Vehicle sobriety interlock systems and methods with vehicle warm-up support
Assignee1A Smart Start LLC
InventorAaron Theodore Nelson
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Abstract
A vehicle sobriety interlock system including a sobriety testing apparatus for testing a driver of a vehicle for intoxication and an interlock system responsive to test results from the sobriety testing apparatus for controlling ignition of an engine of the vehicle. The interlock system, in response to a test result indicating that the driver is sober, allows the driver to start the engine of the vehicle. During a vehicle warm-up time period of a predetermined length following start of the engine and before a transmission of the vehicle has been engaged for putting the vehicle in motion, the interlock system delays a retest of the driver with the sobriety testing system for intoxication.
Claims20
A vehicle sobriety interlock system comprising:
- a sobriety testing apparatus for testing a driver of a vehicle for intoxication;
- and
- an interlock control system responsive to test results from the sobriety testing apparatus for controlling operation of the vehicle, the interlock control system operable to:
- in response to a test result indicating that the driver is not intoxicated, allow the driver to start an engine of the vehicle;
- and
- during a vehicle warm-up period of a predetermined length of time following starting of the engine, delaying a retest of the driver with the sobriety testing apparatus as long as the vehicle remains in a static state.
A method of controlling operation of a vehicle comprising:
- receiving a test result signal from a sobriety testing apparatus indicating that a driver of the vehicle is capable of safely operating the vehicle;
- in response to the test result signal, enabling the driver to start the vehicle;
- in response to the driver starting the vehicle, initiating a vehicle warm-up period of a predetermined maximum length of time;
- during the vehicle warm-up period, monitoring a state of a transmission of the vehicle;
- and
- delaying a sobriety retest of the driver so long as the vehicle warm-up period has not expired and the vehicle is in a static state.
A controller for a sobriety interlock system for a vehicle operable to:
- receive a test result signal from a sobriety testing device indicating that a driver is in condition to safely operate the vehicle;
- in response to receiving the test result signal, initiate a startup time period;
- if the vehicle is started within the startup time period, initiate a warm-up time period;
- during the warm-up time period, monitor a signal generated by the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is in a static state;
- and
- while the signal generated by the vehicle indicates that the vehicle is in a static state, delay invoking a retesting protocol for retesting the driver with the sobriety testing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.