Motor vehicle police radar detector for detecting multiple radar sources

• US 5,300,932 A
• Filed: 07/20/1993
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• 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:
  US08/094,759
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: 342/20
• 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 from more than one radar signal source, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting an incoming first radar signal;

identifying said detected first radar signal;

alerting an operator of a motor vehicle using said radar signal detector that said identified first radar signal is incident on the motor vehicle;

detecting an incoming second radar signal while said first radar signal is still incident on the motor vehicle;

identifying said detected second radar signal; and

alerting said operator that said second radar signal is incident on the motor vehicle.

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

detecting an incoming first radar signal;

identifying said detected first radar signal;

generating an audible tone to alert an operator of a motor vehicle using said radar signal detector that said identified first radar signal is incident on the motor vehicle, said audible tone being sounded at a defined volume;

reducing the volume of said audible tone in response to a mute signal;

detecting an incoming second radar signal while said first radar signal is still incident on the motor vehicle;

identifying said detected second radar signal; and

generating an audible tone at said defined volume to alert said operator that said second radar signal is incident on the motor vehicle.

3. 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 an incoming radar signal;

alerting an operator of a motor vehicle using said radar signal detector of said detected radar signal;

detecting another incoming radar signal while still detecting said incoming radar signal; and

informing said operator of said another incoming radar signal.

4. 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 detected radar signals;

maintaining stored identification signals until corresponding radar signals have not been detected for a period of time;

comparing identification signals for each detected radar signal to stored identification signals to determine whether each detected radar signal is a newly detected radar signal or a previously detected radar signal; and

alerting an operator of a motor vehicle using said radar signal detector that a newly detected radar signal is incident on the motor vehicle.

5. A method of operating a motor vehicle police radar signal detector for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to incoming radar signals from more than one radar signal source, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting incoming radar signals;

identifying detected radar signals to generate identification signals;

storing identification signals representative of detected radar signals;

processing said stored identification signals to determine whether said stored identification signals include a newly detected and identified incoming radar signal; and

alerting an operator of a motor vehicle using said radar signal detector of any newly detected and identified radar signals incident on the motor vehicle.

6. A method of operating a motor vehicle police radar signal detector for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to incoming radar signals from more than one radar signal source as claimed in claim 5 wherein the step of processing said stored identification signals comprises the step of comparing each identification signal to previously stored identification signals.