US5917430A — Radar based highway safety warning system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 136 words

A radar transmitter comprising: a signal generator; and a controller, said signal generator being responsive to said controller to transmit a CW marker signal and codes for bits of a message being generated by modulation from said controller, said bits of said message being transmitted after said CW marker signal turns off, said CW marker signal having signal characteristics for detection by a receiver having a message decoder for decoding said message and by a conventional radar detector unresponsive to said codes, wherein said controller comprises a sweep generator to frequency modulate said codes of said bits, wherein said sweep generator sweeps from a high frequency to a low frequency to represent a first logical state and from a low frequency to a high frequency to represent a second logical state of one of said bits.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 136 words

A radar transmitter comprising: a signal generator; and a controller, said signal generator being responsive to said controller to transmit a CW marker signal and codes for bits of a message being generated by modulation from said controller, said bits of said message being transmitted after said CW marker signal turns off, said CW marker signal having signal characteristics for detection by a receiver having a message decoder for decoding said message and by a conventional radar detector unresponsive to said codes, wherein said controller comprises a sweep generator to frequency modulate said codes of said bits, wherein said sweep generator sweeps from a high frequency to a low frequency to represent a first logical state and from a low frequency to a high frequency to represent a second logical state of one of said bits.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said modulation generates sidebands insufficient to trigger signal rejection logic in said conventional radar detector.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said sweep generator sweeps at a first rate to represent a first logical state and at a second rate to represent a second logical state of one of said bits.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein a predetermined pattern of said bits comprises a code for a predetermined message.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus recited in claim 4, wherein said code corresponds to a code stored in a receiver to retrieve said predefined message from a location in a memory where said predefined message is stored.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said signal generator outputs signals with frequencies in a range corresponding to a range of frequencies transmitted by conventional police radar.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said signal generator outputs frequencies in a range detectable by an automotive radar warning detector.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, comprising an antenna operatively connected to receive signals from said signal generator and to broadcast said signals.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising a receiver, said receiver receiving a signal reflected from said vehicle indicating said vehicle's presence and in response thereto generating an enable signal to enable said controller to generate said data, thereby producing logical states to form said message for transmission to said vehicle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein said receiver processes said signal reflected from said vehicle to determine if said vehicle is exceeding a predetermined speed.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein said receiver processing said signal detects a doppler shift in frequency to determine if said vehicle exceeds a predetermined speed.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 66 words

The apparatus recited in claim 11, further comprising: means for converting said doppler shift means for comparing a reference indicative of a doppler shift in frequency corresponding to said predetermined speed, to said voltage and producing an output having a first state when said voltage is less than or equal to said reference and a second state when said voltage from said discriminator exceeds said reference.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus recited in claim 12, wherein said reference is adjustable to correspond to road conditions about to be encountered by said vehicle.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus recited in claim 11, comprising circuitry implementing a Fourier transform to convert said doppler shift to said voltage.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 9 words

The apparatus recited in claim 11, comprising a discriminator.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said message comprises information concerning driving conditions about to be encountered by said vehicle.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said message comprises a warning about proximity of another object to said vehicle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said message comprises a warning that said vehicle should reduce speed to accommodate conditions in an area about to be encountered by said vehicle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said message indicates one of a plurality of predetermined text messages used to alert a driver to a condition in an area about to be encountered by said vehicle.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said message is an externally generated message received by said apparatus through an external input.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus recited in claim 20, wherein said message is a free format message having less than a predetermined number of characters.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 69 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising a receiver to receive radar reflections from said vehicle and to determine a velocity of said vehicle from said radar reflections by comparing said velocity of said vehicle to a threshold and providing commands to said controller to modulate said signal generator to transmit said message when said velocity of said vehicle exceeds said threshold and to transmit without modulation otherwise.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 168 words

A receiver for receiving messages transmitted thereto comprising: a receive antenna; a detector/mixer operatively connected to receive a signal output from said receive antenna; a fixed or variable frequency first local oscillator operatively connected to provide a fixed or an adjustable difference frequency signal to said mixer; an intermediate frequency stage having an IF bandwidth and receiving an output of said mixer, said intermediate frequency stage being operative to adjust one of said local oscillator or a second local oscillator to place said output of said mixer in a center region of said IF bandwidth in response to receipt of a CW marker signal; a frequency discriminator configured to produce, after cessation of receipt of said CW marker signal, a predetermined voltage each time the frequency of said signal output from said receive antenna varies, a logical state of a bit of said message being changed from a logical state of a preceding bit when said frequency of said signal output sweeps in frequency by a predetermined amount.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 168 words

A receiver for receiving messages transmitted thereto comprising: a receive antenna; a detector/mixer operatively connected to receive a signal output from said receive antenna; a fixed or variable frequency first local oscillator operatively connected to provide a fixed or an adjustable difference frequency signal to said mixer; an intermediate frequency stage having an IF bandwidth and receiving an output of said mixer, said intermediate frequency stage being operative to adjust one of said local oscillator or a second local oscillator to place said output of said mixer in a center region of said IF bandwidth in response to receipt of a CW marker signal; a frequency discriminator configured to produce, after cessation of receipt of said CW marker signal, a predetermined voltage each time the frequency of said signal output from said receive antenna varies, a logical state of a bit of said message being changed from a logical state of a preceding bit when said frequency of said signal output sweeps in frequency by a predetermined amount.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus recited in claim 23, comprising a voltage detector to detect said predetermined voltage, induced by the change of received frequency.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 174 words

A transceiver for transmitting a message to a vehicle comprising: an antenna; a modulator, said modulator being one of a phase modulator and a frequency modulator; an oscillator responsive to said modulator to produce one of a phase modulated and a frequency modulated signal; a mixer; a turnstile circuit routing a first portion of said modulated signal to said antenna and a second portion of said modulated signal to said mixer, said turnstile circuit further routing a radar reflection from said vehicle received by said antenna to said mixer; a discriminator operatively connected to receive an output of said mixer, said output of said mixer having a frequency indicative of a speed of said vehicle, said discriminator producing a voltage indicative of said speed of said vehicle; and a modulation controller responsive to said voltage to control said modulator to modulate one of frequency and phase of said portion of said modulated signal routed to said antenna to produce transitions detectable by a receiver in said vehicle, said transitions comprising portions of said message.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 174 words

A transceiver for transmitting a message to a vehicle comprising: an antenna; a modulator, said modulator being one of a phase modulator and a frequency modulator; an oscillator responsive to said modulator to produce one of a phase modulated and a frequency modulated signal; a mixer; a turnstile circuit routing a first portion of said modulated signal to said antenna and a second portion of said modulated signal to said mixer, said turnstile circuit further routing a radar reflection from said vehicle received by said antenna to said mixer; a discriminator operatively connected to receive an output of said mixer, said output of said mixer having a frequency indicative of a speed of said vehicle, said discriminator producing a voltage indicative of said speed of said vehicle; and a modulation controller responsive to said voltage to control said modulator to modulate one of frequency and phase of said portion of said modulated signal routed to said antenna to produce transitions detectable by a receiver in said vehicle, said transitions comprising portions of said message.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus recited in claim 25, wherein said modulation controller routes commands to said modulator to modulate said oscillator to produce first signals having a first phase and second signals having a second phase, said transitions being between said first and said second phases representing a first logical state and a second logical state of a bit of said message.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 62 words

The apparatus recited in claim 25, wherein said modulation controller routes commands to said modulator to modulate said oscillator to produce first signals having a first frequency and second signals having a second frequency, said transitions being between said first and said second frequencies representing a first logical state and a second logical state respectively of a bit of said message. message.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 175 words

A transceiver for transmitting a message to a vehicle operating at excessive speed comprising: an antenna; a variable frequency oscillator responsive to a controller to produce a swept frequency signal; a mixer; a turnstile circuit routing a first portion of said swept frequency signal to said antenna and a second portion of said swept frequency signal to said mixer, said turnstile circuit further routing a radar reflection from said vehicle received by said antenna to said mixer; a discriminator operatively connected to receive an output of said mixer, said output of said mixer having a frequency indicative of a speed of said vehicle, said discriminator producing a voltage indicative of said speed of said vehicle; said controller being responsive to said voltage to control said variable frequency oscillator to sweep said frequencies within at least a portion of said frequency band at a first rate and a second rate, said first rate representing a first logical state and said second rate representing a second logical state of bits of said message transmitted by said transceiver.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 175 words

A transceiver for transmitting a message to a vehicle operating at excessive speed comprising: an antenna; a variable frequency oscillator responsive to a controller to produce a swept frequency signal; a mixer; a turnstile circuit routing a first portion of said swept frequency signal to said antenna and a second portion of said swept frequency signal to said mixer, said turnstile circuit further routing a radar reflection from said vehicle received by said antenna to said mixer; a discriminator operatively connected to receive an output of said mixer, said output of said mixer having a frequency indicative of a speed of said vehicle, said discriminator producing a voltage indicative of said speed of said vehicle; said controller being responsive to said voltage to control said variable frequency oscillator to sweep said frequencies within at least a portion of said frequency band at a first rate and a second rate, said first rate representing a first logical state and said second rate representing a second logical state of bits of said message transmitted by said transceiver.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 121 words

A transmitter for transmitting a message to a vehicle comprising: a signal generator operative to produce CW marker signals and signals swept over a predetermined frequency band; and a controller, said signal generator being responsive to said controller to generate said CW marker signal and subsequently to sweep said signals within said frequency band in a first direction from a higher frequency to a lower frequency and in a second direction from a lower frequency to a higher frequency, said first and second directions each representing a different logical state of bits of said message, said signal generator further configured to transmit said CW marker signal, and to transmit said bits of said message after said CW marker signal turns off.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 121 words

A transmitter for transmitting a message to a vehicle comprising: a signal generator operative to produce CW marker signals and signals swept over a predetermined frequency band; and a controller, said signal generator being responsive to said controller to generate said CW marker signal and subsequently to sweep said signals within said frequency band in a first direction from a higher frequency to a lower frequency and in a second direction from a lower frequency to a higher frequency, said first and second directions each representing a different logical state of bits of said message, said signal generator further configured to transmit said CW marker signal, and to transmit said bits of said message after said CW marker signal turns off.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 176 words

A transceiver for transmitting a message to a vehicle operating at excessive speed comprising: an antenna; a variable frequency oscillator responsive to a controller to produce a swept frequency signal; a mixer; a turnstile circuit routing a first portion of said swept frequency signal to said antenna and a second portion of said swept frequency signal to said mixer, said turnstile circuit further routing a radar reflection from said vehicle received by said antenna to said mixer; a discriminator operatively connected to receive an output of said mixer, said output of said mixer having a frequency indicative of a speed of said vehicle, said discriminator producing a voltage indicative of said speed of said vehicle; said controller being responsive to said voltage to control said variable frequency oscillator to sweep frequency in a first direction from a higher frequency to a lower frequency and in a second direction from a lower frequency to a higher frequency, said first and second directions each representing a different logical state of bits of said message transmitted by said transceiver.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 176 words

A transceiver for transmitting a message to a vehicle operating at excessive speed comprising: an antenna; a variable frequency oscillator responsive to a controller to produce a swept frequency signal; a mixer; a turnstile circuit routing a first portion of said swept frequency signal to said antenna and a second portion of said swept frequency signal to said mixer, said turnstile circuit further routing a radar reflection from said vehicle received by said antenna to said mixer; a discriminator operatively connected to receive an output of said mixer, said output of said mixer having a frequency indicative of a speed of said vehicle, said discriminator producing a voltage indicative of said speed of said vehicle; said controller being responsive to said voltage to control said variable frequency oscillator to sweep frequency in a first direction from a higher frequency to a lower frequency and in a second direction from a lower frequency to a higher frequency, said first and second directions each representing a different logical state of bits of said message transmitted by said transceiver.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 33 words

A transceiver as recited in claim 30, wherein said oscillator is responsive to said controller to periodically produce a (continuous wave) CW marker signal at a fixed frequency for a fixed time period.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of transmitting messages to a vehicle equipped with a radar detector, the method comprising the steps of: generating a signal comprising a CW marker and a modulated signal having frequencies in a police radar band, said modulated signal transmitting codes for bits of a message after said CW marker turns off, said CW marker signal having signal characteristics for detection by both a receiver with a message decoder for detecting said message and by a conventional radar detector not responsive to said codes wherein said step of modulating said signal comprises frequency modulating said signal after transmission of said CW marker wherein said step of frequency modulating said signal comprises modulating said signal to transmit a first frequency and a second frequency, sweeps between said first and second frequencies representing logical states of said bits.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of transmitting messages to a vehicle equipped with a radar detector, the method comprising the steps of: generating a signal comprising a CW marker and a modulated signal having frequencies in a police radar band, said modulated signal transmitting codes for bits of a message after said CW marker turns off, said CW marker signal having signal characteristics for detection by both a receiver with a message decoder for detecting said message and by a conventional radar detector not responsive to said codes wherein said step of modulating said signal comprises frequency modulating said signal after transmission of said CW marker wherein said step of frequency modulating said signal comprises modulating said signal to transmit a first frequency and a second frequency, sweeps between said first and second frequencies representing logical states of said bits.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method recited in claim 32, wherein the step of modulating said signal further comprises sweeping said signal within a predetermined frequency range from a high frequency to a low frequency to represent a first logical state and from a low frequency to a high frequency to represent a second logical state of one of said bits.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method recited in claim 32, wherein the step of modulating said signal further comprises sweeping said radar signal at a first rate to represent a first logical state and at a second rate to represent a second logical state of one of said bits.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method recited in claim 32, further comprising: receiving radar reflections from said vehicle and determining a velocity of said vehicle from said radar reflections; comparing said velocity of said vehicle to a threshold; and modulating said radar signal to transmit said message when said velocity of said vehicle exceeds said threshold and to transmit without modulation otherwise.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 131 words

A message detector responsive to a CW marker signal to cause said message detector to set up to monitor a frequency band for transitions in signal characteristics within said frequency band subsequent to receipt of said CW marker signal and after said CW marker signal turns off, said transitions being indicative of bits of a message, comprising a local oscillator having an output applied to a mixer, said mixer outputting an IF center signal in a center of an IF band upon receipt of said CW marker, said mixer further outputting IF signals representing said transitions in signal characteristics, said IF signals sweeping between a first frequency below a center frequency of said IF band and a second frequency above said center frequency of said IF band to indicate said transitions.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 131 words

A message detector responsive to a CW marker signal to cause said message detector to set up to monitor a frequency band for transitions in signal characteristics within said frequency band subsequent to receipt of said CW marker signal and after said CW marker signal turns off, said transitions being indicative of bits of a message, comprising a local oscillator having an output applied to a mixer, said mixer outputting an IF center signal in a center of an IF band upon receipt of said CW marker, said mixer further outputting IF signals representing said transitions in signal characteristics, said IF signals sweeping between a first frequency below a center frequency of said IF band and a second frequency above said center frequency of said IF band to indicate said transitions.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 50 words

A message detector as recited in claim 36 said IF signal sweeping in a first direction to indicate a first state of a bit of said message and to transitions of said IF signal sweeping in a second direction to indicate a second state of a bit of said message.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 30 words

A message detector as recited in claim 37, comprising a memory, said memory being responsive to at least some bits of said message to output information stored in said memory.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 199 words

A message detector responsive to a CW marker to receive messages transmitted thereto comprising: a receive antenna; a detector/mixer operatively connected to receive a signal output from said receive antenna; a fixed or variable frequency first local oscillator operatively connected to provide a fixed or an adjustable difference frequency signal to said mixer; an intermediate frequency stage having an IF bandwidth and receiving an output of said mixer, said intermediate frequency stage being operative to set up said message detector to receive said message by adjusting one of said local oscillator or a second local oscillator to place said output of said mixer in a center region of said IF bandwidth in response to receipt of said CW marker signal, wherein said message detector receives said message after said CW marker signal turns off; a frequency discriminator producing a predetermined voltage each time the frequency of said signal output from said receive antenna varies after receipt of said CW marker, a logical state of a bit of said message being changed from a logical state of a preceding bit when said frequency of said signal output from said receive antenna sweets within said IF bandwidth by a predetermined amount.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 199 words

A message detector responsive to a CW marker to receive messages transmitted thereto comprising: a receive antenna; a detector/mixer operatively connected to receive a signal output from said receive antenna; a fixed or variable frequency first local oscillator operatively connected to provide a fixed or an adjustable difference frequency signal to said mixer; an intermediate frequency stage having an IF bandwidth and receiving an output of said mixer, said intermediate frequency stage being operative to set up said message detector to receive said message by adjusting one of said local oscillator or a second local oscillator to place said output of said mixer in a center region of said IF bandwidth in response to receipt of said CW marker signal, wherein said message detector receives said message after said CW marker signal turns off; a frequency discriminator producing a predetermined voltage each time the frequency of said signal output from said receive antenna varies after receipt of said CW marker, a logical state of a bit of said message being changed from a logical state of a preceding bit when said frequency of said signal output from said receive antenna sweets within said IF bandwidth by a predetermined amount.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 55 words

A message detector as recited in claim 39, said message decoder producing a first logical state of a bit of said message in response to said frequency sweeping within a predetermined range in a first direction and a second logical state in response to said frequency sweeping within a predetermined range in a second direction.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 25 words

A message detector as recited in claim 39, said message detector being responsive to bits of said message only after termination of said CW marker.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-06-28	2002-12-28	2003-06-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-06-28	2006-12-28	2007-06-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-06-28	2010-12-28	2011-06-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Radar based highway safety warning system

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