Radar detector with multi-band directional display and enhanced detection of false alerts
An enhanced radar detector in one example displays a source direction of one more detected signals simultaneously with a frequency band of the detected signal. In another embodiment, a method detects a location of a false alert source to suppress alerts emanating from the location. A geographic location of a first mid-ship point of a detected radar signal in a vehicle traveling in a first direction are identified/recorded. The geographic location of a second mid-ship point of a detected signal is also identified/recorded in a vehicle traveling in a second different direction. The recorded geographic locations/directions of travel are uploaded to a host server, or evaluated within the radar detector, to identify a false source and mark a false source at an intersection of the first and second midlines. The marked false source location can be used in a detector and/or downloaded to multiple detectors via a social network.
1. A method of using one or more radar detectors to identify a physical location of a radar source, the radar detectors comprising a processor, a radar receiver for detecting radar signals, and signal processing electronics for controlling the radar receiver and evaluating the radar signals detected by the radar receiver, the method comprising:
a. identifying and recording, with the processor, a first geographic location of a first mid-ship point of a first detected radar signal in a first vehicle traveling in a first direction during operation of a first radar detector;
b. identifying and recording, with the processor, a second geographic location of a second mid-ship point of a second detected radar signal in a second vehicle traveling in a second direction different from the first direction during operation of a second radar detector;
c. uploading, with the processor, the first geographic location of the first mid-ship point and the second geographic location of the second mid-ship point and the first direction of travel and the second directions of travel to a host server; and
d. evaluating, with at least one of the processor and the host server, the first geographic location of the first mid-ship point and the second geographic location of the second mid-ship point and the first direction of travel and the second direction of travel to identify first and second midlines for a false source, and marking the false source at an intersection of the first and second midlines.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first direction of travel is substantially perpendicular to the second direction of travel.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first geographic location of the first mid-ship point and the second geographic location of the second mid-ship point are used for suppressing an alert of the false source in a radar detector.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising marking, with at least one of the processor and the host server, a location of the false source at the intersection of the first and second midlines when the first detected radar signal and the second detected radar signal are of similar frequency.
5. A method of detecting a location of a non-police radar source and communicating the location to a network of radar detectors, the method comprising:
a. receiving a first geographic location and a first direction of travel of a first mid-ship point of a first radar signal detected in a first vehicle traveling in a first direction;
b. receiving a second geographic location and a second direction of travel of a second mid-ship point of a second radar signal detected in a second vehicle traveling in a second, different direction;
c. evaluating the first geographic location and the first direction of travel of the first mid-ship point and the second geographic location and the second direction of travel of the second mid-ship point to identify midlines for a false source, and marking a false source location at an intersection of the midlines; and
d. downloading geographic coordinates for the false source location to one or more radar detectors.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving frequency information of the first radar signal and the second radar signal, and evaluating the received frequency information of the first radar signal and the second radar signal to determine whether a common source location generated the first radar signal and the second radar signal.
7. A method of identifying a physical location of a false signal source for a radar detector for use in suppressing signals from the source, the radar detector comprising a processor, a radar receiver for detecting radar signals, and signal processing electronics for controlling the radar receiver and evaluating the radar signals detected by the radar receiver, the method comprising:
a. identifying and recording, with the processor, a first geographic location and a first frequency information of a first mid-ship point of a first detected signal while traveling in a first direction during operation of the radar detector;
b. identifying and recording, with the processor, a second geographic location and a second frequency information of a second mid-ship point of a second detected signal while traveling in a second, different direction during operation of the radar detector;
c. comparing, with the processor, the first geographic location and the first frequency information with the second geographic location and the second frequency information;
d. identifying, with the processor, midlines for the first detected signal and the second detected signal based on the first mid-ship point and the second mid-ship point and the first direction of travel and the second, different direction of travel, and marking a false source geographic location developed from an intersection of the midlines as the false signal source.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first direction of travel is substantially perpendicular to the second direction of travel.