Apparatus for detecting air disturbances created by low level wind shear

Claim 1

An apparatus for detecting disturbances in air created by low level wind shear, said apparatus comprising: signal developing means for receiving optical indications relating to disturbances in air created by low level wind shear and providing electronic signal outputs indicative thereof, said signal developing means including filter varying means for repeatedly successively injecting predetermined different optical filters into the path of said received optical indications so that said electronic signal outputs are indicative of optical indications received through different ones of said filters; first signal processing means connected with said signal developing means to receive said electronic signal outputs therefrom and responsive thereto providing processed output signals indicative of said electronic signal outputs received from said signal developing means; a plurality of output channels such of which includes electronic filter means; multiplexing means connected with said first signal processing means to receive said processed signal outputs therefrom and connected with said filter varying means whereby said processed signal outputs are sequentially directed to each channel of said plurality of output channels; and second signal processing means for receiving the outputs of said plurality of output channels and providing therefrom an output indicative of air disturbance created by low level wind shear.

Claim 2

An apparatus for detecting disturbances in air created by low level wind shear, said apparatus comprising: signal developing means for receiving optical indications relating to disturbances in air created by low level wind shear and providing electronic signal outputs indicative thereof, said signal developing means including filter varying means for repeatedly successively injecting predetermined different optical filters into the path of said received optical indications so that said electronic signal outputs are indicative of optical indications received through different ones of said filters; first signal processing means connected with said signal developing means to receive said electronic signal outputs therefrom and responsive thereto providing processed output signals indicative of said electronic signal outputs received from said signal developing means; a plurality of output channels such of which includes electronic filter means; multiplexing means connected with said first signal processing means to receive said processed signal outputs therefrom and connected with said filter varying means whereby said processed signal outputs are sequentially directed to each channel of said plurality of output channels; and second signal processing means for receiving the outputs of said plurality of output channels and providing therefrom an output indicative of air disturbance created by low level wind shear.

Claim 9

A device for detecting disturbances in air due to low level wind shear by infrared measurement of sensed temperature differences, said device comprising: optic means for collecting infrared radiation emanating from a predetermined area; chopper means in the path of said radiation collected by said optic means for successively injecting a plurality of filters into the path of said radiation; radiation detecting means for receiving said collected and filtered radiation and responsive thereto providing separate analog output signals indicative of radiation received through each of said filters; synchronous demodulation means connected with said radiation detecting means to receive said analog output signals therefrom and responsive thereto providing demodulated output signals indicative thereof; gated integrator means connected with said synchronous demodulation means to receive said demodulated output signals and responsive thereto providing output signals indicative thereof; a plurality of output channels each of which has a low pass electronic filter with a cutoff of about 1.6 Hz; selective multiplexing means connected with said integrator means and with said chopper means for directing said output signals from said integration means to different ones of said output channels; and processing means connected with said output channels to receive the output therefrom and responsive thereto providing an indication of sensed air disturbances due to low level wind shear.

Claim 10

A device for detecting disturbances in air due to low level wind shear by infrared measurement of sensed temperature differences, said device comprising: optic means for collecting infrared radiation emanating from a predetermined area; chopper means in the path of said radiation collected by said optic means for successively injecting a plurality of filters into the path of said radiation; radiation detecting means for receiving said collected and filtered radiation and responsive thereto providing separate analog output signals indicative of radiation received through each of said filters; synchronous demodulation means connected with said radiation detecting means to receive said analog output signals therefrom and responsive thereto providing demodulated output signals indicative thereof; gated integrator means connected with said synchronous demodulation means to receive said demodulated output signals and responsive thereto providing output signals indicative thereof; a plurality of output channels each of which has a low pass electronic filter with a cutoff of about 1.6 Hz; selective multiplexing means connected with said integrator means and with said chopper means for directing said output signals from said integration means to different ones of said output channels; and processing means connected with said output channels to receive the output therefrom and responsive thereto providing an indication of sensed air disturbances due to low level wind shear.

Claim 12

An apparatus for detecting air disturbance created by low level wind shear by measurement of infrared radiation emanating from predetermined areas, said apparatus comprising: chopping means having a plurality of infrared filters; drive means for causing said infrared filters to be repeatedly sequentially brought into the path of said infrared radiation; optic means for collecting infrared radiation emanating from a predetermined area and passing through said infrared filters and directing the same in an infrared path; radiation detecting means for receiving said radiation is said infrared path and providing therefrom analog signals indicative of said received radiation; demodulation means for receiving said analog signals from said radiation detecting means and providing demodulated output signals indicative thereof; selective multiplex means providing a plurality of output channels; gated integration means connected with said demodulation means to receive said demodulated output signals therefrom and routing the same to said selective multiplex means; an electronic detector connected with said chopping means and said selective multiplex means to control the output by channels of said selective multiplex means; a plurality of low pass electronic filter means each of which is connected with a different one of said selective multiplex means to receive said output therefrom and provide output signals based upon infrared radiation passed through a predetermined one of said plurality of infrared filters and detected by said radiation detecting means; and signal processing means connected with said plurality of low pass electronic filter means and responsive to the outputs therefrom providing an output signal indicative of air disturbance created by low level wind shear.

Claim 13

An apparatus for detecting air disturbance created by low level wind shear by measurement of infrared radiation emanating from predetermined areas, said apparatus comprising: chopping means having a plurality of infrared filters; drive means for causing said infrared filters to be repeatedly sequentially brought into the path of said infrared radiation; optic means for collecting infrared radiation emanating from a predetermined area and passing through said infrared filters and directing the same in an infrared path; radiation detecting means for receiving said radiation is said infrared path and providing therefrom analog signals indicative of said received radiation; demodulation means for receiving said analog signals from said radiation detecting means and providing demodulated output signals indicative thereof; selective multiplex means providing a plurality of output channels; gated integration means connected with said demodulation means to receive said demodulated output signals therefrom and routing the same to said selective multiplex means; an electronic detector connected with said chopping means and said selective multiplex means to control the output by channels of said selective multiplex means; a plurality of low pass electronic filter means each of which is connected with a different one of said selective multiplex means to receive said output therefrom and provide output signals based upon infrared radiation passed through a predetermined one of said plurality of infrared filters and detected by said radiation detecting means; and signal processing means connected with said plurality of low pass electronic filter means and responsive to the outputs therefrom providing an output signal indicative of air disturbance created by low level wind shear.

Claim 18

An apparatus for detecting low level wind shear having demodulation means for providing a demodulated signal indicative of a sensed radiation level and integrating means connected therewith providing an integrated output signal, a low pass electronic filter comprising: charging means connected with said integrating means to receive said integrated output therefrom with the DC level of said charging means being at a predetermined low frequency; and summing amplifier means connected with said charging means and receiving said integrated output from said integrating means, said summing amplifier means providing a DC output signal the level of which is dependent upon the DC level of said charging means.

Claim 19

An apparatus for detecting low level wind shear having demodulation means for providing a demodulated signal indicative of a sensed radiation level and integrating means connected therewith providing an integrated output signal, a low pass electronic filter comprising: charging means connected with said integrating means to receive said integrated output therefrom with the DC level of said charging means being at a predetermined low frequency; and summing amplifier means connected with said charging means and receiving said integrated output from said integrating means, said summing amplifier means providing a DC output signal the level of which is dependent upon the DC level of said charging means.

Claim 22

A method for detecting disturbances in air created by low level wind shear, said method comprising: successively injecting predetermined optical filters into the path of received optical radiation and developing therefrom electronic signals indicative of information relating effectively to different distances; processing said electronic signals and routing the same through different paths determined by the optical filter through which the optical radiation passed; and utilizing said electronic signals from said different paths to determine air disturbances created by low level wind shear.

Claim 23

A method for detecting disturbances in air created by low level wind shear, said method comprising: successively injecting predetermined optical filters into the path of received optical radiation and developing therefrom electronic signals indicative of information relating effectively to different distances; processing said electronic signals and routing the same through different paths determined by the optical filter through which the optical radiation passed; and utilizing said electronic signals from said different paths to determine air disturbances created by low level wind shear.

Claim 28

A method for detecting disturbances in air due to low level wind shear, said method comprising: receiving infrared radiation; repeatedly successively passing said received infrared radiation through a plurality of infrared filters of different frequencies whereby temperature gradients at different effective distances are sensed; developing from said filtered infrared radiation electronic signals indicative of said temperature gradients for each effective distance sensed; processing said electronic signals and routing the same to different channels based upon each said effective distance; electronically filtering said signals while in said different channels; and utilizing said electronically filtered signals from said different channels to determine air disturbance due to low level wind shear.

Claim 29

A method for detecting disturbances in air due to low level wind shear, said method comprising: receiving infrared radiation; repeatedly successively passing said received infrared radiation through a plurality of infrared filters of different frequencies whereby temperature gradients at different effective distances are sensed; developing from said filtered infrared radiation electronic signals indicative of said temperature gradients for each effective distance sensed; processing said electronic signals and routing the same to different channels based upon each said effective distance; electronically filtering said signals while in said different channels; and utilizing said electronically filtered signals from said different channels to determine air disturbance due to low level wind shear.