Lightning strike counter and lightning strike counting method

A lightning strike counting method for a lightning strike counter, the lightning strike counter comprising a lightning strike input circuit, a bipolar waveform generating circuit, and a counting circuit, and the lightning strike counting method comprising:

• receiving, by the lightning strike input circuit, a lightning strike signal;
• outputting, by the bipolar waveform generating circuit, a bipolar waveform signal to the counting circuit in response to the lightning strike input circuit receiving the lightning strike signal;
• and
• outputting, by the counting circuit, a counting output signal in response to receiving the bipolar waveform signal;
• wherein:
• the lightning strike input circuit comprises a first lightning strike input end, a second lightning strike input end, and a protection element, and the protection element is coupled between the first lightning strike input end and the second lightning strike input end in order to keep a voltage difference between the first lightning strike input end and the second lightning strike input end from being higher than a preset value;
• the bipolar waveform generating circuit comprises a transformer, a capacitor, and a bipolar waveform output end, wherein the transformer comprises a primary coil and a secondary coil, the primary coil and the capacitor are connected in series between the first lightning strike input end and the second lightning strike input end, a first end of the secondary coil is coupled with the bipolar waveform output end, and a second end of the secondary coil is coupled with a ground;
• the counting circuit comprises a counting input end and a counting output end, wherein the counting input end is coupled with the bipolar waveform output end;
• the lightning strike input circuit receives the lightning strike signal from the first lightning strike input end and the second lightning strike input end;
• the bipolar waveform generating circuit outputs the bipolar waveform signal from the bipolar waveform output end to the counting circuit in response to the lightning strike input circuit receiving the lightning strike signal;
• and
• the counting circuit outputs the counting output signal from the counting output end in response to receiving the bipolar waveform signal from the counting input end.