcohol level is exceeded thereby providing safety for said user driver and for a general public welfare.

2. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of blood chemistry sensors are transdermal sensors.

3. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 2 wherein said transdermal sensors are adapted to deliver pilocarpine to said palms of said user driver to thereby cause said palms to perspire.

4. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 2 wherein said transdermal sensors are adapted to electrochemically detect an alcohol content from said perspiration of said palms of said user driver.

5. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 1 further comprises an ignition interlock.

6. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 5 wherein said Ignition interlock is adapted to interrupt said starting circuit of said vehicle.

7. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 1 wherein said blood chemistry processor is adapted to include BLUETOOTH technology.

8. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 1 wherein said blood chemistry processor is adapted to transmit said blood alcohol level of said user driver to be displayed on at least one display screen of at least one chosen electronic receiver.

9. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 8 wherein said chosen electronic receiver is a smart phone.

10. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of blood chemistry sensors are a plurality of infrared body chemistry sensors.

11. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of blood chemistry sensors are adapted to analyze said perspiration using chemicals chosen from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, potassium dichromate, silver nitrate, and water.

12. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 10 wherein said plurality of infrared body chemistry sensors are adapted to detect an abnormal blood sugar level of said user driver.

13. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 10 wherein said plurality of infrared body chemistry sensors are adapted to detect heart arrhythmia.

14. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 10 wherein said plurality of infrared body chemistry sensors are adapted to detect low body oxygen levels.

15. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 1 wherein said blood chemistry processor is adapted to activate a plurality of hazard lights of said vehicle when said predetermined threshold is exceeded.

16. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 1 wherein said steering wheel is adapted to include a plurality of touch sensors.

17. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 16 wherein said plurality of touch sensors of said steering wheel are activated via an existing seat weight sensor of said vehicle.

18. The blood alcohol level sensing system of claim 17 wherein said plurality of touch sensors are adapted to deliver said pilocarpine to said front side of said steering wheel via an activation of said existing seat weight sensor.

19. A blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle comprising: a steering wheel including; a circular grip portion having a front side and a back side; and a plurality of blood chemistry sensors; wherein said front side and said back side of said circular grip portion of said steering wheel are integrally formed such that said circular grip portion has a circular cross section; and wherein said plurality of blood chemistry sensors are located equidistantly around said front side of said steering wheel and adapted to detect a blood chemistry from each palm of a user driver upon contact; a center hub portion; wherein said hub portion is attached to a steering shaft of a steering column of said vehicle and is adapted to provide a steering means for said vehicle; a blood chemistry processor; wherein said blood chemistry processor is adapted to receive a plurality of signals from said plurality of blood chemistry sensors and to transpose said plurality of signals into a numerical value; and wherein said blood chemistry processor is adapted to interrupt a starting circuit of said vehicle when said blood alcohol level of said user driver exceeds a predetermined threshold; a digital display screen; wherein said digital display screen is adapted to receive said numerical value from said blood chemistry processor and to visually display said numerical value to indicate said blood alcohol level of said user driver; a plurality of electric wires; wherein said plurality of electric wires are attached to said plurality of blood chemistry sensors, to said blood chemistry processor, and to said digital display screen such that said blood alcohol level of said user driver is able to be determined via said plurality of blood chemistry sensors and said blood chemistry processor and to output said numerical value to be displayed on said digital display screen; wherein said blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle is useful for determining said blood alcohol level of said user driver via said plurality of blood chemistry sensors and said blood chemistry processor and for displaying said blood alcohol level visually on said digital display screen; and wherein said blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle is useful for disabling said starting circuit of said vehicle when said predetermined set point corresponding to said blood alcohol level is exceeded thereby providing safety for said user driver and for a general public welfare; wherein said plurality of blood chemistry sensors are transdermal sensors; wherein said transdermal sensors are adapted to deliver pilocarpine to said palms of said user driver to thereby cause said palms to perspire; wherein said transdermal sensors are adapted to electrochemically detect an alcohol content of said perspiration of said palms of said user driver; further comprising an ignition interlock; wherein said Ignition interlock is adapted to interrupt said starting circuit of said vehicle; wherein said blood chemistry processor is adapted to include BLUETOOTH technology; wherein said blood chemistry processor is adapted to transmit said blood alcohol level of said user driver to be displayed on a display screen of a chosen electronic receiver; wherein said chosen electronic receiver is a smart phone; wherein said plurality of blood chemistry sensors are a plurality of infrared body chemistry sensors; wherein said plurality of blood chemistry sensors are adapted to analyze said perspiration using chemicals chosen from the group: sulfuric acid, potassium dichromate, silver nitrate, and water; wherein said plurality of infrared body chemistry sensors are adapted to detect an abnormal blood sugar level of said user driver; wherein said plurality of infrared body chemistry sensors are adapted to detect heart arrhythmia; wherein said plurality of infrared body chemistry sensors are adapted to detect low body oxygen levels; wherein said blood chemistry processor is adapted to activate a plurality of hazard lights of said vehicle when said predetermined threshold is exceeded; wherein said steering wheel is adapted to include a plurality of touch sensors; wherein said plurality of touch sensors of said steering wheel are activated via an existing seat weight sensor of said vehicle; and wherein said plurality of touch sensors are adapted to deliver said pilocarpine to said front side of said steering wheel via an activation of said existing seat weight sensor.

20. A blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle comprising the steps of; activating a plurality of touch sensors of a steering wheel via an existing seat weight sensor of a vehicle; analyzing a perspiration from a hand palm of a user to find a blood alcohol level; transmitting a numerical value representing said blood alcohol level to a digital display screen; and activating an ignition interlock of said vehicle when a predetermined maximum set point is exceeded.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a steering wheel of a blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a diagram view illustrating a blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a diagram view illustrating a blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for a blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4.

[0026] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a alcohol detection devices and more particularly to a blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle as used to improve the detection time and notification to an alcohol impaired driver of his condition, uses BLUETOOTH technology to display the result of a reading, phone dialing to a third party, and disables the driver's vehicle when a predetermined maximum alcohol level is exceeded.

[0028] Generally speaking, a blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle is steering wheel with infrared sensors that are able to detect variations in body chemistry from contact with the palms of the hands to determine if a driver is either alcohol impaired or impaired from certain medical conditions that might affect driving. The system has a digital readout that may be located on the dashboard of the vehicle, and the readout may also be transmitted to a cell phone. In the event of an exceedence of a predetermined set point, an interlock will interrupt the start circuit of the vehicle to prevent it from starting.

[0029] Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Blood alcohol level sensing system 100 preferably comprises steering wheel 105 having circular grip portion 106 with front side 107 and back side 108, and front side 107 and back side 108 is integrally formed such that circular grip portion 106 has a circular cross section. A plurality of blood chemistry sensors 109 are located equidistantly around front side 107 of steering wheel 105 and are adapted to detect a blood chemistry from the palms of a user driver upon contact.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2, a front view illustrating steering wheel 105 of blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0032] Blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle 100 is useful for determining the blood alcohol level of the user driver via any of blood chemistry sensors 109 and blood chemistry processor 115 and for displaying the blood alcohol level visually on digital display screen 125. Blood alcohol level sensing system 100 is also useful for disabling starting circuit 120 of the vehicle when a predetermined set point that corresponds to a particular blood alcohol level is exceeded, thereby providing a measure of safety for the driver and for the welfare of the public in general. Blood chemistry sensors 109 may be formed as transdermal sensors 110 that may be adapted to deliver pilocarpine to the palms of the user driver to thereby cause the palms to perspire in order to reduce the time required for an analysis. Transdermal sensors 110 may be adapted to electrochemically detect the alcohol content of the perspiration from the palms of the user driver.

[0033] Blood alcohol level sensing system 100 further may comprise ignition interlock 135 adapted to interrupt starting circuit 120 of the vehicle when the blood alcohol level set point is exceeded by the driver. Blood chemistry processor 115 is adapted to include BLUETOOTH technology 140 and is adapted to transmit the blood alcohol level of the driver to be displayed on at least one display screen 145 of a chosen electronic receiver 146. The chosen electronic receiver 146 may be smart phone 147 or may be an LCD screen located on the dash of the vehicle. Electronic receiver 146 may also be smart phone 147 in the possession of a third party.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 3, is a diagram view illustrating blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0035] Center hub portion 111 of steering wheel 105 is attached to steering shaft 170 of steering column 172 on the vehicle and is adapted to provide a steering means for the vehicle. Blood chemistry processor 115 is adapted to receive a plurality of signals from the plurality of blood chemistry sensors 109 and to transpose the signals into numerical value 165 and to interrupt starting circuit 120 of the vehicle when the blood alcohol level of the user driver exceeds a predetermined threshold. In the event that the driver uses alcohol while driving, blood chemistry sensors 109 will read the elevated alcohol level and when the maximum alcohol level set point is exceeded, the vehicle will begin to flash emergency lights 180 to indicate the vehicle has entered into an emergency mode and begin to slow down until it comes to a gradual stop.

[0036] Digital display screen 125 is adapted to receive numerical value 165 from blood chemistry processor 115 and to visually display numerical value 165 to indicate the blood alcohol level of the user driver. A plurality of electric wires 130 are attached to the plurality of blood chemistry sensors 109, to blood chemistry processor 115, and to digital display screen 125 so that the blood alcohol level of the user driver is able to be determined via the plurality of blood chemistry sensors 109 and blood chemistry processor 115, and to output numerical value 165 to be displayed on digital display screen 125 so it can be viewed by the driver.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 4, is a diagram view illustrating a blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0038] Blood chemistry sensors 109 may be formed as infrared body chemistry sensors 150 and are adapted to compare minute variations in reflected light against a baseline reading in order to determine whether the driver is impaired or not, and to what degree of impairment if the predetermined threshold setting is exceeded. In another embodiment, blood chemistry sensors 109 may be adapted to analyze the perspiration using chemicals chosen from the group consisting of: sulfuric acid, potassium dichromate, silver nitrate, and water. Infrared body chemistry sensors 150 may also be adapted to detect an abnormal blood sugar level, to detect heart arrhythmia, or to detect low body oxygen levels. Blood chemistry processor 115 may also be adapted to activate the hazard lights of the vehicle when the predetermined blood alcohol level threshold is exceeded.

[0039] Steering wheel 105 may be adapted to include a plurality of touch sensors 155 in steering wheel 105 that are activated to start operating when the existing driver's seat weight sensor 160 detects a person sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle. This is so that blood alcohol level sensing system 100 is not operational and using battery power continuously when a driver is not seated in the vehicle. Touch sensors 155 may be adapted to deliver pilocarpine to front side 107 of steering wheel 105 via an activation of the existing seat weight sensor 160, to contact the palms of the driver to cause perspiration that in turn may be analyzed for a variety of impairment factors.

[0040] The blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 5, is a flowchart illustrating method of use 500 for blood alcohol level sensing system for a vehicle 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4. A method 500 of using blood alcohol level sensing system 100 may comprise the steps of ; step one 501 activating at least one touch sensor 155 of steering wheel 105 via existing seat weight sensor 160 of a vehicle; step two 502 analyzing the perspiration from the hand palm of a user to find the blood alcohol percentage; step three 503 transmitting numerical value 165 representing the blood alcohol percentage to be displayed on digital display screen 125; step four 504 activating ignition interlock 135 of a vehicle when a predetermined maximum set point is exceeded.

[0042] It should be noted that step 504 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method 500.

[0043] It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of step of should not be interpreted as step for, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. ? 112, ?6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.

[0044] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.