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Method and apparatus for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to an incoming radar signal

a technology for detecting radar signals and operators, applied in the field of police radar detectors, can solve problems such as annoying false alarms of motor vehicle operators, false alarms generated by conventional radar detectors, and source of annoying false alarms

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-03-28
ESCORT INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a radar detector for motor vehicles that can alert the operator when they detect a police radar signal. The detector uses a microprocessor and a circuit to detect the signal. It also includes a GPS receiver to determine its position. The detector can generate an alert based on its position, velocity, or headings. The technical effect of this invention is to improve the safety of motor vehicles by alerting operators to potential radar signals and allowing them to react to them more quickly."

Problems solved by technology

However, conventional radar detectors often generate “false alarms.” These false alarms are annoying to the operators of motor vehicles.
Still another source of annoying false alarms occurs when an operator of a motor vehicle is travelling at a speed that is below the legal speed limit, such as occurs when the operator is in traffic, and the radar detector alerts him to an incoming radar signal.

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to an incoming radar signal
  • Method and apparatus for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to an incoming radar signal
  • Method and apparatus for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to an incoming radar signal

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

first embodiment

3.1 Description of a First Embodiment

[0013]One embodiment of the novel radar detector is shown in FIG. 1. The radar detector includes an antenna that is coupled to a detector circuit. The detector circuit, which may be controlled by the microprocessor of FIG. 1, collects the signals from the antenna, detects the incoming signals, and distinguishes valid radar signals from electrical noise. The detector circuit may be any appropriate radar detector circuit capable of generating an output signal which indicates the strength, the presence, and / or the frequency of incoming radar signals. While the detector circuit may operate autonomously, operation and control of the detector circuit may be performed by the microprocessor. For example, the microprocessor may control the detector as is known in the art so that radar signals in the different frequency bands allocated to police radar signals are detected. Such detector circuits can take a wide variety of forms and can include amplifiers, ...

second embodiment

3.2 Description of a Second Embodiment

[0020]One method of operating the radar detector of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the radar detector first detects an incoming radar signal. Next, the position of the radar detector is determined. Then, an alert is generated if the position of the radar detector is not within a predetermined distance of a predetermined position.

[0021]By utilizing the above method, many false alarms may be eliminated. For example, if the position of a microwave automatic door opener is programmed into the radar detector and the radar detector detects an incoming signal when the radar detector's position is near the automatic door opener, then it is likely that the source of the incoming radar signal is the automatic door opener and not a police radar. Thus, using the method of FIG. 2, an alert would not be generated for the detector radar signal.

[0022]The programming of predetermined positions may be accomplished by depressing one or more buttons...

third embodiment

3.3 Description of a Third Embodiment

[0025]The simple method of operating a radar detector shown in FIG. 2 can be improved as shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the after the radar detects an incoming radar signal it determines a characteristic of the radar signal. For example, the radar detector may determine the frequency and / or the signal strength of the incoming radar signal. Next, the position of the radar detector is determined. Then, an alert is generated if the radar detector is not within a predetermined distance of a predetermined position and the characteristic is not similar to a predetermined characteristic.

[0026]By utilizing this method, many false alarms may be eliminated. For example, the location of a microwave automatic door opener and the frequency of the radar signal transmitted by the door opener are first programmed into a radar detector. Assume that a police radar is being transmitted near the location of the microwave automatic door opener. Because the poli...

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PUM

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Abstract

A radar detector for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to an incoming police radar signal. This radar detector includes a microprocessor; a circuit coupled to the microprocessor for detecting the incoming police radar signal; and a global positioning system receiver coupled to the microprocessor. Upon detection of an incoming radar signal, the radar detector can utilize the position, velocity, and / or heading data from the global positioning system receiver to determine whether to generate an alert.

Description

1. BACKGROUND[0001]The present invention relates generally to police radar detectors used in motor vehicles and, more particularly, to police radar detectors that utilize a motor vehicle's position, velocity and / or heading to minimum false alarms.[0002]Many operators of motor vehicles utilize radar detectors to alert them to the fact that their speed is being monitored by law enforcement agencies. However, conventional radar detectors often generate “false alarms.” These false alarms are annoying to the operators of motor vehicles. In fact, various automotive publications publish results of “false alarm” tests. Thus, anything that can be accomplished by the manufacturer to reduce the number of false alarms without reducing detection of police radar is commercially valuable.[0003]In addition to police radar signals, there are many different sources of microwave signals in the frequency bands allocated to police radar by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). For example, m...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G01S7/40G01S19/48G01S5/14G01S7/02G01S19/14
CPCG01S7/022G01S19/14
Inventor FLEMING, III, HOYT A.
Owner ESCORT INC
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