Combination scanner and radar detector

• US 4,887,086 A
• Filed: 07/28/1987
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trycomm Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trycomm Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Unser, Bobby, Crum, Stephen T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US07/078,775
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 342/20, 455/142, 455/180, 455/182, 455/188, 455/226, 455/315, 455/168, 455/227-229, 455/7, 455/1, 340/901-906
• US Class Current: 342/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits

Abstract

A radio receiver for use in a vehicle combines a radar receiver, a receiver for the citizen band, and a scanning receiver for public service bands which are controlled in operation and function by a microprocessor. The public service scanning receiver covers a range of public service bands from 37 MHz to 470 MHz. The receiver for the citizen band covers frequencies from 26 to 28 MHz. The radar receiver covers frequencies of traffic radars located in the X and K bands, from 8 to 24 GHz. In the preferred embodiment, a radar detector responds to radar signals in either the X or K band under control of the microprocessor, and is in a standby mode whether or not the operator is listening to reception on the citizen band or a public service band. A synthesizer either selects a desired channel in the citizen band or else scans a preselected group of public service frequencies that correspond to those assigned to a particular state, country or city. Combined radio front ends are served by the synthesizer that is controlled by the microprocessor. Received signals undergo a dual conversion to produce an IF signal that is either narrow-band FM in the case of public service signals or AM in the case of CB. The signal that is selected is controlled by the microprocessor and is coupled to an audio amplifier and speaker to be heard. Under the control of a microprocessor, a detected traffic radar signal will override the signal being heard unless the operator elects otherwise. The use of a common front end for the public service receiver and the citizen band receiver minimizes cost and simplifies control of bands and frequencies by the microprocessor, leading to a portable device that is readily removed from a vehicle to minimize the risk of theft.

Claims

1. A radio receiver comprising in combination in an integral unit:

a traffic radar receiver adapted to detect a traffic radar signal such as in the K band or X band, a citizen band receiver, and a receiver for public service bands, the traffic radar receiver adapted to override the citizen band receiver or the receiver for public service bands and provide an alarm when said traffic radar signal is detected.

2. The radio receiver of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a microprocessor that is a part of the integral unit, the microprocessor controlling operation of the traffic radar receiver, the citizen band receiver, and the receiver for public service bands.

3. The radio receiver of claim 2 additionally comprising:

a synthesizer that is controlled by the microprocessor to select frequencies of a local oscillator for either the citizen band receiver or the receiver for the public service bands.

4. The radio receiver of claim 1 wherein the receiver for public service bands is adapted to scan a predetermined set of frequencies.

5. The radio receiver of claim 2 wherein the microprocessor controls a search of frequencies in the receiver for public service bands.

6. The radio receiver of claim 5 wherein the microprocessor controls a synthesizer that applies predetermined frequencies as local oscillator signals to the receiver for public service bands to search a predetermined set of frequencies and to pause at a frequency at which a broadcast is detected.

7. The radio receiver of claim 5 wherein the microprocessor controls a synthesizer that applies first predetermined frequencies as local oscillator signals to the receiver for public service bands to search assigned frequencies for a particular geographic region and service and to pause at a frequency at which a broadcast is detected.

8. The radio receiver of claim 5 wherein the microprocessor controls a synthesizer that applies first predetermined frequencies as local oscillator signals to the receiver for public service bands to search assigned frequencies for each of the states of the United States as stored in read-only memory that is operationally coupled to the microprocessor.

9. A radio receiver comprising in combination in an integral unit:

a scanning receiver for public service bands;

a citizen band receiver;

a traffic radar receiver adapted to receive a traffic radar signal such as in the K band or the X band; and

a microprocessor connected to the scanning receiver, the citizen band receiver, and the traffic radar receiver to control their operation such that the traffic radar receiver can override the scanning receiver or the citizen band receiver to provide an alarm upon detection of said traffic radar signal.

10. The radio receiver of claim 9 wherein the microprocessor comprises in addition a ROM containing information identifying public service frequencies by states.

11. The radio receiver of claim 9 comprising in addition display means for identifying received signal strength.

12. The radio receiver of claim 9 comprising in addition means for deleting a selected frequency when scanning the public service frequencies.

13. The radio receiver of claim 12 comprising in addition means for restoring the deleted frequencies to be scanned when a different state is selected when scanning the public service frequencies.

14. The radio receiver of claim 12 comprising in addition means for restoring the deleted frequencies to be scanned in response to a signal from an operator when scanning the public service frequencies.

15. The radio receiver of claim 9 wherein the microprocessor comprises in addition a ROM containing information identifying public service frequencies by states and further identifying assignment of the public service frequencies to state police, county agencies and cities.