Weather identifier and visibility sensor
US5444530A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 22, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/85
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A weather identification system is provided which employs a first photosensitive receiver positioned directly in the path of a beam of light a predetermined distance from a partially coherent light beam source. The first photosensitive receiver is in direct optical communication with the light beam source to produce electronic signals in response to scintillations caused by particle movement between the source and the first receiver. Signals from the detected scintillations are filtered to provide an output having a frequency range above one kilohertz indicative of rain intensity, and a second output having a frequency range lower than two hundred fifty hertz indicative of snow intensity. A second photosensitive receiver is positioned out of the path of the beam of light and is oriented at an oblique angle relative thereto to provide an output indicative of forward scattering of light from scintillations that occur in the beam of light. The signals from the second photosensitive receiver provide an output having a signal strength characteristic of visibility. The weather identification system thereby senses precipitation, categorizes the precipitation as either rain or snow, and me…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.