Abstract: A police radar signal detector detects and monitors radar signals from up to nine (9) radar sources until a detected radar signal has not been redetected for a given number of detector operations, or spectrum sweeps, or until a detected signal has been displaced by a higher priority radar signal. In the police radar signal detector of the present invention, a user of the detector is advised not only of the presence of detected radar signals, the frequency band of detected radar signals and the relative field strength of the signals but also of the number of different radar signal sources which are transmitting signals toward the user's motor vehicle. The information provided to the user for the frequency band of detected radar signals and the relative field strength of the signals is for the highest priority radar signal detected if more than one signal has been detected and is being monitored by the detector of the present invention.

Abstract: A police radar signal detector detects and monitors radar signals from up to nine (9) radar sources until a detected radar signal has not been redetected for a given number of detector operations, or spectrum sweeps, or until a detected signal has been displaced by a higher priority radar signal. In the police radar signal detector of the present invention, a user of the detector is advised not only of the presence of detected radar signals, the frequency band of detected radar signals and the relative field strength of the signals but also of the number of different radar signal sources which are transmitting signals toward the user's motor vehicle. The information provided to the user for the frequency band of detected radar signals and the relative field strength of the signals is for the highest priority radar signal detected if more than one signal has been detected and is being monitored by the detector of the present invention.

Abstract: A police radar signal detector detects and monitors radar signals from up to nine (9) radar sources until a detected radar signal has not been redetected for a given number of detector operations, or spectrum sweeps, or until a detected signal has been displaced by a higher priority radar signal. In the police radar signal detector of the present invention, a user of the detector is advised not only of the presence of detected radar signals, the frequency band of detected radar signals and the relative field strength of the signals but also of the number of different radar signal sources which are transmitting signals toward the user's motor vehicle. The information provided to the user for the frequency band of detected radar signals and the relative field strength of the signals is for the highest priority radar signal detected if more than one signal has been detected and is being monitored by the detector of the present invention.

Abstract: A police radar detector detects both the presence of radar signals incident upon a motor vehicle using the detector and also determines the direction of origin of the source of detected radar signals and alerts the operator of the motor vehicle of the presence and source direction of the radar signals. The radar detector includes at least two antennas and preferably three or more antennas with detector circuitry shared among the antennas in a single detector housing. One of the antennas is directed generally toward the front of the motor vehicle and, for a three antenna embodiment, the second and third antennas are directed at angles of generally 120.degree. to the left and 120.degree. to the right of the front of the vehicle. As the police speed radar frequency bands are scanned or swept, each potential radar signal which is detected is processed to determine the direction of origin of the signals.

Abstract: A police radar signal detector detects and monitors radar signals from up to nine (9) radar sources until a detected radar signal has not been redetected for a given number of detector operations, or spectrum sweeps, or until a detected signal has been displaced by a higher priority radar signal. In the police radar signal detector of the present invention, a user of the detector is advised not only of the presence of detected radar signals, the frequency band of detected radar signals and the relative field strength of the signals but also of the number of different radar signal sources which are transmitting signals toward the user's motor vehicle. The information provided to the user for the frequency band of detected radar signals and the relative field strength of the signals is for the highest priority radar signal detected if more than one signal has been detected and is being monitored by the detector of the present invention.

Abstract: A microstripline microwave mixer circuit includes a waveguide microstrip filter formed by coupling a section of ridged waveguide to a microstripline circuit. The ridged waveguide based microstrip filter both serves as a high-pass filter for RF input signals and also provides a suitable termination for the RF input side of the mixer circuit resulting in a compact multifrequency mixer circuit with good performance. The section of ridged waveguide is coupled to the microstripline circuit such that the dielectric substrate of the microstripline circuit is within the waveguide section thereby increasing the effective dielectric constant of the waveguide interior and decreasing the dimensions of the waveguide. This configuration of the high-pass filter presents a smaller component than would be present in air-filled waveguide mixer circuits.

Abstract: A power plug is provided for electrically connecting a receiver of a radar warning detector with an electrical system of a motor vehicle. The power plug comprises a plastic housing having a forward tubular end which is insertable within a lighter socket of the vehicle. Metallic spring arms are mounted within the forward tubular end of the power plug and extend outwardly therefrom to electrically connect the receiver with the vehicle's electrical system. One or more resilient power plug pads are mounted to the forward tubular end of the power plug and serve to frictionally engage the lighter socket to resist movement of the power plug within the socket, thereby ensuring that the power plug remains positioned within the lighter socket even during prolonged periods of operation of the radar warning detector.

Abstract: A police radar detector detects both the presence of radar signals incident upon a motor vehicle using the detector and also determines the direction of origin of the source of detected radar signals and signals the operator of the motor vehicle of the presence and source direction of the radar signals. Preferably, the radar detector includes two antennas with shared circuitry in a single housing. One of the antennas is directed generally toward the front of the motor vehicle and the other antenna is directed generally to the rear of the motor vehicle. As the police speed radar frequency bands are scanned or swept, each potential radar signal which is detected is processed to determine the direction of origin of the signals. To determine the direction of origin of incident radar signals, the signals are detected in both antennas with the signal strengths in the two antennas being compared to determine the direction of origin of the signals.

Abstract: A radar detector for use in a motor vehicle employs amplitude detection to sense the presence of radar signals commonly used to monitor the speed of such motor vehicles. Amplitude signals are generated by down-converting received signals using a series of mixers, one of which is swept to insure signal detection, and compared to a threshold which is controlled such that noise is detected by the comparison on average a selected period of time. Detected amplitude signals must persist for a given period of time before they are considered to be potentially valid radar signals. After passing the first test of persistence, the signals are verified by means of frequency modulating the first of the series of mixers, detecting the frequency modulation and correlating the detected frequency modulation to determine whether the signal is valid and if so, to which radar frequency band the signal belongs. A first embodiment of the radar detector monitors the X band (10.475-10.575 Ghz), the Ku band (13.400-13.

Abstract: Two suction cups are used to stably secure a radar detector or other device to the interior of a windshield of a motor vehicle, yet the suction cups are readily removed from the windshield by application of a single removal force which is applied to the suction cups, preferably simultaneously. The suction cups are each provided with an apertured protrusion or ear. The apertures of the ears receive a release bar which extends between the two cups and permits a single force to release both cups substantially simultaneously. The release bar includes an operating tab which can be activated by a user's thumb or finger(s) while the thumb or finger(s) and palm of one of the user's hands extend under the device. In this way, a radar detector or other device can be mounted by grasping it in one hand and forcing it against the windshield and removed from the windshield by the force of the grasping motion of one hand.

Abstract: A low loss high-pass microwave filter for microstrip circuits comprises a single-ridge waveguide which is attached to a microstrip circuit in a manner to establish a cutoff frequency for the circuit. The single-ridge waveguide has a top wall and sidewalls with a ridge projecting centrally from the top wall into the waveguide. The waveguide is associated with the microstrip circuit such that the sidewalls of the waveguide extend through a dielectric substrate of the circuit parallel to and on opposite sides of a microstrip line of the circuit and are connected electrically and physically to the ground plane, which forms a bottom wall for the waveguide. The ridge of the waveguide has a width which is equal to or narrower than the microstrip line and is aligned with the microstrip line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a double-ridge wavguide to a microstrip circuit. A lower ridge of a coupling section of waveguide is expanded by gradually increasing its width such that at the beginning of the coupling the lower ridge is equal to the width of the lower ridge of the double-ridge waveguide to be coupled and at the end of the coupling the width of the lower ridge is equal to the full width of the coupling. This flaring of the lower ridge creates an electrically conductive surface for receiving a ground plane for the microstrip circuit. Additionally, the upper ridge is altered gradually such that at the beginning of the coupling the ridge gap is equal to the gap in the double-ridge waveguide and at the end of the coupling the ridge gap is equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the dielectric substrate, the microstrip line, and the ground plane of the microstrip circuit.

Abstract: An acceleration measuring system, mountable on the body of a vehicle of the type having a suspension system which permits the vehicle to pitch and roll with respect to the surface over which the vehicle travels, determines and displays the lateral and forward acceleration of the vehicle in the plane of the surface. The system includes an acceleration transducer arrangement which provides indications of acceleration in nominal lateral, forward, and vertical directions. A programmed microprocessor transforms these indications of acceleration to a coordinate system in which two axes are parallel to the surface. A display provides a visual display of acceleration in the two axes.

Abstract: A fast-flared horn antenna for use in a microwave detector comprises an upwardly flared top wall, a downwardly flared bottom wall, and outwardly flared side walls extending between the top wall and the bottom wall. The curvature and the first derivative of the curvature of the flares of the top, bottom and side walls are continuous. Flared and vanishing first and second ridges are formed into the bottom wall and the top wall respectively, the curvature and the first derivative of the curvature of the flares of the first and second ridges are also continuous and sized such that the first and second ridges vanish into the bottom and top walls and the side walls at the same plane. The horn antenna may be sized such that the ridges vanish at the front edge of the aperture of the horn antenna or the ridges may vanish within the horn antenna.

Abstract: An accelerometer for measuring the acceleration of a body in the direction of a reference axis includes a support member, mountable on the body, and a magnet arrangement mounted on the support member which defines an air gap between pole surfaces extending generally parallel to the reference axis. The magnet provides magnetic flux across the air gap which coacts with a magnetic field produced an electromagnetic coil assembly mounted on a movable member. The movable member is mounted on the support member by a hinge which includes a piece of polymer film permitting the movable member to pivot with respect to the support member about a pivot axis generally perpendicular to the reference axis. The polymer film is molded into portions of the movable member and the support member.