Apparatus for non-contact blood alcohol concentration estimation and method therefor

Abstract

Proposed is an apparatus for non-contact blood alcohol concentration estimation based on respiration, the apparatus comprising: a processor for estimating blood alcohol concentration; and a transceiver for transmitting the estimation result of the blood alcohol concentration. The processor may be configured to: determine whether a driver is in a vehicle on the basis of first sensor data acquired from a first sensor; determine the first sensor data as valid data for estimating the blood alcohol concentration of the driver; determine whether to use the first data to supplement second sensor data, acquired from a second sensor, in order to estimate the blood alcohol concentration; and estimate the blood alcohol concentration by using the second sensor data or the supplemented second sensor data.

Description

Device for non-contact blood alcohol concentration estimation and method therefor

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for estimating blood alcohol concentration, and more particularly, to a device and a method for estimating blood alcohol concentration in a non-contact manner in a vehicle.

[0002] Drunk driving increases the risk of accidents due to impaired driver judgment, causing not only loss of life but also economic losses, leading to various problems.

[0003] Because of this, various safety devices are being introduced, such as mandatory installation of drunk driving prevention devices such as ignition interlock devices in the vehicles of habitual drunk drivers whose licenses have been revoked.

[0004] In order to prevent drunk driving, it is necessary to measure the driver's blood alcohol concentration. Conventionally, blood alcohol concentration is measured mainly by measuring the driver's exhalation or expiration. Fig. 1 illustrates a conventional method of measuring a driver's blood alcohol concentration. When the driver (1) exhales into a breathalyzer (10), the blood alcohol concentration is measured and displayed on the display of the breathalyzer (10) or a judgment result as to whether or not the driver is drunk is displayed.

[0005] However, the conventional method requires the driver to hold the breathalyzer (10) and blow into the mouthpiece, which is cumbersome and requires the driver's active participation in the measurement to measure blood alcohol concentration. Therefore, the conventional method may not be suitable as a means of forcibly preventing drunk driving.

[0006] The present invention proposes a method for estimating or measuring blood alcohol concentration in a non-contact manner.

[0007] In addition, the present invention proposes a method for improving accuracy in non-contact blood alcohol concentration measurement.

[0008] The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems to be solved above, and other problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0009] A device for estimating blood alcohol concentration using a non-contact breathing method is proposed, the device including: a processor for performing blood alcohol concentration estimation; and a transceiver for transmitting the blood alcohol concentration estimation result, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a driver is in a vehicle based on first sensor data acquired from a first sensor, confirm the first sensor data as valid data for estimating the driver's blood alcohol concentration, determine whether to compensate second sensor data acquired from a second sensor using the first sensor data for estimating the blood alcohol concentration, and estimate the blood alcohol concentration using the second sensor data or the compensated second sensor data.

[0010] A method for estimating blood alcohol concentration using a non-contact breathing method, the method being performed by a blood alcohol concentration estimation device, the method comprising: a step of determining whether a driver is in a vehicle based on first sensor data acquired from a first sensor; a step of confirming the first sensor data as valid data for estimating the driver's blood alcohol concentration; a step of determining whether to compensate second sensor data acquired from a second sensor using the first sensor data for estimating the blood alcohol concentration; and a step of estimating the blood alcohol concentration using the second sensor data or the compensated second sensor data.

[0011] The solutions of the present invention described above are some of the embodiments of the present invention. Various solutions other than the solutions described above can be derived and understood based on the detailed description of the present invention described below.

[0012] The present invention has the following technical effects.

[0013] It is possible to estimate or measure blood alcohol concentration using only the driver's breath in a non-contact manner.

[0014] The accuracy of blood alcohol concentration can be improved by using sensor data acquired through multiple sensors.

[0015] The effects according to the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from the detailed description of the invention below.

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included as part of the detailed description to aid in understanding the present invention, provide embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description, explain the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0017] Figure 1 illustrates a scene for measuring a driver's blood alcohol concentration according to conventional technology.

[0018] Figure 2 illustrates a scene of measuring a driver's blood alcohol concentration in a non-contact manner according to the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a device or system for non-contact blood alcohol concentration measurement according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 shows sensor data used in the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 shows sensor data used in the present invention.

[0022] Figure 6 shows sensor data and compensated sensor data according to the present invention.

[0023] Figure 7 shows a flow chart for non-contact blood alcohol concentration measurement according to the present invention.

[0024] Figure 8 shows a block diagram of a device for non-contact blood alcohol concentration measurement according to the present invention.

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the drawing numbers, identical or similar components will be given the same reference numbers and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "part" used for components in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably only for the convenience of writing the specification, and do not in themselves have distinct meanings or roles. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical ideas disclosed in this specification are not limited by the attached drawings, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0026] Terms that include ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

[0027] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but that there may be other components intervening. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components intervening.

[0028] Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0029] In this application, terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood not to exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0030]

[0031] Figure 2 illustrates a scene of measuring a driver's blood alcohol concentration in a non-contact manner according to the present invention.

[0032] According to the present invention, at least one sensor (200) is designed to measure the exhaled breath of a driver (1) within a vehicle, which is linked to a blood alcohol concentration measuring device (not shown). The at least one sensor (200) may include a gas measuring sensor such as a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a humidity sensor, etc., and the type of sensor is not limited to the present invention. The sensor (200) may be installed around the driver's seat within the vehicle.

[0033] The blood alcohol concentration measuring device estimates or measures the blood alcohol concentration of the driver (1) using sensor data acquired by the sensor (200).

[0034] The blood alcohol concentration measuring device according to the present invention is referred to as a non-contact type because it measures the exhaled breath of the driver (1) contained in the air inside the vehicle. The non-contact measuring method may be more suitable for the purpose of forcibly preventing drunk driving than the existing method of blowing breath into the measuring device through a mouthpiece (i.e., the contact method). The non-contact measuring method aims to measure the driver's blood alcohol concentration simply by having the driver sit in the vehicle, without requiring the driver to directly or actively participate in the blood alcohol concentration measurement.

[0035]

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates a device or system for non-contact blood alcohol concentration measurement according to the present invention.

[0037] A system (100) for measuring blood alcohol concentration may be composed of sensor data acquisition or input (110), a blood alcohol concentration estimation model (120), and estimation result output (130).

[0038] Sensor data acquisition (110) includes a process of acquiring sensor data measured from at least one sensor installed around the driver's seat of the vehicle. The at least one sensor is for measuring the air around the driver's seat of the vehicle and may include a VOC sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a nitrogen sensor, an oxygen sensor, etc. Although each sensor may be described as sensing one data (e.g., one of VOC concentration, humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, nitrogen concentration, and oxygen concentration), one sensor may sense multiple data.

[0039] Meanwhile, when multiple sensors each measure and acquire sensor data for the present invention, it is assumed that the multiple sensors are installed at the same location within the vehicle or at substantially the same location where the location difference can be ignored.

[0040] The blood alcohol concentration estimation model (120) includes a process of estimating blood alcohol concentration using acquired sensor data.

[0041] The blood alcohol concentration estimation model (120) can be implemented as the blood alcohol concentration estimation device (120) of FIG. 8, which will be described later. A more detailed description thereof will be provided later.

[0042] The estimation result output (130) may include a process of outputting the blood alcohol concentration estimated or measured by the blood alcohol concentration estimation model (120) or transmitting it to another app or device. Alternatively, the estimation result output (130) may indicate that the acquired sensor data is invalid, or indicate whether the driver's condition based on the acquired sensor data requires emergency or critical measures. The blood alcohol concentration is calculated using at least one piece of acquired sensor data, and a regression model may be used. A deep learning model may be applied to at least one piece of sensor data.

[0043] Comparing the calculated blood alcohol concentration with a preset reference value can determine whether the driver was intoxicated. If the calculated blood alcohol concentration is higher than the preset reference value, the driver is deemed to have been drinking. Otherwise, the driver is deemed to have been sober.

[0044] Additionally, the estimated result output (130) can notify the vehicle control unit of the driver's drunk driving if the estimated or measured blood alcohol concentration based on sensor data is higher than a preset reference value. The vehicle control unit can control the vehicle to turn off the engine or maintain a stationary state based on the notification. Furthermore, the vehicle control unit can output a warning sign or warning sound through the display or speaker. Furthermore, the vehicle control unit can transmit the driver's drunk driving and driver-related information or vehicle information to a server or police station.

[0045]

[0046] Meanwhile, non-contact blood alcohol concentration measurement requires additional considerations compared to contact methods. This is because it requires measuring the driver's exhaled air (i.e., exhaled breath) mixed with the air in the cabin. By measuring the air around the driver's seat, it is necessary to determine or consider whether the driver is present, whether the driver is breathing, and whether the sensor is aligned with the driver.

[0047] 1) Determining whether the driver is on board

[0048] It should be possible to determine whether a driver is present from the indoor air. Sensor data measuring humidity, temperature, or carbon dioxide concentration can be used to detect driver presence.

[0049] Measured sensor data can be directly used to determine whether a driver is present. For example, if a change in relative humidity is detected in humidity sensor data and the relative humidity exceeds a preset value, the presence of a driver can be determined.

[0050] Additionally, to determine whether a driver is present, the measured sensor data can be set as the first reference sensor data when the vehicle is idle, i.e., when no one is present in the vehicle. By comparing the first reference sensor data with the measured sensor data to determine whether a driver is present, the presence of the driver can be determined.

[0051] 2) Determining whether the driver is breathing

[0052] It is necessary to be able to determine whether the driver is breathing from indoor air. To detect whether the driver is breathing, sensor data measuring at least one of VOC concentration, humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, nitrogen concentration, and oxygen concentration can be used. The blood alcohol concentration estimation model (120) can determine whether the driver is breathing by analyzing the frequency and amplitude components of at least one sensor data. Figure 4 shows sensor data that detects the presence of a person (driver) breathing in indoor air.

[0053]

[0054] 3) Determining alignment between the driver and the sensor and calibrating / compensating sensor data

[0055] Alignment between the driver and the sensor means that the sensor's measurement section is aligned with the direction of the driver's exhalation (i.e., facing each other). In this specification, the measurement section refers to the inlet through which air flows into the sensor and the part that comes into contact with the inhaled air.

[0056] The better the alignment between the driver and the sensor, the more directly the driver's exhaled breath will flow into the sensor. In other words, the better the alignment between the driver and the sensor, the more reliable the acquired sensor data will be.

[0057] The blood alcohol estimation or measurement according to the present invention is a non-contact method. Since the driver's blood alcohol concentration is estimated or measured based on the results of measuring the air inside the vehicle, i.e., sensor data, the driver's exhaled breath may not directly enter the measuring unit of the sensor installed around the driver's seat. To address this issue, in order to ensure the reliability of the sensor data, if there is a misalignment between the driver and the sensor, the acquired sensor data needs to be corrected or compensated.

[0058] Calibration or compensation for the acquired sensor data can be performed based on reference sensor data (hereinafter referred to as “second reference sensor data”) when the alignment between the driver and the sensor is proper.

[0059] More specifically, sensor data that can be measured regardless of the driver's drinking status, such as a humidity sensor or carbon dioxide sensor, can be set as the second reference sensor data. Furthermore, it is preferable that the second reference sensor data be acquired by measuring the driver's breathing while seated in the driver's seat and in the correct posture.

[0060]

[0061] Figure 5 shows the results of indoor humidity measurements at various blood alcohol concentrations. High relative humidity (%RH) indicates respiration (repeated inhalation and exhalation), while low relative humidity indicates no respiration. It can be seen that indoor humidity measurements remain nearly constant regardless of blood alcohol concentration. This indoor humidity sensor data can serve as secondary reference sensor data.

[0062] In addition to relative humidity, any one of carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, and temperature measurements can be used or set as the second reference sensor data.

[0063] The degree of alignment between the driver and the sensor can be determined by comparing the magnitude or amplitude of the second reference sensor data with the acquired sensor data. At this time, it is preferable that the acquired sensor data include at least the same type of sensor data as the second reference sensor data. For example, if the second reference sensor data is humidity sensor data, the acquired sensor data can be set to include at least humidity sensor data. Thereafter, the magnitude or amplitude of the acquired sensor data can be corrected (i.e., increased or increased) by an amount proportional to the difference in magnitude or amplitude between the two sensor data.

[0064] For example, if the size or amplitude of the acquired sensor data exceeds 80% of the size or amplitude of the second reference sensor data, compensation or correction may not be performed on the acquired sensor data. On the other hand, if the size or amplitude of the acquired sensor data is 80% or less of the size or amplitude of the second reference sensor data, compensation or correction may be performed on the acquired sensor data.

[0065]

[0066] Figure 6 shows sensor data and compensated sensor data according to the present invention. The graph in Figure 5 (a) shows the acquired sensor data, and Figure 5 (b) shows the compensated sensor data.

[0067] Referring to Fig. 6 (a), the amount of change in the measured sensor data according to the distance between the driver and the measurement sensor at a specific blood alcohol concentration is depicted, and it is assumed that this change occurred due to the driver's movement (movement of the head position). Therefore, as shown in Fig. 6 (b), a compensation value can be applied to the sensor data of Fig. 6 (a). More specifically, the acquired sensor data can be modified using the compensation value. As a result, referring to Fig. 6 (b), compensated sensor data having a constant size can be acquired regardless of the driver's movement (or head position).

[0068] At this time, as described above, second reference sensor data may be used. In this case, sensor data corresponding to the second reference sensor data unrelated to blood alcohol concentration needs to be additionally acquired. For example, if the sensor data of Fig. 6 (a) is VOC sensor data, sensor data of the same type as the second reference sensor data, such as any one of humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide, oxygen, or nitrogen sensor data, may be acquired at the same time. A value corresponding to the difference in size or amplitude between the second reference sensor data and any one of the acquired humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide, oxygen, or nitrogen sensor data may be determined as a compensation value.

[0069]

[0070] Figure 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method for non-contact blood alcohol concentration measurement according to the present invention. The method for non-contact blood alcohol concentration measurement according to the present invention can be performed by a blood alcohol concentration measurement device or system (100) or a blood alcohol concentration estimation model (120). In the following description, the method will be described as being performed by the blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120).

[0071] The blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can confirm the presence of a driver in the vehicle (S710). Confirmation of the driver's presence can be performed using sensor data. The sensor data acquired at this stage will be referred to as first sensor data. The first sensor data includes sensor values ​​measured over a preset period of time via the sensor.

[0072] The presence of a driver in a vehicle can be determined based on the results of air measurements within the vehicle (i.e., first sensor data) obtained by at least one sensor. For example, the presence of a driver in the vehicle can be determined based on sensor data from a humidity sensor or a temperature sensor. When humidity sensor data is used, as illustrated in Figure 5, the presence of a driver can be confirmed if the breath of a person (vehicle occupant) is detected.

[0073] In another embodiment, as previously described, sensor data measured when no one is inside the vehicle can be set as the first reference sensor data. The blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can compare the first sensor data with the first reference sensor data to determine whether a driver is present.

[0074] However, in this case, it is necessary to distinguish whether the person is a passenger in the driver's seat (i.e., the driver) or a passenger in another seat (i.e., a non-driver). Additionally or alternatively, it is necessary to determine whether sensor data measuring the driver's or passenger's exhalation can be used to estimate or measure the blood alcohol concentration according to the present invention. For example, in cases where reliable estimation or measurement of the blood alcohol concentration is impossible, such as when the vehicle window is open, the air conditioner is running, the driver's head moves actively, or the driver turns his or her head, it is preferable to stop estimating the blood alcohol concentration. Other cases where estimation or measurement of the blood alcohol concentration is impossible may include the use of windshield washer fluid (the windshield washer fluid contains alcohol) or the use of air freshener while the vehicle's wipers are in operation.

[0075] To this end, the blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can determine whether the first sensor data is valid (S720). The determination of the validity of the first sensor data can be based on the size or amplitude of the first sensor data. The validity of the acquired sensor data can be determined based on the relative size of the size or amplitude of the first sensor data compared to the size or amplitude of the first reference sensor data.

[0076] For example, if the size or amplitude of the first sensor data is less than 30% of the size or amplitude of the first reference sensor data, the first sensor data may be determined to be invalid. The criteria for determining the validity of the first sensor data are not limited to the above, and may be determined based on various criteria and methods.

[0077] Additionally, simultaneously with or before or after the first sensor data validity determination (S720), the blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can determine whether the first sensor data indicates an emergency situation, such as a driver's apnea. If the driver is determined to be in an emergency situation, the blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can instruct the driver to transmit an emergency notification to a preset contact or institution (such as a hospital, police station, emergency rescue team, or vehicle manufacturer's emergency call center).

[0078] If the first sensor data is determined to be invalid, the blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can process the first sensor data as an exception or discard the first sensor data (S730).

[0079] If the first sensor data is determined to be valid, the blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can determine whether compensation is necessary for the first sensor data or the second sensor data (S740). This is to obtain a highly reliable blood alcohol concentration.

[0080] Here, whether the compensation target is the first sensor data or the second sensor data is determined depending on which sensor or which sensor data the first sensor data is. If the first sensor data is sensor data that does not respond to alcohol or has little correlation with blood alcohol concentration, such as humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, nitrogen concentration, or oxygen concentration, the first sensor data does not need to be compensated because what the present invention seeks to estimate is blood alcohol concentration. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate the second sensor data that responds to alcohol differently from the first sensor data. The second sensor data may correspond to sensor data that responds to alcohol or has a high correlation with blood alcohol concentration, such as VOC concentration, gas concentration, or alcohol concentration.

[0081] If the first sensor data is sensor data that is highly related to alcohol, such as VOC concentration, gas concentration, or alcohol concentration, or is highly correlated with blood alcohol concentration, the first sensor data can be compensated to estimate or measure blood alcohol concentration. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate the first sensor data.

[0082] The second sensor data includes sensor values ​​measured over a preset period of time via the sensor.

[0083] The need for compensation for the first or second sensor data is related to the alignment status or degree of alignment between the driver and the sensor, as described above. If the alignment status between the driver and the sensor is good, compensation for the first or second sensor data may or may not be necessary depending on the degree of alignment.

[0084] On the other hand, if the alignment between the driver and the sensor is poor, the first or second sensor data may be processed as an exception or discarded without compensation (not shown in FIG. 7).

[0085] The blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can determine whether sensor data needs compensation using second reference sensor data corresponding to the first or second sensor data. More specifically, the need for sensor data compensation can be determined based on the relativity between the size or amplitude of the first or second sensor data and the size or amplitude of the second reference sensor data.

[0086] For example, if the first sensor data is humidity sensor data, if the difference in size or amplitude between the second reference sensor data measuring humidity and the first sensor data is within 80%, it may be determined that compensation of the second sensor data is necessary. Conversely, if the difference in size or amplitude is greater than 80%, it may be determined that compensation of the second sensor data is not necessary. If the difference in size or amplitude between the second reference sensor data and the first sensor data is less than 50%, the first sensor data or the second sensor data may be processed as an exception or discarded.

[0087] For example, if the first sensor data is alcohol sensor data, if the difference in size or amplitude between the first reference sensor data measuring alcohol concentration and the first sensor data is within 80%, it may be determined that compensation of the first sensor data is necessary. Conversely, if the difference in size or amplitude is greater than 80%, it may be determined that compensation of the first sensor data is not necessary. If the difference in size or amplitude between the first reference sensor data and the first sensor data is less than 50%, the first sensor data may be processed as an exception or discarded.

[0088] Meanwhile, the blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can determine whether the second sensor data indicates an emergency situation, such as the driver experiencing apnea. If the driver is determined to be in an emergency situation, the blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can instruct the driver to send an emergency notification to preset contacts or institutions (e.g., hospitals, police stations, emergency rescue teams, vehicle manufacturer emergency call centers, etc.).

[0089] The blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can compensate for the first or second sensor data (S750). The degree of compensation for the acquired sensor data can be determined in proportion to the difference in size or amplitude between the second reference sensor data and the first or second sensor data.

[0090] Then, the blood alcohol concentration measurement model (120) can estimate or measure the blood alcohol concentration using the compensated first or second sensor data (S760).

[0091] For matters not explained in relation to Fig. 7, refer to the matters explained above with reference to Fig. 3.

[0092]

[0093] Figure 8 shows a block diagram of a device for non-contact blood alcohol concentration measurement according to the present invention.

[0094] The device (100) for measuring blood alcohol concentration is a device for estimating blood alcohol concentration using a non-contact breathing method.

[0095] A device (100) for measuring blood alcohol concentration may include a transmitter / receiver (111) that receives sensor data for estimating blood alcohol concentration and transmits the result of the blood alcohol concentration estimation; and a processor (121) that performs blood alcohol concentration estimation. In another embodiment, a sensor that measures and acquires first sensor data or second sensor data may be included in the device (100) for measuring blood alcohol concentration.

[0096] The processor (121) can determine whether a driver is in the vehicle based on first sensor data acquired from the first sensor. The processor (121) can determine the first sensor data as valid data for estimating blood alcohol concentration and determine whether to compensate for second sensor data acquired from the second sensor using the first sensor data for estimating blood alcohol concentration.

[0097] In the description referring to FIG. 7 above, an embodiment in which the first sensor data can be used to determine whether to compensate for the first sensor data was also described, but in the description for FIG. 8, only an embodiment in which the second sensor data is determined based on the first sensor data is described.

[0098] The processor (121) can estimate blood alcohol concentration using the second sensor data or compensated second sensor data. The processor (121) can control the transmission of the estimated alcohol concentration to a related app or device via the transceiver (111).

[0099] The processor (121) can determine whether to compensate for the second sensor data by using the difference in size or amplitude between the previously acquired reference sensor data and the first sensor data.

[0100] The processor (121) can determine the alignment status between the first sensor and the driver by using the difference in size or amplitude between the previously acquired reference sensor data and the first sensor data. At this time, it is preferable that the previously acquired reference sensor data be data measured by the first sensor or data that can be regarded as being measured by the first sensor.

[0101] Alternatively, the processor (121) may determine the alignment status between the second sensor and the driver by using the difference in size or amplitude between the previously acquired reference sensor data and the second sensor data. In this case, it is preferable that the previously acquired reference sensor data be data measured by the second sensor or data that can be considered to have been measured by the second sensor.

[0102] The processor (121) may discard or process the first sensor data or the second sensor data as an exception if the value indicating the degree of misalignment between the first sensor or the second sensor and the driver is greater than a reference value (i.e., if the degree of misalignment is poor).

[0103] If a value indicating the degree of misalignment between the first sensor or the second sensor and the driver is smaller than a reference value (i.e., if the degree of misalignment is good), the processor (121) may apply a compensation value to the second sensor data to obtain compensated second sensor data. The compensation value may be determined as a value proportional to the difference in size or amplitude between the previously obtained reference sensor data and the first sensor data or the second sensor data.

[0104] The processor (121) can fuse sensor data measured by multiple sensors to obtain first sensor data or second sensor data, taking into account the time delay between the multiple sensors. This is to reduce errors due to time delay when each sensor has different characteristics.

[0105] The processor (121) can determine that the driver is in an emergency situation based on the first sensor data. In this case, the processor (121) can transmit an emergency driver notification to a preset contact number or institution (such as a hospital, police station, emergency rescue team, or vehicle manufacturer emergency call center) via the transceiver (111).

[0106]

[0107] In addition, as another aspect of the present invention, the operation of the proposal or invention described above may be implemented, performed or executed by a “computer” (a comprehensive concept including a system on chip (SoC) or a (micro) processor, etc.), or may be provided as a code or a computer-readable storage medium storing or including the code or a computer program product, and the scope of the present invention may be extended to the code or the computer-readable storage medium storing or including the code or the computer program product.

[0108]

[0109] The detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention disclosed above has been provided to enable those skilled in the art to implement and practice the present invention. While the above description has been made with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations of the present invention, as defined by the following claims, are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments disclosed herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A device for estimating blood alcohol concentration using a non-contact breathing method, a processor for performing blood alcohol concentration estimation; and Including a transmitter and receiver for transmitting the blood alcohol concentration estimation result, The above processor: Based on the first sensor data acquired from the first sensor, the presence of the driver in the vehicle is determined, The above first sensor data is confirmed as valid data for estimating the driver's blood alcohol concentration, To estimate the blood alcohol concentration, it is determined whether to compensate for the second sensor data obtained from the second sensor using the first sensor data, A device configured to estimate blood alcohol concentration using the second sensor data or the compensated second sensor data.

2. In the first paragraph, the processor: A device configured to determine whether to compensate for the second sensor data by using a difference in size or amplitude between previously acquired reference sensor data and the first sensor data.

3. In the first paragraph, the processor: A device configured to determine the alignment status of the first sensor or the second sensor and the driver by using the difference in size or amplitude between the previously acquired reference sensor data and the first sensor data or the second sensor data.

4. In the third paragraph, the processor: A device configured to discard the first sensor data or the second sensor data when a value indicating the degree of misalignment between the first sensor or the second sensor and the driver is greater than a reference value.

5. In the third paragraph, the processor: A device configured to obtain compensated second sensor data by applying a compensation value to the second sensor data when a value indicating the degree of misalignment between the first sensor or the second sensor and the driver is less than a reference value.

6. In paragraph 1, the processor: A device configured to fuse sensor data measured by a plurality of sensors by taking into account a time delay between the plurality of sensors in order to obtain the first sensor data or the second sensor data.

7. In the first paragraph, the processor: A device configured to determine that the driver is in an emergency situation based on the first sensor data or the second sensor data.

8. In paragraph 1, the processor: A device configured to control the transmission of the estimated alcohol concentration to an associated app or device via the transmitter or receiver.

9. A method for estimating blood alcohol concentration using a non-contact breathing method, wherein the method is performed by a blood alcohol concentration estimation device. A step of determining whether a driver is in a vehicle based on first sensor data acquired from a first sensor; A step of confirming the first sensor data as valid data for estimating the driver's blood alcohol concentration; A step of determining whether to compensate for second sensor data obtained from a second sensor using the first sensor data for estimating the blood alcohol concentration; and A method for estimating blood alcohol concentration, comprising: a step of estimating blood alcohol concentration using the second sensor data or the compensated second sensor data.

10. A method for estimating blood alcohol concentration, comprising a step of determining whether to compensate for the second sensor data by using a difference in size or amplitude between previously acquired reference sensor data and the first sensor data in paragraph 9.

11. In paragraph 9, A method for estimating blood alcohol concentration, comprising a step of determining an alignment state between the first sensor or the second sensor and the driver by using a difference in size or amplitude between previously acquired reference sensor data and the first sensor data or the second sensor data.

12. In paragraph 11, A method for estimating blood alcohol concentration, comprising a step of discarding the first sensor data or the second sensor data when a value indicating the degree of misalignment between the first sensor or the second sensor and the driver is greater than a reference value.

13. In paragraph 11, the processor: A method for estimating blood alcohol concentration, comprising a step of obtaining compensated second sensor data by applying a compensation value to the second sensor data when a value indicating the degree of misalignment between the first sensor or the second sensor and the driver is less than a reference value.

14. In paragraph 9, A method for estimating blood alcohol concentration, comprising a step of fusing sensor data measured by a plurality of sensors while taking into account a time delay between the plurality of sensors to obtain the first sensor data or the second sensor data.

15. In paragraph 9, A method for estimating blood alcohol concentration, comprising a step of determining that the driver is in an emergency situation based on the first sensor data or the second sensor data.

16. In paragraph 9, A method for estimating blood alcohol concentration, comprising a step of controlling the transmission of the estimated alcohol concentration to an associated app or device.

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