Lightning strike detection system capable of quickly determining an

Abstract

A sampled data lightning strike detection and mapping system receives first and second signal waveforms representative of a magnetic field, and a third signal waveform representative of an electrical field, the first, second and third signal waveforms each including a pulse shaped portion and a trailing shaped portion. Samples of the first, second and third signal waveforms are digitized to generate first, second and third trains of digital data signals representative of their respective signal waveforms. A sample which exceeds a predetermined threshold level from the first and second trains is identified as a trigger sample and the train including the trigger sample is designated as the trigger train. The trigger sample governs the collection of a predetermined number of samples from the trigger and third trains substantially coherent with the pulse shaped portion of the trigger signal waveform and further governs the commencement of processing of the digital data samples of the first, second and third trains for the detection and mapping of the lightning strike. Such processing is aborted upon the determination of an invalid correlation of the collected predetermined number of samples of the trigger and third train.