Method and apparatus for receiving optical signals used to determine vehicle velocity

• US 5,239,296 A
• Filed: 10/23/1991
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black Sand Technologies, Inc. (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black Sand Technologies, Inc. (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jenkins, Charles S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/781,411
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 340/936, 340/435, 340/901-904, 340/555-557, 340/942, 342/20, 342/53, 342/54, 342/104, 359/142, 359/145, 359/146, 359/174, 359/155, 356/5, 356/28, 356/28.5
• US Class Current: 340/936
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4806 Road traffic laser detectors

Abstract

Optical receiving system (20) and method are provided for receiving optical signals used to determine vehicle velocity. The receiver system (20) comprises an optical receiver unit (22) mounted on a vehicle (30) to detect an optical signal incident thereupon. The optical receiver unit (22) includes a radio frequency transmitter (44) for generating and transmitting a radio frequency signal when the optical receiver unit (22) detects an optical signal incident thereupon. The detector system further comprises an indicator unit (24) which includes a radio receiver (46) for receiving the radio frequency generated by the radio frequency transmitter (44) and for providing an indication of the reception thereof. In one embodiment, the indicator unit is a convention radar detection device. In one embodiment, a plurality of optical receiver units (22'"'"') are provided for positioning at differing locations upon a vehicle (30'"'"'). In another embodiment, a linear array (122) of optical receivers is provided. The radio frequency transmitter (44'"'"') of each optical receiver unit (22'"'"') transmits an encoded signal indicative of a location of the particular optical receiver unit (22'"'"') upon which an optical signal is incident.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining whether an optical signal is incident thereon from a source which uses the optical signal to determine the velocity of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

optical signal receiving means for detecting an optical signal incident thereupon;

means for mounting the optical signal receiving means upon the vehicle;

radio frequency transmission means for generating a radio frequency signal when the optical signal receiving means detects an optical signal incident thereupon; and

,

radio frequency receiving means for receiving the radio frequency generated by the radio frequency transmission means and for providing an indication of the reception thereof, thereby providing an indication of the incidence of the optical signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

filtering means for determining when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical receiving means exceeds optical background noise, the filtering means being connected to the optical signal receiving means; and

wherein the radio frequency transmission means generates a radio frequency signal when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds the optical background noise.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical signal receiving means includes means for detecting optical signals in a plurality of optical wavelength ranges.

4. Apparatus for use in combination with a radar reception device of the type which produces a warning indication when a signal in a predetermined range of radio frequencies is incident thereon;

the apparatus comprising;

optical signal receiving means for detecting the incidence of an optical signal thereupon;

means for mounting the optical signal reception means upon a vehicle; and

,

radio frequency transmission means for generating a radio frequency signal in the predetermined range of the radar reception device when the optical signal receiving means detects the incidence of an optical signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

filtering means for determining when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds optical background noise, the filtering means being connected to the optical signal receiving means; and

wherein the radio frequency transmission means generates a radio frequency signal when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds the optical background noise.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the optical signal receiving means includes means for detecting optical signals in a plurality of optical wavelength ranges.

7. Apparatus for determining whether an optical signal is incident thereon from a source which uses the optical signal to determine the velocity of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of optical signal receiving means for detecting the incidence of an optical signal thereupon;

mounting means for mounting the plurality of optical signal receiving means upon a vehicle;

means for generating an information signal when one of the optical signal receiving means detects an optical signal incident thereupon, the information signal including an indication of which of the plurality of optical signal receiving means has the optical signal incident thereupon;

signal receiving means for detecting the information signal and for providing an indication of which of the optical signal receiving means has the optical signal incident thereupon.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the signal generating means comprises radio frequency transmission means for generating a radio frequency information signal when one of the optical signal receiving means detects an optical signal incident thereupon, the radio frequency information signal including an indication of which of the plurality of optical signal receiving means has the optical signal incident thereupon;

and wherein the information signal receiving means comprises radio frequency receiving means for receiving the radio frequency signal generated by the radio frequency transmission means and for providing an indication of which of the optical signal receiving means has the optical signal incident thereupon.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the radio frequency transmission means includes encoder means for including in the a radio frequency information signal unique identifying information associated with a particular one of the optical signal receiving means which has the optical signal incident thereupon;

and wherein the radio frequency receiving means includes decoder means for decoding the unique identifying information.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

filtering means for determining when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds optical background noise, the filtering means being connected to the optical signal receiving means; and

wherein the signal generated means generates an information signal when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds the optical background noise.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the optical signal receiving means includes means for detecting optical signals in a plurality of optical wavelength ranges.

12. Apparatus for determining whether an optical signal is incident thereon from a source which uses the optical signal to determine the velocity of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

optical signal receiving means for detecting the incidence of an optical signal thereupon, the optical signal receiving means includes means for detecting optical signals in a plurality of predetermined optical wavelength ranges;

means for mounting the optical signal receiving means upon a vehicle;

radio frequency transmission means for generating a radio frequency signal when the optical signal receiving means detects an optical signal in one of the predetermined optical wavelength ranges incident thereupon; and

,

radio frequency receiving means for receiving the radio frequency generated by the radio frequency transmission means and for providing an indication of the reception thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for receiving optical signals in a plurality of predetermined optical wavelength ranges comprises an optical filter having a plurality of segments, each of the segments being constructed for permitting the transmission of optical wavelengths in one of the predetermined optical wavelength ranges.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

filtering means for determining when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the detecting means exceeds optical background noise, the filtering means being connected to the optical signal receiving means; and

wherein the radio frequency transmission means generates a radio frequency signal when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds the optical background noise.

15. A method for determining whether an optical signal is incident upon a vehicle from a source which uses the optical signal to determine the velocity of the vehicle, the method comprising:

mounting an optical signal receiving means upon a vehicle;

detecting the incidence of an optical signal upon the optical signal receiving means;

generating a radio frequency signal when the optical signal receiving means detects an optical signal incident thereupon;

receiving the radio frequency signal; and

,

providing an indication of the reception of the radio frequency signal.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds optical background noise; and

wherein the radio frequency signal is generated when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds the optical background noise.

17. The method of 15, wherein the detecting of the optical signal includes detecting optical signals in a plurality of optical wavelength ranges.

18. A method for use in combination with a radar reception device of the type which produces a warning indication when a signal in a predetermined range of radio frequencies is incident thereon;

the method comprising;

detecting the incidence of an optical signal upon an optical signal receiving means mounted on a vehicle;

generating a radio frequency signal in the predetermined range of the radar detection device when an optical signal is incident upon the optical signal receiving means.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds optical background noise; and

wherein the radio frequency signal is generated when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds the optical background noise.

20. The method of 18, wherein the detecting of the optical signal includes detecting optical signals in a plurality of optical wavelength ranges.

21. A method for determining whether an optical signal is incident upon a vehicle from a source which uses the optical signal to determine the velocity of the vehicle, the method comprising:

mounting a plurality of optical signal receiving means at corresponding unique locations upon a vehicle;

detecting when an optical signal is incident upon one of the optical signal receiving means;

generating a radio frequency information signal when one of the optical signal receiving means detects an optical signal incident thereupon, the radio frequency information signal including an indication of which of the plurality of optical signal receiving means has the optical signal incident thereupon;

receiving the radio frequency information signal; and

,

providing an indication of which of the optical signal receiving means has the optical signal incident thereupon.

22. The method of 21, further comprising:

determining when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds optical background noise, the filtering means being connected to the optical signal receiving means; and

wherein the radio frequency transmission means generates a radio frequency signal when the magnitude of the optical signal incident upon the optical signal receiving means exceeds the optical background noise.

23. The method of 21, wherein the step of generating a radio frequency information signal includes encoding in the a radio frequency information signal unique identifying information associated with a particular one of the optical signal receiving means has the optical signal incident thereupon;

and wherein the step of providing an indication of which of the optical signal receiving means has the optical signal incident thereupon includes decoding the unique identifying information.

24. A method for determining whether an optical signal is incident upon a vehicle from a source which uses the optical signal to determine the velocity of the vehicle, the method comprising:

mounting an optical signal receiving means upon a vehicle;

detecting optical signals in a plurality of predetermined optical wavelength ranges using the optical signal receiving means;

generating a radio frequency signal when the optical signal receiving means detects an optical signal in one of the predetermined optical wavelength ranges incident thereupon; and

,

receiving the radio frequency generated by the radio frequency transmission means and for providing an indication of the detection thereof.