Velocity detecting system

• US 5,847,676 A
• Filed: 07/19/1994
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carroll Richard Cole
• Original Assignee: Carroll Richard Cole
• Inventors: Cole, Carroll Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US08/277,187
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 343/721, 343/786, 343/878, 343/882, 343/765, 248/183.1, 340/936, 342/104, 342/115, 403/57, 403/58, 403/122, 403/124, 403/128, 403/131
• US Class Current: 342/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/92 for velocity measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/02 of systems according to group G01S13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/06 Cathode-ray tube displays or other two dimensional or three-dimensional displays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/0266 provided with a flange or a choke
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241

Abstract

A velocity detecting radar unit that is easy to operate and to view so as to minimize distraction to the operator, particularly when in use in a moving vehicles includes a spotlight unit having a housing with a lens, a light source within the housing and a control wand pivotally mounting the housing for rotation about an axis and including an elongated tube adapted to extend through the windshield pillar of a vehicle. A radar antenna is mounted in the housing to be movable therewith and has a radar transmitting and receiving end extending from the housing oppositely of the spotlight lens. A display module is adapted to display velocity data and other information and is adjustable mounted to the tube at a location thereon remote from the spotlight housing. Similarly, an input or control module including function switches for providing function commands to a controller for the unit is provided and is adjustable mounted to the tube at a location thereon remote from the housing.

Claims

1. In a velocity detecting system including a transceiver for directing a beam of energy at a moving object and receiving a reflection of the beam and determining the velocity of the object, the combination of:

means, including a lens, for directing a beam of energy in a desired direction and for receiving a reflected beam;

a computer module including its own housing for controlling said directing means to direct said beam and for processing the reflected beam to provide velocity information;

a display module including its own housing separate from, but connected to said computer module and including a display face on which said velocity information may be displayed; and

an input module including its own housing separate from but connected to said computer module and including function switches for providing function commands to said computer module to affect the control of the directing means and the information displayed on said display face;

whereby said modules in their respective housing may be independently mounted at desired locations in a vehicle for maximum viewing efficiency, ease of use and operator safety.

2. The velocity detecting system of claim 1 further including a mounting clamp;

and a universal joint interconnecting said mounting clamp and one of said display and input modules.

3. The velocity detecting system of claim 2 wherein said universal joint includes two spaced ball joints.

4. The velocity detecting system of claim 2 wherein said universal joint includes two socket plates, each having two spaced, generally semispherical recesses in one side thereof, the spacing between the recesses in each plate being the same;

a pair of balls of about the same size or slightly smaller than said recesses, each having a stud extending therefrom;

one of said studs being connected to said mounting clamp, the other being connected to said one module;

said balls being sandwiched by said socket plates in respective recesses in each said plate; and

means urging said plates toward each other to frictionally engage said balls.

5. The velocity detecting system of claim 4 wherein said urging means resiliently urges said plates toward each other.

6. The velocity detecting system of claim 5 wherein there are two said mounting clamps and two said universal joints, one each for both said input module and said display module.

7. The velocity detecting system of claim 2 further including a spotlight having a light source contained within a housing and a spotlight lens on the housing, and a control wand including an elongated tube on which the housing is pivotally mounted;

said directing means being mounted on said housing to be movable therewith; and

said mounting clamp being clamped to said tube to mount said one module thereto.

8. The velocity detecting system of claim 7 wherein there are two said mounting clamps and two said universal joints, one clamp and one joint for said input module and one clamp and one joint for said display module, both said clamps being clamped to said tube.

9. The velocity detecting system of claim 8 wherein said universal joint includes two socket plates, each having two spaced, generally semispherical recesses in one side thereof, the spacing between the recesses in each plate being the same;

a pair of balls of about the same size or slightly smaller than said recesses, each having a stud extending therefrom;

one of said studs being connected to said mounting clamp, the other being connected to said one module;

said balls being sandwiched by said socket plates in respective recesses in each said plate; and

means urging said plates toward each other to frictionally engage said balls.

10. The velocity detecting system of claim 2 wherein said mounting clamp includes a block, a cylindrical opening extending through said block, a slit in said block extending from a side thereof to said opening and a clamping screw threaded in said block across said slit.

11. A velocity detecting radar unit comprising:

a spotlight including a housing having a lens, a light source within the housing and a control wand pivotally mounting the housing for rotation about an axis and including an elongated tube adapted to extend through the windshield pillar of a vehicle;

a radar antenna mounted in said housing to be movable therewith and having a radar transmitting and receiving end extending from said housing oppositely of said lens;

a display at least module adapted to display velocity data;

means adjustable mounting said display module to said tube at a location thereon remote from said housing;

an input module including function switches for providing function commands to a controller for said unit; and

means adjustably mounting said input module to said tube at a location thereon remote from said housing.

12. The velocity detecting radar unit of claim 11 wherein said housing includes a tubular adaptor sleeve in which said antenna is partially received.

13. The velocity detecting radar unit of claim 11 wherein at least one of said adjustable mounting means comprises a universal joint.

14. The velocity detecting radar unit of claim 11 wherein at least one of said adjustable mounting means comprises a readily releasable mounting clamp secured to said tube and a universal joint interconnecting said readily releasable clamp and the associated one of said modules.

15. The velocity detecting radar unit of claim 14 wherein said universal joint is a double ball joint.

16. The velocity detecting system of claim 14 wherein said mounting clamp includes a block, a cylindrical opening extending through said block, a slit in said block extending from a side thereof to said opening and a clamping screw threaded in said block across said slit.