Mobile electronic detection device with user selectable alerts

• US 8,289,200 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• 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:
  US13/151,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20110234442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 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 scroll through two or more operator selected colors in response to the detection event that are different than a color that is visible when no event is detected.

2. The detector device of claim 1, the detector device further comprising:

detection circuitry responsive to laser energy, wherein detection of a laser pulse rate causes a detection event that is unique to the detected laser pulse rate.

3. The detector device of claim 1, wherein the detection circuitry detects at least one frequency characteristic of the speed detection or traffic surveillance system, the detector device further comprising:

a storage device for storing the at least one frequency characteristic related to a detection event, wherein the present detection event is compared with a past detection event, and wherein the operator may configure the detector to disable the display device or the alerting device, or provide an alternate display or alert, if the present detection event frequency characteristic is substantially the same as a stored detection event frequency characteristic.

4. The detector device of claim 1 or claim 2, the detector device further comprising:

a storage device for storing one or more operator selections.

5. The detector device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the display device comprises at least one multi-colored LED.

6. The detector device of claim 5, wherein the display device sequences through all available LED colors in response to a specific detection event.

7. The detector device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the display device comprises at least one LCD having multi-colored backlighting.

8. The detector device of claim 7, wherein the display device sequences through all available backlighting colors in response to a specific detection event.

9. The detector device of claim 2, wherein the display device comprises at least one LCD display, and wherein the detection circuitry is capable of providing a numerical indicator of the pulse rate of the detected laser pulse frequency, the detector device further comprising:

a microcontroller configured to cause the pulse rate of the detected laser signal to be displayed in a numerical format on the LCD display.

10. The detector device of claim 9, the detector device further comprising:

a storage device for storing one or more laser pulse rates.

11. The detector device of claim 2, wherein the detection circuitry detects the pulse rate of the speed detection or traffic surveillance system, the detector device further comprising:

a storage device for storing the laser pulse rate obtained during a detection event, wherein the present detection event is compared with a past detection event, and wherein the operator may configure the detector to disable the display device or the alerting device, or provide an alternate display or alert, if the present detection event pulse rate is substantially the same as a stored laser pulse rate.