Collision avoidance radar detector system

• US 5,111,210 A
• Filed: 06/22/1990
• Issued: 05/05/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Survival Safety Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Survival Safety Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Morse, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US07/542,072
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 342/20, 342/56, 342/147, 342/158, 342/418, 342/419, 342/443, 342/455, 342/27, 342/29, 342/41, 342/417
• US Class Current: 342/455
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/937 of marine craft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/16 using amplitude comparison of signals derived sequentially from receiving antennas or antenna systems having differently-oriented directivity characteristics or from an antenna system having periodically-varied orientation of directivity characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/106 using two or more intersecting plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26

Abstract

A microwave signal detector system provides a visual indication of the relative bearing of a remote source of microwave energy. An antenna for receiving said microwave energy includes a plurality of microwave-sensitive elements arranged in a planar circular array for receiving pulses from all azimuth directions. Each microwave sensing element is adapted to monitor energy received in a predetermined angular sectors and includes a horn element and a microwave energy responsive diode disposed within said horn element. The diode is connected as part of a voltage divider to develop a noise signal corresponding to the microwave energy received at each sector resulting from vibrations in the diode which occur at an audio frequency. The resultant developed noise signal is digitized and compared to a predetermined threshold to provide an output control signal when the developed signal exceeds the value of the threshold. The output signal drives an LED indicator. An LED corresponding to each sensing diode is arranged in a circular display to provide relative bearing information corresponding to the received signal. This system is particularly adapted to provide early warning of vessels in the vicinity so as to avoid possible collisions.

Claims

1. A microwave signal detector comprising a microwave sensitive receiving means, said microwave sensitive receiving means including a microwave responsive element comprising a horn element forming a microwave cavity and having a microwave-responsive diode mounted in said cavity and serially connected to a resistive voltage divider network, said microwave responsive element being responsive to microwave energy signals generated from a remote source to produce a noise signal at an audio frequency resulting from vibration of the responsive element, means connected to said microwave responsive element for coupling said noise signal produced in response to received microwave energy, a comparator for comparing the noise signals to a predetermined threshold voltage, and indicator means for providing an indication of the detection of a source of microwave energy when the value of the developed noise signal exceeds the threshold voltage.

2. A microwave signal detector, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said diode is responsive to frequency in the X-band.

3. A microwave signal detector, as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of said signal detectors arranged in a circular array at predetermined fixed angular intervals.

4. A microwave signal detector, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said indicator means comprises a circular array of visual indicators, each visual indicator comprising a light-emitting diode adapted to be energized in response to a developed noise signal for providing a visual indication of the relative bearing of the source of the received microwave signals.

5. A microwave signal detector system, as set forth in claim 4, further including audible alarm means responsive to a developed signal for providing an audible alarm in response to received microwave signals.

6. A microwave signal detector system, as set forth in claim 5, further including remote indicator means comprising a circular array of visual indicators, each visual indicator comprising a light-emitting diode adapted to be energized in response to a developed noise signal for providing a remote visual of the relative bearing of the source of received microwave signals, said remote indicator means being connected electrically in parallel with said first indicator means.

7. A microwave detector system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein each said microwave receiving means includes a horn element forming a microwave cavity and having a microwave-responsive diode mounted therein and said plurality of signal detectors comprises eight detecting elements arranged in a circular planar array at 45°

intervals.

8. A microwave signal detector system, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said indicator means comprises a circular array of visual indicators, each visual indicator comprising a light-emitting diode adapted to be energized in response to a developed signal from a corresponding one of said signal detectors for providing a visual indication of the relative bearing of the source of a received signal, each light-emitting diode corresponding to one of said 45°

sectors.

9. A collision avoidance microwave signal detector system for providing an indication of the relative bearing of a remote source of microwave energy comprising an antenna for receiving said microwave energy, said antenna including a plurality of microwave sensitive means arranged in a planar circular array for monitoring microwave energy sensing means including a horn element and a microwave energy responsive diode disposed within said horn element adapted to monitor energy received in a predetermined angular sector, each said diode being serially connected to a resistive element forming a voltage divider for developing a noise signal at an audio frequency corresponding to the microwave energy received at each sector, means for comparing each said developed noise signal to a predetermined threshold and providing an output control signal when the developed noise signal exceeds the value of the threshold.

10. A microwave signal detector system, as set forth in claim 9 wherein each said diode is mounted in a horizontal position.

11. A microwave signal detector system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein each said horn element includes a first wall, a second wall and a third wall, second and third walls extending angularly outwardly from said first wall and forming an angle therewith and being disposed to face outwardly from the center of the circular array for reflecting microwave energy from an individual azimuth sector to the diode.

12. A microwave signal detector system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the number of microwave diodes is eight, and each diode is adapted to receive microwave energy in a 45°

sector and each said diode is mounted in a horizontal position between said second and third walls and spaced outwardly from said first wall.

13. A microwave signal detector system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said horn elements are mounted on a substrate, said substrate being disposed in a weather-proof housing, and means connected to said housing for orientating said housing.

14. A microwave signal detector system, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said means for orientating said housing includes a swivel and means for locking the housing in the orientated position.

15. A microwave signal detector system as set forth in claim 9 further including means for each sector for amplifying the noise signal, digitizer means for developing an output pulse corresponding to the noise signal, and indicator means for receiving said output central signal when the output pulse exceeds the predetermined threshold.

16. A microwave signal detector, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said indicator means comprises a circular array of visual indicators, each visual indicator comprising a light-emitting diode adapted to be energized in response to an output control signal for providing a visual indication of the relative bearing of the source of the received microwave signals.

17. A microwave signal detector system, as set forth in claim 16, further including audible alarm means for each sector responsive to an output control signal for providing an audible alarm in response to received microwave signals.

18. A microwave signal detector system, as set forth in claim 16, further including remote indicator means comprising a circular array of visual indicators, each visual indicator comprising a light-emitting diode adapted to be energized in response to an output control signal for providing a remote visual indication of the relative bearing of the source of received microwave signals, said remote indicator means connected electrically in parallel with said first indicator means.