MEASURING CLOUD METRICS USING DIVERGING QUASI-OPTICAL RADAR
First Claim
1. A system for measuring metrics of a backscattering population of water particles of a cloud atmosphere, the system comprising:
- a quasi-optical transmitter configured to project a pulse of quasi-optical energy from a horn aperture into a divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere, the divergent projection volume defined by an axis of projection and an angle of projection about the axis of projection, the angle of projection based on a ratio of a transverse dimension of the horn aperture to a wavelength of the quasi-optical energy;
a quasi-optical receiver configured to detect a portion of the projected pulse of quasi-optical energy backscattered by the backscattering population of water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere; and
a cloud metric calculator configured to determine, based on a detected portion of the projected pulse of quasi-optical energy backscattered by the backscattering population of water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere, a density of the backscattering population of water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining, based on a detected portion of a projected pulse of quasi-optical energy backscattered by water particles within a divergent projection volume of a cloud atmosphere, properties of the backscattering water particles. The pulse of quasi-optical energy is projected into the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere. The divergent projection volume is defined by an axis of projection and an angle of projection about the axis of projection. The portion of the projected pulse of optical energy backscattered by water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere is received and detected. Various properties of the backscattering water particles, which can be determined from the detected portion of the projected pulse backscattered by water particles can include particle density and/or particle size.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for measuring metrics of a backscattering population of water particles of a cloud atmosphere, the system comprising:
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a quasi-optical transmitter configured to project a pulse of quasi-optical energy from a horn aperture into a divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere, the divergent projection volume defined by an axis of projection and an angle of projection about the axis of projection, the angle of projection based on a ratio of a transverse dimension of the horn aperture to a wavelength of the quasi-optical energy; a quasi-optical receiver configured to detect a portion of the projected pulse of quasi-optical energy backscattered by the backscattering population of water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere; and a cloud metric calculator configured to determine, based on a detected portion of the projected pulse of quasi-optical energy backscattered by the backscattering population of water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere, a density of the backscattering population of water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for measuring metrics of a backscattering population of water particles of a cloud atmosphere, the method comprising:
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projecting a pulse of quasi-optical energy into a divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere, the divergent projection volume defined by an axis of projection and an angle of projection about the axis of projection, the angle of projection based on a ratio of a transverse dimension of a transmitting aperture to a wavelength of the quasi-optical energy; receiving a portion of the projected pulse of quasi-optical energy backscattered by the backscattering population of water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere; and determining, based on a detected portion of the projected pulse of quasi-optical energy backscattered by the backscattering population of water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere, a density of the backscattering population of water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification