Airborne Research Associates, Inc.

Other

Earth Networks, Inc.

Airborne Research Laboratories, Inc.

Ralph J Markson

Johan A Govaert

Arthur Uhlir, Jr

Lothar H Ruhnke

James W Warwick

Robert S Marshall

Christopher Dale Sloop

Chonglin Liu

Stan Heckman

Benjamin E Beroukhim

Earle R Williams

Bruce E Anderson

Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for detecting lightning activity. Waveform data indicative of lightning activity is received by a waveform sensor from one or more signal converters. The waveform data comprises a group of electromagnetic waveforms. The waveform data is filtered by a processor to remove noise frequencies. One or more uncompressed portions of the waveform data are transmitted to a processing server. Digital filter data based on the one or more uncompressed portions of waveform data are received from the processing server. One or more frequencies are removed from the waveform data based on the digital filter data. The waveform data is compressed. The compressing includes selecting one or more points on a waveform, wherein the one or more points are above a predetermined threshold. The compressing includes determining an inflection of the selected points based on a predefined algorithm.

Method and apparatus for detecting lightning activity

A lightning detection system for detecting and locating an initial discharge of an initial leader stroke of a lightning flash. An initial lightning discharge produces a pulse that can be used to accurately detect lightning, and more particularly, the location of the initial lightning discharge. In one embodiment, at least three sensors detect and determine the location of the first pulses from initial lightning discharges using time difference of arrival information of the pulses at each of the three sensors. In another embodiment, a single sensor is used to determine the range of an initial lightning discharge from the amplitude of a corresponding initial detected pulse, and to determine the direction from a crossed loop antenna An alternative embodiment of a single sensor system determines a distance of a lightning event from a peak amplitude value derived from a pulse amplitude distribution. In a further embodiment, a lightning detection system provides enhanced lightning location by incorporating weather data from a weather radar with detected lightning information.

Lightning locating system

A lightning detection system for detecting and locating an initial discharge of an initial leader stroke of a lightning flash. An initial lightning discharge produces a pulse that can be used to accurately detect lightning, and more particularly, the location of the initial lightning discharge. In one embodiment, at least three sensors detect and determine the location of the first pulses from initial lightning discharges using time difference of arrival information of the pulses at each of the three sensors. In another embodiment, a single sensor is used to determine the range of an initial lightning discharge from the amplitude of a corresponding initial detected pulse, and to determine its direction from a crossed loop antenna. An alternative embodiment of a single sensor system determines a distance of a lightning event from a peak amplitude value derived from a pulse amplitude distribution. In a further embodiment, a lightning detection system provides enhanced lightning location by incorporating weather data from a weather radar with detected lightning information.

A lightning and storm warning system capable of distinguishing lightning flashes from other light flashes and indicating to an operator of the existence of a lightning flash even under high ambient illumination conditions. The device may include a visual display indicating the severity and location of the storm and providing an indication of the time progression of the lightning rate.

Storm warning system

A lightning and strobe light detector and warning system capable of distinguishing strobe light and lightning flashes and indicating to an operator of the existence of a flash even under high illumination background conditions. The device may comprise a plurality of detectors and therefore not only distinguish between the strobe and lighting flashes but also indicate the direction of a flash.

Optical warning system

A system for predicting the occurence of microburst/windshear comprising at least one sensor for receiving lightning produced signals, a processor for processing those received signals to produce data and generate a warning when the processed data indicates that a microburst/windshear is about to occur.

Microburst/windshear warning system

The lightning range system for determining distance between a lightning discharge and an airborne object includes a receiver on the airborne object adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation signals generated by a lightning discharge along both a direct and a surface reflected path. Signal processing apparatus is interconnected with the receiver for determining the difference in the time of arrival of the direct and reflected signals. A computer is provided to calculate the range of the lightning discharge from the difference in the time of arrival of the direct and reflected signals. In a preferred embodiment, the signal processing apparatus is digital and includes at least a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter with at least a 36 megahertz sampling rate.

Interferometric lightning ranging system

An array of sensors responsive to atmospheric electrostatic fields is deployed, preferably with the sensors elevated above the ground. Suitable sensors are corona point sensors having a stainless steel needle. The corona current signals from the sensors are digitized and processed to determine the peak in the rate of sharp discontinuities in the electrostatic field. The peak in the rate of sharp discontinuities precedes a thunderstorm microburst by several minutes. The signal processing apparatus also generates equipotential contour maps of electrostatic field for spatially locating a microburst. The latter signal may also serve as a predictor for windshear since anomalous electric fields caused by charge carrying downdrafts may occur without lightning.

Electrical detection of thunderstorm microbursts

The lightning ranging system for determining distance between a lightning discharge and an airborne object includes a receiver on the airborne object adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation signals generated by a lightning discharge along both a direct and a surface reflected path. Signal processing apparatus is interconnected with the receiver for determining the difference in the time of arrival of the direct and reflected signals. A computer is provided to calculate the range of the lightning discharge from the difference in the time of arrival of the direct and reflected signals. In a preferred embodiment, the signal processing apparatus is digital and includes at least a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter with at least a 36 megahertz sampling rate.

Growing community of inventors

Weston, MA, United States of America

Ralph J Markson