Radar detector arrangement

• US 6,201,493 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Silverman, David Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US09/322,402
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 342/20, 342/357.06, 342/357.13, 701/213
• US Class Current: 342/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors

Abstract

A radar detector is equipped with a positional tracking system, such as a global positioning satellite (GPS) system which can track the location of the vehicle in which the detector is located, and a processor enabling the detector to “learn” about the location of sources of false alarms. The learned information is stored in a “false alarm” database. When an alarm is detected, a comparison in made between the present location in the vehicle and stored information indicative of known locations at which false alarms have previously occurred. If the comparison is positive, the alarm is disabled, or the user is otherwise alerted to the fact that the alarm is likely to be false. If desired, a signal strength profile, frequency band of the energy causing the alarm, and/or time of day information can also be used to distinguish false from real alarms.

Claims

1. A radar detector including

means for detecting the presence of energy in at least one specific frequency band associated with speed detection radar,

means responsive to the detecting means for selectively generating a discernable alarm,

a positional tracking system arranged to generate information indicative of the location of the vehicle in which the detector is located,

means for storing said information upon the occurrence of a false alarm, and

a processor for disabling said alarm generating means in the event that the alarm occurs when said vehicle is in a location substantially the same as a location previously stored in said storing means.

2. A radar detector including

a positional tracking system for providing location information,

a database for storing said location information,

means for entering information from said positional tracking system in said database upon the occurrence of a false alarm, and

means for comparing location information indicative of the present location of said radar detector with information in said database before alerting a user of said detector to an alarm condition.

3. A radar detector having a learn mode and an operate mode, said radar detector comprising

a database for storing information generated when said detector is in said learn mode, indicative of conditions associated with false alarms detected by said detector, and output means for alerting a user to the occurrence of an alarm detected by said detector, and

a processor for comparing information generated when said detector is in said operate mode with said stored information prior to activating said output means.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said radar detector includes a positional locating system and wherein said information includes the location of said radar detector obtained during said learn and said operate modes.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said positional locating system is a GPS system.

6. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said information includes the frequency band of the radar energy received by said detector during said learn and said operate modes.

7. A radar detector including

means for storing information indicative of the location of said detector during the occurrence of a false alarm,

means for comparing said stored information with information indicative of the location of said detector during the occurrence of a subsequent alarm, and

means for alerting the user of said radar detector only if said subsequent alarm occurs at a location substantially different from the location indicated by said stored information.

8. Portable apparatus arranged to be carried in a motor vehicle for detecting the presence of energy in one or more frequency bands emitted by speed detection radar, said apparatus including

means operative in a learning mode and responsive to the detection of the presence of energy in one or more frequency bands emitted by speed detection radar that exceeds a threshold value for storing information indicative thereof;

means operative in an operating mode and responsive to the detection of the presence of energy in one or more frequency bands emitted by speed detection radar that exceeds a threshold value for comparing information indicative thereof with said stored information, and

means for generating an alarm perceptible to a user only if said comparison indicates that said stored information is substantially different from said compared information.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said information is indicative of the geographic location of said portable apparatus.

10. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said information is further indicative of the frequency band of the energy detected by said apparatus.