System and method for determining crosswinds
US7705971B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A90/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method for measuring crosswinds includes using a laser to send a signal on a signal path, and receiving response signals backscattered off of aerosols or other materials in the atmosphere along the signal path. Wavefronts of the received responses are perturbated by thermal cell turbulence in the atmosphere that perturbs optical wavefront propagation. Signals backscattered by airborne aerosols at different distances from the laser in the wavefront imager arrive at different times at the wavefront imager. Thus the wavefront perturbations vary with range, and data on the perturbed wavefront may be collected by the wavefront imager. Crosswinds cause movements in the optical perturbations over time, as the thermal cell turbulence moves. By comparing wavefronts of signals sent at different times an amount of thermal cell displacement may be determined at a series of ranges away from the laser and the wavefront imager.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.