Abstract:
A road mounted traffic radar system detects the speed of oncoming vehicles using a speed measuring system. The speed is displayed to the driver using a suitable illuminated first display panel. If the speed is over the posted limit, the penalty for the amount of speed over the posted limit is displayed on a second illuminated display panel. The penalty can be expressed In monetary terms or as a combination of monetary and demerit points.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/526,634 filed on Aug. 23, 2011 for the same invention by the same inventor. 
     
    
     FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP 
       [0002]    N/A 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    This invention relates to signs, picture and sign exhibiting, (Class 40) and more particularly to a sign having a changing exhibitor, and specifically to a highway speed monitoring and penalty display system. 
         [0005]    2. Prior Art 
         [0006]    Radar speed signs and road traffic monitoring apparatus are well known. These apparatus are ideal for controlling traffic speeds on Industrial sites, schools, colleges, car parks, private roads, caravan parks, wherever road safety is paramount This equipment is used to enhance road safety, reducing traffic speed and conducting traffic census. The radar speed sign does have proven ability to positively influence driver behaviour, reduce speeding by drawing attention to local limits. The radar speed sign can be fixed or mobile, it can be powered by mains, battery or solar to suit particular needs. Typically the radar speed sign uses Doppler radar and is ideal for use in car parks, private roads, caravan parks, quarries, industrial sites, sewage works, farm yards, increasing road safety wherever it&#39;s installed. It can also be used to collect traffic census data and speed logging. 
         [0007]    Although the radar speed sign does have benefits, drivers will often ignore the posted speed on the sign if the sign is located in a remote area or if there Is no visible law enforcement officer nearby. Furthermore, drivers will often use the radar speed sign as a game or use it to calibrate their own speedometer at speeds much higher than the posted speed limit. 
         [0008]    Hefty financial penalties combined with the accumulation of demerit points leading to a loss of a driver&#39;s license provide a strong incentive to drivers to slow clown and obey the speed limit. A speeding ticker can prove to be a major inconvenience if the driver is summoned to court, A radar speed sign by itself does not make the connection in the mind of the driver between speed and penalty. 
         [0009]    Therefore, there is a continued need to provide a traffic calming device that combines a radar speed device with a display of the penalties associated with speeding so that a driver is incentivised to slow down and obey the speed limit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In order to overcome the shortcomings identified above, my invention is a traffic radar unit and display system for determining a speed of a target vehicle and displaying speed with penalties for speeding. The system may be fixed in place or portable. The system comprises a speed measuring device such as a Doppler radar for emitting a radar signal towards the target vehicle and generating a reflected return radar signal. The radar receiver receives the return signal. A first microprocessor converts the return signal into a speed of the target vehicle. The speed is then displayed on a first display. A second microprocessor converts the speed to a penalty by associating the speed with a penalty established by enforcement officials. The penalty data is stored in a second storage device. The penalty is then displayed to driver. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment of the invention there is a first bulk data storage device connected to the first microprocessor for logging a set of data comprising a vehicle field, a recorded speed field for the vehicle, a time of day field and an amount over the posted speed limit field for the vehicle. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment of the invention the first microprocessor calculates the amount over the posted speed limit field for the vehicle and stores the amount in the amount over the posted speed limit field for retrieval. 
         [0013]    In yet another embodiment of the invention the system further comprises a power source being one of one or a combination of AC power, DC battery power and solar power. 
         [0014]    In a further embodiment of the invention, the system includes a transmitter for transmitting the set of data to a control centre. 
         [0015]    The invention further includes a set of penalties stored on a second bulk data storage device. The set of penalties may include a fine and a number of demerit points. 
         [0016]    In still another embodiment of the invention, the second display is disposed below the first display. The second display may also be disposed above the first display. Alternatively, the second display is integrated into the first display. The second display may display the fine only or it may display the fine and then number of demerit points in an alternating manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a photograph depicting one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a schematic depicting the components of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a diagram depicting another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of one embodiment of a display sign. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of another embodiment of a display sign. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Referring to the figures, the invention  10  is a highway speed monitoring and penalty display system using a traffic radar system for determining a speed of a target vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises a Doppler radar signal generator  12  for emitting a radar signal  14  towards the target vehicle and generating a reflected radar return signal  18 . The reflected return signal is detected by a radar receiver disposed adjacent to the radar signal generator  12 . A first microprocessor  20  converts the reflected radar signal  18  into a speed figure for the target vehicle  16 . The speed figure is displayed on a first display  24  to the driver of the target vehicle. A second microprocessor  26  converts the speed of the target vehicle to a penalty. A second display  28  displays the penalty to the driver. The radar emitter and receiver may be integrated into the first or the second display. Speed measurement may also be accomplished by a LIDAR device and by a video camera device with suitable microprocessors and software to convert input received by these devices to a speed signal. 
         [0023]    A first bulk data storage device  30  is connected to the first microprocessor  20  for recording a set of data  32  comprising at least a vehicle field  34 , a recorded speed field  36  for the vehicle, a time of day field  38  and an amount over the posted speed limit field  40  for the vehicle. Alternatively, a camera may be attached to the first or second display tor photographing the vehicle and/or the vehicle license plate. The photograph is then digitized and stored within an additional data field. 
         [0024]    The first microprocessor calculates the amount over the posted speed limit field for the vehicle and stores the amount in the amount over the posted speed limit field  40  for retrieval 
         [0025]    The system further comprises a power source  41 . The power source is one or a combination of AC power, DC battery power and solar power  43 . 
         [0026]    Optionally the system may include a transmitter  42  for transmitting the set of data to a control centre  45 . Transmitted data can comprise vehicle field  34 , recorded speed field  36  for the vehicle, time of day field  38  and the amount over the posted speed limit field  40  for the vehicle. The vehicle photo and identification tag information may also be transmitted. In cases where excessive speeding is apparent, this data can be used for further identification of the owner of the vehicle and prosecution of the owner under appropriate highway and traffic control laws. 
         [0027]    The penalty comprises a set of penalties stored on a second bulk data storage device  44 . The penalties include a data base of fines  46  and a database of number of demerit points  48  associated with the speeding infraction. The database can be uploaded from any jurisdictional authority and can be updated  47  using remote means through transmitter  42 . 
         [0028]    In this diagram, the second display  28  is disposed below the first display  24 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment of the invention the second display is integrated into the first display and speed, fine and demerit points are displayed in sequence. 
         [0030]    The system may use the second display to display the fine only. Alternatively system second display displays the fine and then the number of demerit points. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the invention may be adaptable to existing overhead signs  50  that display dynamic messages  52 . The message “YOUR SPEED ______ YOUR FINE ______”  54  would be displayed across the sign board  50  prior to the vehicle passing underneath the sign. In one embodiment the sign can be programmed by the invention to rely a static set of data based on speed and related penalty. In another embodiment of the invention the sign includes the radar speed detector  56  and the overhead sign is used as a display sign for the invention for a horizontal display instead of a vertical display as shown in  FIG. 1 . A camera can also be included in this embodiment to identify the vehicle. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown one embodiment of a cross-highway sign of  FIG. 3  illustrating the format for displaying speed, fine and demerit points. The information would scroll across the sign at a speed suitable for a driver to see the full amount of data displayed before passing underneath the sign. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown another embodiment of a sign fixed to a sign post as in  FIG. 1 , wherein there is one display panel of LEDs programmed by the microcontroller of the invention to display the speed, fine and demerits in a vertical fashion. Lines of LEDs would remain off so that there would appear to be lines between the data fields. The figures shown on the sign could also be blinking. 
         [0034]    From the foregoing description the novelty, utility, and means of producing and practicing my invention will be readily apprehended. However, the foregoing description merely represents the best mode known to me as of the present date. The embodiments herein disclosed are not meant to be exclusive of other ways of practicing my invention, and it will be obvious to those of average skill in the field that other means of practicing the invention lie within the scope of this disclosure and the claims, below. Consequently, the metes and bounds of my invention are not limited to the embodiments disclosed above but encompass any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.