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Cellular augmented radar/laser detector

Cellular augmented radar/laser detector description/claims

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application 60/777,541 to Pitt et al. entitled “Cellular Augmented Radar/Laser Detector”, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wireless telecommunications. More particularly, it relates to the combination of cellular communication technology with radar/laser detection technology.

2. Background of the Related Art

Radar detectors are well known, as are laser detectors. Radar detectors detect radio frequency emissions in a given frequency range. Laser detectors detect an impinging laser beam directed toward the detector.

In a popular application, radar or laser detectors are used for automobiles, and are often quite small and many times are battery operated to eliminate the need for power cords. A modern radar or laser detector can run for 60 to 90 days on two AA 1.5v cell batteries, so their power needs are relatively small. Radar or laser detectors detect the presence of any of a variety of radar or laser emissions. They warn a driver of a vehicle of an impending radar trap by emitting an audible and/or visible warning indicating the detection of radar impinging upon the antenna of the radar device. For instance, different audio tones may be sounded representing each type of detection. Technology attempts to increase the amount of advance warning given to the driver.

Thus, any given radar detector warns the occupants and particularly the driver of any given vehicle, some giving more warning time than others. A driver of the vehicle must react immediately to avoid consequences related to being detected by the radar or laser. Ideally, this is sufficient time to avoid the consequences, but in many instances it may already be too late as at that point the speed of the vehicle may have already been measured. This is particularly true if the operator of the radar or laser emission is pointing and shooting once the driver's vehicle comes into range.

Vehicles to follow may suffer the same fate, especially since they at best will not receive any earlier warning of the detection of radar or laser than did the driver before. This is because a driver is warned about emissions that their device detects directly.

There is a need for providing earlier warning to users of radar and/or laser detectors.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a cellular augmented emission detection device comprises a radar emission detector element, and a signal processor to process detection made by the radar emission detector element. Importantly, a cellular front end is in direct communication with the signal processor. A warning is initiated from the cellular augmented emission detection device upon receipt of information over the cellular front end relating to detection of radar emission not detected by the radar emission detector element but rather by another cellular augmented emission detection device.

In another aspect, a cellular augmented emission detection device comprises a laser emission detector element, and a signal processor to process detection made by the laser emission detector element. Importantly, a cellular front end is in direct communication with the laser signal processor. A warning is initiated from the cellular augmented emission detection device upon receipt of information over the cellular front end relating to detection of laser emission not detected by the laser emission detector element but rather by another cellular augmented emission detection device.

A method of passing radar or laser emission data from one radar/laser detector device to another in accordance with yet another aspect of the invention comprises augmenting a radar/laser emission detector with a cellular front end. A transmission is initiated over the cellular front end, and information related to detection of radar or laser is passed by the augmented radar/laser emission detector in the initiated transmission.

Another method of passing radar or laser emission data from one radar/laser detector device to another comprises augmenting a radar/laser emission detector with a cellular front end, and receiving information over the cellular front end relating to detection of radar or laser by another radar/laser detector at a time that the radar or laser emission detector is not detecting emission.

FIG. 1 shows a hybrid radar/laser detector device including cellular communications capability, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of hybrid radar/laser emission detector devices each having the capability to source the location of radar or laser emission detections, and each being warned when within a proximity of a recent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of the plurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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