Radar/laser detection device with multi-sensing and reporting capability

• US 6,297,732 B2
• Filed: 09/08/1999
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PNI Corporation (PNI Digital Media)
• Original Assignee: Precision Navigation, Inc.
• Inventors: Becky Oh, Chung-a, Hsu, George, Sherer, Christine Annette
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/391,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20010013835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 340/429, 340/576, 340/506, 342/54, 342/70, 342/20
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

A combination radar/laser detector with environmental sensors is programmed to provide a range of functions, including weather information, road conditions and the like, and in some cases to incorporate road-specific information in functionality. The road-specific information may be provided by roadside RF broadcast terminals. In a preferred embodiment the system monitors characteristics that indicate a driver'"'"'s state of awareness, and audio alerts are provides when the system determines a driver is dozing or drifting toward a dozing state. In various embodiments a broad range of functionality is provided based on received and sensed parameters.

Claims

1. A detection, alert and reporting system for a vehicle, comprising:

one or both of a radar and a laser detector for sensing radar or laser signals directed on the vehicle to track vehicle speed;

one or more environmental sensors, for sensing conditions external to the mechanical functions of the vehicle including environmental characteristics;

a microcontroller for managing system functions;

an electronic memory for storing data, algorithms, and operating routines;

an audio system and doze-alert software executed in the background at times the vehicle is in motion; and

a display for reporting system results to a user;

wherein the system monitors input from one or both of the radar and laser detector and from at least one environmental sensor, and uses the input in conjunction with system control routines and stored data to provide reports to the user, and to determine if the driver of the vehicle may doze or is dozing, sounding an audible warning alert to the driver via the audio system when a condition of dozing is determined.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more environmental sensors include sensors for one or more of vehicle blind spot detection, outside temperature, wind velocity, wind direction, air pressure, humidity, altimeter, or the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an interactive user interface enabling the user to at least input data for use in providing reports to the driver, the determination of the driver'"'"'s state of awareness and to select alternative functions for the system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the doze-alert software operates on an escalating scheme, wherein separate determinations are made based on sensor inputs as to a level of danger, and separate alerts are made, each one more urgent than the last as determined danger increases.

5. A method for alerting a driver of a vehicle to impending danger occasioned by the driver'"'"'s level of awareness, comprising steps of:

(a) determining vehicle characteristics that evidence lack of driver awareness;

(b) providing an input apparatus for a user to input characteristics;

(c) providing sensors in the vehicle enabled to monitor the vehicle characteristics, and for monitoring environmental characteristics external to the mechanical operation of the vehicle;

(d) programming an electronic warning system to store characteristics as a standard that indicates lack of awareness, and to compare real-time characteristics to the stored standard; and

(e) comparing real-time vehicle characteristics, including input from said sensors, with the stored standard and sounding an alert for the driver if a determination is made that the driver is in danger.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein, in step (b) patterns of movement of the vehicle'"'"'s steering mechanisms are monitored, and in step (c) real-time movement of steering mechanisms are compared with the standard.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein, in step (c) the programming stores plural standards indicating different levels of awareness, and in step (d) escalating alerts are sounded.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein, in step (c) the characteristics being stored as a standard may also be entered by an user input apparatus.