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:
Apr. 15, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 05, 1992
Grant R Gray, Socorro, NM (US);
Paul R Krehbiel, Socorro, NM (US);
Stephen E Mc Crary, Datil, NM (US);
Marx Brook, Socorro, NM (US);
Tiehan Chen, Albuquerque, NM (US);
William Rison, Socorro, NM (US);
New Mexico Tech Research Foundation, Socorro, NM (US);
Abstract
The disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for remotely sensing electrical activity and potential for lightning occurrence. The disclosure is particularly directed to the use of such an apparatus and method to detect the electrical alignment of particles in upper levels of electrified storms. Storms are illuminated by radar in one or more orthogonal polarizations and the co-polar and cross-polar returns are correlated coherently and incoherently. The correlation coefficient, or a function thereof, is examined to determine the degree of particle alignment, and therefore the degree of electrification and potential for lightning occurrence. The phase of the correlation computation, in coherent processing, also detects particle alignment, which can be incorporated in the predictive decision. Correlation and phase can be displayed, recorded or, utilized for a prediction or warning.