Detector apparatus

• US 5,990,821 A
• Filed: 07/07/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Whistler Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Whistler Corporation of Massachusetts
• Inventors: Sakar, Subhash C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US08/900,365
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 342/54, 342/20, 342/13, 342/168, 356/28, 340/936
• US Class Current: 342/54
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/40 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4806 Road traffic laser detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/483 Details of pulse systems

Abstract

Apparatus for detecting the presence of a speed detection system includes a microcontroller, a laser detector circuit coupled to the microcontroller, a radar detector circuit coupled to the microcontroller and a display coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller receives signals from the laser detector and radar detector circuits and in response to the signals fed thereto, the microcontroller provides an output signal indicating which of the laser and radar detector circuits fed a signal thereto.

Claims

1. A detector apparatus for detecting the presence of a speed measuring system comprising:

a housing having a plurality of apertures;

a plurality of lenses, each of said lenses disposed in one of the apertures, wherein the focal points of at least two of the lenses are directed to at least a portion of a common focal point region;

a radiation detector mounted in the housing and positioned to receive radiation received at the common focal point region through at least one of the lenses;

a signal processing circuit having an input coupled to the radiation detector and an output;

a controller having an input coupled to the output of the signal processing circuit and an output; and

a display having an input coupled to the controller, wherein the controller provides an alarm signal to the display following detection of a speed measuring signal by the radiation detector.

2. The detector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus has at least three lenses.

3. The detector apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus has three lenses.

4. The detector apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus has an odd number of lenses.

5. The detector apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lenses are disposed at angles to each other.

6. The detector apparatus of claim 5 wherein said lenses are disposed at angles in the range of 38 to 46 degrees.

7. The detector apparatus of claim 4, wherein the radiation detector includes a photodiode.

8. The detector apparatus of claim 4, wherein the radiation detector is disposed in at least a portion of the common focal point region.

9. The detector apparatus of claim 4, wherein the housing further comprises a radar receiving window, the apparatus further comprising a radar detector mounted in the housing and positioned to receive radar signals received at the radar receiving window, the radar detector having an output coupled to the controller.

10. A detector apparatus for detecting the presence of a speed measuring system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of lenses connected to the housing, wherein the focal points of the lenses are directed to at least a portion of a common focal point region;

a radiation detector positioned to receive radiation received at the common focal point region through at least one of the lenses;

a signal processing circuit having an input coupled to the radiation detector and an output;

a controller having an input coupled to the output of the signal processing circuit and an output; and

a display having an input coupled to the controller, wherein the controller provides a signal to the display following detection of a speed measuring signal by the radiation detector.

11. The detector apparatus of claim 10, wherein each lens is provided as part of a unitary piece.

12. The detector apparatus of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises a radar receiving window, the apparatus further comprising a radar detector mounted in the housing and positioned to receive radar signals received at the radar receiving window, the radar detector having an output coupled to the controller.

13. The detector apparatus of claim 10, wherein each lens is provided as a separate lens.

14. The detector apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of lenses provides a field of view of approximately 180 degrees.

15. The detector apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of lenses provides a field of view of approximately 360 degrees.

16. The detector apparatus of claim 15, wherein each lens is provided as part of a unitary piece.

17. The detector apparatus of claim 16, wherein the housing further comprises a radar receiving window, the apparatus further comprising a radar detector mounted in the housing and positioned to receive radar signals received at the radar receiving window, the radar detector having an output coupled to the controller.