Rainwise, Inc.

Other

Michael A Vietti

John S Baer

Daniel J LaPointe

Stephen K Bohrer

A wireless weather station for measuring a number of weather parameters over an extended time at a data collection location. The weather data can be transmitted to a remote location using substantially less total power than would be necessary to provide real time continuous transmission, yet provide the appearance of real time continuous transmission. A sensor assembly is positioned at the data collection location, powered by a battery that is recharged using a solar panel. A clock controlled microprocessing unit controls the data transducers to provide a data sampling rate and a data transmission interval. The data sampling rate for a parameter corresponds to the rate of change of the parameter. The microprocessor unit provides a plurality of data transmission intervals, with each of the data transmission intervals having a predetermined length of time corresponding to the power requirements of the sensor assembly and the current power status of the battery. In this manner, the data output that is provided to the remote receiving station appears to be real time continuous transmission but is actually delayed by the length of time of the data transmission interval. While the invention is particularly well suited for use with a weather station, it can also be used in any situation where power requirements need to be conserved and data needs to be transmitted to a remote location.

Wireless weather station

A wind speed and wind direction signal generator includes first and second pulse signal generators each with a respective stator and rotor. The stator for each pulse generator has at least two stator coils mounted at a radial angle relative to each other in the direction of rotation of a rotor so that pulse signals excited on the stationary output lines of the two stator coils are phase shifted relative to each other at a phase detectable angle. The rotor has at least one permanent magnet with two poles spaced from each other for rotation relative to the respective stator coils and for exciting the pulse signals on the stator coil stationary output lines. First and second wind propellers are secured to the respective rotors and are oriented to compass directions at approximately 90.degree. defining a quadrant of a compass coordinate system. The wind propellers cause rotation of the respective rotors at respective frequencies proportional to first and second wind speed components. Phase detectors detect the direction of phase shift of pulse signals from each pair of stator coils from the first and second pulse signal generators. Counters count the pulses from the respective signals over predetermined time intervals generating wind speed component magnitude signals. A microprocessor and program elements compute the desired wind speed and wind direction information from the wind speed component magnitude signals, wind direction angle signals, quadrant signals, calibration factor signals, and trigonometric function signals.

Wind speed and wind direction signal generator

A weather station display system displays weather data on a video monitor, TV receiver or other raster screen display. The weather data is derived from a weather station having multiple weather parameter sensors or transducers for measuring weather parameters and generating electrical signals representative of the measured values of the weather parameters. The electrical signals are conditioned and converted to digitally coded weather data. A microprocessor periodically samples and stores the digitally coded weather data and transfers weather data to a screen memory for raster scanning onto a raster screen display. The microprocessor also loads screen display format data including a main screen display format to the screen memory from program and screen data memory. A light pen coupled to the raster controller permits interrogation of character locations for selectively modifying displayed weather data. The program components stored in program memory direct updating weather data, user interactive light pen recall of maximum and minimum weather data, and interactive assembly of user messages.

Light pen interactive weather parameter display system

A rotational position indicator useful for example for indicating wind direction is provided by a stator having nine position sensors substantially equally spaced around the circumference of a circle and an armature mounted for rotation on an axis located at the center of the circle. The armature is formed with two position sensor actuators mounted at approximately 140.degree. relative to each other. Each position sensor actuator is mounted at a radial position for selectively actuating the position sensors upon rotation of the armature. An electric circuit is coupled to each position sensor for indicating actuation or not of the respective position sensor. The output provides a unique position code for successive intervals of angular positioning of the armature relative to the stator. The actuators have an actuating effect over a selected angular interval sufficient to produce 36 unique position codes for indentifying successive 10.degree. intervals of angular positioning of the armature relative to the stator.

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Swan's Island, ME, United States of America

Michael A Vietti