Patent US4156182A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4156182A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lightning strike detector
Assignee: Boeing Co
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Filing: 1978-04-17
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Granted: 1979-05-22
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Expires: 1998-04-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is provided for the detection and counting of the number of lightning discharges on the skin of an aircraft. The apparatus comprises a sensor electrode for the detection of such discharge, an electronic circuit for generating and shaping a pulse at each detection interval, and a circuit for counting and displaying such pulses.
Inventors
- 👤 Rowan O. Brick
- 👤 Charles H. King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R13/00; G01R13/04; G01R13/12; B; B64; B64D; B64D45/00; B64D45/02; G01W; G01W1/00; G01W1/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
In an aircraft, an apparatus for detecting and counting only lightning discharges striking the aircraft, said apparatus comprising: a sensor electrode mounted to the outside of said aircraft; a non-conductive material disposed between said sensor electrode and an outside portion of said aircraft for electrically isolating said sensor electrode from said outside portion of said aircraft; a first electrical resistance connected between said sensor electrode and a ground reference on said aircraft; pulse generating means for generating a single pulse of constant amplitude and fixed duration in response to each lightning discharge striking said outside of said aircraft, said pulse generating means including a diode clamping network, a second electrical resistance connected between said sensor electrode and said diode clamping network, a multivibrator, and a third electrical resistance connected between said diode clamping network and said multivibrator; and a counter connected to the multivibrator for continuously recording the sum of said single pulses during a selected time period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
In an aircraft, an apparatus for detecting and counting only lightning discharges striking the aircraft, said apparatus comprising: a sensor electrode mounted to the outside of said aircraft; a non-conductive material disposed between said sensor electrode and an outside portion of said aircraft for electrically isolating said sensor electrode from said outside portion of said aircraft; a first electrical resistance connected between said sensor electrode and a ground reference on said aircraft; pulse generating means for generating a single pulse of constant amplitude and fixed duration in response to each lightning discharge striking said outside of said aircraft, said pulse generating means including a diode clamping network, a second electrical resistance connected between said sensor electrode and said diode clamping network, a multivibrator, and a third electrical resistance connected between said diode clamping network and said multivibrator; and a counter connected to the multivibrator for continuously recording the sum of said single pulses during a selected time period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
In an aircraft, apparatus for detecting and recording a count of lightning discharges striking any part of an outside skin of said aircraft, said apparatus comprising: a sensor electrode mounted on an outside portion of said aircraft and capacitively coupled to said skin; means connected to said sensor electrode for generating a single pulse in response to a sudden change in the electrical potential on said skin caused by each said lightning discharge striking said skin; and means responsive to each said pulse for recording each said lightning discharge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
In an aircraft, apparatus for detecting and recording a count of lightning discharges striking any part of an outside skin of said aircraft, said apparatus comprising: a sensor electrode mounted on an outside portion of said aircraft and capacitively coupled to said skin; means connected to said sensor electrode for generating a single pulse in response to a sudden change in the electrical potential on said skin caused by each said lightning discharge striking said skin; and means responsive to each said pulse for recording each said lightning discharge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
In an aircraft, apparatus for detecting and displaying a count of only those lightning discharges which strike an outside portion of said aircraft, said apparatus comprising: a sensor electrode mounted on said outside portion of said aircraft and capacitively coupled to said outside portion; an electrical resistance connecting said sensor electrode to a ground reference; a pulse generator electrically connected to said sensor electrode and responsive to a sudden change in the voltage differential between said sensor electrode and said outside portion of said aircraft to generate a single pulse as a consequence of each lightning discharge striking said outside portion of said aircraft; and a counter electrically connected to said pulse generator for accumulating a count of the pulses generated by said pulse generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
In an aircraft, apparatus for detecting and displaying a count of only those lightning discharges which strike an outside portion of said aircraft, said apparatus comprising: a sensor electrode mounted on said outside portion of said aircraft and capacitively coupled to said outside portion; an electrical resistance connecting said sensor electrode to a ground reference; a pulse generator electrically connected to said sensor electrode and responsive to a sudden change in the voltage differential between said sensor electrode and said outside portion of said aircraft to generate a single pulse as a consequence of each lightning discharge striking said outside portion of said aircraft; and a counter electrically connected to said pulse generator for accumulating a count of the pulses generated by said pulse generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
In an aircraft as claimed in claim 3 including a display electrically connected to said counter for visually displaying the count accumulated by said counter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
In an aircraft as claimed in claim 3 including a resistor divider network electrically connected between said sensor electrode and said pulse generator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
In an aircraft as claimed in claim 3 including a diode clamping network electrically connected between said sensor electrode and said pulse generator.
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) | 1982-05-21 | 1982-11-20 | 1983-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-05-21 | 1986-11-20 | 1987-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-05-21 | 1990-11-20 | 1991-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |