Precipitation sensing via intelligent lighting
US11168854B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 22, 2017 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01P5/18
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method (400) for identifying precipitation (50) includes the steps of: providing (410) a lighting unit (10) having a first photosensor (32), a second photosensor (34), and a controller (22), where the first and second photosensors are vertically spaced by a first distance; receiving (430), by the first photosensor, a first light signal from the precipitation at a first time point (T1); receiving (440) by the second photosensor, a second light signal from the precipitation at a second time point (T2); calculating (450) the amount of time between the first light signal and the second light signal; and calculating (460), based on the first distance and the calculated amount of time between the first light signal and the second light signal, a velocity of the precipitation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.