# US 2021/0333311 A1 · Corona Detection System and Method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0333311 A1 - Document ID: US20210333311A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/627,317 - Filed: 2019-08-02 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-02 - Assignees: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - Applicants: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - Inventors: Edward C. BRAINARD II; Hans J. WEEDON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210333311A1 ## CPC - G01R 29/08: Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics - G01R 29/0842: {Measurements related to lightning, e.g. measuring electric disturbances, warning systems} - G01R 29/12: Measuring electrostatic fields {or voltage-potential} - G01R 29/24: Arrangements for measuring quantities of charge - G01W 1/16: Measuring atmospheric potential differences, e.g. due to electrical charges in clouds (measuring potentiels in general G01R) - G08B 21/18: Status alarms (G08B21/02 takes precedence) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G01W: METEOROLOGY (radar, sonar, lidar or analogous systems, designed for meteorological use G01S13/95, G01S15/88, G01S17/95) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said detector circuit further comprises: a second transforming module, configured to select a second frequency from said at least one intercepted signal and to convert said selected second frequency to at least one second selected signal; and a logic module which receives the at least one selected signal and the at least one second selected signal, and produces at least one output signal which is sent to said output mechanism. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the logic module includes: a logic gate having a first input and a second input and connected to said output mechanism, said first input connected to said first transforming module and said second input connected to said second transforming module; and wherein said first input receives said at least one selected signal from said first transforming module and said second input receives said at least one second selected signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said coupling mechanism has at least inductive and resistive frequency ranges across the selected spectrum of frequencies, and said coupling mechanism receives said at least one intercepted electromagnetic signal within said inductive frequency range. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein said coupling mechanism is a split core ferrite transformer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a protection mechanism physically connected with at least one connection of at least one piece of electronic equipment and said protection mechanism is adapted to mechanically disconnect said at least one connection when a warning signal is sent to said protection mechanism from said output mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said detector circuit further comprises an enhancement module configured to shunt excess intercepted electromagnetic signal via signal-to-ground conduction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein said detector circuit further comprises an input module, wherein said input module receives said intercepted signal, producing at least one input signal and provides said at least one input signal to said transforming module, and said transforming module performs permeability tuning of said intercepted signal to produce at least one passed signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said output mechanism comprises a data logger and a digital display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said output mechanism comprises a communications system to transmit the warning signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said output mechanism qualifies said at least one output signal according to at least one test criteria to produce one of a qualified event signal or a non-qualified event signal. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of qualifying said at least one signal according to at least one test criteria by said output mechanism; and producing one of a qualified event signal or a non-qualified event signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein said device is selected to include a protection mechanism and the method further includes the step of physically disconnecting at least one connection from at least one piece of electronic equipment utilizing said protection mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein said coupling mechanism has at least inductive and resistive frequency ranges across the selected spectrum of frequencies, and said coupling mechanism receives said at least one intercepted electromagnetic signal within said inductive frequency range. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein said output mechanism further comprises an interconnected communications system and the method further includes the step of communicating said at least one signal to a remote station. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein said detector circuit further comprises an enhancement module configured to shunt excess selected signal to ground. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of shunting excess selected signal to ground. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said detector circuit further comprises an input module; wherein said input module receives said intercepted signal, producing at least one input signal and provides said at least one input signal to said transforming module, said transforming module performs permeability tuning of said intercepted signal, producing said at least one selected signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said detector circuit further comprises: a second transforming module, configured to select a second frequency from said at least one intercepted signal and to convert said selected second frequency to at least one second selected signal; a logic gate comprising a first and a second input and connected to said output mechanism, said first input connected to said first transforming module and said second input connected to said second transforming module; and wherein said first input receives said at least one selected signal from said first transforming module and said second input receives said at least one second selected signal and wherein said logic gate produces at least one output signal, sending said at least one output signal to said output mechanism.