Motor vehicle police radar detector for detecting multiple radar sources

• US 5,250,951 A
• Filed: 11/27/1992
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valentine Research, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valentine Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Valentine, Michael D., Scholl, Stephen R., Groth, Clarence R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Application Number:
  US07/982,594
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 342/20, 340/500, 340/502, 340/506
• US Class Current: 342/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/18 derived directly from separate directional antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements

Abstract

A police radar signal detector detects and monitors radar signals from up to nine (9) radar sources until a detected radar signal has not been redetected for a given number of detector operations, or spectrum sweeps, or until a detected signal has been displaced by a higher priority radar signal. In the police radar signal detector of the present invention, a user of the detector is advised not only of the presence of detected radar signals, the frequency band of detected radar signals and the relative field strength of the signals but also of the number of different radar signal sources which are transmitting signals toward the user'"'"'s motor vehicle. The information provided to the user for the frequency band of detected radar signals and the relative field strength of the signals is for the highest priority radar signal detected if more than one signal has been detected and is being monitored by the detector of the present invention. In addition, the directions of radar sources are determined and the user of the detector is advised of the direction or directions, front, side and rear, of origin of radar sources transmitting signals toward the user'"'"'s motor vehicle. If sources are oriented at more than one direction relative to the user'"'"'s motor vehicle, an indicator is illuminated to advise the user of all the directions of origin with the indicator for the direction of origin of the highest priority signal being flashed to so advise the user of the detector. Further, since multiple radar signals can be detected, each time a new radar signal is detected, a distinctive memo alarm is activated to alert the user to the presence of a new radar signal source.

Claims

1. A method of operating a motor vehicle police radar signal detector for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to incoming radar signals, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting incoming radar signals;

generating an audible tone representative of detected radar signals, said audible tone being sounded at a defined volume;

switching said radar signal detector to a mute state in response to a mute signal such that said audible tone is reduced in volume;

setting the mute tone volume equal to or above a minimum tone level to permit the operator to select the mute tone volume; and

canceling said mute state only when radar signals are no longer being detected or monitored.

2. A method of operating a motor vehicle police radar signal detector for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to incoming radar signals, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting incoming radar signals;

identifying detected radar signals to generate identification signals;

storing identification signals representative of identified radar signals;

generating an audible tone representative of identified radar signals, said audible tone being sounded at a defined volume;

switching said radar signal detector to a mute state in response to a mute signal such that said audible tone is reduced in volume;

marking all identified radar signals as muted in response to said mute signal; and

maintaining the muted marking of an identified radar signal for as long as an identification signal is stored for said identified signal.

3. A method of operating a motor vehicle police radar signal detector for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to incoming radar signals as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the step of reinstating an audible tone at said defined volume for newly identified incoming radar signals which are not marked as muted.

4. A method of operating a motor vehicle police radar signal detector for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to incoming radar signals as claimed in claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

reswitching said radar signal detector to said mute state in response to a mute signal such that said audible tone is reduced in volume after alerting an operator of a newly identified radar signal; and

marking any newly identified radar signals as muted in response to said mute signal.

5. A method of operating a motor vehicle police radar signal detector for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to incoming radar signals as claimed in claim 4 wherein the step of switching said radar detector to a mute state in response to a mute signal such that said audible tone is reduced in volume comprises the step of setting the mute tone volume equal to or above a minimum tone level to permit the operator to select the mute tone volume.