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US 5,396,220 AGranted
Storm warning system
AssigneeAirborne Research Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsRalph J. Markson, Johan A. Govaert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lightning and storm warning system capable of distinguishing lightning flashes from other light flashes and indicating to an operator of the existence of a lightning flash even under high ambient illumination conditions. The device may include a visual display indicating the severity and location of the storm and providing an indication of the time progression of the lightning rate.
Claims20
A lightning detection system comprising:
- an optical detection device comprising an output terminal and producing on said output terminal of said optical detection device a first electrical signal in response to the detection of light;
- an electrostatic detection device comprising an output terminal and producing a second electrical signal on said output terminal of said electrostatic detection device in response to changes to the electrostatic field of the earth;
- a coincidence circuit, comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, said first input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said optical detection device and said second input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said electrostatic detection device, said coincidence circuit producing a coincidence signal on said output terminal of said coincidence circuit in response to approximately simultaneous presence of said first electrical signal and said second electrical signal at said first and second input terminals of said coincidence circuit, respectively;
- a rate determination circuit comprising an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said rate determination circuit in electrical communication with said output terminal of said coincidence circuit, said rate determination circuit determining a rate of lightning activity in response to said coincidence signal from said coincidence circuit and producing on said output terminal of said rate determination circuit a rate signal indicative of said rate of lightning activity;
- and
- a rate display comprising an input terminal, said input terminal of said rate display in electrical communication with said output terminal of said rate determination circuit, said rate display displaying said rate of lightning activity in response to said rate signal.
3 more elements
Method of determining the distance from a lightning storm to an operator of a lightning detection system, comprising the steps of:
- providing said lightning detection system comprising:
- an electrostatic detection device producing an electrical signal in response to changes to the electrostatic field of the earth caused by lightning;
- and
- a display unit for receiving a signal indicative of the production of said electrical signal by said electrostatic detection device and displaying an indication that said electrical signal has been produced by said electrostatic detection device;
- holding said lightning detection system above the head of said operator at a height of approximately eight feet above the ground and determining the presence of said electrical signal from said electrostatic detection device;
- holding said lightning detection system about two feet from the body of said operator at a height of about three feet and determining the presence of said electrical signal from said electrostatic detection device;
- placing said lightning detection system on the ground away from said operator and determining the presence of said electrical signal from said electrostatic detection device;
- determining that said lightning is more than two hundred miles away if said electrical signal is present with said lightning detection system at said height of approximately eight feet but not with said lightning detection system at said height of about three feet, and
- determining that said lightning is more than forty miles away if said electrical signal is present with said lightning detection system at said height of approximately three feet but not with said lightning detection system on said ground.
6 more elements
An optical lightning detection system comprising:
- an optical detection device comprising an output terminal and producing an electrical signal on said output terminal in response to the detection of light from lightning activity;
- a bandpass filter comprising an output terminal and an input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said optical detection device, said bandpass filter allowing only signals within a predetermined frequency bandwidth to pass from said bandpass filter input terminal to said bandpass filter output terminal;
- a signal stretching circuit comprising an output terminal and an input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said bandpass filter, said signal stretching circuit increasing the duration of signals communicated to said signal stretching circuit input terminal and placing said stretched signals on said signal stretching circuit output terminal;
- and
- an audio circuit comprising an input terminal in electrical communication with said signal stretching circuit output terminal, said audio circuit producing an audible indication of lightning activity.
2 more elements
An optical lightning detection system comprising:
- an optical detection device comprising an output terminal and producing an electrical signal on said output terminal in response to the detection of light from lightning activity;
- a bandpass filter comprising an output terminal and an input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said optical detection device, said bandpass filter allowing only signals within a predetermined frequency bandwidth to pass from said bandpass filter input terminal to said bandpass filter output terminal;
- and
- an audio circuit comprising an input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said bandpass filter, said audio circuit producing an audible staccato sound comprising distinct parts, each of said distinct parts of said staccato sound corresponding to a respective individual lightning stroke, when said optical detection device detects lightning.
1 more element
An optical lightning detection system comprising:
- an optical detection circuit comprising an output terminal and producing an electrical signal on said output terminal in response to the detection of light;
- a directional antenna circuit responsive to an electrostatic field indicative of lightning comprising an output terminal and producing directional signals indicating the location of said lightning, said directional signals being produced on said output terminal of said directional antenna circuit in response to lightning activity;
- a location display circuit comprising an input terminal and a control terminal, said input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said directional antenna circuit;
- and
- a coincidence circuit, comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, said first input terminal of said coincidence circuit in electrical communication with said output terminal of said optical detection circuit and said second input terminal of said coincidence circuit in electrical communication with said output terminal of said directional antenna circuit, said coincidence circuit producing a coincidence output signal on said output terminal of said coincidence circuit in response to approximately simultaneous presence of said electrical signal from said output terminal of said optical detection circuit and said directional signals from said output terminal of said directional antenna circuit at said first and second input terminals of said coincidence circuit, respectively, said output terminal of said coincidence circuit in electrical communication with said control terminal of said location display circuit,
- said location display circuit displaying, in response to said coincidence output signal from said coincidence circuit and said directional signals from said directional antenna circuit, a representation of the location of lightning activity.
3 more elements
A lightning detection system comprising:
- an optical detection device comprising an output terminal and producing on said output terminal a first electrical signal in response to the detection of light;
- an electro-detection device comprising an output terminal and producing a second electrical signal on said output terminal of said electro-detection device in response to electrical disturbances caused by lightning;
- a coincidence circuit, comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, said first input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said optical detection device and said second input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said electro-detection device, said coincidence circuit producing a coincidence signal on said output terminal of said coincidence circuit in response to approximately simultaneous presence of said first electrical signal and said second electrical signal at said first and second input terminals of said coincidence circuit, respectively;
- a flip-flop comprising a set terminal, a reset terminal and an output terminal, said set terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said coincidence circuit, said flip-flop producing a start oscillator signal on said output terminal of said flip-flop in response to said coincidence signal from said coincidence circuit;
- an oscillator circuit comprising an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said oscillator circuit in electrical communication with said output terminal of said flip-flop, said oscillator circuit generating a periodic timing signal on said output terminal in response to said start oscillator signal from said flip-flop;
- a counter comprising a zero terminal, an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said counter in electrical communication with said output terminal of said oscillator circuit, said counter counting periods of said periodic timing signal from said oscillator circuit;
- a stop switch in electrical communication with said reset terminal of said flop-flop for resetting said flip-flop and thereby stopping said oscillator circuit;
- a reset switch in electrical communication with said zero terminal of said counter for zeroing said counter;
- and
- a display unit comprising an input terminal in communication with said output terminal of said counter, said display unit providing an indication of distance to the location of lightning in response to the number of periodic timing signals counted by said counter between the occurrence of said coincidence signal and the activation of said stop switch.
7 more elements
A lightning detection system comprising:
- an optical detection device comprising an output terminal and producing on said output terminal of said optical detection device a first electrical signal in response to the detection of light;
- an electro-detection device comprising an output terminal and producing a second electrical signal on said output terminal of said electro-detection device in response to electrical disturbances caused by lightning;
- a coincidence circuit, comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, said first input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said optical detection device and said second input terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said electro-detection device, said coincidence circuit producing a coincidence signal on said output terminal of said coincidence circuit in response to approximately simultaneous presence of said first electrical signal and said second electrical signal at said first and second input terminals of said coincidence circuit, respectively;
- a rate determination circuit comprising an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said rate determination circuit in electrical communication with said output terminal of said coincidence circuit, said rate determination circuit determining the rate of lightning activity in response to a plurality of said coincidence signals from said coincidence circuit and producing on said output terminal of said rate determination circuit a rate signal indicative of said rate of lightning activity;
- and
- a rate display comprising an input terminal, said input terminal of said rate display in electrical communication with said output terminal of said rate determination circuit for providing a display indicative of said rate of lightning activity in response to said rate signal.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.