Alcohol Interlock Driver Verification via Thermal Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alcohol interlock systems face challenges in accurately measuring a driver's blood alcohol concentration due to abnormal measurements or surrogate measurements of fellow passengers, leading to limitations in preventing driving under the influence.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a sensor to detect the environment of the driver's seat, a camera to obtain thermal images of the passenger's face and exhalation, and a controller to determine if the exhalation is from the driver by assessing seat occupancy, air movement direction, and mouth opening, ensuring accurate detection of alcohol concentration only when the driver is seated and the conditions are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If alcohol interlock measures exhalation of any passenger, then measurement coverage is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to surrogate measurement of wrong person
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple sensors (camera, thermal imaging camera, seat sensors) to continuously monitor and verify driver identity and presence. The controller compares detected features (face image, thermal pattern, seat occupancy) with expected driver characteristics, providing feedback to confirm correct measurement target and prevent surrogate measurement of passengers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate verification mechanisms between the alcohol sensor and the measurement result. Multiple detection means (visual camera, thermal camera, seat sensors) act as intermediaries to verify that the person providing exhalation is indeed the driver, adding verification layers that prevent measurement of wrong persons while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If multiple detection means are added to verify driver identity, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller integrates multiple detection functions into a single control unit that manages camera, thermal imaging camera, seat sensors, and alcohol detection. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity by consolidating control logic and data processing in one centralized unit rather than requiring separate control systems for each sensor type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple detection means (visual camera, thermal imaging camera, seat occupancy sensors) and their processing functions into an integrated system. The controller merges data from all sensors to comprehensively verify driver identity, reducing system complexity through integration while maintaining high measurement accuracy through multi-parameter verification.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the accuracy of blood alcohol concentration measurement for drivers, preventing intoxicated driving by ensuring accurate detection and preventing false positives from passengers, thereby improving the effectiveness of alcohol interlock systems.
Implementation Method 1
The camera may include a thermal imaging camera configured to detect thermal images of a passenger's face and the exhalation of the passenger
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for controlling alcohol interlock includes a sensor that senses an environment of a driver's seat and a camera that obtains a face image of a passenger and an image of exhalation of the passenger. A controller activates a start lock mode of a vehicle and determines whether a condition for detecting components of the exhalation of the passenger is satisfied based on the environment of the driver's seat. The controller determines whether the exhalation of the passenger is exhalation of a driver based on the face image of the passenger and the image of the exhalation of the passenger, and determines whether to detect alcohol concentration in the exhalation of the passenger based on the determination result.