Laser speed monitor disabling system
First Claim
1. A speed monitor disabling system for disabling a laser-based speed monitor, the speed monitor being of a type that transmits a monitor laser beam at a moving vehicle, receives a reflected laser beam from the moving vehicle, and determines the speed of the moving vehicle based on the time elapsed between transmitting the monitor laser beam and receiving the reflected laser beam, the monitor laser beam including a monitor pulse having a pulse width, the moving vehicle including a vehicle battery having a voltage of approximately eighteen volts or less, the disabling system comprising:
- a laser detector positioned on the moving vehicle to detect the monitor laser beam transmitted by the speed monitor and transmit a detection signal in response to detecting the monitor laser beam;
a laser transmitter configured to transmit to the speed monitor a jamming laser beam having a pulse width substantially matching the pulse width of the monitor laser beam, the laser transmitter having a characteristic inductance; and
a drive circuit coupled to the vehicle battery, laser detector, and laser transmitter in a manner that supplies electrical power from the vehicle battery to the laser transmitter in response to receiving the detection signal from the laser detector, the drive circuit having a drive inductance that, when added to the laser transmitter inductance, is sufficiently small to enable the drive circuit to supply the laser transmitter with electrical power from the vehicle battery sufficient to cause the laser transmitter to transmit the jamming laser beam to the speed monitor.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disabling system for disabling a laser-based speed monitor of the type that transmits a monitor laser beam at a moving motor vehicle. The monitor laser beam transmitted by the speed monitor is detected when it arrives at the motor vehicle. In response to detecting the monitor laser beam, a warning is output by an annunciator to the motor vehicle driver and a jamming laser beam is transmitted toward the speed monitor. The jamming laser beam disables the speed monitor for a time period sufficient to allow the motor vehicle driver to reduce the speed of the motor vehicle. The jamming laser beam is transmitted by a laser transponder structured to be powered only by the vehicle battery. Plural laser transponders are coupled to a single annunciator to provide plural points of speed monitor detection and jamming without requiring plural annunciators.
29 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A speed monitor disabling system for disabling a laser-based speed monitor, the speed monitor being of a type that transmits a monitor laser beam at a moving vehicle, receives a reflected laser beam from the moving vehicle, and determines the speed of the moving vehicle based on the time elapsed between transmitting the monitor laser beam and receiving the reflected laser beam, the monitor laser beam including a monitor pulse having a pulse width, the moving vehicle including a vehicle battery having a voltage of approximately eighteen volts or less, the disabling system comprising:
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a laser detector positioned on the moving vehicle to detect the monitor laser beam transmitted by the speed monitor and transmit a detection signal in response to detecting the monitor laser beam; a laser transmitter configured to transmit to the speed monitor a jamming laser beam having a pulse width substantially matching the pulse width of the monitor laser beam, the laser transmitter having a characteristic inductance; and a drive circuit coupled to the vehicle battery, laser detector, and laser transmitter in a manner that supplies electrical power from the vehicle battery to the laser transmitter in response to receiving the detection signal from the laser detector, the drive circuit having a drive inductance that, when added to the laser transmitter inductance, is sufficiently small to enable the drive circuit to supply the laser transmitter with electrical power from the vehicle battery sufficient to cause the laser transmitter to transmit the jamming laser beam to the speed monitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A speed monitor disabling system for disabling a laser-based speed monitor, the speed monitor being of a type that transmits a monitor laser beam at a moving vehicle, receives a reflected laser beam from the moving vehicle, and determines the speed of the moving vehicle based on the time elapsed between transmitting the monitor laser beam and receiving the reflected laser beam, the moving vehicle including a vehicle battery, the disabling system comprising:
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a laser detector positioned on the moving vehicle to detect the monitor laser beam transmitted by the speed monitor and transmit a detection signal in response to detecting the monitor laser beam; a laser transmitter configured to transmit to the speed monitor a jamming laser beam substantially matching the monitor laser beam, the laser transmitter having a characteristic impedance; and a laser driver coupled to the laser detector, the laser driver structured to provide electrical power from the vehicle battery to the laser transmitter in response to receiving the detection signal from the laser detector, the laser driver including; a microstrip transmission line having a characteristic impedance substantially matching the characteristic impedance of the laser transmitter and including a dielectric substrate coupled between a strip conductor and a ground plane, the strip conductor extending substantially across a face of the dielectric substrate; and a drive circuit mounted on the dielectric substrate, the drive circuit driving the laser transmitter via the microstrip transmission line in response to receiving the detection signal from the laser detector. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A speed monitor disabling system for disabling a laser-based speed monitor, the speed monitor being of a type that transmits a monitor laser beam at a moving vehicle, receives a reflected laser beam from the moving vehicle, and determines the speed of the moving vehicle based on the time elapsed between transmitting the monitor laser beam and receiving the reflected laser beam, the moving vehicle including a vehicle battery, the disabling system comprising:
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an annunciator coupled to the vehicle battery, the annunciator including a warning device that provides a user with a speed monitor warning that the monitor laser beam is being directed at the moving vehicle; and a first laser transponder positioned on the moving vehicle and coupled to the annunciator by a connection line, the annunciator providing power to the first laser transponder via the connection line, the first laser transponder being structured to detect the monitor laser beam transmitted by the speed monitor and transmit to the speed monitor a jamming laser beam substantially matching the monitor laser beam in response to detecting the monitor laser beam, the laser transponder including a test element coupled to the connection line, the test element triggering the annunciator into temporarily providing the speed monitor warning in response to the initial supply of power to the first laser transponder, the delay element causing the annunciator to turn off the speed monitor warning after an initial time period has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification