Lightning and storm warning method and apparatus

US5541501A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Skyscan Technologies, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Edward F. Shaver · Lutz, US
• John F. Kohls · Pinellas Park, US
• Richard I. Kohls · Pinellas Park, US
• Paris H. Wiley · Tampa, US
• Stephen L. McCarter · St. Petersburg, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 23, 1993
• Grant date: Jul 30, 1996
• Expiry date: Nov 23, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01W1/16
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A lightning ranging device which utilizes two frequencies in the field generated by a lightning discharge to determine range. The relative amplitudes of the outputs from two tuned receiver channels varies with distance from the lightning stroke. A two-dimensioned look-up table with two inputs and one output can be utilized to output the range. The original ratio of the amplitudes of the two frequencies can be determined empirically from experimental data and amplification factors on the two frequency channels are pre-set at different levels to compensate for this difference in the original energy level.