Apparatus and method for in-flight detection of airborne volcanic ash
US9041926B2 · kind B2 · utility
12Cited by
2References
9Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A90/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of optically determining the presence of volcanic ash within a cloud comprises emitting a circularly polarized illuminating beam within a cloud and analyzing backscatter light to identify the presence of volcanic ash within the cloud. The method further includes determining the degree to which the cloud has altered the polarization state of the emitted beam. The index of refraction of the backscatter light and the opacity of the backscatter light are also analyzed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.