# US 11,897,495 B2 · Drunk driving prevention system and method therefor

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- Number: US 11,897,495 B2
- Document ID: US11897495B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/875,536
- Filed: 2022-07-28
- Published: 2023-02-09
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-05
- Assignees: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yu Jin Jung; Yeon Su Kim; June Seung Lee; Chang Won Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897495B2

## CPC

- B60K 28/06: responsive to incapacity of driver
- B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
- A61B 5/0077: {Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens}
- A61B 5/082: {Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath (A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/0836: {Measuring rate of CO2 production}
- A61B 5/4845: {Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products (A61B5/4848 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/6893: {Cars}
- B60H 1/00007: {Combined heating, ventilating, or cooling devices (control systems or mechanisms B60H1/00642)}
- B60H 1/00271: {HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit}
- B60H 1/00785: {by the detection of humidity or frost}
- B60H 1/008: {the input being air quality}
- B60K 28/063: {preventing starting of vehicles}
- B60K 28/066: {actuating a signalling device (B60K28/063 takes precedence)}
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60K 35/22: Display screens
- B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
- B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments
- B60N 2/0022: {for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature}
- B60N 2/003: {characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat}
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 40/08: related to drivers or passengers
- B60W 50/0097: {Predicting future conditions}
- B60W 50/10: Interpretation of driver requests or demands
- G01N 33/4972: {Determining alcohol content (for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06)}
- H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services
- A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient}
- A61B 5/1112: {Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS}
- A61B 2503/22: Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
- B60H 2001/00114: {Heating or cooling details}
- B60H 2001/003: {Component temperature regulation using an air flow}
- B60K 2360/56: using mobile devices
- B60N 2210/22: Optical; Photoelectric; Lidar [Light Detection and Ranging]
- B60N 2210/40: Force or pressure sensors
- B60W 2040/0827: {due to sleepiness}
- B60W 2040/0836: {due to alcohol}
- B60W 2040/0881: {Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence}
- B60W 2050/143: {Alarm means}
- B60W 2050/146: {Display means}
- B60W 2420/403: Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
- B60W 2540/221: Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
- B60W 2540/229: Attention level, e.g. attentive to driving, reading or sleeping
- B60W 2540/24: Drug level, e.g. alcohol
- B60W 2556/10: Historical data
- B60W 2556/50: of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

According to the present disclosure, a drunk driving prevention system including: an alcohol detection unit configured to detect a driver's inebriation through the breath test device provided in a vehicle; a computation unit configured, when the driver is detected to be in a drunk state by the alcohol detection unit, to compute a driving-possible time at which the drunk state is resolved in the future so that driving is possible; and a notification unit configured to output the driving-possible time or whether or not driving is possible through an infotainment system of the vehicle or a driver's terminal is disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for preventing drunk driving of a vehicle, comprising:
a breath test device configured to detect carbon dioxide and alcohol content in a driver's breath when the driver performs breath authentication;
an alcohol detection unit configured to detect the driver's inebriation through the breath test device;
a computation unit configured, when the alcohol detection unit detects that the driver is in a drunk state, to compute a driving-possible time at which the driver's drunk state is resolved in the future so that driving is possible for the driver; and
a notification unit configured to output the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver through an infotainment system of the vehicle or the driver's terminal,
wherein the notification unit is configured to set the driving-possible time based on location information of the driver detected through a function of a GPS provided in the driver's terminal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising an input unit configured to receive, from the driver, a signal notification intention,
wherein, when the signal notification intention is received by the input unit, the notification unit provides the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver at the driving-possible time through the infotainment system of the vehicle or the driver's terminal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a passenger detection unit configured to detect whether the driver is on board through a camera sensor or a seat sensor provided in the vehicle,
wherein, when the passenger detection unit detects that the driver is on board, the notification unit provides the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver at the driving-possible time through the infotainment system of the vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the notification unit is configured to:
determine the driver's sleep state based on whether the driver's terminal is operational or nonoperational; and
provide whether driving is possible for the driver after the driver's wake-up time detected based on whether the terminal is operational or nonoperational.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a control module configured to determine the driver's inebriation from an alcohol concentration detected by the breath test device to determine whether the breath authentication is complete, and, when the breath authentication fails, restrict starting of the vehicle,
wherein the control module comprises an air quality judgment control unit configured to check an indoor air quality based on an amount of the carbon dioxide detected by the breath test device and perform a predetermined air quality control depending on the detected amount of carbon dioxide.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the air quality judgment control unit is configured to:
set three reference values with respect to the detected amount of the carbon dioxide, the three references values including first, second and third reference values;
output a notification message when the detected amount of the carbon dioxide reaches the first reference value;
output an alarm when the detected amount of the carbon dioxide reaches the second reference value; and
control the vehicle to switch to an outdoor air circulation mode when the detected amount of the carbon dioxide reaches the third reference value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the air quality judgment control unit is configured to:
check the amount of the carbon dioxide detected after the vehicle is stopped; and
when the amount of the carbon dioxide detected after the vehicle is stopped meets or exceeds a predetermined reference value, provide a notification of a neglected occupant to the driver.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a check unit configured to check whether the breath test device operates, the breath test device disposed at the vehicle and including a fan configured to suck the driver's breath;
a passenger detection unit configured to detect whether a passenger is on board; and
a control module configured to control an air conditioner of the vehicle to discharge hot air having a temperature above a predetermined temperature to sterilize an inside of the breath test device when the check unit identifies that the breath test device has been operated and the passenger detection unit detects that all passengers have alighted.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a humidity sensor configured to detect a humidity inside the vehicle,
wherein the control module is configured to control the air conditioner to discharge the hot air by controlling a cooling device or heating device included in the air conditioner based on the humidity detected by the humidity sensor.

### Claim 10

A method of preventing drunk driving of a vehicle, comprising:
detecting a driver's inebriation through a breath test device provided in a vehicle;
when the driver is detected to be in a drunk state, computing a driving-possible time at which the driver's drunk state is resolved in the future so that driving is possible for the driver;
after computing the driving-possible time, detecting location of the driver through the driver's terminal;
setting the driving-possible time based on the detected location of the driver; and
outputting the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver through an infotainment system of the vehicle or the driver's terminal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The drunk driving prevention method of claim 10, further comprising:
receiving, from the driver, a signal notification intention; and
in response to receiving the signal notification intention, providing the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible at the driving-possible time through the infotainment system of the vehicle or the driver's terminal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The drunk driving prevention method of claim 10, wherein:
detecting the drunk state comprises measuring the driver's blood alcohol concentration detected by the breath test device,
computing the driving-possible time including detecting, using an alcohol detection unit, the driver's blood alcohol concentration, and
the driving-possible time is computed based on driver's physical information collected previously and the detected driver's blood alcohol concentration.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The drunk driving prevention method of claim 10, further comprising detecting whether the driver is on board through a camera sensor or a seat sensor provided in the vehicle,
wherein outputting the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver comprises providing the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible at the driving-possible time through the infotainment system of the vehicle when it is detected that the driver is on board.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The drunk driving prevention method of claim 13, wherein outputting the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver comprises whether driving is possible through the driver's terminal at the driving-possible time when it is detected that the driver has alighted.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The drunk driving prevention method of claim 10, wherein:
detecting the location comprises determining whether the detected location of the driver is a predetermined location, and
outputting the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver comprises providing whether driving is possible for the driver after a predetermined driver's wake-up time when the location of the driver is the predetermined location.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The drunk driving prevention method of claim 10, further comprising, after computing the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver, determining the driver's sleep state based on whether the driver's terminal is operational or nonoperational,
wherein outputting the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver comprises, when it is determined that the driver is asleep, providing whether driving is possible after the driver's wake-up time detected based on whether the driver's terminal is operational or nonoperational.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The drunk driving prevention method of claim 10, further comprising, after outputting the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver, determining the driver's sleep state by detecting illuminance of light through an illuminance sensor provided in the terminal,
wherein outputting the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver comprises determining that the driver is asleep when the detected illuminance of light is low and providing whether driving is possible for the driver after the driver's wake-up time determined from determining the driver's sleep state.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The drunk driving prevention method of claim 10, further comprising determining the driver's sleep state through a heart rate sensor provided in the driver's terminal to measure the driver's heart rate,
wherein outputting the driving-possible time or whether driving is possible for the driver comprises providing whether driving is possible for the driver after the driver's wake-up time detected based on the determined driver's sleep state.