| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 180272000 | Responsive to absence or inattention of operator, or negatively reactive to attempt to operate vehicle by person not qualified mentally or physically to do so | 31 |
| 20100108425 | BREATH ALCOHOL IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE WITH BIOMETRIC FACIAL RECOGNITION WITH REAL-TIME VERIFICATION OF THE USER - An interlock system using biometrics scans to identify in real-time an individual who seeks to operate a mechanical device, such as an automobile. Biometrics features that uniquely identify an individual are selected. If a real-time biometrics scan of the individual does not match a stored image of an authorized operator, the interlock system will lock the mechanical device to prevent operation. The interlock system may be used in conjunction with a breath alcohol analyzer to determine impairment. If the biometrics testing indicates that the individual is required to be tested for impairment, the mechanical device will not operate until the testing is completed. If the biometrics testing automatically indicates that the operator of the mechanical apparatus and the individual exhaling into the breath alcohol analyzer component of the ignition interlock is not the same person, the ignition system of the mechanical apparatus, which operates in conjunction with the ignition interlock of the present invention, provides a programmable software option to prevent the apparatus from starting. If the test indicates that the individual is impaired the interlock system will lock the mechanical device to prevent operation. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20120006611 | Telematics basic mobile device safety interlock - A vehicle includes a telematics controller and a single short range, low power interior transmitter focused substantially only on a vehicle's driver's seat only. Synergistic interaction is provided between a vehicle's telematics controller and a wireless device used by the driver (e.g. a cell phone, smart phone, PDA, wireless laptop, etc.) to parametrically control at least one wireless service or other operation of a wireless device presumed operated by the driver of the vehicle. Example wireless services blocked or forced into a safe mode (such as hands-free operation) include SMS, Email, and Voice services. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20100314190 | ALCOHOL INTERLOCK SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSION AND SAFETY FUNCTION - An interlock system ( | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110284304 | DRIVER DROWSINESS DETECTION AND VERIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and steering wheel for determining and verifying a state of driver alertness includes receiving a response at a steering wheel. The method includes selectively energizing at least one stimulus annunciator in the wheel in order to present a first stimulus to a driver. A processor in the wheel generates a signal indicative of a stimulus annunciator onset time indicating the moment the stimulus annunciator provided the first stimulus to the driver. A sensor array arranged on the wheel responds to a first grip pressure the driver exerts at a first grip location on the wheel. The processor generates a response signal indicative of a response onset time. The processor calculates a time interval between the stimulus annunciator onset time and the response onset time. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20090090577 | ANTI-DRUNK DRIVING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - An anti-drunk driving apparatus for a vehicle including: an alcohol drinking determination device which determines whether or not a first person seated in a driver's seat is drunk; a driving restriction device which restricts driving of the vehicle in a case where it is determined that the first person seated in the driver's seat is drunk by the alcohol drinking determination device; a driving intention presumption device which presumes whether or not a second person seated in the driver's seat has an intention to drive; a photograph device which photographs the faces of the first and second persons; and a person identification device which determines whether or not the first and second persons are the same by comparing their faces in images, wherein if it is determined that the first and the second persons are not the same, the driving restriction device restricts driving of the vehicle. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20100012417 | IGNITION INTERLOCK BREATHALYZER - The invention relates to an improvement in a breath alcohol test devices includes within the handheld unit containing a fuel cell, a miniaturized self calibrating test device thereby avoiding the need for 30, 60 and 90 day calibration testing. It also relates to various tamper or circumvention improvements that may be used alone or in combination with the self calibration improvement, including cameras to record a driver providing a breath sample and to verify the location of the driver within a vehicle. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20120228047 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISABLING A VEHICLE - A system for disabling the operation of a vehicle when a driver of a vehicle is seated in a vehicle seat. The system includes an alcohol detection sensor configured to be contacted by the driver and to generate a detection signal based on contact between the driver and the detection sensor. The system also includes a sensing electrode located proximate to the occupant and a sensing circuit configured to provide a sensing signal to the sensing electrode. A controller is provided to detect a change in the detection signal resulting from contact between the driver and the detection sensor. The controller is configured to disable the vehicle when either the blood alcohol concentration of the driver of the vehicle exceeds a threshold or the controller does not detect a change in the detection signal resulting from contact of the driver with the detection sensor. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20080236929 | Database apparatus, attention calling apparatus and driving support apparatus - An attention calling apparatus operates in the following manner. That is, eyes distribution pattern is generated from the behavior of the eyes of the vehicle driver captured by a camera in a predetermined time, and driver's condition is estimated based on the distribution pattern. Further, concentration of the driver on driving is estimated based on the comparison between the distribution pattern and the stored information of distribution pattern. When the distribution pattern indicates that the degree of concentration on driving is high, the driving operation is stored in storage in association with the concentration degree. When the operation situation fulfills a notification provision condition, driver's attention is called depending on the concentration degree. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080196963 | Method and Device For Controlling a Car - An alco key for a car uses the immobiliser associated with the car's ignition system. A key is used for remote control of the immobiliser of a car, said key comprising an analysis device for determining the alcohol level of a person and, arranged to transmit a signal authorizing starting the car only if the alcohol level is below a predetermined limit. The method comprises the steps of—transmitting an open signal to at least one door of the car—operating the ignition key to start the car,—detecting the alcohol level of a person and, if the level is below a predetermined limit level, transmitting an ok signal wirelessly to signal that it is ok to start the car,—starting the car only if said ok signal has been received by the immobiliser. The opening of doors can be controlled in a similar way. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080289895 | Safety management system - The safety management system of the present invention includes: a driver authentication section which authenticates a driver of a transportation machine and outputs an authentication result; a health status determination section which measures blood component data of a driver authenticated by the driver authentication section, determines a health status of the driver from the blood component data, and outputs a determination result; and a motive power control section which permits or prohibits operation of the transportation machine by controlling motive power of the transportation machine based on the authentication result and the determination result. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20090211831 | SHIFT RANGE SWITCHING CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF VEHICLE - In a shift-by-wire type shift range switching control system for an automatic transmission of a vehicle, an alcohol reaction indicated by alcohol concentration in sweat of a driver is checked when an engine of a vehicle is started. If alcohol reaction is detected, a switching inhibit/permit flag is set to “inhibit” so that the shift range switching in the automatic transmission from the parking range to any other ranges and from the neutral range to any travel ranges is inhibited. If the alcohol reaction is detected when the vehicle is in travel, the vehicle is automatically braked to stop and the shift range is to automatically switched from the travel range to the parking range. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20100212986 | METHODS FOR PROVIDING SECURE AND TRANSPARENT CACHED IGNITION INTERLOCK DATA - Generally, in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the present method comprises collecting data from breath alcohol ignition interlock devices (“BIID” or “IID”), uploading the data from an IID to a central database, pairing said data with secure transactional data to provide one or more secure transactional stamp(s), storing said data and said paired secure transactional stamp(s) in said central database, producing a report comprising said data and said paired transactional stamp, and providing said report to an authorized third party. Preferably, the transactional stamp comprising the name of personnel, time, and any changes made to the data collected from the IID is generated and attached to the data. Further, the present invention discloses methods for transactional stamping all reviews of the IID data and/or all client input data to produce a secure report, admissible under the Federal Rules of Evidence. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100212987 | DRINKING LEVEL DETECTING SYSTEM AND DRINKING LEVEL DETECTING METHOD - There is provided a drinking level detecting system and a drinking level detecting method capable of improving the detection accuracy of the drinking level by allowing a third person to correct the drinking level of a driver. In a system or method which detects the drinking level of a driver of a vehicle, the drinking level of the driver is detected by an alcohol detector or the like, and the detection result is corrected by a third person other than the driver when there is an error in the detection result. Accordingly, even when the drinking level detected by the alcohol detector or the like is incorrect, the drinking level can be corrected after ensuring reliability by the determination by the third person. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100294583 | VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER METHODS AND APPARATUS BASED ON DRIVER IMPAIRMENT - Embodiments include systems and methods for immobilizing a motor vehicle. A system comprises an impairment sensor system and a control subsystem. The impairment sensor system is adapted to perform an analysis of a sample provided by an operator of a motor vehicle, where the analysis includes determining an impairment-related metric based on the sample. The control subsystem is adapted to control at least one mobility-related apparatus and at least one non-mobility-related apparatus of the motor vehicle. When the result of the analysis indicates that the impairment-related metric does not meet a criteria, the control subsystem is adapted to control the at least one mobility-related apparatus in a manner that disables the motor vehicle from moving and to control the at least one non-mobility-related apparatus in a manner that allows the at least one non-mobility-related apparatus to operate. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20110127101 | Security device - A security device for a means of transport comprising a radiation source to direct radiation into the eye of a person intending to take control of the means of transport, so that the radiation is internally reflected within the eye and emerges from the eye with a substantial spectral content corresponding to the spectral content of food flowing through the retina of the eye, and a receiver arrangement to receive the radiation emanating from the eye of the person and to perform a spectral analysis of the reflected radiation to determine the concentration of at least one chemical within the blood of the person, the device further comprising an alarm unit to generate an alarm and/or an immobiliser unit to immobilise the means of transport, the or each unit being responsive to the said determination of concentration when the concentration of the said chemical is outside a permitted threshold range. Preferably, radiation is transmitted to the retina, and the spectral analysis is carried out for radiation reflected from the retina. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20100018794 | Vehicle Driving Control - A vehicle driving control is provided. The vehicle driving control includes a dead man's system (VACMA) processing device and a lever arm capable of moving in a predetermined actuation direction with a handle. The handle is arranged at one end of the arm and includes an upper face, at least one lateral face, and a touch button which is electrically connected to the processing device. The touch button is located in the region of the lateral face. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20120006610 | Telematics enhanced mobile device safety interlock - A vehicle includes a telematics controller and at least three short range, low power interior transceivers, one of which is focused on a vehicle's driver's seat only. At least two additional individual short range, low power interior transceivers are focused on a front passenger seat, and a rear seat. A fourth or more short range, low power interior transceiver may be included in a larger vehicle. Synergistic interaction is provided between a vehicle's telematics controller and wireless devices (e.g. cell phones, smart phones, PDAs, wireless laptops, etc.) to parametrically control at least one wireless service or other operation of a wireless device presumed operated by the driver of the vehicle. Example wireless services blocked or forced into a safe mode (such as hands-free operation) include SMS, Email, and Voice services. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120012415 | BUILDING MACHINE COMPRISING A PRESENCE DETECTION SYSTEM - A building machine, especially a road finishing machine, comprising a presence detection system. The presence detection system comprises a sensor which is integrated in the control panel of the building machine. By means of the sensor a distance measurement can be carried out, which determines whether the operator is properly seated on the driver's seat of the building machine or whether he stands properly at the standing work place. In order to determine the presence a tolerance range may be specified, which allows a slight movement of the operator on the driver's seat. If the operator approaches the limits of the tolerance range he is asked in time by warning signals to be seated again properly on the driver's seat or adopt a proper position at the standing work place. If the sensor detects no operator on the driver's seat or at the standing work place all of the functions of the building machine are stopped in order to make sure that the work site is safe. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120055726 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF AN INTOXICATED DRIVER AND CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF A VEHICLE - An apparatus, system, and method for detecting an intoxicated driver of a vehicle and preventing operation of the vehicle are presented. In one embodiment, a detector module comprises a sensor that produces an electrical signal corresponding to a predetermined blood alcohol content of the driver. The blood alcohol content of the driver is determined by sampling the alcohol content of the air within a predetermined vehicle zone. A control module is coupled to the detector module to control at least one vehicle operations in response to the electrical signal from the detector module. In another embodiment, a cell phone contains the detector module and is wirelessly coupled to the control module. A vehicle status module is included in some embodiments. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120152638 | Chemical vapor sensor having an active and a passive measurement mode - A chemical vapor sensor is provided that measures a chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity. In an aspect, an ethanol vapor sensor is provided, sized for being inconspicuous and on-board a vehicle, having a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode, for detecting a motor vehicle driver that exceeds a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), for use with vehicle safety systems. For the passive mode, a vapor concentrator is utilized to amplify a sampled vapor concentration to a detectible level for use with an infrared (IR) detector. In an aspect, ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin is passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. In an aspect, an active breathalyzer is used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20100288573 | VEHICLE DRIVER STATE DETECTION APPARATUS - A vehicle driver state detection apparatus includes: a panel surface that includes an instrument panel or a meter cluster; a steering column portion that supports a steering shaft of a vehicle; a displacement absorbing portion that absorbs displacement caused by an impact applied to the steering column portion in an axial direction of the steering column portion; and a driver state detection portion attached to an outer peripheral surface of the steering column portion . In the vehicle driver state detection apparatus, the driver state detection portion is provided at a portion at which the driver state detection portion does not contact the panel surface when the displacement is absorbed. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20130015010 | Device and Method for Determining a Vigilance StateAANM Junge; MirkoAACI CrammeAACO DEAAGP Junge; Mirko Cramme DEAANM Staubach; MariaAACI WolfsburgAACO DEAAGP Staubach; Maria Wolfsburg DE - In a method and a device for determining a vigilance state of a motor vehicle driver,
| 01-17-2013 |
| 180273000 | Utilizing weight, or lack thereof, of operator on seat or other support to determine presence or absence | 9 |
| 20120211296 | OCCUPANT DETECTION CORRECTION SYSTEM - There is provided an occupant detection correction system including: a load detection section that detects load imparted to a vehicle seat and outputs a load signal representing the load; an occupant detection section that detects an occupant based on the load signal and is capable of resetting the load signal to a reference point based on a predetermined reset instruction; a tilt angle detection section that detects a predetermined tilt angle of a seatback; and a permitting section that permits execution of resetting the load signal to the reference point by the occupant detection section when the predetermined tilt angle is detected by the tilt angle detection section. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120234620 | VEHICLE SEAT SWITCH ACTUATOR - A seat has a seat frame and a seat cushion supported by the seat frame. The seat cushion has an upper surface that supports a user and a lower surface defining a cavity. The seat cushion moves between an at rest condition in which no operator is seated on the seat, and a deflected condition in which the seat cushion is deflected with respect to the frame in response to an operator seated on the seat. A switch is mounted to the frame and opens and closes an electrical circuit in response to an actuating force. A switch actuator is mounted to the seat cushion lower surface in the cavity and moves between a non-actuating position when the seat is at rest and an actuating position when the seat is deflected. The switch actuator delivers the actuating force as the switch actuator is moved toward the actuating position. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20080217090 | Motorcycle safety designs - The motorcycle began in the early 1900's as a small motor fabricated to a bicycle. Speeds generated by these early motorcycles were under 20 mph and safety was of little concern. Over the next 100 years, horsepower increased, brakes and suspensions were added. The modern motorcycle has a serious design flaw that has carried over for more than 100 years from the design of the bicycle. Handlebars mounted in a fixed position in relationship to a seated rider, block the path of a rider moving forward in the event of a frontal collision and present a hazardous condition. Handlebars, in their current design, are an immovable and unforgiving object in the path of a rider who is ejected from the seat and moving forward in a collision. The purpose of this patent is to prevent serious injury to a rider in the event of a collision through handlebar safety design. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20090272595 | Vehicle Having Dual Deadman Pedals And Method Of Operation - A material handling vehicle includes an operator compartment having a floor. A step is disposed in the operator compartment and spaced above the floor. A first deadman switch is disposed in the floor for actuation by an operator standing on the floor in the operator compartment. A second deadman switch is disposed in the step for actuation by an operator sitting in the operator compartment, wherein simultaneous actuation of the first deadman switch and the second deadman switch disables operation of both deadman switches. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090255749 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE LOCKOUT - A lockout system for a motor vehicle is provided. The system can include a source of input that identifies a status of a driver of the motor vehicle. The system can further include a source of passenger input that indicates if at least one passenger is present in the motor vehicle. The system can also include a lockout control module operable to disable the operation of the motor vehicle if at least one passenger is present in the motor vehicle, based on the status of the driver. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20100212988 | SEAT ASSEMBLY WITH IGNITION SWITCH AND SWITCH ACTUATOR - A seat includes a seat frame and a resilient web supported by the seat frame. The web is adapted for movement between an at rest condition in which no operator is seated on the seat, and a deflected condition in which the web is deflected with respect to the frame in response to an operator seated on the seat. A switch actuator is mounted to the web and is movable between a non-actuating position when the web is in the at rest condition and an actuating position when the web is in the deflected condition. A switch is mounted to the frame, the switch includes first and second parts movable with respect to each other to open and close an electrical circuit in response to the switch actuator moving between the non-actuating and actuating positions. A distal end of the switch actuator engages the switch at least when the switch actuator is in the actuating position | 08-26-2010 |
| 20090000846 | SEAT ASSEMBLY WITH IGNITION SWITCH AND SWITCH ACTUATOR - A seat includes a seat frame and a resilient web supported by the seat frame. The web is adapted for movement between an at rest condition in which no operator is seated on the seat, and a deflected condition in which the web is deflected with respect to the frame in response to an operator seated on the seat. A switch actuator is mounted to the web and is movable between a non-actuating position when the web is in the at rest condition and an actuating position when the web is in the deflected condition. A switch is mounted to the frame, the switch includes first and second parts movable with respect to each other to open and close an electrical circuit in response to the switch actuator moving between the non-actuating and actuating positions. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20120018240 | OPERATOR MONITORING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - A vehicle has an operator monitoring system that includes an operator sensor configured to sense whether the operator is in a proper operating position within the operator cab and a control module connected to the operator sensor wherein when the vehicle is running and the operator sensor senses that the operator is not in the proper operating position, the control module activates safety features to stop the truck, including any one or a combination of activating the main brake, activating the parking brake, and/or shifting the transmission to a different setting. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120073892 | IGNITION INTERLOCK AND DRIVING MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An ignition interlock and driving monitoring system having multiple sensors connected to a central processor ( | 03-29-2012 |
