초록 ▼

A lightning detection system for detecting and locating an initial discharge of an initial leader stroke of a lightning flash. An initial lightning discharge produces a pulse that can be used to accurately detect lightning, and more particularly, the location of the initial lightning discharge. In o

A lightning detection system for detecting and locating an initial discharge of an initial leader stroke of a lightning flash. An initial lightning discharge produces a pulse that can be used to accurately detect lightning, and more particularly, the location of the initial lightning discharge. In one embodiment, at least three sensors detect and determine the location of the first pulses from initial lightning discharges using time difference of arrival information of the pulses at each of the three sensors. In another embodiment, a single sensor is used to determine the range of an initial lightning discharge from the amplitude of a corresponding initial detected pulse, and to determine its direction from a crossed loop antenna. An alternative embodiment of a single sensor system determines a distance of a lightning event from a peak amplitude value derived from a pulse amplitude distribution. In a further embodiment, a lightning detection system provides enhanced lightning location by incorporating weather data from a weather radar with detected lightning information.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A lightning location detection system, comprising:at least one system of radio-frequency (RF) energy sensors providing an output signal indicative of detected RF energy;a filter in electrical communication with said at least one system of RF energy sensors, said filter re

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A lightning location detection system, comprising:at least one system of radio-frequency (RF) energy sensors providing an output signal indicative of detected RF energy;a filter in electrical communication with said at least one system of RF energy sensors, said filter receiving the output signal from said sensors and blocking low-frequency components of the output signal; anda signal processor in electrical communication with said filter, said signal processor determining the location of an initial lightning breakdown process responsive to the unblocked components of the sensor output signal corresponding to at least one of only a predetermined number of initial microsecond or shorter pulses produced by initial lightning breakdown processes of initial leader strokes of lightning flashes.