Collaborative speed detection warning device

• US 6,750,785 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Trajkovic, Miroslav, Colmenarez, Antonio, Gutta, Srinivas
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/928,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/905, 340/555, 340/556, 342/20, 342/70, 342/61, 455/575
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A collaborative speed measurement device detection system provides early warning and increased reliability by sharing the responses of multiple detectors through a broadcast radio network. A vehicle with one detector (e.g., radar, laser detector) broadcasts a detection event to any other detectors in its vicinity. The receiving detectors generate a warning signal in response to the broadcast. The receivers can combine the results of multiple detections to generate a reliability estimate. The location of the detection events may be broadcast and used in generating alarms in the receiver as well.

Claims

1. A speed detector detection system, comprising:

a first speed detector sensor in a first vehicle adapted to detect energy emitted by at least one type of speed detector;

a first radio transmitter connected to receive a signal from said first speed detector sensor indicating a detection of energy of a speed detector and generate a radio signal indicating said detection;

a second radio receiver in a second vehicle adapted to receive said signal and generate an alarm signal responsively thereto.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said second vehicle contains:

a second speed detector sensor adapted to detect said energy emitted by said at least one type of speed detector;

a second radio transmitter connected to receive a signal from said second speed detector sensor indicating a detection of energy of a speed detector and generate a further radio signal indicating said detection.

3. A method of warning a user of the presence of a speed detector, comprising the steps of:

detecting at a first vehicle a speed detector;

transmitting a first warning signal at said first vehicle;

receiving said first warning signal at said second vehicle;

generating an alarm signal at said second vehicle responsively to said step of receiving.

4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising the step of:

transmitting at least a third warning signal from a third vehicle; and

receiving said at least a third warning signal at said second vehicle;

said step of generating including deriving a reliability figure responsively to said at least a third warning signal and said first warning signal.

5. A method of warning a user as to the presence of a speed detector, comprising the steps of:

receiving a warning signal indicating a remote detection of speed-measurement devices;

detecting a speed-detection device;

generating at least one alarm signal responsively to said steps of receiving and detecting.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein said step of receiving includes receiving a radio signal.

7. A method as in claim 5, wherein said step of detecting includes detecting one of radar energy and a laser energy.

8. A method as in claim 5, wherein said step of generating includes a first alarm responsive to said step of detecting and a second alarm signal responsive to said step of receiving.