Radar detector with navigation function

• US 8,525,723 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Escort Incorporated (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Escort Incorporated (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Orr, Steven K., Coomer, Timothy A., Kuhn, John, Kipper, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US12/915,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20110102232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 342 13- 20, 342/82, 342/89, 342/90, 342165-175, 342/195, 342/350, 342/352, 342/357.2, 342/357.39, 342450-465, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 701/400, 701/408, 701/467, 248/200, 248/205.1, 248/205.5, 248/206.3, 248/214, 248/226.11, 248/231.51, 248/466, 248/475.1, 340/425.5, 340/463, 340/815.4, 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 296/1.01, 296/37.1, 296/37.7, 731/78.R, 361/600, 361/825, 224/400, 224/309, 224/311, 224/312
• US Class Current: 342/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4806 Road traffic laser detectors

Abstract

A GPS enabled radar detector incorporated in a general purpose navigation device dynamically handles radar sources based upon previously-stored geographically-referenced information on such sources and data from the GPS receiver. The detector may ignore detections received in an area known to contain a stationary source, or may only ignore specific frequencies or may handle frequencies differently based upon historic trends of spurious police radar signals at each frequency. Notification of the driver may take a variety of forms depending on the stored information, current operating modes, and vehicle speed. The device includes navigational functions as well. In one embodiment, the detector uses a transparent touch screen and a readily aligned mounting.

Claims

1. A navigation and police activity warning device comprising:

a receiver section receiving signals in a signal band used in the context of law enforcement activity;

a warning section responding to the receiver section and capable of providing an audible warning of a received signal;

a position determining circuit;

a touch-sensitive display screen;

a processor receiving having a memory storing position-related information and controlling the warning section and the touch-sensitive display screen to cause display of receiver information on the status of the receiver section and position information from the memory relating to a position identified by the position determining circuit, the processor causing the touch-sensitive display screen to selectively and simultaneously display both the receiver and position information in at least two different arrangements.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a radar reflector for reflecting radar signals in a signal band used in the context of law enforcement activity to said receiver section.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the radar reflector is parabolic.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising an antenna horn having a long axis mounted parallel to a plane of the display screen.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a reflector for receiving radar signals from in front of the vehicle and reflecting them to said antenna.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the reflector is parabolic.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said antenna horn is positioned behind a display surface of said display screen.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor controls the touch-sensitive display screen to present a touch screen button that, when touched, causes the processor to select one of the at least two arrangements in which receiver and position information is simultaneously displayed on the touch screen display.

9. A navigation and police activity warning device comprising:

a passenger cockpit mounted housing;

a receiver section within the housing receiving signals in a signal band used in the context of law enforcement activity;

a warning section within the housing responding to the receiver section and providing a warning of a received signal, the warning being generated, suppressed or modified at least in part in response to a vehicle location derived from a position determining circuit;

a display screen within the housing; and

a radar reflector within the housing for reflecting radar signals in a signal band used in the context of law enforcement activity to said receiver section.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the radar reflector is parabolic.

11. The device of claim 9 further comprising an antenna horn having a long axis mounted parallel to a plane of the display screen.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said antenna horn is positioned behind a display surface of said display screen.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the display screen is a touch-sensitive display screen.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the touch-sensitive display screen presents a touch screen button that, when touched, permits the selection of one of at least two arrangements in which information is displayed on the touch screen display.

15. A radar detection device for attachment to a ground vehicle comprising:

a transparent display screen allowing viewing of the vehicle surrounding through the display screen,

a receiver section within a housing receiving signals in a signal band used in the context of law enforcement activity;

a warning section within the housing responding to the receiver section and providing a warning of a received signal;

a mounting for mounting said display screen adjacent to a windshield of the vehicle.

16. The display screen of claim 15 wherein the screen is an OLED LCD display.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein said display is a touch-sensitive display.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the mounting mounts to a dashboard of the vehicle.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein the mounting mounts to a rearview mirror of the vehicle.