Spotlight mounted motion detector

Abstract

An object-detection system for use with a police vehicle that is operative to provide an alarm to the police officer sitting in the vehicle of an approaching object. The system includes an object-detection device and at least one alarm generator in communication with the object-sensing device wherein the alarm generator is operative to generate an alarm upon receiving an electrical signal from the object-sensing device indicative of an object approaching a police vehicle.

1. An object detection system for use in alerting a police officer to an approaching object while the officer is sitting within a police car, the system comprising:
 an object-sensing device disposed on a spotlight of the police vehicle, the object-sensing device operating to only sense an object approaching the front the police vehicle; and 
 an alarm generator in communication with the object-sensing device, said alarm generator operative to receive an electrical signal from the object-sensing device and thereafter to generate an alarm to alert the police officer of an approaching object. 
 
     
     
       2. The object detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the object-sensing device is a motion detector. 
     
     
       3. The object-detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the alarm generator is a police radio. 
     
     
       4. A method of alerting a police officer to an approaching object while an officer is sitting in a police vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
 disposing an object-sensing device on a spotlight of the police vehicle, the object-sensing device operating to only sense an object approaching the front the police vehicle; 
 disposing an alarm generator on the police vehicle; and 
 providing a communication link between said object-sensing device and said alarm generator whereby upon detecting an approaching object, the object-sensing device transmits an electrical signal to the alarm generator that causes the alarm generator to provide an alarm to the police officer. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the object-sensing device is disposed on the vehicle as original equipment. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the object-sensing device is disposed on the vehicle as an aftermarket product. 
     
     
       7. An object detection system for use in alerting a police officer to an approaching object while the officer is sitting within a police car, the system comprising:
 an object-sensing device disposed on a spotlight of the police vehicle, the spotlight being movably mounted to the vehicle so that the spotlight may be aimed in a predetermined direction, the object-sensing device operating to only sense an object approaching the police vehicle from direction in which the spotlight is aimed; and 
 an alarm generator in communication with the object-sensing device, said alarm generator operative to receive an electrical signal from the object-sensing device and thereafter to generate an alarm to alert the police officer of an approaching object. 
 
     
     
       8. The object detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the object-sensing device is a motion detector. 
     
     
       9. The object-detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the alarm generator is a police radio. 
     
     
       10. An object detection system for use in alerting a police officer to an approaching object while the officer is sitting within a police car, the system comprising:
 an object-sensing device disposed on a spotlight of the police vehicle, the object-sensing device operating to only sense an object moving in front of the police vehicle; and   an alarm generator in communication with the object-sensing device, said alarm generator operative to receive an electrical signal from the object-sensing device and thereafter to generate an alarm to alert the police officer of a moving object.   
     
     
       11. A method of alerting a police officer to an approaching object while an officer is sitting in a police vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
 disposing an object-sensing device on a spotlight of the police vehicle, the object-sensing device operating to only sense an object moving in front of the police vehicle;   disposing an alarm generator on the police vehicle; and   providing a communication link between said object-sensing device and said alarm generator whereby upon detecting a moving object, the object-sensing device transmits an electrical signal to the alarm generator that causes the alarm generator to provide an alarm to the police officer.   
     
     
       12. An object detection system for use in alerting a police officer to an approaching object while the officer is sitting within a police car, the system comprising:
 an object-sensing device disposed on a spotlight of the police vehicle, the spotlight being movably mounted to the vehicle so that the spotlight may be aimed in a predetermined direction, the object-sensing device operating to only sense an object that is moving and that is located in the same direction that the spotlight is aimed; and   an alarm generator in communication with the object-sensing device, said alarm generator operative to receive an electrical signal from the object-sensing device and thereafter to generate an alarm to alert the police officer of an approaching object.