# US 12,179,588 B2 · Drunk driving prevention system with bypass mode and drunk driving prevention method using the system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,588 B2 - Document ID: US12179588B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/877,212 - Filed: 2022-07-29 - Published: 2023-02-09 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-05 - Assignees: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yu Jin Jung; Chang Won Lee; June Seung Lee; Yeon Su Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179588B2 ## CPC - B60K 28/063: {preventing starting of vehicles} - A61B 5/082: {Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath (A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence)} - B60K 28/06: responsive to incapacity of driver - B60W 50/0097: {Predicting future conditions} - B60W 50/085: {Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input} - B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention - A61B 2503/22: Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains - B60K 28/066: {actuating a signalling device (B60K28/063 takes precedence)} - B60W 50/12: Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation - B60W 2040/0836: {due to alcohol} - B60W 2050/146: {Display means} - B60W 2420/403: Image sensing, e.g. optical camera - B60W 2510/1005: Transmission ratio engaged - B60W 2520/10: Longitudinal speed - B60W 2540/24: Drug level, e.g. alcohol - B60W 2556/45: External transmission of data to or from the vehicle - B60W 2556/50: of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data - B60Y 2302/05: Leading to automatic stopping of the vehicle - 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 - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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 - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract Disclosed are a drunk driving prevention system and a drunk driving prevention method using the system that includes a sensor module measuring the alcohol content in exhaled breath of a driver at the time of breath-checking of the driver and a control module configured to check an intoxication state of the driver based on the alcohol content measured by the sensor module to determine whether or not a breath-checking is complete and block an engine start when the breath-checking fails, wherein the control module includes a bypass control unit switching a vehicle into a drivable state when the breath-checking fails. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for bypassing a drunk driving prevention function of a vehicle, comprising: a sensor module configured to measure, during breath-checking a driver of a vehicle, alcohol content in the driver's exhaled breath; and a control module configured to (1) check, during the breath-checking of the driver, whether the driver is intoxicated based on the alcohol content measured by the sensor module, (2) determine whether or not the breath-checking of the driver is completed based on whether checking the driver is intoxicated has been completed, and (3) block starting of an engine of the vehicle when the driver fails the breath-checking, wherein the control module includes a bypass control unit configured to (1) receive, from the driver, a request to allow the driver to drive the vehicle after the driver fails the breath-checking, and (2) in response to receiving the request from the driver, causing the vehicle to enter a bypass mode in which the driver is allowed to drive the vehicle, and wherein the bypass control unit is further configured to (1) compare the measured alcohol content with bypass reference alcohol content after the vehicle enters the bypass mode, and (2) deactivate the bypass mode when the measured alcohol content exceeds the bypass reference alcohol content. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the control module further includes a malfunction control unit configured to determine whether the system malfunctions, and the bypass control unit is configured to cause the vehicle to enter the bypass mode before the breath-checking is not completed when the malfunction control unit determines that the system is malfunctioning. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the control module further includes a vehicle state information collection unit configured to collect and record, in a storage unit, at least one of breath-checking information, vehicle driving information, and vehicle driving records, and when the driver is allowed to drive the vehicle based on the request from the driver after the driver fails the breath-checking, the vehicle state information collection unit is configured to store, in the storage unit, at least one of a bypass mode entry time, an image capturing the driver's face, the driver's measured alcohol content, departing location information, destination information, gear shift information, vehicle speed information, passenger presence information and driving location information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein, when the driver is allowed to drive the vehicle based on the request from the driver after the driver fails the breath-checking, the bypass control unit is configured to cause an alarm device of the vehicle to output a warning that the driver is intoxicated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the bypass control unit is configured to determine a driving allowance time based on the measured alcohol content of the driver, and output, via a display of the vehicle, the driving allowance time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein: the display comprises a navigation device, and the bypass control unit is configured to: set a destination through the navigation device when the vehicle has entered the bypass mode based on the request from the driver after the driver fails the breath-checking, and select and guide the vehicle to a stopover on a driving route to the destination when it is determined that the destination cannot be reached within the driving allowance time. ### Claim 7 A method of bypassing a drunk driving prevention function of a vehicle, comprising: breath-checking a driver of the vehicle to measure alcohol content in the driver's exhaled breath; determining, based on the measured alcohol content, whether the driver is intoxicated; in response to determining that the driver is intoxicated, blocking starting of an engine of the vehicle; after blocking the starting of the engine, receiving, from the driver, a request to allow to drive the vehicle; in response to receiving the request from the driver, causing the vehicle to enter a bypass mode in which the driver is allowed to drive the vehicle; comparing the measured alcohol content with bypass reference alcohol content after the vehicle enters the bypass mode; and deactivating the bypass mode in response to the measured alcohol content exceeds the bypass reference alcohol content. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: determining a driving allowance time based on the measured alcohol content; and outputting, via a display of a vehicle, the driving allowance time when the measured alcohol content is equal to or less than the bypass reference alcohol content. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising collecting and storing, in a storage unit, bypass record or driving record after the driving allowance time is determined, wherein the bypass record includes at least one of a bypass mode entry time, an image capturing the driver's face and the measured alcohol content, and wherein the driving record includes at least one of departing location information, destination information, gear shift information, vehicle speed information, passenger presence information and driving location information. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting, to a server, the bypass record or driving record when the vehicle reaches a destination. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: comparing an expected driving time for the vehicle to reach a destination with the driving allowance time; and selecting and guiding the vehicle to a stopover on a driving route to the destination when it is determined that the vehicle cannot reach the destination within the driving allowance time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising, in response to determining that the driver is intoxicated after the vehicle enters the bypass mode, controlling an alarm device of the vehicle to output a warning that the driver is intoxicated.