Networked radar detection system and method

• US 20020135504A1
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neil Singer
• Original Assignee: Neil Singer
• Inventors: Singer, Neil
• Application Number:
  US10/118,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135504A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4806 Road traffic laser detectors

Abstract

A police radar and laser detector with networking capability is disclosed. By including the ability to wirelessly transmit the existence or even location of a detected radar or laser source, overall performance can be improved. Transmission of an actual radar or laser location gives other detectors advanced warning. Additionally, transmission of false alarm locations will allow other detectors to reduce false alarms.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting electromagnetic signals, said apparatus comprising:

means for detecting electromagnetic signals;

means for determining the position location of said detection means; and

means for processing the detected electromagnetic signals,

wherein information received from the position location determination means can be combined with signals detected by the detecting means to improve detection sensitivity and/or reduce false detection alarms.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising memory means for storing signals received by the detecting means or from the communications means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position location determination means is a GPS sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detected electromagnetic signals include radar signals and/or laser signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for wireless electromagnetic communications.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communications means can transmit signals to either another detection apparatus, a remotely located server, or to both another detection apparatus and a remotely located server.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein information transmitted by the communications means comprises at least one of the location of the electromagnetic signal source, the detector location, the type of signal source, the number of signal sources, the direction of motion of the signal source, the direction of motion of the detector, and the range of the source.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communications means can receive signals from either another detection apparatus, a remotely located server, or from both another detection apparatus and a remotely located server, and wherein the processing means can analyze these received signals with the detected signals to improve detection sensitivity and/or reduce false detection alarms.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein information received from the communications means comprises at least one of the location of the electromagnetic signal source, the type of signal source, the number of signal sources, the direction of motion of the signal source, the direction of motion of the detector and the range of the source.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communications means communicates signals via at least one of radio frequency signals, microwave signals, infrared signals, or cellular telephone signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the communications means can relay a signal received by the communications means to another detection apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising sensor means for sensing other information.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the other information can include at least one of temperature, pressure, weather information and traffic information.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications means can transmit information to and receive information from other electrical devices within a vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising memory means for storing signals received by the detecting means or from the communications means.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the detected electromagnetic signals include radar signals and/or laser signals.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for determining a position location of said detection apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the position location determination means is a GPS sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein information transmitted by the communications means comprises at least one of the location of the electromagnetic signal source, the type of signal source, the number of signal sources, the direction of motion of the signal source, the direction of motion of the detector, and the range of the source.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the communications means can receive signals from either another detection apparatus, a remotely located server, or from both another detection apparatus and a remotely located server, and wherein the processing means can analyze these received communications signals with the detected signals to improve detection sensitivity and/or reduce false detection alarms.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein information received from the communications means comprises at least one of the location of the electromagnetic signal source, the type of signal source, the number of signal sources, the direction of motion of the signal source, the direction of motion of the detector, and the range of the source.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the communications means communicates signals via at least one of radio frequency signals, microwave signals, infrared signals, or cellular telephone signals.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the communications means can relay a signal received by the communications means to another detection apparatus.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising sensor means for sensing other information.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the other information can include at least one of temperature, pressure, weather information and traffic information.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the communications means can transmit information to and receive information from other electrical devices within a vehicle.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising memory means for storing signals received by the detecting means or from the communications means.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the detected electromagnetic signals include radar signals and/or laser signals.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for determining a position location of said detection apparatus.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the position location determination means is a GPS sensor.

33. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the electromagnetic communications signals can be received from either another detection apparatus, a remotely located server, or from both another detection apparatus and a remotely located server.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein information received by the communications means comprises at least one of the location of the electromagnetic signal source, the type of signal source, the number of signal sources, the direction of motion of the signal source, the direction of motion of the detector, and the range of the source.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the communications means can transmit signals to either another detection apparatus, a remotely located server, or to both another detection apparatus and a remotely located server.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein information transmitted by the communications means comprises at least one of the location of the electromagnetic signal source, the type of signal source, the number of signal sources, the direction of motion of the signal source, the direction of motion of the detector, and the range of the source.

37. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the communications means communicates signals via at least one of radio frequency signals, microwave signals, infrared signals, or cellular telephone signals.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the communications means can relay a signal received by the communications means to another detection apparatus.

39. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising sensor means for sensing other information.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the other information can include at least one of temperature, pressure, weather information and traffic information.

41. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the communications means can transmit information to and information receive from other electrical devices within a vehicle.

15. An apparatus for detecting electromagnetic signals, said apparatus comprising:

means for detecting electromagnetic signals;

means for wireless electromagnetic communications, wherein said communications means can transmit electromagnetic communications signals; and

means for processing the detected electromagnetic signals,

wherein signals detected by the detecting means can be transmitted to either another detection apparatus, a remotely located server, or to both another detection apparatus and a remotely located server, to improve detection sensitivity and/or reduce false detection alarms.

28. An apparatus for detecting electromagnetic signals, said apparatus comprising:

means for detecting electromagnetic signals;

means for wireless electromagnetic communications, wherein said communications means can receive electromagnetic communications signals; and

means for processing the detected electromagnetic signals,

wherein the processing means can analyze the detected signals with the received communications signals to improve detection sensitivity and/or reduce false detection alarms.

42. An apparatus for detecting electromagnetic signals, said apparatus comprising:

means for detecting electromagnetic signals;

means for determining a position location of said detection apparatus or signal source;

means for wireless electromagnetic communications, wherein said communications means can transmit or receive electromagnetic communications signals; and

means for processing the detected electromagnetic signals,

wherein the processing means can analyze the detected signals with the received communications signals to improve detection sensitivity and/or reduce false detection alarms.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising memory means for storing signals received by the detecting means or from the communications means.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the detected electromagnetic signals include radar signals and/or laser signals.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the position location determination means is a GPS sensor.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the electromagnetic communications signals can be transmitted to or received from either another detection apparatus, a remotely located server, or from both another detection apparatus and a remotely located server.

47. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein information transmitted or received by the communications means comprises at least one of the location of the electromagnetic signal source, the type of signal source, the number of signal sources, the direction of motion of the signal source, the direction of motion of the detector, and the range of the source.

48. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the communications means communicates signals via at least one of radio frequency signals, microwave signals, infrared signals, or cellular telephone signals.

49. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the communications means can relay a signal received by the communications means to another detection apparatus.

50. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising sensor means for sensing other information.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the other information can include at least one of temperature, pressure, weather information and traffic information.

52. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the communications means can transmit information to and receive information from other electrical devices within a vehicle.

53. A method for detecting an electromagnetic signal comprising the steps of:

receiving by a detector information regarding an electromagnetic signal;

analyzing said information to determine whether said electromagnetic signal constitutes a false detection alarm;

determining the location of said detector; and

upon approaching said location of said source, issuing a warning if the electromagnetic signal was determined not to be a false signal.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising the step of detecting by the detector the electromagnetic signal about which information was received.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising the step of estimating the location of a source of said electromagnetic signal.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the electromagnetic signal about which information was received can be a radar signal and/or a laser signal.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein the information regarding an electromagnetic signal can be received from either another detection apparatus, a remotely located server, or from both another detection apparatus and a remotely located server.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein the information regarding an electromagnetic signal comprises at least one of the location of the electromagnetic signal source, the type of signal source, the number of signal sources, the direction of motion of the signal source, the direction of motion of the detector, and the range of the source.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein the location of said detector is determined by a GPS sensor.

60. The method of claim 53, further comprising the step of relaying the information regarding an electromagnetic signal to another detector.

64. A method for processing an electromagnetic signal comprising the steps of:

detecting an electromagnetic signal with a first detector;

determining the location of said detector;

storing the location of said detector; and

transmitting information regarding the detected electromagnetic signal and the location of the detector.

61. The method of claim 61, further comprising the step of storing said information regarding an electromagnetic signal.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising the step of sensing other information.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the other information can include at least one of temperature, pressure, weather information and traffic information.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the location of said detector is determined by a GPS sensor.

66. The method of claim 64, further comprising the steps of determining a location of a source of said electromagnetic signal;

and

storing said electromagnetic signal source location.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the information can be transmitted to at least one of a second detector or a remote server.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein the transmitted information comprises at least one of the location of the electromagnetic signal source, the type of signal source, the number of signal sources, the direction of motion of the signal source, the direction of motion of the detector, and the range of the source.

69. The method of claim 64, further comprising the step of sensing other information.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the other information can include at least one of temperature, pressure, weather information and traffic information.

71. The method of claim 64, further comprising the step of receiving from another detector information regarding the detected electromagnetic signal.

72. A speed-detection alert system, comprising:

a detector having;

a first sensor capable of detecting a signal transmitted for the purpose of determining the speed of a first vehicle;

a first position locating system adapted to determine a location associated with the detection of the signal when the first sensor detects the signal; and

a transmitter for transmitting the determined location;

an alert unit having;

a receiver capable of receiving the determined location;

a second position locating system adapted to determine a location of a second vehicle; and

a position monitor adapted to compare the location of the second vehicle to the determined location and to notify an occupant of the second vehicle when the location of the second vehicle reaches a pre-specified proximity with the determined location.

73. A speed-detection alert system for installation in a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor capable of detecting a signal transmitted for the purpose of determining the speed of the vehicle;

a position locating system adapted to determine a current location; and

a location recording system for storing a plurality of locations associated with the detection of the signal when the sensor detects the signal;

a position monitor adapted to compare the current location to at least one of the stored plurality of determined locations and to activate a suppression signal while the current location is within a pre-specified proximity with at least one of the plurality of locations;

an alarm generator adapted to notify an occupant of the vehicle when the sensor detects a signal transmitted for the purpose of determining the speed of the vehicle if the suppression signal is not active.

74. The speed-detection alert system claimed in claim 73, wherein:

the position locating system is additionally adapted to determine the current direction of travel of the vehicle; and

the location recording system additionally stores the direction of travel associated with the vehicle when the sensor detects the signal.; and

wherein

75. The speed-detection alert system claimed in claim 74, wherein the position monitor additionally compares the current direction of travel to the stored direction of travel, and is adapted not to activate a suppression signal unless the current direction of travel is within a pre-specified proximity with the stored direction of travel.