Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of objects in a vehicle operator's blind spots. The apparatus comprises a side-facing Doppler radar system using continuous wave (CW) transmission with frequency modulation (FM) operation from a frequency modulation switching technique. The radar system determines the presence, range and closing rate of detected targets. The radar system detects targets even when operated in adverse weather conditions and will not generate false warnings due to rain clutter caused by wet roads and other wet surroundings. The radar system uses ranging techniques to reject false targets that are detected outside of a predetermined target detection zone. In accordance with the present invention, the radar system indicates that a target is detected if and only if any part of the target is within the detection zone and it: (1) remains in front of the antenna for at least TH1 seconds; (2) is at a range between Range.sub.min and Range.sub.

Abstract: The present invention provides an emergency vehicle command and control system for preemption of intersection traffic signals. Specifically, the system employs coded microwave transmissions from the emergency vehicle which are received by a scanned antenna array at the intersection and are processed to determine the direction-of-arrival of the signal. Each coded transmission received at the intersection is demodulated and error checked for validity. Valid transmissions are communicated to an intersection controller to preempt traffic signals. The system is also equipped to handle multiple vehicle arrivals and to transmit a coded signal to adjacent or orthogonal intersections to execute around-the-corner preemption control. Additionally, all preemption events may be stored in a memory for later retrieval and analysis.

Abstract: A dynamic threshold binary generator to generate a binary video image having a standard video signal fed to three positive peak detectors and three negative peak detectors, each group of three connected through respective OR gates to a sample and hold circuit then fed to an averaging circuit which then feeds to a comparator which also receives the standard video signal delayed, to then feed out the binary video image signal.