Apparatus and method for detecting and displaying lightning
OwnerKenneth J. Susnjarainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lightning detection and display system for aircraft is disclosed. A lightning detection system detects the bearing and distance of lightning strikes to the aircraft and the aircraft navigation system determines the aircraft position relative to earth. A computer then calculates the position of each strike relative to earth and displays the aircraft's position and lightning strike locations in their correct relative positions. While the aircraft moves, the computer periodically updates the display data to maintain an accurate depiction. The system stores a history of lightning strikes and displays such history in a time-lapse mode to represent the storm's trend in direction and magnitude.
Claims14
A system for detecting lightning strikes from an aircraft and for displaying in said aircraft representations of said lightning strikes comprising:
- an aircraft;
- a computer housed within said aircraft;
- a lightning detection means housed within said aircraft for detecting lightning strikes and for providing signals representative of the distance and bearing of said detected lightning strikes to said aircraft, and means for connecting said lightning detection means to said computer;
- an aircraft navigation means housed within said aircraft for determining the location of said aircraft relative to earth and for providing signals representative of said location, and means for connecting said aircraft navigation means to said computer;
- said computer including means for calculating lightning strike locations relative to earth based upon said signals provided by said lightning detection means and said aircraft navigation means;
- said computer including memory means for storing said calculated lightning strike locations;
- and
- a display means for displaying said stored lightning strike locations, and means for connecting said display means to said computer.
A method for detecting lightning strikes from an aircraft and for displaying in said aircraft representations of said lightning strikes comprising the steps of:
- detecting lightning strikes and determining the locations of said lightning strikes relative to an aircraft;
- providing preliminary lightning strike location signals to a computer, said preliminary lightning strike location signals representing the distance and bearing of said detected lightning strikes to said aircraft;
- determining the location of said aircraft relative to earth and providing aircraft location signals to a computer;
- computing the location of said detected lightning strikes relative to earth based upon said preliminary lightning strike location signals and said aircraft location signals;
- storing data representative of said computed lightning strike locations;
- displaying data representative of said computed lightning strike locations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.