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US 6,957,593 B1Granted
Devices, systems, and methods for analyzing snow stability
OwnerIan F. Burnsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for analyzing various characteristics of snow. In one embodiment of the present invention, a snow sensor is attached to a probe that is inserted beneath the surface of the snow. A depth sensor is provided that measures the depth of the snow sensor as it is operated. The invention can record at least one characteristic of snow as a function of depth.
Claims17
A system for analyzing stability of snow, the snow having a plurality of layers, comprising:
- (A) at least one acoustic sensor, the acoustic sensor being configured to:
- (a) emit sound energy, the sound energy being adapted to be reflected differently by the plurality of layers of snow;
- (b) receive sound energy reflected by the plurality of layers of snow;
- and
- (c) produce an output signal;
- (B) at least one output device, the output device being configured to communicate information to a user;
- and
- (C) at least one controller in communication with the acoustic sensor and the output device, the controller being configured to:
- (a) cause the acoustic sensor to produce sound energy;
- (b) receive the output signal produced by the acoustic sensor;
- (c) process the output signal to produce layer information;
- and
- (d) cause the output device to communicate the layer information to a user wherein stability of the snow may be analyzed using the layer information.
10 more elements
A system for analyzing the stability of snow, comprising:
- (A) at least one acoustic sensor means for measuring reflection of sound energy at a plurality of depths within the snow;
- (B) at least one controller means for determining layer information from the reflection of sound energy at a plurality of depths within the snow;
- and
- (C) at least one output means for communicating the layer information to a user.
1 more element
An apparatus for analyzing stability of snow, comprising:
- (A) an acoustic sensor configured to:
- (a) generate sound energy, the sound energy capable of being reflected by a plurality of different layers in the snow;
- (b) transmit the sound energy beneath a surface of the snow;
- (c) receive sound energy reflected by the plurality of layers of the snow;
- and
- (d) generate an output signal, the output signal communicating information related to the sound energy reflected by the plurality of layers of the snow;
- (B) an output device configured to communicate at least layer information to a user;
- and
- (C) a controller in communication with the acoustic sensor and the output device, the controller configured to:
- (a) control the acoustic sensor;
- (b) control the output device;
- (c) receive and record the output signal;
- (d) process the output signal to generate the layer information, the layer information comprising layers within the snow;
- and
- (e) cause the output device to communicate the layer information wherein a user may detect possible instability of the snow from the layer information.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.