IP Library Granted Patent US 12670731
Granted Patent B2
US 12670731 · App. 18/404,597 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Alcohol detection apparatus

Inventor: Atsuya Tanaka (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
G06V20/597A61B5/0077A61B5/082A61B5/18A61B5/4845A61B5/6893G06T7/70G06V40/107G01N33/4972G06T2207/30201G06T2207/30268
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12670731
App. No.
18/404,597
Filed
Jan 4, 2024
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2661
USPC
382/103
Abstract

An alcohol detection apparatus includes an image sensor, a touch sensor, an alcohol sensor, and a processor. The image sensor generates a captured image by performing imaging of an occupant in a driver's seat of a vehicle. The alcohol sensor performs a detection of an alcohol component in breath of the occupant. Based on the captured image, the processor performs a first process of confirming whether the occupant is touching the touch sensor, and performs a second process of confirming whether the occupant is holding the alcohol sensor. The processor performs a determination process of determining that a result of the detection obtainable by the alcohol sensor is effective when conditions are satisfied. The conditions include that the occupant is touching the touch sensor in the first process and that the occupant is holding the alcohol sensor in the second process.

Claims (21)

1 . An alcohol detection apparatus comprising:

an image sensor configured to generate a captured image by performing imaging of a first occupant in a driver's seat of a vehicle;

a touch sensor provided at a position where the first occupant is able to touch the touch sensor with a first hand of the first occupant and configured to perform a detection of a touch;

an alcohol sensor configured to be held by a second hand of the first occupant and to perform a detection of an alcohol component included in breath exhaled from a mouth or nose of the first occupant, the second hand being different from the first hand; and

a processor configured to perform processes based on the captured image generated by the image sensor, a result of the detection performed by the touch sensor, and a result of the detection performed by the alcohol sensor, wherein,

the processor is configured to:

perform a first process of confirming, based on the captured image, whether the first hand of the first occupant is touching the touch sensor,

perform a second process of confirming, based on the captured image, whether the second hand of the first occupant is holding the alcohol sensor, and

perform a determination process of determining that the result of the detection obtainable by the alcohol sensor is effective when a plurality of conditions is satisfied, the plurality of conditions comprising (i) that the touch sensor detects the touch, (ii) that the first hand of the first occupant is touching the touch sensor in the first process and (iii) that the second hand of the first occupant is holding the alcohol sensor in the second process.

2 . The alcohol detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor is configured to further perform a third process of calculating a distance from a face of the first occupant in the driver's seat to the alcohol sensor based on the captured image, and

the plurality of conditions further comprises that the distance is less than or equal to a predetermined distance in the third process.

3 . The alcohol detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor is configured to further perform a fourth process of confirming, based on the captured image, whether a second occupant other than the first occupant is present around the driver's seat, and

the plurality of conditions further comprises that the second occupant other than the first occupant is not present around the driver's seat in the fourth process.

4 . The alcohol detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor is configured to further perform a fifth process of confirming, based on the captured image, whether a door and a window of the vehicle are closed, and

the plurality of conditions further comprises that the door and the window of the vehicle are closed in the fifth process.

5 . The alcohol detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein confirming whether the first hand is touching the touch sensor and confirming whether the second hand is holding the alcohol sensor are performed by a skeleton determination process based on the captured image.

6 . The alcohol detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor is provided at a steering wheel of the vehicle.

7 . The alcohol detection apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the touch sensor is provided at a steering wheel of the vehicle.