Download Specifications for Laser Speed Device - Type I

Specifications for Laser Speed Device - Type I
A. Purpose
The purpose of the specifications is to establish a minimum
standard of quality for laser speed detection units to be used for
this Departments traffic speed enforcement program.
B. Scope
The laser speed device shall be capable of obtaining and displaying
speeds of both approaching and receding vehicles. The laser
device shall also be capable of obtaining and displaying distance
measurements of moving vehicles and stationary objects.
C. Regulatory Approval
The unit shall conform to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) “Model Minimum Performance
Specifications for LIDAR (Laser) Speed Measurement Devices”
(DOT HS808 539), and shall be included on the latest published
Consumer Products List (CPL) of the International Association of
Chief of Police (IACP).
D. Laser Bid Requirements
1. Production Model
The laser device shall have been in full commercial production.
No “brand new” or prototype models will be considered for
purchase.
2. Performance Testing and Product Evaluation
The laser may be field-tested and laboratory tested to verify its
acceptance.
3. Certification
All laser units furnished under any resulting contract shall be
factory certified as to accuracy with test procedures and equipment
that conform to the National Bureau of Standards and Technology.
E. System Description
1. The laser device shall be a single-piece design consisting of the
laser optics, aiming Heads Up Display (HUD), speed and range
displays, and counting and control circuitry. The unit shall be
rated Class I eye safe. The unit shall be waterproof with a
NEMA 6 rating.
2. All components, circuits and parts shall have been thoroughly
inspected and tested before and after assembly.
3. The laser device shall operate within it specifications at an
ambient temperature range of -22 Degrees Fahrenheit to +140
Degrees Fahrenheit.
4. The laser device shall operate from a power supply voltage of
10.0 to 16.5 VDC negative ground or removable Nickel Metal
Hydride battery located in the handle. Maximum current drain
on the vehicle electrical system shall not exceed 0.8 amps.
5. The laser device shall be designed to operate at a wavelength
within plus or minus 10 nm of 904 nanometers.
6. The laser device shall use an automatic self-test feature which
checks the operation of the system when it is powered-on and
whenever a manual Test switch is depressed.
7. The speed processing circuit of the laser device shall use
scientifically accepted time of flight principles including,
software for filtering out data not within acceptable parameters,
least squares averaging and time/distance calculations to
determine the average speed of a target vehicle.
8. All displays and indicators used on the rear panel shall be LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display) and will be backlit at the operators
command. The factory aligned Heads Up Display shall display
a red LED aiming reticle, speed information, and direction
information of the target. The laser device shall have a
minimum of four (4) incremental steps of HUD brightness
adjustments to allow for various ambient light conditions. Laser
devices utilizing a magnified scope are not acceptable.
9. The laser device shall have an operator adjustable range control
allowing a selection of distances at which a target will be
detected. This feature shall include separate settings for
minimum and maximum range. The laser device shall be
capable of allowing the operator to manually preset the
distances, or to use the laser device to measure the distance to a
known object and increment or decrement this measured
distance as required. No target speeds will be displayed when
the intended target is outside of the set limit(s).
10. The laser device shall be capable of accurately determining
vehicular velocity with an accuracy of +/- 1 mile per hour. The
laser device shall display the direction of travel of the target
vehicle. Approaching targets will be displayed with a “+” sign,
and receding targets will be displayed with a “-“ sign.
11. The laser device shall have a feature which allows the operator
to accurately measure the range to a stationary or moving object.
The laser device shall display the range in tenths of feet with an
accuracy of +/- 6 inches.
12. The laser, glass optics and all the electronics shall be enclosed
in a metal housing which has a permanent handle. The
dimensions of the housing, including the handle, shall not
exceed 10.25 inches high by 4.25 inches wide by 7.4 inches
long. The laser device shall have a maximum weight of 3.25
pounds including battery.
13. The laser device shall contain a visual indication of a low
battery or supply voltage condition, as well as internal circuit
error conditions. No target vehicle speeds may be processed
while any such conditions exist.
14. The laser device shall provide an audio output of laser pulses
being returned from the intended target. The audio volume level
shall be adjustable. The laser device shall provide a tone to the
operator that verifies the laser is receiving reflected laser pulses
from the target. Laser devices using a synthesized Doppler
audio are not acceptable. Laser devices that use a synthesized
pseudo Doppler audio tone or audio tones that vary in pitch with
target speeds are not acceptable.
15. The laser device shall have a display that indicates the laser is
transmitting pulses, but has received insufficient data to
calculate and display a speed reading.
16. The laser device shall have continuous tracking of vehicle
speeds. When the operator continues transmitting pulses and
receiving sufficient data to display a speed reading, the laser
device shall update the HUD and rear panel speed displays at
least four (4) times per second.
17. The laser device shall have a button function which allows the
operator to adjust the HUD brightness and the volume control,
and to turn on or off the rear panel LCD backlight.
18. The laser device shall have an operator selectable menu feature
which allows the selection of independent direction mode
(approaching or receding or both), selection of maximum and
minimum target distances, environment mode, stopwatch mode
and differential distance test mode.
F. Operating Description
1. The laser device shall be capable of taking repeated distance
readings on a target vehicle and determining the target vehicle’s
range, direction of travel, and calculating the average speed
within +/- 1 mph.
2. The laser device shall have a backlit Liquid Crystal Display on
the rear panel. The display shall be a minimum of 0.1 inch in
height.
3. The laser device shall include a display that indicates when the
unit is transmitting laser pulses, a low voltage condition exists,
or when an internal error is detected.
4. The speed range of the laser device shall be from 5 mph to 200
mph and include a tolerance of +/- 1 mph. This speed shall be
truncated down, and displayed in a whole number. This range
of speeds shall not be operator selectable.
5. The laser device shall include a Test button, which, when
activated by the operator, performs the following:
a. Internal self-test and internal RAM test.
b. Self-test of internal EEPROM.
c. Tests internal timing accuracy circuitry.
d. Tests internal program memory.
e. Displays units of measure - Feet/Mph.
f. Displays mode - Speed or Range.
6. If the laser device detects an internal error or low voltage
condition, the unit shall indicate that data to the operator, and no
speed readings shall be displayed during that condition.
7. The laser device shall include an operator adjustable audio
circuit that emits a fixed audio tone so the operator can adjust
the aiming on the target vehicle. The audio signal shall be
present at all times while the unit is receiving laser pulse
reflections, and should be squelched when no pulses are being
received.
8. The laser device shall be equipped with a low voltage alert and
low voltage warning circuit and indicator. If the power supply
falls below a preset minimum, a short audio alert tone shall be
emitted in addition to a visual indication of this condition. If the
voltage condition continues to drop to the minimum operating
level, the Low Volt indication shall remain on, a short alert tone
shall be emitted, and no further speed or range readings can be
taken. Locked speeds shall remain locked.
9. The laser device shall be equipped with a visual indicator that
identifies when the device is transmitting laser pulses.
10. The laser device shall have a power cord insert which can be
used in place of the rechargeable battery. It shall be at least 5
feet in length. The power cord shall terminate on one end by a
heavy-duty male plug compatible with a conventional cigarette
lighter receptacle. The male connector plug shall be made of a
rugged break resistant material, and have heavy-duty corrosion
resistant spring-action electrical contacts. The end of the
cigarette plug shall be removable and contain a 2-amp Slo-Blo
fuse.
11. The laser device shall also include a rechargeable battery. This
battery must have a charger to allow for recharging outside the
laser device. The battery shall be a Nickel-Metal Hydride type
and contain a temperature-monitoring device in the battery
which will function to prevent overcharging.
12. The laser device shall allow the operator to track target
vehicles by depressing the trigger and upon release of the
trigger, the target speed and range shall be locked on the HUD
and rear panel display. The laser device shall continue to track
the target vehicle’s speed as long as the operator is holding the
trigger depressed and targeting the vehicle through the HUD.
13. The laser device shall not at any time produce any external
infrared light energy that could be considered above a Class I
eye safe level.
14. The laser device shall be protected from normal use weather
elements such as dust, rain, snow, cold and heat. It shall be
capable of being used in these environments without the use of
covers or external protection.
15. The laser device shall have an environment mode which is
operator selectable. While activated, this shall increase the
targeting range to a minimum distance of 290 feet. This
function will allow increased performance under certain
conditions, but shall not affect the accuracy of the device.
16. The laser device shall have an operator selectable menu feature
which allows the selection of either approaching only, receding
only, or both directions of target vehicles. The laser device
shall contain a visual indication of which feature is activated.
17. The laser device shall have a stopwatch function which permits
the operator to either enter a known distance, measure a distance
from the laser to a second point, or measure two points. Using
this known distance, the operator can use the trigger to start and
stop the timing clock. The display will indicate the known
distance, elapsed time, and calculated average speed. The laser
device shall also have an audio confirmation tone that sounds
when the timer is started and stopped.
18. The laser device shall have a menu feature which selects the
differential distance test to be activated. This allows the
operator to obtain distance readings on two targets and perform
an internal timing test on the difference between the two
distances. The difference distance is displayed in the range
window and twice the difference distance is displayed in the
speed window.
G. Additional Required Items
1. The vendor shall furnish Three (3) complete sets of operating
instructions including case law history in the use of traffic laser
speed devices, theory and operation, and trouble shooting
information with each device. These instructions must
thoroughly explain the type of tests and the proper way to
conduct them in order to confirm that the laser device is
operating properly. One of the described tests shall be a
distance difference (delta distance) test.
2. The vendor shall make available complete laser operator
training consisting of basic traffic enforcement theory, tracking
history, potential interferences, practical in field applications,
and suggested elements to be presented to the courts for
testimony.
3. The vendor shall provide technical expertise and documentation
regarding the engineering principles, scientific theory and
reliability, and overall accuracy of the laser speed device for
court purposes including providing expert testimony.
H. Manufacturer’s Quality Control and Testing
1. All electrical components shall be high reliability commercial
grade parts.
2. All assembled printed circuit boards and sub-assemblies shall be
thoroughly inspected and completely tested mechanically and
electrically before installation into the laser device.
3. All printed circuit boards shall be glass epoxy, type FR4 or
equivalent. All circuit boards shall be soldering masked.
4. All components dissipating power in excess of one watt and
mounted directly against a circuit board shall have adequate heat
sinks for circuit board protection. All electronic and electrical
components shall only be used within their manufacturer’s
operating specifications pertaining to voltage, current and heat
dissipation characteristics.
5. Each complete laser device shall be individually bench tested
for all functions and test parameters, and field tested in all
modes of operation. Each laser device shall be tested for
compliance to CDRH (Center for Devices and Radiological
Health) Class I eye safety.
I. Warranty
Provide warranty information for all parts, assemblies, and
components of the laser speed device. Written proof of the
warranty by the manufacturer must be furnished by the bidder and
attached to the bid. The warranty shall include a full guarantee
from the manufacturer that each laser speed device shall be free
from defects in materials and workmanship from a period
commencing with the date the Agency puts the device into service.
The manufacturer shall provide any and all software changes
developed and implemented during the warranty period at no
expense to the Agency. All shipping charges (both ways) shall be
at the expense of the manufacturer for the first 90 days after
delivery. Thereafter, shipping charges from the agency to the
manufacturer shall be at the expense of the Agency. Return
shipping charges from the manufacturer to the Agency shall be at
the sole expense of the manufacturer during the warranty period.
Consideration:
Consideration will be given on warranty length and extended
warranties on the laser speed device.