Mobile electronic detection device with user selectable alerts

• US 8,248,292 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Whistler Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Whistler Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Batten, Michael, Autio, Craig R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barker, Matthew M
• Application Number:
  US12/407,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 342/20
• US Class Current: 342/20
• 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 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A detection device for detecting the presence of a speed detection system, red light camera, or other electronic surveillance means. The device includes a display means whereby the graphical and audible presentation changes from the non alert condition to the alert condition in accordance to a user selectable choice of options, thereby increasing awareness to the surveillance threat.

Claims

1. A detector device for alerting an operator to the presence of a speed detection or traffic surveillance system, the detector device comprising:

a housing comprising;

detection circuitry responsive to microwave energy, wherein detection of a predetermined microwave frequency causes a detection event that is unique to the detected microwave frequency;

a display device responsive to the detection circuitry output; and

an alerting device responsive to the detection circuitry output,

wherein the display device is configured to display numerical or textual characters indicating the assigned nominal microwave frequency of the detected speed detection or traffic surveillance system if the detected frequency is within a predefined tolerance related to the speed detection or traffic surveillance system.

2. The detector device of claim 1, wherein the display device is configured to display a numeric or textual frequency band indicator corresponding to the detected frequency if the detected frequency is not within the predefined tolerance.

3. A method for alerting an operator to the presence of a speed detection or traffic surveillance system, the method steps comprising:

detecting a microwave energy emission;

determining if the detected microwave energy emission is within a predefined tolerance of a speed detection or traffic surveillance system; and

if the detected emission is within the tolerance, displaying the nominal microwave frequency of the speed detection or traffic surveillance system.

4. The method of claim 3, the method steps further comprising:

if the detected emission is without the tolerance, displaying a frequency band indicator corresponding to the detected frequency.

5. The method of claim 3, the method steps further comprising:

if the detected emission is within the tolerance, alerting the operator to the detection event with a visible or audible notification.

6. The method of claim 3, the method steps further comprising:

if the detected emission is within the tolerance, alerting the operator to the detection event with a visible or audible notification, wherein the visible notification is a color or color sequence chosen by the operator.

7. A method for alerting an operator to the presence of a speed detection or traffic surveillance system, the method steps comprising:

detecting a microwave energy emission;

determining if the detected microwave energy emission is within a predefined tolerance of a speed detection or traffic surveillance system;

displaying textual characters indicating the nominal microwave frequency of the speed detection or traffic surveillance system.

8. The method of claim 7, the method steps further comprising:

if the detected emission is without the tolerance, displaying a frequency band indicator corresponding to the detected frequency.

9. The method of claim 7, the method steps further comprising:

if the detected emission is within the tolerance;

alerting the operator to the detection event with a visible or audible notification.

10. The method of claim 7, the method steps further comprising:

if the detected emission is within the tolerance, alerting the operator to the detection event with a visible or audible notification, wherein the visible notification is a color or color sequence chosen by the operator.