US 11,698,365 B2
Apparatus and method for detecting alcohol content of vehicle occupant's breath
Sang Kyung Seo, Seoul (KR); Eung Hwan Kim, Seoul (KR); Gyun Ha Kim, Incheon (KR); and Dae Yun An, Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Assigned to Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); and Kia Motors Corporation, Seoul (KR)
Filed by Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); and Kia Motors Corporation, Seoul (KR)
Filed on Sep. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/35,048.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0082866 (KR), filed on Jul. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0003747 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 33/497 (2006.01); B60K 28/06 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/4972 (2013.01) [B60K 28/063 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for detecting an alcohol component of a driver's breath, the apparatus comprising:
a first inlet configured to absorb a driver's exhalation and a second inlet configured to absorb a passenger's exhalation, respectively;
a sensor configured to detect an alcohol component in at least one of the driver's exhalation or the passenger's exhalation;
a driver valve controlled to be opened or closed to allow the driver's exhalation to be introduced into the sensor, and a passenger valve controlled to be opened or closed to allow the passenger's exhalation to be introduced into the sensor; and
a controller configured to determine whether a passenger is on board a vehicle and control the driver valve and the passenger valve to be open or closed based on a determination result.