Patent US3332417A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3831707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System to prevent drunken driving
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1973-08-13
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1993-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A device which tests a vehicle operator for drunkenness and prevents operation of the vehicle in response to a sensed drunken condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Y Takeuchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/16; A61B5/18; B; B60; B60K; B60K28/00; B60K28/02; B60K28/06; B60K28/063; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/497; G01N33/4972
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A system to prevent drunken driving of an engine driven vehicle having an engine starting system including an ignition switch and a power transmission, comprising a sensing assembly mounted on a part of the vehicle and normally held in a stored position and manually movable to an intermediate and a withdrawn position, said sensing assembly including a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the driver''s breath exhaled against said temperature sensor at said withdrawn position to produce a first signal when the sensed temperature lies within a predetermined range, a humidity sensor to sense the humidity of the driver''s breath to produce a second signal when the sensed humidity lies within another predetermined range, and an alcohol sensor to sense the concentration of alcohol in the driver''s breath to produce a third signal when the sensed concentration of alcohol is below a predetermined value; and means for actuating said engine starting system when the first, second and third signals are present.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A system to prevent drunken driving of an engine driven vehicle having an engine starting system including an ignition switch and a power transmission, comprising a sensing assembly mounted on a part of the vehicle and normally held in a stored position and manually movable to an intermediate and a withdrawn position, said sensing assembly including a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the driver''s breath exhaled against said temperature sensor at said withdrawn position to produce a first signal when the sensed temperature lies within a predetermined range, a humidity sensor to sense the humidity of the driver''s breath to produce a second signal when the sensed humidity lies within another predetermined range, and an alcohol sensor to sense the concentration of alcohol in the driver''s breath to produce a third signal when the sensed concentration of alcohol is below a predetermined value; and means for actuating said engine starting system when the first, second and third signals are present.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor comprises a sensing element for producing a voltage proportional to the temperature, first means for comparing said voltage proportional to temperature with a first reference voltage to produce a first output when said voltage proportional to temperature is lower than said first reference voltage, second means for comparing said voltage proportional to temperature with a second reference voltage to produce a second output when said voltage proportional to temperature is higher than said second reference voltage, and means for producing said first signal when said first and second outputs are both simultaneously supplied to its inputs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
104 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said humidity sensor comprises a sensing element for producing a voltage proportional to the humidity, first means for comparing said voltage pRoportional to humidity with a first reference voltage to produce a first output when said voltage proportional to humidity is lower than said first reference voltage, second means for comparing said voltage proportional to humidity with a second reference voltage to produce a second output when said voltage is higher than said second reference voltage, and means for producing said second signal when said first and second outputs are both simultaneously supplied to its inputs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said humidity sensing element comprises a hygroscopic layer coated on an insulating material, the electrical conductivity of said layer varying with the sensed humidity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said alcohol sensor comprises a sensing element for producing a voltage proportional to the concentration of alcohol, means for comparing said voltage proportional to the concentration of alcohol with a reference voltage to produce said third signal when said voltage proportional to the concentration of alcohol is lower than said reference voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said alcohol sensing element comprises a strip of semiconductive metal dioxide which is alcohol-absorptive and the resistance of which drops with the absorbed alcohol at a certain temperature thereof, and means for heating said strip to said certain temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for delaying the supply of said first and second signals for a predetermined time after the production of said signals respectively at the temperature sensor and humidity sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for detecting the position of said sensing assembly to produce a fourth signal when said sensing assembly is in said stored and intermediate positions and to produce a low voltage signal when said sensing assembly is in said withdrawn position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said fourth signal continues for a predetermined time after said sensing assembly has moved to said withdrawn position and said low voltage signal continues for another predetermined time after said sensing assembly has moved to said stored and intermediate positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for actuating said engine starting system comprises a logic ''''AND'''' circuit producing an output voltage signal when said first, second, third and fourth signals are all simultaneously supplied to its inputs, means for amplifying said output voltage signal, a relay coil energizable in response to said amplified voltage, and a switch connected to said engine starting system and closing in response to the energization of said relay coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising means for producing another voltage signal when said voltage signal is present at said ''''AND'''' circuit which continues for a predetermined time after said output voltage signal at said ''''AND'''' circuit disappears, and an ''''OR'''' circuit interposed between said ''''AND'''' circuit and said amplifying means for producing a further voltage signal when one of said voltage signal at said ''''AND'''' circuit and said another voltage signal at said means is supplied to its input.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising indicating means actuable in response to said amplified voltage for indicating that said first, second, third and fourth signals are all present.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a solenoid assembly provided in said sensing assembly for locking said sensing assembly in said stored position and solenoid actuating means operable in response to deenergization of said relay coil for actuating said solenoid assembly, said solenoid assembly, when actuated, releasing said sensing assembly from said stored position to be manually movable to said intermediate and withdrawn positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as claimed In claim 13, further comprising means for delaying the actuation of said solenoid assembly for a predetermined time after said ignition switch is closed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising another means for actuating said engine starting system as long as the vehicle is in an undrivable condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said another means for actuating said engine starting system comprises a transmission switch provided within said power transmission and connected to said engine starting system, said switch closing when said power transmission is in parking and neutral positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |