US3754263A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lightning tracking system
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1972-01-28
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Granted: 1973-08-21
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Expires: 1992-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A system for locating lightning strikes by developing the coordinates of a pair of lines, each of which is produced at a reference sensing station. At each station there are a pair of directional antennas which produce analog signals responsive to a lightning stroke. These analog signals are fed to a pair of integrators which integrate the signals for a predetermined period of time so as to produce the X and Y co-ordinate of a particular line. The analog signals are also fed through a square rooter, a Schmitt trigger circuit, and flip-flops to produce pulses for starting and stopping the integrators. The system at the remote station is similar to that at the central station and is tied to the circuitry at the central station through logic circuits to minimize the chance of error from spurious signals. Computers, printers, and plotters are utilized to plot the exact location of the lightning stroke.
Inventors
- 👤 R Wojtasinski
- 👤 J Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
415 words
A system for locating lightning strikes by developing the coordinates of a pair of lines, each of which is produced at a sensing station so that the intersection of said pair of lines indicate the location of said lightning strike comprising: A. a first pair of directional antenna means positioned at a right angle to each other located at a first sensing station for generating a first pair of analog signals responsive to a lightning strike, B. a second pair of directional antenna means positioned at right angles to each other located at a second remote sensing station for generating a second pair of analog signals responsive to a lightning strike, C. first means for combining said first pair of analog signals to produce a first composite cycling signal, D. a first pair of integrators each being connected to one of said directional antennas of said first pair of directional antennas for receiving and integrating said analog signals from said first pair of directional antennas for developing an X and a Y coordinate of a line, E. a first pulse producing means coupled between said first means for combining said first pair of analog signals and said first pair of integrators for receiving said first composite signal and generating a first pair of time-delayed pulses, one of said first pair of pulses enabling said first pair of integrators and the other disenabling said first pair of integrators, F. a second pair of integrators each being connected to one of said directional antennas of said second pair of directional antennas for receiving and integrating said analog signals from said second pair of directional antennas for developing an X and a Y coordinate of a line, G. second means for combining said second pair of analog signals to produce a second composite cycling signal, and H. a second pulse producing means coupled between said second means for combining said second analog signals and said second pair of integrators for receiving said second composite signal and generating a second pair of time-delayed pulses, one of said second pair of pulses enabling said second pair of integrators and the other pulse disenabling said second pair of integrators, whereby said first pair of integrators produce signals indicating the X and Y co-ordinates of a first line and said second pair of integrators produce signals indicating the X and Y co-ordinates of a second line and the intersection of said first and second lines indicates the location of said lightning strike.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
415 words
A system for locating lightning strikes by developing the coordinates of a pair of lines, each of which is produced at a sensing station so that the intersection of said pair of lines indicate the location of said lightning strike comprising: A. a first pair of directional antenna means positioned at a right angle to each other located at a first sensing station for generating a first pair of analog signals responsive to a lightning strike, B. a second pair of directional antenna means positioned at right angles to each other located at a second remote sensing station for generating a second pair of analog signals responsive to a lightning strike, C. first means for combining said first pair of analog signals to produce a first composite cycling signal, D. a first pair of integrators each being connected to one of said directional antennas of said first pair of directional antennas for receiving and integrating said analog signals from said first pair of directional antennas for developing an X and a Y coordinate of a line, E. a first pulse producing means coupled between said first means for combining said first pair of analog signals and said first pair of integrators for receiving said first composite signal and generating a first pair of time-delayed pulses, one of said first pair of pulses enabling said first pair of integrators and the other disenabling said first pair of integrators, F. a second pair of integrators each being connected to one of said directional antennas of said second pair of directional antennas for receiving and integrating said analog signals from said second pair of directional antennas for developing an X and a Y coordinate of a line, G. second means for combining said second pair of analog signals to produce a second composite cycling signal, and H. a second pulse producing means coupled between said second means for combining said second analog signals and said second pair of integrators for receiving said second composite signal and generating a second pair of time-delayed pulses, one of said second pair of pulses enabling said second pair of integrators and the other pulse disenabling said second pair of integrators, whereby said first pair of integrators produce signals indicating the X and Y co-ordinates of a first line and said second pair of integrators produce signals indicating the X and Y co-ordinates of a second line and the intersection of said first and second lines indicates the location of said lightning strike.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: A. means coupled between said second pulse producing means and said first pair of integrators for holding said first pair of integrators in an enabled integrating state for a predetermined duration responsive to said second pair of time delayed pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
116 words
The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: A. a pair of AND gates each having at least a pair of input terminals and an output terminal, B. one of said input terminals of each of said AND gates being coupled to said second pulse producing means, C. the other of said input terminals of each of said AND gates being coupled to said first pulse producinG means, and D. said output terminals of said AND gates being coupled to said second pair of integrators so that said second pair of integrators are not enabled unless both said first and second pairs of directional antennas are generating analog signals responsive to a lightning strike.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first pulse producing means includes: A. A schmitt trigger circuit having an input terminal coupled to the output of said means for combining said first pair of analog signals; B. said Schmitt trigger circuit having a pair of output terminals and, C. a flip-flop coupled to each of said output terminals of said Schmitt trigger circuit for generating time-delayed signals responsive to said composite signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein first means for combining said first pair of analog signals includes: A. a square rooter having a pair of input terminals and an output terminal, and B. means for coupling said first pair of analog signals to said input terminals of said square rooter for producing an instantaneous composite RMS signal on said output terminal of said square rooter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1759938A
Cited
US2684474A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |