US3790884A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Severe thunderstorm detector
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-08-02
•
Granted: 1974-02-05
•
Expires: 1992-08-02
Abstract
Abstract Electrical circuitry provides for the detection of severe thunderstorms in a local area. Severe thunderstorms are those accompanied by damaging winds, hail or tornados. An antenna, which may be directional or omnidirectional, is used to detect the electromagnetic and electrostatic fields at a location. The electrostatic field at the location is applied to a circuit which provides a first signal indicating the presence of a severe thunderstorm in the local area when the rate of occurrence of maxima and minima variation of the electrostatic field exceeds a predetermined level. The electromagnetic field is applied to a second circuit which serves to provide a second signal when the variations in the electromagnetic field indicate the presence in the local area of any thunderstorm. Concurrence of the first and second signals is required to activate an alarm.
Inventors
- 👤 D Kohl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01W; G01W1/00; G01W1/16; G01R; G01R29/00; G01R29/24; G01R5/00; G01R5/28; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit comprising: means for providing a first signal indicative of the presence in a local area of one of several possible weather conditions including a severe thunderstorm; means for providing a second signal indicative of the presence of a thunderstorm in said local area; and means connected to receive said first and second signals for providing an alarm signal when said first and second signals concur.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit comprising: means for providing a first signal indicative of the presence in a local area of one of several possible weather conditions including a severe thunderstorm; means for providing a second signal indicative of the presence of a thunderstorm in said local area; and means connected to receive said first and second signals for providing an alarm signal when said first and second signals concur.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first mentioned means includes means responsive to the electrostatic field at a location within said local area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means responsive to the electrostatic field includes means for determining the rate of occurrence of maxima and minima variation of said electrostatic field, said first signal being provided when said rate exceeds a predetermined rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A thunderstorm weather detection circuit in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means responsive to the electrostatic field includes a circuit for obtaining the second time derivative of said electrostatic field as a measure of said maxima and minima variation of the electrostatic field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second mentioned means includes means responsive to the electromagnetic field signals at a location within said local area for providing said second signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means responsive to the electromagnetic field signals includes means for providing pulses by envelope demodulating said electromagnetic field signals present at said location which are within a narrow band of frequencies above 400 kHz; and means for determining the rate of occurrence of said pulses, said second signal being provided when said pulse rate exceeds a predetermined rate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit comprising: means responsive to the electrostatic field at a location for providing a first signal indicative of the presence in a local area of one of several possible weather conditions including a severe thunderstorm; means responsive to the electromagnetic field signals at said location for providing a second signal indicative of the presence of a thunderstorm within said local area; and means connected to receive said first and second signals for providing an alarm signal when said first and second signals are present at the same time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit comprising: means responsive to the electrostatic field at a location for providing a first signal indicative of the presence in a local area of one of several possible weather conditions including a severe thunderstorm; means responsive to the electromagnetic field signals at said location for providing a second signal indicative of the presence of a thunderstorm within said local area; and means connected to receive said first and second signals for providing an alarm signal when said first and second signals are present at the same time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means responsive to the electrostatic field includes means for determining the rate of occurrence of maxima and minima variation of said electrostatic field, said first signal being provided when said rate exceeds a predetermined rate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A thunderstorm weather detection circuit in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means responsive to the electrostatic field includes a circuit for obtaining the second time derivative of said electrostatic field as a measure of said maxima and minima variation of the electrostatic field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means responsive to the electrostatic field includes means for determining the rate of occurrence of maxima and minima variation of said electrostatic field, said first signal being provided when said rate exceeds a predetermined rate; and wherein said means responsive to the elecromagnetic field includes means for providing pulses by envelope demodulating said electromagnetic field signals present at said location which are within a narrow band of frequencies above 400kHZ; and means for determining the rate of occurrence of said pulses, said second signal being provided when said pulse rate exceeds a predetermined rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said means for determining the rate of occurrence of maxima and minima variation of said electrostatic field includes a circuit for obtaining the second time derivative of said electrostatic field as a measure of said maxima and minima variation of the electrostatic field.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means responsive to the electrostatic field includes an antenna and said means responsive to said electromagnetic field includes said antenna.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A severe thunderstorm detection circuit in accordance with claim 12 wherein said antenna is an omnidirectional antenna.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for detecting the presence of a severe thunderstorm in a local area comprising the steps of determining the rate of occurrence of maxima and minima variation in the electrostatic field present at a location within the local area, said rate in excess of a predetermined rate indicating the presence of one of several possible weather conditions including a severe thunderstorm; determining whether the weather condition is a thunderstorm in the event said rate is in excess of a predetermined rate; activating an alarm in the event a thunderstorm is determined to exist at the time said rate is in excess of a predetermined rate.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for detecting the presence of a severe thunderstorm in a local area comprising the steps of determining the rate of occurrence of maxima and minima variation in the electrostatic field present at a location within the local area, said rate in excess of a predetermined rate indicating the presence of one of several possible weather conditions including a severe thunderstorm; determining whether the weather condition is a thunderstorm in the event said rate is in excess of a predetermined rate; activating an alarm in the event a thunderstorm is determined to exist at the time said rate is in excess of a predetermined rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
122 words
A method for detecting the presence of a severe thunderstorm in a local area in accordance with claim 14 wherein the step determining the rate of occurrence of maxima and minima variation in the electrostatic field sensed includes the steps of positioning an antenna which is connected via a resistor to ground at a location within the local area; applying the voltage developed across said resistor in response to the electrostatic field at said location to a differentiating circuit to obtain indications of the occurrence of maxima and minima variation of the electrostatic field at said location; and applying said indications to a count rate circuit to obtain the rate of occurrence of said maxima and minima variation of the electrostatic field.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
A method for detecting the presence of a severe thunderstorm in a local area in accordance with claim 14 wherein the step determining whether the weather condition is a thunderstorm includes the steps of sensing the electromagnetic field signals at said location; selecting from said signals those signals which are within a narrow band width above 400 kHz; applying said selected signals to an envelope demodulator to provide pulses indicative of said selected signals; applying said pulses to a count rate circuit to obtain the rate of occurrence of said pulses which rate when exceeding a predetermined rate is indicative of the presence of a thunderstorm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |