Acceleration detector with integral vehicle parameter display using a vehicle interface

• US 7,098,844 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• 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: Clawson, Jeffrey J., Kuhn, John, Orr, Steven K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US11/010,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 342/165, 342173-175, 342/106
• US Class Current: 342/174
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2007/52012 involving a reference ground return
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/38 Jamming means, e.g. producing false echoes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4021 of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/48 of systems according to group G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4806 Road traffic laser detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/495 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures using electronic or electro-optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/51 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P

Abstract

Calibration of an acceleration detector is initiated by a user depressable button such as a button indicating a vehicle is at rest and/or by the detector reading an OBDII vehicle communication protocol to determine the condition of the vehicle. Calibration permits more accurate measurements in a vehicle performance test.

Claims

1. An police radar detector comprising:

a receiver section receiving signals generated in the context of law enforcement activity,

a vehicle interface for reading vehicle activity data,

a controller responsive to said vehicle activity data and coupled to said receiver section to adjust sensitivity of said detector to signals generated in the context of law enforcement in response to vehicle speed data from said vehicle interface.

2. The detector of claim 1 further comprising an accelerometer configured to provide measurements of vehicle acceleration, wherein said controller calibrates operation of said accelerometer for a vehicle performance test.

3. The detector of claim 2 wherein said controller detects a known condition from said vehicle activity data as part of calibration, wherein said known condition is a condition of a vehicle being at rest.

4. An acceleration detector comprising:

a controller configured to execute program code for a vehicle performance test;

an accelerometer configured to provide measurements of vehicle acceleration; and

a vehicle interface for reading vehicle activity data;

said controller responsive to said vehicle activity data to calibrate operation of said accelerometer.

5. The detector of claim 4 wherein said controller calibrates operation of said accelerometer for a vehicle performance test.

6. The detector of claim 4 wherein vehicle activity data indicative that a vehicle is at rest is used to calibrate operation of said accelerometer.

7. The detector of claim 4 wherein vehicle activity data indicative of motion of a vehicle is used to calibrate operation of said accelerometer.

8. The detector of claim 4 wherein said vehicle interface is compliant with an on-board diagnostics (OBD) standard.