Dual frequency band radar detector

• US 4,626,857 A
• Filed: 06/15/1983
• Issued: 12/02/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Research of Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Research of Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Imazeki, Kazuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tubbesing, T. H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Application Number:
  US06/504,587
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 343/7 A, 343/7 PL, 343/18 E, 455/226-229, 455/260-265, 455/166, 375/92
• US Class Current: 342/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors

Abstract

A dual frequency band radar detector responds to radar signals occurring within either of a first or a second range of frequencies. The detector comprises one or more antennas for receiving radar signals including radar signals occurring within the first and second ranges of frequencies. At least one pilot signal at a predetermined frequency is produced for modulating the received radar signals. The modulated signals produced in response to received signals in either of said first range of frequencies or said second range of frequencies are isolated. A detector is coupled in circuit for detecting the one pilot signal in these isolated and modulated signals and a control output signal is produced responsive to the detected pilot signal. Accordingly, the presence of a control output signal indicates the reception of radar signals occurring within at least one of the first and second ranges of frequencies.

Claims

1. Apparatus for detecting the presence of radar signals occurring within either of a first or a second range of frequencies comprising:

antenna means for receiving radar signals including radar signals occurring within said first and second range of frequencies;

signal generating means for producing at least one pilot signal at a predetermined non-varying audio frequency;

means for frequency modulating said received radar signals with said at least one pilot signal;

means for isolating ones of the modulated signals produced in response to received signals in said first range of frequencies or in said second range of frequencies;

frequency demodulating means coupled with said isolating means for detecting said at least one pilot signal; and

control means responsive to said detected pilot signal for producing a control output signal;

whereby the presence of said control output signal indicates the reception of said radar signals occurring within at least one of said first and second range of frequencies;

wherein said control means comprises;

band-pass filter means coupled to said demodulating for passing signals in a predetermined frequency band including the predetermined frequency of said at least one pilot signal; and

phase comparator means coupled to said band-pass filter means and to said pilot signal producing means for producing said control output signal when the detected pilot signal is substantially the same frequency as and substantially in phase with at least one produced pilot signal.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said isolating means comprises tuned amplifier means coupled to said modulating means and tuned to a predetermined range of frequencies;

and wherein said frequency demodulating means comprises FM discriminator means coupled in circuit with said tuned amplifier means for demodulating the amplified signals to detect therefrom said at least one pilot signal.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said modulating means comprises first local oscillator means for producing a first frequency oscillator signal and a second local oscillator means for producing a second frequency oscillator signal;

said signal generating means being coupled with said first and second local oscillator means for modulating said first and second frequency oscillator signals with said at least one pilot signal; and

first mixer means coupled to said antenna and to said first local oscillator means for mixing the received signals in said first range of frequencies with said first frequency modulated oscillator signal and for mixing the received signals in said second frequency range with said second frequency modulated oscillator signal.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first mixer means comprises a first mixer for mixing the received signals in said first range of frequencies with said first frequency modulated oscillator signal and a second mixer for mixing the received signals in said second frequency range with said second frequency modulated oscillator signal;

and wherein said pilot signal producing means comprises an oscillator for producing a single pilot signal at a predetermined frequency.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

said first mixer means comprises a first mixer for mixing the received signals in said first range of frequencies with said first frequency modulated oscillator signal, and a second mixer for mixing the received signals in said second range of frequencies with said second frequency modulated oscillator signal;

said first local oscillator means comprises a first oscillator, coupled to the first mixer and a second oscillator coupled to the second mixer; and

said pilot signal generating means comprises a first pilot signal oscillator coupled to said first oscillator for producing a pilot signal at a first predetermined frequency and a second pilot signal oscillator coupled to said second oscillator for producing a second pilot signal at a second predetermined frequency.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and further comprising second local oscillator means for producing predetermined oscillator signals;

second mixer means coupled intermediate said tuned amplifier means and said discriminator means and coupled with said second local oscillator means for mixing the amplified signals with said predetermined oscillator signals; and

band-pass filter means coupled intermediate said second mixer means and said discriminator means for passing signals within a predetermined frequency band.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and isolating means further comprising sweep generator means coupled to said second local oscillator means for producing a sweep signal at a predetermined repetition rate;

whereby said second local oscillator means produces a continuously variable frequency signal over a predetermined range of frequencies at said predetermined repetition rate, comprising said predetermined oscillator signal.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said comparator means and said pilot signal producing means are coupled in a phase-locked loop for substantially locking said produced pilot signal with said detected pilot signal.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said band pass filter means further comprises a first band-pass filter coupled intermediate said frequency demodulating means and said control means for passing signals over a predetermined frequency band including the predetermined frequency of the first pilot signal;

and a second band-pass filter coupled intermediate said detecting means and said control means for passing signals over a predetermined frequency band including the predetermined frequency of said second pilot signal.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said phase comparator means further comprises first comparator means coupled to said first band-pass filter and to said first pilot signal oscillator for producing said control output signal when said detected pilot signal is substantially identical in frequency and phase with said first produced pilot signal;

and second comparator means coupled intermediate said second band-pass filter and said second pilot signal oscillator for producing a second control output signal when said detected pilot signal is substantially same in frequency and phase with said first produced pilot signal; and

wherein said first and second comparator means are coupled respectively with said first and second pilot signal producing means to define first and second phase-locked loops for respectively locking said first and second produced pilot signals with said first and second detected pilot signals.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said tuned amplifier means comprises a first tuned amplifier coupled intermediate said first mixer and said detecting means;

and a second tuned amplifier coupled intermediate said second mixer and said detecting means.

12. Apparatus for detecting the presence of radar signals occurring within either of a first or a second range of frequencies comprising:

antenna means for receiving radar signals including radar signals occurring within said first and second ranges of frequencies;

a first local oscillator for producing a first frequency oscillator signal;

a second local oscillator for producing a second frequency oscillator signal;

means for producing a pilot signal at a predetermined frequency;

means for frequency modulating both said first frequency oscillator signal and said second frequency oscillator signal with said pilot signal;

a first mixer coupled to said antenna means and to said first local oscillator for mixing the received signals in said first range of frequencies with said modulated first frequency oscillator signal;

a second mixer coupled to said antenna means and to said second local oscillator for mixing the received signals in said second range of frequencies with said modulated second frequency oscillator signals;

frequency demodulating means coupled to said first and second mixers for detecting said pilot signal; and

control means responsive to said detected pilot signal for producing a control output signal;

whereby the presence of said control output signal is indicative of the reception of radar signals occurring within at least one of said first and second ranges of frequencies;

wherein said control means comprises phase comparator means coupled to receive the detected pilot signal and the initially produced pilot signal for producing said control output signal in response to a detected pilot signal and the produced pilot signal occurring at substantially the same frequency and phase, and wherein said phase comparator means and said pilot signal producing means are coupled together in a phase-locked loop for substantially locking in the produced pilot signal with the detected pilot signal.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 and further including tuned amplifier means coupled intermediate said frequency demodulating means and both of said first and second mixers for amplifying only the mixed signals therefrom which fall within a predetermined range of frequencies:

and wherein said detecting means comprises FM discriminator means coupled in circuit with said tuned amplifier means for demodulating the mixed and amplified signals to detect the pilot signal.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 and further including band-pass filter means coupled intermediate said frequency demodulating means and said control means for passing signals over a predetermined range of frequencies, said predetermined range including the predetermined frequency of said pilot signal.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 and further including a further local oscillator for producing a further oscillator signal;

and a further mixer coupled intermediate said tuned amplifier means and said discriminator means for mixing said further oscillator signal with said amplified signal.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 and further including band-pass filter means coupled intermediate said further mixer and said discriminator means for passing substantially only signals within a predetemined range of frequencies from said second mixer means.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 and further including sweep generator means coupled with said further local oscillator for producing a sweep signal at a predetermined repetition rate, whereby said further oscillator signal comprises a signal continuously sweeping across a predetermined frequency range at said predetermined repetition rate.

18. Apparatus for detecting the presence of radar signals occurring within a predetermined range of frequencies comprising:

antenna means for receiving radar signals including radar signals occurring within said predetermined range of frequencies;

a first local oscillator for producing a first frequency oscillator signal;

means for producing a pilot signal at a predetermined frequency;

means for frequency modulating said first frequency oscillator signal with said pilot signal;

a first mixer coupled to said antenna means and to said first local oscillator for mixing the received signals with said modulated first frequency oscillator signal;

frequency demodulating means coupled to said first mixer for detecting said pilot signal; and

control means responsive to said detected pilot signal for producing a control output signal;

whereby the presence of said control output signal is indicative of the reception of radar signals occurring within said predetermined ranges of frequencies;

wherein said control means comprises comparator means coupled to receive the detected pilot signal and the initially produced pilot signal for producing said control output signal in response to a detected pilot signal and the produced pilot signal occurring at substantially the same frequency and phase, and wherein said comparator means and said pilot signal producing means are coupled together in a phase-locked loop for substantially locking in the produced pilot signal with the detected pilot signal.