Transient voltage recorder

US6452373B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Pedro J. Medelius · Merritt Island, US
• Howard J. Simpson · Melbourne, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 8, 2001
• Grant date: Sep 17, 2002
• Expiry date: Jan 20, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R29/0892
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A voltage transient recorder can detect lightning induced transient voltages. The recorder detects a lightning induced transient voltage and adjusts input amplifiers to accurately record transient voltage magnitudes. The recorder stores voltage data from numerous monitored channels, or devices. The data is time stamped and can be output in real time, or stored for later retrieval. The transient recorder, in one embodiment, includes an analog-to-digital converter and a voltage threshold detector. When an input voltage exceeds a pre-determined voltage threshold, the recorder stores the incoming voltage magnitude and time of arrival. The recorder also determines if its input amplifier circuits clip the incoming signal or if the incoming signal is too low. If the input data is clipped or too low, the recorder adjusts the gain of the amplifier circuits to accurately acquire subsequent components of the lightning induced transients.