Integrated vehicle cellular telephone detection system
First Claim
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1. A method of discouraging the use of a wireless communication device by the operator of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- detecting radio frequency signals with at least one antenna located in the vicinity of the operator and providing an electrical signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna;
amplifying the electrical signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna and outputting an amplified signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna in a specified frequency range, said specified frequency range being a range of frequencies used by the wireless communication device;
connecting the amplified signal to a processing unit;
processing the amplified signal in the processing unit to detect whether the wireless communication device is in use in the vehicle;
outputting a control signal from the processing unit to a warning unit, said control signal having a value indicative of whether the wireless communication device has been detected; and
if the control signal output from the processing unit has a value indicating that a wireless communication device has been detected, then taking action by the warning unit to discourage the operator from using the wireless communication device while driving the motor vehicle.
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Abstract
There is provided a structure and a method to detect a signal prompted by the use of a wireless communications device in a motor vehicle or, optionally, in the area of a vehicle operator station. A signal detection will set off audible and/or visual alarms. The alarms may continue until the signal is no longer detected.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of discouraging the use of a wireless communication device by the operator of a motor vehicle, comprising:
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detecting radio frequency signals with at least one antenna located in the vicinity of the operator and providing an electrical signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna; amplifying the electrical signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna and outputting an amplified signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna in a specified frequency range, said specified frequency range being a range of frequencies used by the wireless communication device; connecting the amplified signal to a processing unit; processing the amplified signal in the processing unit to detect whether the wireless communication device is in use in the vehicle; outputting a control signal from the processing unit to a warning unit, said control signal having a value indicative of whether the wireless communication device has been detected; and if the control signal output from the processing unit has a value indicating that a wireless communication device has been detected, then taking action by the warning unit to discourage the operator from using the wireless communication device while driving the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system discouraging the use of a wireless communication device by the operator of a motor vehicle, comprising:
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at least one antenna detecting radio frequency signals and providing an electrical signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna; an amplifier amplifying the electrical signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna and outputting an amplified signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna in a specified frequency range, said specified frequency range being a range of frequencies used by the wireless communication device; a processing unit; a connector connecting the processing unit to the amplified signal output by said amplifier, the processing unit processing the amplified signal to detect whether the wireless communication device is in use and outputting a control signal having a value indicative of whether the wireless communication device has been detected; and a warning unit receiving the control signal from the processing unit and, if the control signal has a value indicating that the wireless communication device has been detected, then taking action to discourage the operator from using the wireless communication device while driving the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A motor vehicle, comprising:
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a position for an operator operating the motor vehicle; at least one passenger position for a passenger in the motor vehicle; at least one antenna located in the vicinity of said operator position and separated from said at least one passenger position, said at least one antenna detecting radio frequency signals and providing an electrical signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna; an amplifier amplifying the electrical signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna and outputting an amplified signal representative of the radio frequency signals detected by said at least one antenna in a specified frequency range, said specified frequency range being a range of frequencies used by the wireless communication device; a processing unit; a connector connecting the processing unit to the amplified signal output by said amplifier, the processing unit processing the amplified signal to detect whether the wireless communications device is in use and outputting a control signal having a value indicative of whether the wireless communications device has been detected; and a warning unit receiving the control signal from the processing unit and, if the control signal has a value indicating that the wireless communications device has been detected, then taking action to discourage the operator from using the wireless communications device while driving the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification