METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING WATER VAPOR PROFILE USING GPS SIGNALS
First Claim
1. A method for obtaining weather related information for a portion of the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere between a predetermined surface portion of the Earth and an airborne object located over the predetermined surface portion, using position locating signals from a space vehicle, the method comprising:
- receiving a first position locating signal while at a known, predetermined elevation above said predetermined surface portion of the Earth, said first position locating signal being received directly from said space vehicle;
receiving a second position locating signal while at said known, predetermined elevation, said second position locating signal being reflected from said predetermined surface portion at a known angle;
using phase information pertaining to a phase of each of said first and second position locating signals to determine a refractivity of said atmosphere between said predetermined surface portion and said airborne object; and
using said refractivity to determine weather related information for said atmosphere.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for obtaining weather related information for a portion of the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere between a predetermined surface portion of the Earth and an airborne object located over the predetermined surface portion, and operating at a known altitude, using position locating signals from a space vehicle. In one exemplary implementation the space vehicle transmits a first position locating signal. The first position locating signal is received by the airborne object directly from the space vehicle. A second position locating signal from the space vehicle is received by the airborne object after being reflected from the predetermined surface portion at a known angle. Phase information from the first and second position locating signals is used to determine a refractivity of the atmosphere between the predetermined surface portion and the airborne object. The refractivity is used to determine weather related information for the atmosphere.
14 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for obtaining weather related information for a portion of the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere between a predetermined surface portion of the Earth and an airborne object located over the predetermined surface portion, using position locating signals from a space vehicle, the method comprising:
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receiving a first position locating signal while at a known, predetermined elevation above said predetermined surface portion of the Earth, said first position locating signal being received directly from said space vehicle; receiving a second position locating signal while at said known, predetermined elevation, said second position locating signal being reflected from said predetermined surface portion at a known angle; using phase information pertaining to a phase of each of said first and second position locating signals to determine a refractivity of said atmosphere between said predetermined surface portion and said airborne object; and using said refractivity to determine weather related information for said atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for determining a refractivity of a portion of the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere above a body of water using signals from a Global Positioning System (GPS) space vehicle, the method comprising:
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receiving a first GPS signal at an airborne mobile platform that is operating at known, predetermined altitude above the body of water, said first GPS signal being received directly from said GPS system; receiving a second GPS signal at said airborne mobile platform after second GPS signal is reflected from said body of water at a known angle; using phase information pertaining to said first and second GPS signals to determine a difference in phase between said received first and second GPS signals; using said phase difference to determine a refractivity of said atmosphere between said body of water and said airborne mobile platform; and using said refractivity to determine at least one of precipitable water vapor (PWV) and temperature of said atmosphere between said body of water and said airborne mobile platform. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for determining weather related information using position locating signals from a space vehicle, the system comprising:
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an airborne mobile platform having at least one antenna; a receiver system in communication with said antenna, for receiving; a first position locating signal, while said mobile platform is operating at a known, predetermined elevation above a surface of the Earth, said first position locating signal being received directly from said space vehicle; and a second position locating signal while operating at said known, predetermined elevation, said second position locating signal being reflected from said surface of the Earth at a known angle before being received by said receiver system; a processor responsive to said position locating signals received by said antenna for determining phase information pertaining to said first and second position locating signals and using said phase information to approximate a refractivity of a portion of the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere between said surface and said airborne mobile platform, said refractivity useable for determining weather related information for said portion of the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere between said surface and said mobile platform. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification