The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 1996
Filed:
Aug. 22, 1994
Randall E Potter, North Hills, CA (US);
Arete Associates, Sherman Oaks, CA (US);
Abstract
Local data about the ocean surface and what is above it are used to improve public radio and TV weather reporting; to improve small-craft ocean traffic safety in view of local precipitation, wind, icebergs, or cloudiness; or to improve performance of wind-sensitive sound-receiving apparatus. (As to weather reporting, one mechanism is in effect a calibration of simultaneous satellite-based data. As to acoustic receivers, the mechanism is orienting receivers to the wind, to minimize wind-noise pickup.) These functions are based on observing, from a distance below the surface, light intensities of many areas of the irregular water surface. From these intensities surface-slope magnitudes and orientations are estimated; analysis of this information enables a quantitative, dynamic representation of the water surface itself. From this model in turn, the conditions enumerated earlier are inferred. The invention operates from a bottom-mounted or -tethered undersea platform or from mobile equipment, and in the latter case particularly can also advantageously provide a visual analogue of above-surface features for use in enhancing operations of that equipment.