RADAR DETECTOR WITH NAVIGATION FUNCTION

• US 20110102232A1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Escort Incorporated (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Escort Incorporated (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kuhn, John, Kipper, Kevin L., Coomer, Timothy A., Orr, Steven K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,525,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 providing a warning of a received signal, the warning being generated, or suppressed or modified at least in part in response to a vehicle location derived from a position determining circuit;

a touch-sensitive display screen;

wherein the touch-sensitive display screen provides information on the status of the receiver section and/or warning section in a variety of 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 deflector 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 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.

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 or translucent display screen allowing viewing of the vehicle surrounding through the display screen,

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;

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.

20. A windshield mount and radar detecting device comprising:

a member that affixes to a windshield coupled to a clip with an upward facing tab;

a radar detecting device having a housing with a front facing surface, the front facing surface defining a downward facing opening adapted to receive the upward facing tab.

21. The windshield mount and radar detecting device of claim 20 wherein the mount further comprises a snap with a downward facing tab, and the front facing surface of the device further comprises a clasp adapted to engage the snap.

22. The windshield mount and radar detecting device of claim 21 wherein said upward facing tab has a tapered edge to facilitate mounting of said downward facing opening thereto.