Valentine One Arrows
 

I don't understand. If the arrows are so wonderful on that detector, why don't other manufacturers do something similar? No detector even attempts to duplicate that concept. My question is why? Is there some patent or something that prohibits it?

Any insight you kids may have would be most curiosity-quenching.

Jeph, it could be something as simple as a good, well-written patent that keeps them from doing it. That's my guess.

I'm quite sure it is patent. But watchout for the cheapo chinese made look alike V-1 in the market soon! <sarcastic>

Hi,

The Arrows themselves would not be patentable. But, the directional attennae and processing Hardware/Software would likely be...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

I'm with everyone else on the patent. How long has the V1 been out? The patent should run out in 7 years so maybe it's not too long before another is available. Until then my $140 Whistler will be fine. :rolleyes:

It may not be a 'patent' thing at all, but instead, a 'cost' thing. According to Valentine, they use a front and back antenna in their detectors - the 'arrows' are tied to either the front or back antenna... This is no doubt one reason they cost so much more than the other detectors....

I ran my V1 next to my Passport (they say not to do this) but the V1 killed the Passport. Do what you want with the info but the V1 has served me well and I am the 120MPH on crusie control guy who has run through mutiple states vs. K, Ka, & L and lived to tell. Last time I got tagged my Passport let me down. No bias, just my experience.

I too have wondered why the others haven't come up with something similar. Not necesarily an arrow but perhaps a unique audible alert that would indicate you've gone past it. You know so you can exhale and quit looking in that rearview.
The patent must cover that part of the warning system because I'm sure I'm not the first to come up with this idea.
As for the patent expiring I'm sure like the pharmaceutical mafias they'll just slightly tweak it to get a whole new patent issued.

Part of it could be the other makers spent so much time playing down the value that it would look funny if they came out with it themselves. Combine that with the cost (the V1 uses 2 antennas and a custom mixer to differentiate the 2 signals) and it probably doesn't make financial sense for Beltronics to copy the design. Remember, there are really only 2 players in this field anymore, Valentine and Beltronics. K-40 is a specialy product and the others simply aren't in the same league.

I don't think it's just the patents on the arrows involved, there's also considerable "location" technology (and additional patents) behind the arrows.

Depending on your interest, you can take a look a the V1 patents filed by Valentine Research:

6175324 5250951 5116248 4878061
5917441 5206651 5083129 4631542
5900832 5164729 5068663 D338841
5856801 5151701 5020754
5852417 5146226 4994775
5300932 5125110 4973925

and plug the patent number into this link, for detailed information. D338841 is the one for the housing unit.

http://patft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm