Corona Detection System and Method
AssigneeWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution
InventorsEdward C. BRAINARD II, Hans J. WEEDON
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for detecting electrical events, often a corona associated with an impending lightning strike, including a coupling mechanism configured to establish an electromagnetic connection with a conductive substrate to receive signals intercepted by the conductive substrate. A detector circuit converts and discriminates the received signals into output signals. An output mechanism records and/or transmits the output signals, as well as determines if the output signal represents a qualified event signal.
Claims20
A system for detecting electrical events in an environment, the system comprising:
- a conductive substrate capable of intercepting electromagnetic signals from the environment across a selected spectrum of frequencies;
- a coupling mechanism configured to establish an inductively-coupled electromagnetic connection with said conductive substrate to receive at least one intercepted electromagnetic signal from said conductive substrate;
- a detector circuit including a first transforming module configured to select a first frequency from said at least one intercepted signal, and to convert said selected first frequency into at least one selected signal;
- and
- an output mechanism electrically connected to said detector circuit to receive said at least one selected signal and configured to produce at least one of (i) a perceptible warning. (ii) a warning signal, or (iii) a stored signal.
A method of detecting electrical events, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a device comprising a coupling mechanism configured to receive electromagnetic signals across a selected spectrum of frequencies, and a detector circuit including a first transforming module configured to select a first frequency from a received electromagnetic signal and to convert said selected first frequency into at least one selected signal;
- connecting said device to an output mechanism configured to receive at least one signal from said detector circuit;
- coupling said coupling mechanism with an inductive connection to a conductive substrate found in the environment, said conductive substrate capable of intercepting electromagnetic signals from the environment;
- intercepting electromagnetic signals from the environment with said coupling mechanism;
- producing at least one signal from the detector circuit;
- and
- receiving said at least one signal with the output mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.