Mechanical strain-based weather sensor
AssigneeUnderstory, LLC
InventorsAlexander C. Kubicek, Bryan A. Dow, Alexander T. Jacobs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Weather sensors and particularly collect weather data by measuring bending and compression stresses in a weather sensor device. The sensors are based upon the principle of bending stresses and the linear variation of stress between the maximum and minimum point. The sensors model deformation of a hollow shaft or rod. The sensors encompass measuring compression, bending, and/or torsional stresses on other cross-sectional shapes using the appropriate relationship for the particular cross-section that finds use in the technology.
Claims22
A weather-sensing apparatus comprising:
- a) a drag-generating component;
- b) a shaft connected to the drag-generating component;
- c) two or more force sensors attached directly to the shaft;
- and
- d) a processor configured to calculate three-dimensional vector data from force sensor signals and identify an individual hydrometeor impact from the three-dimensional vector data,
- wherein a force applied to the drag-generating component produces a force detected by the two or more force sensors.
A method for measuring a weather-related force applied to a weather-sensing apparatus, the method comprising:
- a) providing a weather-sensing apparatus comprising:
- 1) a drag-generating component;
- 2) a shaft connected to the drag-generating component;
- 3) two or more force sensors attached directly to the shaft;
- and
- 4) a processor configured to calculate three-dimensional vector data from force sensor signals;
- b) inputting force sensor signals from the two or more force sensors to the processor;
- and
- c) calculating three-dimensional vector data from the force sensor signals and identifying an individual hydrometeor impact from the three-dimensional vector data, wherein the three-dimensional vector data describes the weather-related force applied to the device.
A system for collecting and providing weather data, the system comprising:
- a) a weather-sensing apparatus comprising:
- a) a drag-generating component;
- b) a shaft connected to the drag-generating component;
- c) two or more force sensors attached directly to the shaft;
- b) a processor configured to receive as input force sensor signals from the two or more force sensors;
- and
- c) a software component for implementing an algorithm on the processor to calculate three-dimensional vector data from the force sensor signals and identify an individual hydrometeor impact from the three-dimensional vector data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.