# US 9,753,183 B2 · Aircraft expendable instrument launch detector system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,753,183 B2 - Document ID: US9753183B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/636,686 - Filed: 2015-03-03 - Published: 2017-01-26 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-03 - Assignees: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research - Applicants: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research - Inventors: Terrence Hock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753183B2 ## CPC - G01W 1/08: Adaptations of balloons, missiles, or aircraft for meteorological purposes; Radiosondes (transmission of measurements G01D; transmitting circuits H04B; {balloons in general B64B; aeroplanes in general B64D; missiles in general F42B15/00}) - G01D 5/145: {influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06)} - G01W: METEOROLOGY (radar, sonar, lidar or analogous systems, designed for meteorological use G01S13/95, G01S15/88, G01S17/95) - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An aircraft expendable instrument, an apparatus for launching an aircraft expendable instrument, and a method for detecting the launch of an aircraft expendable instrument are provided. The aircraft expendable instrument launch system an aircraft expendable instrument, a launch tube, a magnetic field generator positioned in the launch tube, a magnetic field detector positioned in the aircraft expendable instrument, and an electronics electrically coupled to the magnetic field detector. The electronics operable to detect a signal provided by the magnetic field detector when the aircraft expendable instrument an air travels through a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aircraft expendable instrument, comprising: a magnetic field detector positioned in the aircraft expendable instrument; and an electronics electrically coupled to the magnetic field detector, the electronics operable to detect a signal provided by the magnetic field detector upon detection of a magnetic field. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aircraft expendable instrument of claim 1, wherein the aircraft expendable instrument is a dropsonde. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aircraft expendable instrument of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field detector is a Hall Effect detector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aircraft expendable instrument of claim 1, wherein the electronics is operable to identify a launch time when the electronics detects the signal provided by the magnetic field detector. ### Claim 5 An aircraft expendable instrument launch system, comprising: an aircraft expendable instrument; a launch tube; a magnetic field generator positioned in the launch tube; a magnetic field detector positioned in the aircraft expendable instrument; and an electronics electrically coupled to the magnetic field detector, the electronics operable to detect a signal provided by the magnetic field detector upon detection of the magnetic field. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The aircraft expendable instrument launch system of claim 5, wherein the magnetic field is symmetric around an axis of the launch tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The aircraft expendable instrument launch system of claim 5, wherein the magnetic field generator is positioned below the magnetic field detector until launch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The aircraft expendable instrument launch system of claim 5, wherein the magnetic field generator includes a ring of permanent magnets positioned around the launch tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The aircraft expendable instrument launch system of claim 5, wherein the magnetic field includes magnetic field lines that are oriented parallel to an axis of the launch tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The aircraft expendable instrument launch system of claim 9, wherein the magnetic field has a magnetic flux density that is at least 50 gauss over at least a 1 centimeter magnetic field height. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The aircraft expendable instrument launch system of claim 5, wherein the magnetic field detector is a Hall Effect detector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The aircraft expendable instrument launch system of claim 5, wherein the electronics is operable to identify a launch time when the electronics detects the signal provided by the magnetic field detector. ### Claim 13 A method for detecting the launch of an aircraft expendable instrument using a magnetic field detector positioned in the aircraft expendable instrument, the method comprising the steps of: generating a magnetic field in a launch tube with a magnetic field generator; inserting the aircraft expendable instrument in the launch tube above the magnetic field; launching the aircraft expendable instrument via the launch tube; and detecting the magnetic field using an electronics electrically coupled to the magnetic field detector, the electronics operable to detect a signal provided by the magnetic field detector upon detection of the magnetic field. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the magnetic field is symmetric around an axis of the launch tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the magnetic field generator includes a ring of permanent magnets positioned around the launch tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the magnetic field includes magnetic field lines oriented parallel to an axis of the launch tube. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the magnetic field has a magnetic flux density that is at least 50 gauss over at least a 1 centimeter magnetic field height. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, the magnetic field detector is a Hall Effect detector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein inserting the aircraft expendable instrument in the launch tube above the magnetic field includes separating the magnetic field detector from the magnetic field prior to launching the aircraft expendable instrument via the launch tube. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of: designating a launch time when the electronics detects the signal provided by the magnetic field detector. ### Claim 21 A method of manufacturing an aircraft expendable instrument launch detection system, the method including the steps of: positioning a magnetic field detector inside the aircraft expendable instrument; positioning an electronics inside the aircraft expendable instrument, the electronics electrically coupled to the magnetic field detector and operable to detect a signal provided by the magnetic field detector upon detection of a magnetic field in a launch tube. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the aircraft expendable instrument is a dropsonde.