Combination cellular telephone and radar detector

• US 7,301,494 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Future Planning, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Waters
• Inventors: Waters, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barker; Matthew M
• Application Number:
  US11/121,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20050242984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 342/20
• US Class Current: 342/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A system combining the features, elements, and operations of a cellular telephone and a radar detector into a unitary assembly. The present invention generally comprises a housing enclosing a power supply, an output speaker, an input microphone, an antenna, a display screen, a multi-button keypad, cell phone circuitry, and radar detection circuitry. The housing further incorporates a spring-loaded clip assembly that provides for “hands-free” cellular telephone operation. The present invention may include a plurality of operational modes that are manually selected by a user via the keypad. The operational modes may include “cellular telephone only”, “radar detector only”, and a hybrid mode wherein the system operates as a radar detector until an incoming cellular telephone signal is detected causing the system to convert to its cellular telephone operational mode. The present invention is easily transported and simple to use, fabricated of materials providing the appropriate degree of durability/longevity required by the nature of its use, and may be economically manufactured and sold.

Claims

1. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector, comprising:

a housing;

a power supply enclosed within said housing;

an on/off switch enclosed within said housing and electrically connected to said power supply;

cellular telephone circuitry enclosed within said housing and electrically connected to said power supply;

radar detection circuitry enclosed within said housing and electrically connected to said power supply;

an output speaker enclosed within said housing for outputting audio signals generated by both of said cellular telephone circuitry and said radar detection circuitry;

an input microphone enclosed within said housing and electrically connected to said cellular telephone circuitry;

an antenna attached to said housing and electrically connected to said cellular telephone circuitry;

a keypad mounted on said housing for controlling both of said cellular telephone circuitry and said radar detection circuitry, and for selecting one of a radar detection mode and a cellular telephone mode;

a display screen surface-mounted on said housing for displaying said selected operational mode.

2. The combination cellular telephone and radar detector according to claim 1, further comprising a clip assembly detachably attachable to said housing for attachment of said combination cellular telephone and radar detector to either a user'"'"'s belt or underneath a vehicle sunshade.

3. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector according to claim 2 wherein said clip assembly is a spring-loaded clip assembly further comprising:

a mounting plate fixedly attached to the rear of said housing;

two opposing lugs fixedly attached to the surface of said mounting plate, each of said lugs having a pivot hole formed therein;

a detachably attachable clamping plate;

two opposing lugs fixedly attached to the surface of said clamping plate, each of said lugs having a pivot hole formed therein;

a stop flange fixedly attached perpendicularly to said clamping plate, wherein said stop flange is attached distally from said lugs;

a pivot pin, wherein said pivot pin is inserted through said pivot holes formed in each of said lugs of said clamping plate and said mounting plate to secure said clamping plate and said mounting plate together; and

a torsional spring mounted on said pivot pin between said lugs, wherein said torsional spring stops between a surface of said mounting plate and a surface of said clamping plate holding said clamping plate in the clamping position, wherein said clamping position comprises the step of;

pressing said stop flange on the front side wall of said mounting plate.

4. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector according to claim 1 wherein said cellular telephone circuitry further comprises:

an RF section circuit for receiving a modulated RF signal from said antenna;

an audio controller connected to said RF section circuit for demodulating an audio signal from said modulated RF signal;

a speaker coupled to said audio controller for outputting said audio signal.

5. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector according to claim 1 wherein said radar detection circuitry further comprises:

two input stages, said input stages further comprising;

an antenna coupled to a first mixer and a X band and K_u band pre-amplifier by a diplexer, said diplexer having a K band and K_a band rejection filter.

6. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector according to claim 5, wherein said radar detection circuitry detects radar signal in one of the X, K_u, K or K_a bands.

7. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector, comprising:

a first housing attachable to a vehicle;

a power supply enclosed within said first housing;

cellular telephone circuitry enclosed within said first housing and electrically connected to said power supply;

a second housing adapted to dock to said first housing;

radar detection circuitry enclosed within said second housing and electrically connected to said power supply.

8. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector, comprising:

a housing;

a clip assembly detachably attachable to said housing, said clip assembly further comprising a spring-loaded clip for selectably securing said housing to a user'"'"'s belt and to a vehicle;

a power supply enclosed within said housing;

cellular telephone circuitry enclosed within said housing and electrically connected to said power supply;

radar detection circuitry enclosed within said housing and electrically connected to said power supply;

an output speaker enclosed within said housing for outputting audio signals generated by both of said cellular telephone circuitry and said radar detection circuitry;

a keypad mounted on said housing for selecting one of a radar detection mode, a cellular telephone mode, and a hybrid mode for dual operation as a radar detector until an incoming cellular telephone signal is detected;

a display screen surface-mounted on said housing for displaying said selected operational mode.

9. The combination cellular telephone and radar detector according to claim 8, further comprising a clip assembly detachably attachable to said housing for attachment of said combination cellular telephone and radar detector to either a user'"'"'s belt or underneath a vehicle sunshade.

10. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector according to claim 9, wherein said clip assembly is a spring-loaded clip assembly further comprising:

a mounting plate fixedly attached to the rear of said housing;

two opposing lugs fixedly attached to the surface of said mounting plate, each of said lugs having a pivot hole formed therein;

a detachably attachable clamping plate;

two opposing lugs fixedly attached to the surface of said clamping plate, each of said lugs having a pivot hole formed therein;

a stop flange fixedly attached perpendicularly to said clamping plate, wherein said stop flange is attached distally from said lugs;

a pivot pin, wherein said pivot pin is inserted through said pivot holes formed in each of said lugs of said clamping plate and said mounting plate to secure said clamping plate and said mounting plate together; and

a torsional spring mounted on said pivot pin between said lugs, wherein said torsional spring stops between a surface of said mounting plate and a surface of said clamping plate holding said clamping plate in the clamping position, wherein said clamping position comprises the step of;

pressing said stop flange on the front side wall of said mounting plate.

11. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector according to claim 10, wherein said cellular telephone circuitry further comprises:

an RF section circuit for receiving a modulated RF signal from said antenna;

an audio controller connected to said R section circuit for demodulating an audio signal from said modulated RF signal;

a speaker coupled to said audio controller for outputting said audio signal.

12. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector according to claim 11, wherein said radar detection circuitry further comprises:

two input stages, said input stages further comprising;

an antenna coupled to a first mixer and a X band and K_u band pre-amplifier by a diplexer, said diplexer having a K band and K_a band rejection filter.

13. A combination cellular telephone and radar detector according to claim 12, wherein said radar detection circuitry detects radar signal in one of the X, K_u, K or K_a bands.