RADIOSONDE HAVING HYDROPHOBIC FILTER COMPRISING HUMIDITY SENSOR

• US 20100156663A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: PAL, RAMKRISHNA, LOWE, GARFIELD Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/340,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/048 for determining moisture content of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/121 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity, of the fluid moisture content of the tested material G01N27/048
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/223 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/08 Adaptations of balloons, missiles, or aircraft for meteorological purposes; Radiosondes transmission of measurements G01D; transmitting circuits H04B; balloons in general B64B; aeroplanes in general B64D; missiles in general F42B15/00

Abstract

Radiosondes (200) and related radiosonde systems (500) include a plurality of different sensors (105, 218, 237, 239) for acquiring sensor data related to atmospheric data, wherein the plurality of sensors consist of a single humidity sensor (105) that is within a sealed housing (120). The sealed housing (120) includes a hydrophobic filter window (130) that allows in ambient gases while preventing entry of condensed forms of moisture from entering the sealed housing (120). A wireless transmitter (255) including an antenna (228) is coupled to an output of the plurality of sensors (100, 218, 237, 239) for transmission of the sensor data over a wireless path to at least one ground based receiver. The radiosonde (200) is generally exclusive of any heater.

Claims

1. A radiosonde, comprising:

a plurality of different sensors for acquiring sensor data related to atmospheric data, said plurality of sensors consisting of a single humidity sensor, wherein said single humidity sensor is within a sealed housing, said sealed housing including a hydrophobic filter window that allows in ambient gases while preventing entry of condensed forms of moisture from entering said sealed housing; and

a wireless transmitter including an antenna coupled to an output of said plurality of sensors for transmission of said sensor data over a wireless path to at least one ground based receiver.

2. The radiosonde of claim 1, wherein said radiosonde is exclusive of a heater.

3. The radiosonde of claim 1, wherein said single humidity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

4. The radiosonde of claim 1, wherein said single humidity sensor comprises an integrated circuit capacitive sensor having an integrated temperature sensor thereon.

5. The radiosonde of claim 1, wherein said radiosonde comprises:

a controller module comprising a first printed circuit board (PCB) including a pressure sensor, a first temp sensor, and a signal conditioning and processing electronics module on said first PCB, and a housing around said controller module; and

relative humidity sensing module including a second PCB including comprising said single humidity sensor and a second temperature sensor on said second PCB, wherein said second PCB secured to said first PCB.

6. The radiosonde of claim 5, wherein said signal conditioning and processing electronics module comprises an analog to digital converter (ADC) coupled to a microcontroller coupled to receive said sensor data and output digital data, and wherein an output of said microcontroller is coupled to an input of said wireless transmitter.

7. The radiosonde of claim 6, wherein said microcontroller operates in a slave mode.

8. The radiosonde of claim 1, wherein said digital data is the form of a synchronous serial data link.

9. The radiosonde of claim 8, wherein said synchronous serial data link comprises a serial peripheral interface (SPI).

10. The radiosonde of claim 5, wherein said second PCB includes a radiation protection layer thereon.

11. The radiosonde of claim 5, wherein said pressure sensor comprises a piezoresistive sensor.

12. A radiosonde system, comprising:

a hydrogen or helium filled balloon, and

a radiosonde tethered by a rope or cord to said balloon, said radiosonde comprising;

a plurality of different sensors for acquiring sensor data related to atmospheric data, said plurality of sensors consisting of a single humidity sensor, wherein said single humidity sensor is within a sealed housing, said sealed housing including a hydrophobic filter window that allows in ambient gases while preventing entry of condensed forms of moisture from entering said sealed housing; and

a wireless transmitter including an antenna coupled to an output of said plurality of sensors for transmission of said sensor data over a wireless path to at least one ground based receiver,

wherein said radiosonde is exclusive of a heater.

13. The radiosonde system of claim 12, wherein said radiosonde is configured and secured to said rope or cord so that said hydrophobic filter window of humidity sensing system faces toward the ground.

14. The radiosonde system of claim 12, wherein said radiosonde comprises:

a controller module comprising a first printed circuit board (PCB) including a pressure sensor, a first temp sensor, and a signal conditioning and processing electronics module on said first PCB, and a housing around said controller module; and

a

relative humidity sensing module including a second PCB including comprising said single humidity sensor and a second temperature sensor on said second PCB, wherein said second PCB secured to said first PCB.

15. The radiosonde system of claim 14, wherein said signal conditioning and processing electronics module comprises an analog to digital converter (ADC) coupled to a microcontroller coupled to receive said sensor data and output digital data, and wherein an output of said microcontroller is coupled to an input of said wireless transmitter.