US3820095A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric field measuring and display system
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1972-09-13
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1992-09-13
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for monitoring the electric fields of cloud formations within a particular area which utilizes capacitor plates that are alternately shielded from the clouds for generating an alternating signal corresponding to the intensity of the electric field of the clouds. A synchronizing signal is produced for controlling sampling of the alternating signal. Such samplings are fed through a filter and converted by an analogue to digital converter into digital form and subsequently fed to a transmitter for transmission to the control station for recording.
Inventors
- 👤 R Wojtasinski
- 👤 D Lovall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01W; G01W1/00; G01W1/16; G01R; G01R29/00; G01R29/24; G01R5/00; G01R5/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for monitoring the electric fields for cloud formations within a particular area comprising: A. a pair of capacitor plates located in said area facing said cloud formation being monitored, B. means for coupling said capacitor plates to an amplifier, C. means for alternately shielding said capacitor plates from said cloud formations for generating an alternating signal on the output of said amplifier corresponding to the intensity of said electric field of said cloud formation above said capacitor plates, D. means for generating a synchronizing signal having a frequency corresponding to the rate saId capacitor plates are alternately shielded, E. means activated by said synchronizing signal for sampling the peaks of said alternating signal for generating a D.C. signal which varies according to the electric field sensed by said capacitor plates, and F. means for converting said varying D.C. signal to a digital signal representing the intensity of said electric field of said cloud formation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for monitoring the electric fields for cloud formations within a particular area comprising: A. a pair of capacitor plates located in said area facing said cloud formation being monitored, B. means for coupling said capacitor plates to an amplifier, C. means for alternately shielding said capacitor plates from said cloud formations for generating an alternating signal on the output of said amplifier corresponding to the intensity of said electric field of said cloud formation above said capacitor plates, D. means for generating a synchronizing signal having a frequency corresponding to the rate saId capacitor plates are alternately shielded, E. means activated by said synchronizing signal for sampling the peaks of said alternating signal for generating a D.C. signal which varies according to the electric field sensed by said capacitor plates, and F. means for converting said varying D.C. signal to a digital signal representing the intensity of said electric field of said cloud formation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for alternately shielding said capacitor plates includes: A. a vertical shaft, B. a pair of blades carried on said shaft extending outwardly beyond and above said capacitor plates, and C. means for rotating said shaft so that said blades alternately shield said capacitor plates from said cloud formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
8 words
means coupling said capacitor plates to an amplifier,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
8 words
means coupling said capacitor plates to an amplifier,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
means alternately shielding said capacitor plates from said cloud formations for generating an alternating signal on the output of said amplifier corresponding to the intensity of said electric field of said cloud formation above said capacitor plates,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
means alternately shielding said capacitor plates from said cloud formations for generating an alternating signal on the output of said amplifier corresponding to the intensity of said electric field of said cloud formation above said capacitor plates,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for generating a synchronizing signal includes: A. a magnet carried on said shaft in alignment with each of said blades, and B. a magnetic pick-up means carried adjacent the path of said magnets on said rotating shaft for generating a signal each time one of said magnets passes thereby.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
35 words
A system for charting the electric field for cloud formations within a given area comprising: A. a plurality of sensing stations positioned at predetermined locations within said areas, B. each of said sensing stations including,
Claim 10
Independent Claim
35 words
A system for charting the electric field for cloud formations within a given area comprising: A. a plurality of sensing stations positioned at predetermined locations within said areas, B. each of said sensing stations including,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
means generating a synchronizing signal having a frequency corresponding to the rate said capacitor plates are alternately shielded,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
means generating a synchronizing signal having a frequency corresponding to the rate said capacitor plates are alternately shielded,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
means activated by said synchronizing signal for sampling the peaks of said alternating signal for generating a D.C. signal which varies according to the electric field sensed by said capacitor plates, and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
means activated by said synchronizing signal for sampling the peaks of said alternating signal for generating a D.C. signal which varies according to the electric field sensed by said capacitor plates, and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
means for converting said varying D.C. signal to a digital signal (and) representing the intensity of said electric field of said cloud formation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
means for converting said varying D.C. signal to a digital signal (and) representing the intensity of said electric field of said cloud formation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |