SENSING DEVICE FOR DETERMINING WEATHER EVENT ATTRIBUTES

• US 20120029823A1
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brillhart, David C., Karels, Nicholas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/14 Rainfall or precipitation gauges measuring volume in general G01F

Abstract

A sensing device for use in determining at least one attribute of a weather event comprising a plurality of elements. The sensing device can comprise a pressure sensitive surface. The pressure sensitive surface can comprise a pressure sensor. In response to receiving pressure applied by one of the elements, the pressure sensor can generate an output. A first attribute of the at least one attribute of the weather event is determinable at least in part from the output. A system, method, and computer program product for use in determining the at least one attribute are also provided.

Claims

1. A sensing device for use in determining at least one attribute of a weather event comprising a plurality of elements, the sensing device comprising:

a pressure sensitive surface comprising a pressure sensor for generating an output in response to receiving pressure applied by one of the elements;

wherein a first attribute of the at least one attribute of the weather event is determinable at least in part from the output.

2. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor;

a computer readable storage medium;

first program instructions to receive the output; and

second program instructions to determine the first attribute at least in part from the output;

wherein the first and second program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage medium for execution by the processor.

3. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a bottom surface opposite from the pressure sensitive surface, wherein the pressure sensitive surface is inclined with respect to the bottom surface.

4. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a bottom surface opposite from the pressure sensitive surface and an accumulator extending along a front edge of the pressure sensitive surface and declining toward the bottom surface.

5. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a collector for determining an amount of the weather event, wherein the at least one attribute of the weather event further comprises the amount of the weather event.

6. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a strain gauge.

7. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a touchpad.

8. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a carbon nanotube sensor.

9. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the first attribute is a density of the weather event.

10. A system for use in determining at least one attribute of a weather event comprising a plurality of elements, the system comprising:

a pressure sensor for generating an output in response to receiving pressure applied by one of the elements; and

a computer system for receiving the output;

wherein the computer system is operative to determine a first attribute of the at least one attribute of the weather event at least in part from the output.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer system comprises a processor, a computer readable storage medium, first program instructions to receive the output, and second program instructions to determine the first attribute at least in part from the output;

wherein the first and second program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage medium for execution by the processor.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the pressure sensor is a strain gauge.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the pressure sensor is a touchpad.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the pressure sensor is a carbon nanotube sensor.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first attribute is a density of the weather event.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the pressure sensor is internal to the computer system.

17. A method for determining at least one attribute of a weather event comprising a plurality of elements, the method comprising:

receiving, using a processor communicatively coupled to a pressure sensor, an output generated by the pressure sensor in response to the pressure sensor receiving pressure applied by one of the elements;

determining, using the processor, a first attribute of the at least one attribute of the weather event at least in part from the output.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first attribute is a density of the weather event.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first attribute is a character of the weather event.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining, using a collector, an amount of the weather event.

21. A computer program product for determining at least one attribute of a weather event comprising a plurality of elements, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium;

first program instructions to receive an output generated by a pressure sensor in response to the pressure sensor receiving pressure applied by one of the elements; and

second program instructions to determine a first attribute of the at least one attribute at least in part from the output;

wherein the first and second program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage medium.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the computer program product is provided on a server of a service provider.