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US 5,394,238 AGranted
Look-ahead windshear detector by filtered Rayleigh and/or aerosol scattered light
AssigneeHoneywell Inc.
InventorsHans W. Mocker, Scott A. Nelson, John F. Ready, Thomas J. Wagener
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Windshear detector using Rayleigh-backscattered light and a molecular filter for optical discrimination, and frequency locking of a laser, to detect windshear. The windshear detector has a pulsed ring laser that transmits a signal out of the detector and receives reflected backscatter of the transmitted signal. The ring laser is driven with an injection laser. Both lasers are ultimately keyed to the molecular transmission or absorption filter with locking electronics. The received reflected backscatter is detected and processed into a signal that indicates whether there is windshear or turbulence.
Claims17
A detection system comprising:
- unidirectional ring laser means for transmitting a first light beam having a first frequency;
- and
- receiver means for receiving a second light beam, the second light beam having some reflection or backscatter of the first light beam;
- wherein said receiver means comprises:
- filter means for receiving and filtering out a first portion of a second light beam having a second frequency and for passing a second portion of the second light beam having a third frequency;
- first signal detection means for receiving the second portion of the second light beam having the third frequency and for converting the second portion of the second light beam having the third frequency into a first electrical signal;
- and
- processing means, connected to said signal detection means, for processing the first electrical signal into information concerning windshear detection.
5 more elements
A detection system comprising:
- transmitter means for transmitting a first light beam having a first frequency, wherein said transmitter means is a unidirectional ring laser;
- and
- receiver means for receiving a second light beam, the second light beam having some reflection or backscatter of the first light beam;
- wherein said receiver means comprises:
- filter means for receiving and filtering out a first portion of a second light beam having a second frequency and for passing a second portion of the second light beam having a third frequency;
- first signal detection means for receiving the second portion of the second light beam having the third frequency and for converting the second portion of the second light beam having the third frequency into a first electrical signal;
- and
- processing means, connected to said signal detection means, for processing the first electrical signal into information concerning windshear detection.
5 more elements
A detection system comprising:
- a transmitter;
- a receiver connected to said transmitter;
- and wherein:
- said receiver comprises:
- a line filter;
- a detector connected to said filter and to said transmitter;
- and
- a processor connected to said detector;
- and said transmitter comprises:
- a continuous wave laser having a frequency locked to said line filter;
- and
- a pulsed laser having a frequency locked to the frequency of said continuous wave laser.
9 more elements
A detection system comprising:
- a first laser;
- first locking electronics connected to said first laser;
- a filter;
- detection electronics connected to said filter;
- a second laser;
- and
- second locking electronics connected to said filter and said second laser.
4 more elements
A detection system comprising:
- a ring laser for generating pulsed light at a first frequency;
- a filter for absorbing light near or at the first frequency of the pulsed light and for filtering the pulsed light which is reflected to said filter, and for passing certain backscattered light;
- a first light detector for receiving backscattered light from said filter;
- an injection laser for emitting laser light through said filter on into said ring laser;
- a second light detector for detecting laser light from said injection laser;
- a first ratio former connected to said second light detector and said injection laser;
- and
- a third light detector for receiving reflected pulsed light having backscatter and for receiving pulsed light from said ring laser;
- a second ratio former connected to said first light detector and to said third light detector;
- a signal processor connected to said second ratio former;
- and
- a turbulence indicator connected to said signal processor.
9 more elements
A detection system, for detecting windshear or turbulence in air or atmosphere external to said detection system, comprising:
- a ring laser for transmitting an emitted pulsed laser;
- an injection laser for injecting a continuous wave laser into said ring laser;
- a filter for receiving reflections of the pulsed laser and having a first filter output, and for receiving the continuous wave laser and having a second filter output;
- a first detector for receiving backscattered return of the emitted pulsed laser that has passed through said filter and receiving the emitted pulsed laser;
- a second detector for receiving the continuous wave laser from said injection laser and receiving the continuous wave laser that has passed through said filter;
- a third detector for receiving the backscattered return of the pulsed laser and receiving the emitted pulsed laser;
- a first ratio former, connected to said second detector and to said injection laser for forming a signal that indicates an amount of difference between a frequency of the continuous wave laser and a frequency of the second filter output;
- a second ratio former, connected to said first detector and to said third detector, for forming signals that indicate an amount of difference between a frequency of the emitted pulsed laser and a frequency of the first filter output;
- a processor and indicator connected to said second ratio former for processing signals from said second ratio former and indicating turbulence or windshear if the signals from said second ratio former represent such conditions impinged by the emitted pulsed laser;
- and
- electronics means, connected to said third detector and to said ring laser, for controlling said ring laser.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.