US6034760A — Method of detecting weather conditions in the atm…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 86 words

A method of detecting adverse weather conditions in the atmosphere which pose a hazard to flying aircraft, the adverse conditions producing sound waves in the atmosphere, comprising providing a laser device which produces an optical beam, directing the optical beam into a probe volume of the atmosphere containing light reflecting matter which moves in response to said sound waves, collecting the light reflected from said matter, and producing output information from said collected light indicative of said sound waves and the weather conditions of the atmosphere.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 86 words

A method of detecting adverse weather conditions in the atmosphere which pose a hazard to flying aircraft, the adverse conditions producing sound waves in the atmosphere, comprising providing a laser device which produces an optical beam, directing the optical beam into a probe volume of the atmosphere containing light reflecting matter which moves in response to said sound waves, collecting the light reflected from said matter, and producing output information from said collected light indicative of said sound waves and the weather conditions of the atmosphere.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the adverse weather conditions are present in a region of the atmosphere which is spaced a substantial distance from the probe volume.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the reflected light is collected by a multi-channel receiver which senses random movement of individual particles of light reflecting matter within said probe volume.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the laser device is mounted at the front of the aircraft and the probe volume is ahead of the aircraft along its flight path.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the laser device is mounted adjacent a runway for an aircraft.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 104 words

A method of detecting adverse weather conditions in the atmosphere which pose a hazard to flying aircraft, the adverse weather conditions producing sound waves in the atmosphere, comprising producing a plurality of optical beams, directing each optical beam into an associated probe volume of the atmosphere containing light reflecting matter which moves in response to said sound waves, collecting the light reflected from said matter in each probe volume, producing a signal from the collected light from each probe volume, combining said signals to produce output information indicative of the characteristics and locations of said sound waves and the weather conditions of the atmosphere.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 104 words

A method of detecting adverse weather conditions in the atmosphere which pose a hazard to flying aircraft, the adverse weather conditions producing sound waves in the atmosphere, comprising producing a plurality of optical beams, directing each optical beam into an associated probe volume of the atmosphere containing light reflecting matter which moves in response to said sound waves, collecting the light reflected from said matter in each probe volume, producing a signal from the collected light from each probe volume, combining said signals to produce output information indicative of the characteristics and locations of said sound waves and the weather conditions of the atmosphere.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 6, wherein the adverse weather conditions are present in a region of the atmosphere which is spaced a substantial distance from the probe volumes.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 6, wherein the reflected light from each probe volume is collected by a multi-channel receiver which senses random movement of individual particles of light reflecting matter within each said probe volume.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 6, wherein the optical beams are produced by laser means mounted at the front of the aircraft and the probe volumes are located ahead of the aircraft along its flight path.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the probe volumes are arranged in a three dimensional substantially truncated conical configuration and act as virtual microphones.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 57 words

A method of detecting conditions in the atmosphere which are hazardous to flying aircraft, said hazardous conditions producing sound waves in the atmosphere, comprising providing a laser device which produces an optical beam, directing said beam into the atmosphere and measuring the effect of said sound waves on said beam as an indicator of said hazardous conditions.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 57 words

A method of detecting conditions in the atmosphere which are hazardous to flying aircraft, said hazardous conditions producing sound waves in the atmosphere, comprising providing a laser device which produces an optical beam, directing said beam into the atmosphere and measuring the effect of said sound waves on said beam as an indicator of said hazardous conditions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 11, wherein said laser device is mounted on the front of an aircraft.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 11, wherein said laser device is mounted adjacent a runway for an aircraft.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 13, wherein a plurality of horizontally and vertically spaced optical beams are directed across the runway and reflected back to photodetectors and measuring the change in travel time of said beams as an indicator of said hazardous conditions.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 14, wherein portions of said beams are reflected back to photodetectors at selected distances across said runway.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said beam is directed across said runway, reflecting a segment of said beam at each of a plurality of locations laterally spaced across said runway to provide a plurality of return beams reflected back to photodetectors, and measuring the change in travel time of said beams as an indicator of said hazardous conditions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 16, wherein said return beams are circumferentially angularly spaced from each other so as not to interfere with each other.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 68 words

The method of claim 11, wherein said beam extends from a first location to a second location on an aircraft, reflecting a segment of said beam at each of a plurality of locations laterally spaced between said first and second locations to provide a plurality of return beams back to photodetectors, and measuring the change in travel time of said beams as an indicator of said hazardous conditions.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said return beams are circumferentially angularly spaced from each other so as not to interfere with each other.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 11, wherein said beam is guided by fiber optic cable means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus for detecting conditions in the atmosphere which are hazardous to flying aircraft, said hazardous conditions producing sound waves in the atmosphere, comprising laser means for producing an optical beam, means for directing said beam into the atmosphere, and means for measuring the effect of said sound waves on said beam as an indicator of said hazardous conditions.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus for detecting conditions in the atmosphere which are hazardous to flying aircraft, said hazardous conditions producing sound waves in the atmosphere, comprising laser means for producing an optical beam, means for directing said beam into the atmosphere, and means for measuring the effect of said sound waves on said beam as an indicator of said hazardous conditions.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said laser means is mounted on an aircraft.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said laser means is mounted adjacent a runway for an aircraft.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said laser means produces a plurality of horizontally and vertically spaced optical beams which are directed across the runway, means for reflecting said beams back to photodetectors, and means for measuring the change in travel time of said beams as an indicator of said hazardous conditions.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 24, comprising means for reflecting portions of said beams back to photodetectors at selected distances across said runway.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 64 words

The apparatus of claim 23, comprising means for directing said beam across said runway, means for reflecting a segment of said beam at each of a plurality of locations laterally spaced across said runway to provide a plurality of return beams reflected back to photodetectors, and means for measuring the change in travel time of said beams as an indicator of said hazardous conditions.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 26, comprising means for circumferentially spacing said return beams from each other so as not to interfere with each other.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 21, said directing means including fiber optic cable means for guiding said beam.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 89 words

Apparatus for detecting adverse weather conditions in the atmosphere which pose a hazard to flying aircraft, the adverse conditions producing sound waves in the atmosphere, comprising laser means for producing an optical beam, means for directing the optical beam into a probe volume of the atmosphere containing light reflecting matter which moves in response to said sound waves, means for collecting the light reflected from said matter, and means for producing output information from said collected light indicative of said sound waves and the weather conditions of the atmosphere.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 89 words

Apparatus for detecting adverse weather conditions in the atmosphere which pose a hazard to flying aircraft, the adverse conditions producing sound waves in the atmosphere, comprising laser means for producing an optical beam, means for directing the optical beam into a probe volume of the atmosphere containing light reflecting matter which moves in response to said sound waves, means for collecting the light reflected from said matter, and means for producing output information from said collected light indicative of said sound waves and the weather conditions of the atmosphere.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the adverse weather conditions are present in a region of the atmosphere which is spaced a substantial distance from the probe volume.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said collecting means includes a multi-channel receiver which senses random movement of individual particles of light reflecting matter within said probe volume.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 29, comprising means for mounting said laser means at the front of the aircraft and the probe volume is ahead of the aircraft along its flight path.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 29, comprising means for mounting said laser means adjacent a runway for an aircraft.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-03-07	2003-09-06	2004-03-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-03-07	2007-09-06	2008-03-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-03-07	2011-09-06	2012-03-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of detecting weather conditions in the atmosphere

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag