US4222265A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for automatically measuring the vertical profile of the temperature in the atmosphere
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-08-31
•
Granted: 1980-09-16
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Expires: 1999-08-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for automatically measuring the vertical profile of the temperature in the atmosphere. The temperature of the air is obtained by the measurement of the propagation speed of sound wave pulses, to which it is directly related, by means of a continuous Doppler radar. The automation of the measurement is ensured by the automatic control of the radar emission frequency by the Doppler frequency which it receives, with reference to the frequency of the sonic emitter oscillator. The apparatus presents a major advantage with respect to known methods in use for measurements of the lower layers of the atmosphere such as the meteorological towers and the sounding balloons due to its automatic functioning.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre E. Ravussin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/86; G01K; G01K11/00; G01K11/22; G01K11/24; G01S13/88; G01S13/95; G01S13/951; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A90/00; Y02A90/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
An apparatus for the automatic measurement at a distance of the vertical profile of the atmospheric temperature comprising a controlled continuous Doppler radar which measures the speed of propagation of the sonic pulse, means for emitting said sonic pulse, means for correcting for the effect of the vertical speed of the wind and means for measuring said vertical speed of the wind.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
An apparatus for the automatic measurement at a distance of the vertical profile of the atmospheric temperature comprising a controlled continuous Doppler radar which measures the speed of propagation of the sonic pulse, means for emitting said sonic pulse, means for correcting for the effect of the vertical speed of the wind and means for measuring said vertical speed of the wind.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the length of the Doppler radar wave is controlled to be double the wavelength, variable with the temperature, of the sonic pulse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, in which the control system comprises a phase detector between the Doppler radar frequency and the sonic pulse generating oscillator, followed by a low pass filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, including means for initially locking in the control system by emitting continuously a sonic signal at low power before the emission of the measurement sonic pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including a ratio meter which measures the ratio between the Doppler frequency received by the radar and the emission frequency of the radar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the measurement of the wind components is made by measuring the duration of n periods of the echo of the sonic pulse on the atmospheric turbulence.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including a miniordinator which effects the correction of the carrying effect of the wind on the measurements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the sonic frequency is determined as a function of the dimensions of the test volume, as the product between the propagation speed of sound in air and the number n of periods necessary for the reflection of the radar wave (for example n=30), divided by the side of the test volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the sonic pulse duration is equal to the ratio of the side of the test volume to the propagation speed of sound in air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including a control circuit which preregulates the emission frequency of the Doppler radar as a function of the ground air temperature.
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) | 1983-09-16 | 1984-03-17 | 1984-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-09-16 | 1988-03-17 | 1988-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-09-16 | 1992-03-17 | 1992-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |