(12) United States Patent
`Dimitriadis
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,389,198 B1
`Jun. 17, 2008
`
`US0073 89198B1
`
`(54) LAND VEHICLE SPEED MONITORING
`SYSTEM
`
`_
`(*) Nome?
`
`(76) Inventor: James C. Dimitriadis, 40149 V121
`Marisa’ Mun-ieta’ CA (Us) 92562
`_
`_
`_
`_
`sublectfo any dlsclalmeri the ‘em of ‘1115
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`(21) Appl. N0.: 11/708,385
`.
`_
`(22) Flled'
`
`Feb‘ 20’ 2007
`Related US. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/816,256, ?led on Jun.
`26, 2006, provisional application No. 60/852,620,
`?led on Oct 18, 2006'
`
`(51) Int, Cl,
`(200601)
`G06F 15/00
`(200601)
`G01P 7/00
`(52) us. Cl. ..................................... .. 702/142; 702/150
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ................ .. 702/94,
`702/96, 142, 143, 147, 150, 187; 701/202,
`701/209; 340/466, 994
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2005;0264404 A1: 12/2005 Franglzyk et :11. ......... .. 340/441
`7 2006 Win er eta. ..... ..
`340 944
`2006 0164259 Al
`2007/0067086 A1 *
`3/2007 Rothschild ................. .. 701/93
`
`* _t d b
`_
`01 e
`exammer
`y
`Primary ExamineriBryan Bui
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiDennis W. Beeck
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention is used for monitoring a land vehicle
`speed relative to a speed limit. An electronic transmit and
`receiver apparatus, a position location apparatus and a date
`and time apparatus may be positioned in the land vehicle and
`may be in communication With a speed and speed limit
`Computation device- The Speed and $19999 limit Computation
`devlce may have an Output ‘0 an ale“ dlsPlaY devlce and an
`output device to identify over speed limit conditions.
`
`15 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`19’
`
`26\
`
`14
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`24
`
`I______
`I 1Q 30
`|
`POSITION
`I
`LOCATION
`I
`APPARATUS
`
`|
`I
`
`32
`\
`
`DATE AND TIME
`APPARATUS
`
`AUDIO
`
`I
`TRANSMIT AND
`RECEIVE
`E ~ I ->
`APPARATUS
`I
`
`(- — -— — ROADWAY )- -— — —
`MARKER
`I
`|_
`————1
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`TARGET
`
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`1
`28 I 22/4 TRANSPONDER
`/ '
`DATA
`|
`DECODER
`l
`I
`I
`
`PROCESSOR DEVICE
`
`l
`I
`18
`I
`\ COMPUTATIONAL I
`I 42
`DEV/ICE
`"_l___
`i 36\
`I
`|
`COMMUNICATION
`I
`l
`DEVICE
`
`40
`
`MEMORY
`DEVICE
`
`I
`34 I
`
`L _ _ _ _ _ x
`7
`ALERT
`I
`DISPLAY
`
`12
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`46 |
`OUTPUT
`I
`DEVICE
`I
`
`44
`
`50
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`L _ _ _ _ _ E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .i
`
`LAW
`ENFORCEMENT
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 1
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`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 2
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 2
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 17, 2008
`
`Sheet 2 0f 2
`
`US 7,389,198 B1
`US 7,389,198 B1
`
`FIG. 2
`
`FIG.2
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 3
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 3
`
`

`

`US 7,389,198 B1
`
`1
`LAND VEHICLE SPEED MONITORING
`SYSTEM
`
`This application claims the bene?t of US. Provisional
`Application No. 60/8l6,256 ?led Jun. 26, 2006, and US.
`Provisional Application No. 60/852,620 ?led Oct. 18, 2006.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to systems that may be used to
`monitor a vehicle speed and to alert or Warn a vehicle driver
`When they may be moving faster than a speed limit. The neW
`speed monitoring system may detect an over speed limit
`condition, alert a vehicle driver of the speed, track the time
`for driver speed adjustment, and display and record the
`event.
`Apparatus for detecting land vehicle speeds on roadWays
`may be knoWn. Most of these systems may be radar based
`systems. Examples may include hand held or police car
`mounted radar transmitter/detectors that measure a particu
`lar vehicle speed and provide a display to a user, such as a
`police of?cer. This type of apparatus does not alert drivers to
`over speed limit conditions and may be principally used to
`catch speeders for the purpose of issuing traf?c tickets.
`Variations of this use of radar detection may include
`portable roadside apparatus that may have a radar transmit
`ter/receiver and a large display that may be seen by drivers
`of land vehicles. This type of apparatus may serve to inform
`drivers of their vehicle speed and over speed limit condi
`tions. The apparatus may also be used by a police of?cer
`positioned in a vehicle to vieW the apparatus and stop
`speeding vehicles to issue traffic tickets.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`20
`
`25
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`30
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`35
`
`The present invention is directed to systems for monitor
`ing a land vehicle speed relative to a speed limit. An
`electronic transmit and receiver apparatus, a position loca
`tion apparatus and a date and time apparatus may be
`positioned in the land vehicle and may be in communication
`With a speed and speed limit computation device. The speed
`and speed limit computation device may have an output to
`an alert display device and an output device to identify over
`speed limit conditions.
`These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
`present invention Will become better understood With refer
`ence to the folloWing draWings, description and claims.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system accord
`ing to an embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective vieW of a vehicle With
`monitoring elements according to an embodiment of the
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The folloWing detailed description represents the best
`currently contemplated modes for carrying out the inven
`tion. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
`but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
`principles of the invention.
`Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a land vehicle speed moni
`toring system 10 may have vehicle elements 12 to detect
`speed, monitor time and detect location. There may also be
`displays and recording devices. The system 10 may also
`
`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`2
`have detectable markers 14 that may be detected by an
`electromagnetic Wave signal, such as a radar signal, that may
`be transmitted by a vehicle element 12 for return and
`receiving to measure speed of a vehicle 16. Depending on
`the signal transmitter/receiver of a vehicle element 12 other
`information may be obtained, for example, a marker iden
`ti?cation code.
`The vehicle 16 may have an electromagnetic transmitting
`and receiving apparatus that for purposes of the disclosure
`may be a radar apparatus 20, but may be other suitable
`transmit and receive apparatus that may be used to deter
`mine speed of a vehicle 16 relative to a roadWay marker 26.
`The radar apparatus 20 may transmit a signal that detects
`transponders 22 located in roadWay markers 26, such as,
`speed limit signs, road Work and school signs, accident
`Warning signs, road haZard signs such as ice conditions, and
`other roadWay markers 26. The vehicle elements 12 may
`also include detector apparatus for detecting markers 26
`imbedded in roadWays.
`The roadWay markers 26 may be passive devices or radar
`targets 24, or they may be poWered to transmit information,
`such as a marker identi?cation number, location, speed limit
`and other information. Transmission of information from a
`marker 26 may be activated by detection of a radar 20 signal
`or other transmitted electromagnetic signal and may be
`decoded in a transponder data decoder device 28.
`The vehicle elements 12 may include a position location
`apparatus 30, such as a Global Position System or GPS
`receiver. There may also be a date and time apparatus 32 that
`may be independent or may use the GPS. In the case of the
`use of passive devices, the radar apparatus 20 may detect a
`vehicle speed at a marker 26, and the position location
`apparatus 30 may detect vehicle location and determine a
`speed limit for the location.
`Whether an active transponder 22 or passive target 24 is
`available, the system 10 may have a speed and speed limit
`computation device to use the speed and speed limit detected
`at a particular marker 26 to determine a vehicle 16 over
`speed limit condition. An alert may be signaled to the
`vehicle 16 driver and the amount of time the vehicle 16 is in
`the over speed condition may be monitored by the date and
`time apparatus 32.
`The vehicle elements 12 may include a processor device
`34 that may include the speed and speed limit computation
`device. The processor device 34 may use the speed, speed
`limit and time information to determine Whether a traf?c
`ticket should be issued for a particular location for a par
`ticular vehicle 16. As an example, if a vehicle 16 may be
`detected as speeding, after the driver has been alerted to the
`condition, the processor device 34 may allow 10 seconds for
`correction of the over speed condition to a Within speed limit
`condition. If the driver may not correct an overspeed con
`dition in the time alloWed, a traf?c ticket may be issued.
`The vehicle elements 12 may include display devices 40,
`audio devices 42, memory devices 44 and printers 46. There
`may be a display to indicate speed, speed limit, time and
`location. There may also be displays, such as red lights 48
`exterior and interior to the vehicle. Lights may be positioned
`on the roof of a vehicle to indicate to others an overspeed
`condition and that a vehicle may be sloWing. There may also
`be an alert light on the processor device 34 or on a dashboard
`for visibility for a driver. There may be an audio device on
`the processor device 34 or dash board to alert a driver to an
`over speed condition.
`The same information as may be displayed and additional
`data may be recorded on a memory device 44. Information
`may also be output on a printer 46 and traf?c tickets may be
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 4
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`

`

`US 7,389,198 B1
`
`3
`output on a printer 46. LaW endorsement agencies 50 may be
`enabled to interrogate a communication device 36 of the
`vehicle elements 12 to determine if any tickets have been
`issued to a vehicle 16. A spool of paper may be used in a
`printer to maintain a printed record internal to the vehicle
`elements 12 that may be removed and replaced as needed.
`Use of the system 10 may provide notice to drivers Who
`may be speeding, alloW time for correction of speed, and
`issue traf?c tickets that are not considered traps Without the
`need for police of?cers at the speeders location. This system
`may encourage drivers to drive at safe speeds.
`While the invention has been particularly shoWn and
`described With respect to the illustrated embodiments
`thereof, it Will be understood by those skilled in the art that
`the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be
`made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of
`the invention.
`I claim:
`1. A system for monitoring a land vehicle speed relative
`to a speed limit comprising:
`an electronic transmit and receive apparatus disposed in a
`land vehicle to detect speed relative to a roadWay
`marker;
`a position location apparatus disposed in said land
`vehicles;
`a date and time apparatus disposed in said land vehicle
`and in communication With said electronic transmit and
`receive apparatus and said position location apparatus;
`a speed and speed limit computation device in commu
`nication said electronic transmit and receive apparatus,
`said position location apparatus, and said date and time
`apparatus; and in communication With an output to an
`alert display device and an output device.
`2. The system as in claim 1 Wherein a processor device is
`in communication With said electronic transmit and receive
`
`20
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`25
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`30
`
`4
`apparatus, said position location apparatus, and said speed
`and speed limit computation device.
`3. The system as in claim 2 Wherein a communication
`device is in communication said processor device and a laW
`enforcement agency.
`4. The system as in claim 1 Wherein a transponder is
`disposed in said roadWay marker.
`5. The system as in claim 4 Wherein said transponder
`having an identi?cation data, a speed limit data and a poWer
`source.
`6. The system as in claim 5 Wherein said position location
`apparatus is a transponder data decoder device.
`7. The system as in claim 1 Wherein a target is disposed
`With said roadWay marker.
`8. The system as in claim 1 Wherein said position location
`apparatus is a GPS device.
`9. The system as in claim 1 Wherein said alert display
`device is a light.
`10. The system as in claim 9 Wherein said light is at least
`tWo lights With a ?rst light disposed exterior to said land
`vehicle and a second light disposed interior to said land
`vehicle.
`11. The system as in claim 1 Wherein said alert display
`device is an audio output device.
`12. The system as in claim 1 Wherein said alert display
`device is an electronic display.
`13. The system as in claim 2 Wherein said processor
`device has a memory storage device.
`14. The system as in claim 1 Wherein said output device
`is a printer.
`15. The system as in claim 1 Wherein said output device
`is a paper spool printer.
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 5
`
`