Radar false alert reduction

• US 9,279,881 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Escort Incorporated (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Escort Incorporated (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Orr, Steven K., Kuhn, John, Stevens, Jeff, Humphrey, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US13/794,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 342/13, 342/20, 342/89, 342/175, 342/195, 342 90- 93, 342/165, 342/173, 342/174, 342/66, 342/176, 342/179, 382/100, 382/104, 348/61, 348/113, 348/118, 348/119, 348/143, 348/152, 348/155
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/023 Interference mitigation, e.g. reducing or avoiding non-intentional interference with other HF-transmitters, base station transmitters for mobile communication or other radar systems, e.g. using electro-magnetic interference [EMI] reduction techniques auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like G01S7/021; means for anti-jamming G01S7/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements

Abstract

A radar detector suppresses alerts from vehicle guidance systems, by sweeping for a consistent radar signal; the center frequency of the signal is stored and the detector suppresses warnings of radar signals near that frequency. The detector uses an enhanced method for suppression of signals near a known location of a false signal source; in the event the detector detects a radar signal and finds a matching stored false signal, the detector will first compare the strength of the received signal to a threshold strength that is computed based upon the distance of the detector from the stored false signal, and will only suppress signals below threshold. The detector includes a camera directed to the road in the vicinity of the vehicle. Image data from the camera is processed to identify police vehicles as identified by flashing lights, a profile including a rooftop light bar and/or highly contrasting colored panels.

Claims

1. A radar detector including circuitry to identify and suppress alerts of locally generated radar signals from vehicle guidance systems, the radar detector comprising a radar receiver for detecting radar signals and signal processing electronics for controlling the radar receiver and evaluating detected radar signals, the signal processing electronics comprising a processor programmed via software to:

a. perform a lockout sequence during operation of the radar detector, the lockout sequence comprising scanning a radar band for a vehicle guidance radar signal that is consistently received and otherwise consistent with vehicle guidance systems signal emissions from the vehicle carrying the radar detector;

b. identify a center frequency of a vehicle guidance signal emission identified in the preceding step, and storing the center frequency; and

thereafter

c. suppress warnings of radar signals at frequencies near to the stored center frequency.

2. The radar detector of claim 1 wherein the local source lockout sequence is performed when power is first applied to the radar detector.

3. The radar detector of claim 1 wherein in the local source lockout sequence the signal processing electronics scan for radar signals that are consistently received over time.

4. The radar detector of claim 1 wherein in the local source lockout sequence the signal processing electronics scan for radar signals that are consistently received at multiple locations.

5. The radar detector of claim 1 wherein the center frequency is in one of K-band, Ka-band or X-band.

6. The radar detector of claim 1 wherein the signal processing electronics are configurable to be placed in an operative mode in which the local source lockout sequence is not performed.

7. The radar detector of claim 1 wherein the signal processing electronics perform a discrimination function to identify that two discriminable signals appear near to the stored center frequency, the radar detector producing an alert in at least one instance when two discriminable signals are detected near to the stored center frequency.

8. A radar detector including circuitry for suppressing radar detector alerts of false signals near a known location of a false signal source, the radar detector comprising a radar receiver for detecting radar signals, signal processing electronics for controlling the radar receiver and evaluating detected radar signals, and storage for known locations of false signal sources, the signal processing electronics comprising a processor programmed via software to:

a. detect a radar signal;

b. identify a stored record of a known false signal source location having a frequency correlatable to the detected radar signal;

c. compare the strength of the received signal to a threshold strength, the threshold strength being computed based upon a distance of the detector from the stored false signal;

d. alter or not provide an alert of the received signal if the received signal is below the threshold strength.

9. The radar detector of claim 8 wherein an alert of the received signal is reported by in a visual but not audible alert where the strength of the received signal is below the threshold.

10. The radar detector of claim 8 wherein an alert of the received signal is reported by a visual and audible alert where the strength of the received signal is above the threshold.

11. The radar detector of claim 8 wherein the threshold is computed as 3 dB higher than an expected signal strength for the false signal source.

12. The radar detector of claim 11 wherein the expected signal strength is computed according to an inverse square-law relationship between signal strength and the distance of the radar detector from the location stored for the false signal source.

13. The radar detector of claim 12 wherein signals falling below the threshold are tracked over time and in the event they are persistent over time, an alert is generated.

14. A radar detector implementing a method of identifying visual information relevant to speed monitoring, comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a radar receiver for detecting radar signals integrated within the housing;

c. electronics for controlling the radar receiver and evaluating detected radar signals integrated within the housing;

d. a camera integrated with the housing directed forward from the radar detector face toward the oncoming road when the radar detector is in use;

wherein the electronics gather image data from the camera and process that data to identify visual information relevant to speed monitoring in the image data.

15. The radar detector of claim 14, wherein the electronics evaluate time-sequential images to identify flashing lights characteristic of a functioning light bar on a police or emergency vehicle.

16. The radar detector of claim 14, herein the electronics evaluate one or more images to identify a vehicle profile characteristic of a police vehicle.

17. The radar detector of claim 16 wherein the vehicle profile includes a rooftop light bar.

18. The radar detector of claim 16 wherein the vehicle profile includes highly contrasting colored panels.

19. The radar detector of claim 16 wherein the vehicle profile comprises a vehicle stationed to monitor traffic.

20. The radar detector of claim 14 wherein the electronics respond to one or more images indicative of police activity by generating an alert to other drivers in a social network either unilaterally or upon confirmation by a vehicle operator.