Patents Assigned to Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.
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Patent number: 11971351Abstract: A system for non-invasively measuring an analyte in a vehicle driver and controlling a vehicle based on a measurement of the analyte. At least one solid-state light source is configured to emit different wavelengths of light. A sample device is configured to introduce the light emitted by the at least one solid-state light source into tissue of the vehicle driver. One or more optical detectors are configured to detect a portion of the light that is not absorbed by the tissue of the vehicle driver. A controller is configured to calculate a measurement of the analyte in the tissue of the vehicle driver based on the light detected by the one or more optical detectors, determine whether the measurement of the analyte in the tissue of the vehicle driver exceeds a pre-determined value, and provide a signal to a device configured to control the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Johannes Koeth, Nicolas Koslowski
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Patent number: 11964558Abstract: Methods and apparatus allow for passive determination of a driver's Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC). Alcohol concentrations can be determined from exhaled breath, however inconvenience to a driver is often a barrier for incorporation of BrAC sensors into vehicles. The methods and apparatus allow for passive determination of a driver's BrAC, while detecting and accounting for a wide range of environmental conditions that may reduce the accuracy of a passive BrAC reading.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Bertil Hök, Raimo Gester, Jonas Ljungblad, Håkan Pettersson
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Patent number: 11874262Abstract: A system for producing a high precision blended gas product (BGP), the system comprising: a supply of a volatile analyte in liquid form; a supply of an inert carrier gas; a supply of at least one diluent gas; an analyte gasifier (AG) subsystem for receiving the volatile analyte in liquid form, nebulizing the volatile analyte and mixing the nebulized volatile analyte with the inert carrier gas so as to form an analyte gas stream (AGS); and a gas mixer (GM) subsystem for receiving the AGS from the AG subsystem and mixing the AGS with the supply of at least one diluent gas so as to produce the BGP, wherein the GM subsystem comprises: a gas analyzer (GA) for receiving the AGS and analyzing the same; a gas proportioner for receiving the AGS from the GA, receiving the at least one diluent gas, and proportioning the AGS and the at least one diluent gas based on the results of the GA so as to provide a proportioned AGS and a proportioned at least one diluent gas; and a gas mixing chamber for receiving the proportioneType: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Automotive Coalition For Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Neeraj Dalal, Brian E. Fratto, Kelly Ozdemir, Abdullatif Zaouk, Michael Willis, Clair Strohl
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Patent number: 11862934Abstract: The present invention provides a widely tunable, single mode emission semiconductor laser which comprises a semiconductor substrate, a first linear ridge waveguide which forms a first coupled cavity, and a second linear ridge waveguide which forms a second coupled cavity, with the first coupled cavity being separated from the second coupled cavity by a gap. The first and second coupled cavities comprise p-contacts and n-contacts for allowing laser currents I1, I2 to be injected into the first and second coupled cavities, respectively. The first and second coupled cavities comprise first and second heating resistors, respectively, for heating the first and second coupled cavities when heating currents H1, H2 are applied to the first and second heating resistors, respectively. A heating resistor is provided for heating the semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor laser so as to regulate the base temperature T of the chip (i.e., the semiconductor substrate).Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Tim Koslowski, Johannes Koeth, Nicolas Koslowski
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Patent number: 11513070Abstract: A system for non-invasively measuring an analyte in a vehicle driver and controlling a vehicle based on a measurement of the analyte. At least one solid-state light source is configured to emit different wavelengths of light. A sample device is configured to introduce the light emitted by the at least one solid-state light source into tissue of the vehicle driver. One or more optical detectors are configured to detect a portion of the light that is not absorbed by the tissue of the vehicle driver. A controller is configured to calculate a measurement of the analyte in the tissue of the vehicle driver based on the light detected by the one or more optical detectors, determine whether the measurement of the analyte in the tissue of the vehicle driver exceeds a pre-determined value, and provide a signal to a device configured to control the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Johannes Koeth, Nicolas Koslowski
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Patent number: 11391724Abstract: A breath test system is provided comprising a sensor unit configured to sense the presence or concentration of a volatile substance present in air flowing through a predefined inlet area, and generate a signal corresponding to the concentration of said substance. Also provided is an apparatus configured to detect the presence of a person in the vicinity of said input area, and registering said presence, and configured to respond by delivering an output. This apparatus includes a unit configured to call for immediate attention of said person, and upon registration of the presence of said person, provide instructions to said person to direct an expiratory air flow towards said inlet area. An analyzer to determine breath substance concentration of said person is also provided, the determination based on said signal corresponding to the substance concentration.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Automotive Coalition For Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Bertil Hok, Lars Tenerz, Leif Smith, Annika Kaisdotter Andersson
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Patent number: 11143646Abstract: The invention relates to a system for breath test of a person. It includes a sensor unit configured to sense the presence/concentration of a volatile substance, e.g. alcohol, present in air flowing through a predefined inlet area and generating a signal corresponding to the concentration of said substance. An analyzer determines the concentration of said substance in the breath of said person. It comprises means for the temporary interruption of said air flow at a point in time coinciding with the detection of a breath. It also relates to a method comprising interrupting the flow through said predefined area for a predetermined period of time, and detecting the concentration of said substance during said interruption.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Bertil Hök, Leif Smith, Mathias Granstam
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Patent number: 11104227Abstract: Methods and apparatus allow for passive determination of a driver's Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC). Alcohol concentrations can be determined from exhaled breath, however inconvenience to a driver is often a barrier for incorporation of BrAC sensors into vehicles. The methods and apparatus allow for passive determination of a driver's BrAC, while detecting and accounting for a wide range of environmental conditions that may reduce the accuracy of a passive BrAC reading.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2016Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Bertil Hök, Raimo Gester, Jonas Ljungblad, Håkan Pettersson
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Patent number: 11072345Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a vehicle, the system comprising: a voice synthesizer unit for providing voice communication to a driver; a speech recognition unit for receiving speech from a driver; a breath alcohol sensor unit for detecting a presence of alcohol on the breath of a driver and providing a signal representative of the same; a vehicle operation interface for controlling operation of the vehicle; and a controller for (i) selectively causing the voice synthesizer unit to speak to the driver, (ii) operating the speech recognition unit to detect speech by the driver, (iii) receiving the signal from the breath alcohol sensor unit, and (iv) depending on the signal received from the breath alcohol sensor unit, providing a command to the vehicle operation interface to control operation of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Automotive Coalition For Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Kyle Bowers, Abdullatif Zaouk, Robert Strassburger, Michael Willis, Neeraj Dalal
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Patent number: 11001142Abstract: A system for non-invasively measuring an analyte in a vehicle driver and controlling a vehicle based on a measurement of the analyte. At least one solid-state light source is configured to emit different wavelengths of light. A sample device is configured to introduce the light emitted by the at least one solid-state light source into tissue of the vehicle driver. One or more optical detectors are configured to detect a portion of the light that is not absorbed by the tissue of the vehicle driver. A controller is configured to calculate a measurement of the analyte in the tissue of the vehicle driver based on the light detected by the one or more optical detectors, determine whether the measurement of the analyte in the tissue of the vehicle driver exceeds a pre-determined value, and provide a signal to a device configured to control the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2018Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Automotive Coalition For Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Ver Steeg, Trent Ridder, Len Cech, Joseph Kae Krause
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Patent number: 10826270Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein to thermally regulate laser diodes. During operation, the structure of a laser diode may generate heat, which will affect the stability and accuracy of the output wavelength of the laser diode. During an OFF stage, the structure of the laser diode will then lose heat, creating a thermal gradient as the laser diode is switched between operation and an OFF state. The systems and methods provide constant average heat and a stable thermal gradient by integrating a laser diode power-coupled supply and a heater onto a heatspreader, such that the output wavelength of a coupled laser diode may be stabilized.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Derek Treese, Nicolas Koslowski, Michael Legge, Wolfgang Zeller
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Patent number: 10151744Abstract: The invention relates to a system for breath test of a person. It includes a sensor unit configured to sense the presence/concentration of a volatile substance, e.g. alcohol, present in air flowing through a predefined inlet area and generating a signal corresponding to the concentration of said substance. An analyzer determines the concentration of said substance in the breath of said person. It comprises means for the temporary interruption of said air flow at a point in time coinciding with the detection of a breath. It also relates to a method comprising interrupting the flow through said predefined area for a predetermined period of time, and detecting the concentration of said substance during said interruption.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Bertil Hok, Leif Smith, Mathias Granstam
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Patent number: 10099554Abstract: A system for non-invasively measuring an analyte in a vehicle driver and controlling a vehicle based on a measurement of the analyte. At least one solid-state light source is configured to emit different wavelengths of light. A sample device is configured to introduce the light emitted by the at least one solid-state light source into tissue of the vehicle driver. One or more optical detectors are configured to detect a portion of the light that is not absorbed by the tissue of the vehicle driver. A controller is configured to calculate a measurement of the analyte in the tissue of the vehicle driver based on the light detected by the one or more optical detectors, determine whether the measurement of the analyte in the tissue of the vehicle driver exceeds a pre-determined value, and provide a signal to a device configured to control the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Ver Steeg, Trent Ridder, Len Cech, Joseph Kae Krause
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Patent number: 9823237Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods determine the presence of a volatile substance in expired breath. Alcohol concentrations can be determined from expired breath through the use of electromagnetic detection. The systems, apparatus and methods allow measurements of volatile substances to be done accurately and quickly over a wide range of temperatures, and are easily incorporated into vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Hans Göran Evald Martin, Henrik Rödjegård, Jan-Åke Henning, Pavel Zyrianov
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Patent number: 9281658Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for controlling laser beams for a plurality of collocated laser assemblies. The laser beams are optimized by controlling outputs of a primary power source (current for generating a laser beam) and a secondary power source (heating device) for each of the respective laser assemblies. The states of the power supply may be cycled and modulated to provide optimal performance.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2014Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.Inventors: Derek Treese, Benjamin Ver Steeg, Len Cech