Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – Of relative distance from an obstacle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-03
2001-06-19
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Of relative distance from an obstacle
C340S901000, C340S905000, C340S502000, C340S438000, C340S447000, C439S206000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249218
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radar detectors, and more particularly, to remote radar detectors in which the receiver unit is mounted outside the vehicle passenger compartment and the alert unit is mounted inside the vehicle passenger compartment to alert the driver to presence of police radar.
II. Description of Prior Art
Typical radar detectors are self-contained single units containing receiver circuitry and alert circuitry. The self-contained unit is typically mounted in the vehicle passenger compartment such as against the inside, middle of the windshield so as to detect police microwave and/or laser radar signals and to provide the driver with an audible and/or visual warning of the presence of such police radar signals. Remote radar detectors have been developed in which the receiver aspect of the detector is in a unit situated outside the vehicle passenger compartment, while the alert aspect of the detector is in a unit that continues to be mounted inside the vehicle passenger compartment. Such remote radar detectors allow for more optimal placement of the units so as to increase sensitivity of the receiver aspects of the detector and/or allow for more discreet positioning of the alert unit, such as along the dashboard or steering wheel column, instead of in the middle of the windshield. A cable or cord electrically connects the receiver unit from outside the vehicle passenger compartment to the alert unit mounted inside the vehicle passenger compartment. One example of a remote radar detector is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,937, in which the receiver portion is formed as part of a license plate frame.
While mounting of receiver units outside the vehicle passenger compartment has some advantages, it will be appreciated that the receiver unit is subject to significant environmental extremes and conditions. Thus, it has been found desirable to hennetically seal the receiver unit. Unfortunately, drastic fluctuations in temperature, for example, can cause significant changes in pressure inside the hermetically sealed unit which can cause poor performance or damage to the receiver unit. Additionally, even under the best of circumstances, there are times when the hermetic seal is simply insufficient to keep all moisture, for example, out of the receiver unit. Moreover, once the moisture invades the unit, it is difficult if not impossible for the moisture to escape from the unit thus leading in the long term to damage or failure of the receiver unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved remote receiver unit which is advantageously hennetically sealed but which is provided with a mechanism to alleviate temperature, pressure and/or moisture problems which might otherwise damage the receiver unit. To this end, and in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the cable or cord electrically interconnecting the receiver unit mounted outside the passenger compartment to the unit inside the vehicle compartment has a lumen or airspaces extending therethrough and which communicates atmosphere through the cable and into the interior of the receiver unit via a vent coupled to the cable lumen. The vent may be provided by an opening or slit in the cable sidewall. The vent is advantageously spaced remote from the receiver unit, such as by venting a portion of the cable which is inside the vehicle passenger compartment, so as to minimize the likelihood that contaminants would enter the receiver unit through the vented cable.
By virtue of the foregoing, there is thus provided a remote radar detector in which the receiver unit to be mounted outside the vehicle passenger compartment is provided with a vent by which to alleviate temperature and/or pressure problems and allow escape of moisture which might otherwise collect in the unit. These and other objects and advantages of the invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: H280 (1987-06-01), Thigpen
patent: 4610256 (1986-09-01), Wallace
patent: 4631542 (1986-12-01), Grimsley
patent: 4952937 (1990-08-01), Allen
patent: 5001777 (1991-03-01), Liautaud
patent: 5250951 (1993-10-01), Valentine et al.
patent: 5564951 (1996-10-01), Altal et al.
Escort Inc.,Passport SR1, (one page flyer).
Escort Inc.
Nguyen Tai T.
Wood Herron & Evans LLP
Wu Daniel J.
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