Agc America, Inc.

Mark S Ackerman

William J Williams

Mitchell Max Rohde

Colin Byrne

Brent W Pankey

A sensing device includes a piezoelectric vibration sensor mounted to a surface for producing an analog signal proportional to raindrops striking the surface, an amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter, and a processor for calculating the rain rate based on an exponential probability density function of a first order point process.

Sensing device for determining a rain rate

A method for determining a rate of rain falling on a surface. As rain falls and strikes the surface, vibrations are generated on the surface. The vibrations are sensed and a vibration signal is generated, the vibration signal being proportional to the vibrations of the surface. The vibration signal includes peaks. The peaks of the vibration signal are determined. The time intervals between the peaks are then determined. Using the time intervals, a number nof timer intervals that occur between a first time and a second time are counted. A number nof time intervals that occur between the second time and a third time are also counted. The rain rate &#x3bb; is then determined using an equation that is derived from a point process equation and utilizes nand n.

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Howell, MI, United States of America

Mark S Ackerman