Abstract:
A display indicates speed in GREEN when the approaching vehicle is traveling below or equal to the user set compliance speed. The primary display flashes RED when the approaching vehicle is exceeding the preset compliance speed. A rear mounted control panel and LCD display is provided for easy entry of compliance speed, operational settings and data recovery. The rear control panel is used for the following: set compliance speed; set max speed cutoff; retrieve traffic count; retrieve average speed; retrieve number of violations; retrieve maximum speed recorded; display battery status. Automatic dimming of the primary display is provided during night use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Trailer-mounted radar operated speed indicators are used on highways in the U.S. The indicators are expensive and require movement by trucks. 
   Needs exist for improved, less expensive portable vehicle speed monitors. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention measures and records the speed of oncoming vehicles with radar technology. A primary display shows the indicated speed in both high visibility red and green. The display indicates speed in GREEN when the approaching vehicle is traveling below or equal to the user set compliance speed. The display indicates speed in flashing RED when the approaching vehicle is traveling above the user set compliance speed. 
   A rear mounted control panel and LCD display is provided for easy entry of compliance speed, operational settings and data recovery. The rear control panel is used for the following: 
   Set compliance speed, 
   Set max speed cutoff, 
   Retrieve traffic count, 
   Retrieve average speed, 
   Retrieve number of violations, 
   Retrieve maximum speed recorded, and 
   Display battery status. 
   Automatic dimming of the primary display is provided during night use. An internal photocell sensor is used to read the ambient light level and to drive the luminance of speed display to an appropriate level by increasing the brightness during daylight and reducing brightness during nighttime operation. This feature also prevents “night blindness” due to an overly bright condition. 
   The apparatus has compact size. A portable, lightweight, rechargeable battery operates and is completely self-contained in the display case. 
   The invention provides a state-of-the-art compact radar speed display that effectively calls motorists&#39; attention to their driving speed. The unique two-color LED digital segmental display shows the approaching vehicle speed. Bright green speed indication is displayed when the approaching vehicle is in compliance with the preset speed limit. Bright flashing red speed numbers are displayed when drivers exceed posted or preset speeds. 
   The new invention is an inexpensive and effective enforcement method for communities to control local speed without tying up police officers. Ideal uses include residential communities and homeowners associations, school crossings and road construction sites. 
   Additional settings include an “anti-race” function to prevent intentional use of the monitor to measure drag racing. When an approaching vehicle increases speed more than ten miles per hour, the display shuts off. 
   The compact size (approximately 12″×12″) weatherproof case is mounted on a portable stand or can be clamped on a standard 4″ pole. The traffic instrument is battery powered and operates for twelve hours on a single charge. The built-in charger allows overnight recharging. An optional solar panel recharges the battery during daylight. A pole mount clamp permits permanent installation above traffic. The visible range is about 500–600 feet. The weight is approximately 25 lbs. A cable lock is available to prevent theft. 
   The “approach only” sensor prevents false radar readings from traffic moving away from the monitor. 
   The basic unit includes a portable stand, a battery and a charger. Pole mount clamps and solar panels are options. 
   A controller is mounted on the base for controlling numerical indications on the display. A settable compliance speed control is connected to the controller for setting compliance speed and differentiating from acceptable overspeeds. A speed sensor is connected to the controller for sensing speed of approaching vehicles and providing the sensed speed to the controller. 
   Preferably the indicator changes between red and green depending on whether the speed of the approaching vehicle is above, at, or below the set compliance speed. When indicating overspeed, the indicator pulses or flashes with over speed information. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the indicator has a segmental digital display for illuminating segments and displaying side-by-side numbers. Preferably each segment is capable of producing red or green light. 
   In one preferred system, each segment includes light-emitting diodes for producing light selectively in green or red wavelengths. 
   Preferably the light-emitting diodes in each segment are arranged in arrays. 
   In one embodiment, each segment has relatively bright light emitters for selectively illuminating the segments and colored light emitters for illuminating the segments with color. In one embodiment the apparatus has lights for illuminating the support with color. 
   Non-volatile memory is connected to the speed indication for storing information of time, number of vehicle speeds sensed, number of vehicle overspeeds sensed, and average vehicle speed. 
   These and further and other objects and features of the invention are apparent in the disclosure, which includes the above and ongoing written specification, with the claims and the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the new speed monitor on a stand. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the new speed monitor. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of the operation of the new speed monitor. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the speed monitor is generally referred to by the numeral  11 . A case  13  holds a support  15  on which indicators  17  are mounted. Individual indicators  17  are formed as segments  39  of a seven-segment digit  41 . Two seven-segment digits  41  are provided for displaying two numbers. The case  13  has top  19 , sides  21  and bottom  23  panels. A hood  25  screens the indicators  17  from sunlight to make them more readable. A cover  27  closes the front of the case  13  along a hinge  51 . Preferably, the hinge  51  connects the cover  27  to the base  23  of the case  13 . The cover  27  is secured in a closed position by passing a locking mechanism  29 , located on the support  15 , through an opening  31 , located on the cover  27 . The case  13  has a handle  33  for easy movement of the monitor  1 . 
   The case may be located on a stand  35 . The speed monitor  11  has a light sensor  37  that controls the intensity of the indicators  17 . The light sensor  37  is a photocell located on the support  15  for matching LED brilliance to ambient light. Preferably, the light sensor  37  is located in the lower left corner of the support  15  within a digit  41 . 
   The stand  35  has one or more base supports  43 , one or more vertical members  45 , and one or more horizontal strengthening members  47 . The various members  43 ,  45 ,  47  may be welded together, attached with nuts and bolts, attached with joint members  49  or otherwise connected to one another. The stand  35  may be of various heights depending on the location and type of use. 
   A radar wave guide antenna  53  is located on the support  15 . Preferably, the antenna  53  is located in the upper left of the speed monitor  11  within a digit  41 . When the monitor  11  is positioned on a stand along the side of a street, the antenna  53  measures the speed of oncoming vehicles. 
     FIG. 2  shows the rear side  55  of the monitor  11 . The case  13  has a liquid crystal display  57  and control buttons  59 . The control buttons  59 , which may be push buttons, allow a user to set various parameters for the speed monitor  11 . Preferably, there are four control buttons  59 . Options include speed setting, for setting the compliance speed, and an anti-race cutoff, above which the digits  41  display no speeds. The purpose of the race cutoffs function is to not allow misuse of the speed monitor  11  and to discourage speeding. Selections and settings are shown on the liquid crystal display  57 . 
   The control buttons  59  control all menu options, including the display of accumulated statistics and information. The liquid crystal display  57  shows the number of vehicles that have passed the monitor  11  during a given recording period. Other statistics include the number of overspeed vehicles, and the average speed. The control buttons  59  are manipulated to select the particular time periods or hours for which the reports are given. 
   The case  13  is mounted on a stand  35  by using a security cable connected to a tie down  61  on the backside  55  of the monitor  11 . This helps to deter thefts of the monitor  11 . Inner parts of the monitor  11  include as a battery, a radar transceiver for the wave guide antenna  53 , and a processor. The light sensor  37  is connected to the processor for controlling the brightness of the indicators  17 . The processor controls the main digit display  41  and the liquid crystal display  57 . A memory retains and records information on the times of the counts and the numbers of vehicles, the average speeds during time periods, and the number of overspeeds during time periods. Those numbers may be output and downloaded from the memory to a portable device. An optional solar panel on the top of the case  13  charges the battery with solar power. 
     FIG. 3  shows a flow chart of the operation of the vehicle speed monitor  11 . The system of the present invention uses a classic Doppler frequency shift to determine the speed of oncoming vehicles. A radar transceiver  63 , or a similar device, receives input from the radar wave guide antenna  53 . The signal  65  from the radar transceiver  63  is passed through one of two alternative bandpass filters  65  depending on the characteristics of the signal  65 . The filtered signals  71 ,  73  then pass to alternative amplifiers  75 ,  77 , respectively. The amplified signals  79 ,  81  are combined  83  before being sent to a DSP  85  for signal conditioning. If required, signals  87 ,  89  from the DSP  85  are sent through gain controls  91 ,  93  and then the signals  95 ,  97  are sent back to the alternative amplifiers  75 ,  77 . After signal conditioning is complete the completed signal is sent through phase detection  99  to eliminate signals that are receding from the monitor  11 . 
   The approach only signals  101  are sent to a microcontroller  103 . The microcontroller  103  also receives input signals  105 ,  107  from the light sensor  37  and control buttons  59 , respectively. Output from the microcontroller  103  is split into three signals  109 ,  111 ,  113 . The first signal  109  is sent to a red intensity control  115 . An output signal  117  from the red intensity control  115  passes to a red LSB LED segment array  119  that is connected to a red MSB LED segment array  121 . The second signal  111  is sent to a green intensity control  123 . An output signal  125  from the green intensity control  123  passes to a green LSB LED segment array  127  that is connected to a green MSB LED segment array  129 . The third signal  113  from the microcontroller  103  is sent to a signal connecting the red  119 ,  121  and green  127 ,  129  arrays. Output  131  from the red  119 ,  121  and green  127 ,  129  arrays is sent to a LCD character display  133 . 
   Possible power sources for the monitor  11  of the present invention include solar power and/or a 12-volt battery power supply. 
   Each digit  41  of the present invention is made up of multiple high brightness red LEDs and a corresponding number of high brightness green LEDs per each of the seven segments  39  for each digit  41 . The components of each digit  41  are similar. 
   When a vehicle is over speed, the digits  41  will be displayed in flashing red. When the vehicle is compliant with the set speed, the digits  41  will be displayed in green. 
   The individual segments  39  of the digits  41  may be diffusers or lenses behind which arrays of low power, high output LED&#39;s are arranged. Dual color LED&#39;s may be used, or two arrays of different color LED&#39;s may be used behind each diffuser or lens segment. Bright lights may be used to augment the output lumens during daylight hours. 
   Varied bright lights may be used with the colored lights to light the numbers as well as the colors during daylight or evening hours. When the green lights are displayed for showing speed within the set compliance speed, the lights are steady. When red lights are displayed for speeds above the compliance speed, the lights flash. Alternatively, the entire inside of the hood may be lit with the varied color lights, numbered  44 , or the mounting surface may be backlighted with various colored lights, numbered  46 . One of the key elements of a part of the invention is that the light indications change color and change pulse rates according to comparisons of the speed with the set speed. 
   Preferably, the microcontroller  103  turn off the main displays  41  upon sensing rapid increases of speed on oncoming vehicles, which is indicative of racing or intentionally measuring fast speeds. That temporarily disables the indicators  17  and prevents their misuse, and prevents racing speeds from influencing average speeds. The system may be programmed with input buttons  59  to save the racing speed measurements and times of occurrence. 
   In preferred embodiments, the stand  35  extends into the case  13 , connecting the stand  35  to the case  13  at a location within the locked portions of the case  13 . This makes disassembly and removal of the stand  35  or case  13  difficult. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.