Lightning direction finder controller (LDFC)
First Claim
1. A lightning direction finder controller for use at a direction finder site in a multi-site lightning detection network, the controller comprising:
- first means for receiving and digitizing inputs from an analog direction finder unit located at said site, said inputs representing readings collected by said unit relating to a lightning return stroke detected and reported by said unit to the controller;
second means for processing the digitized inputs and determining therefrom the direction of the lightning return stroke relative to the direction finder site;
third means for determining and associating an absolute time of occurrence with the return stroke, said third means determining the absolute time associated with the return stroke with an accuracy at least as great as 10-3 second of an absolute time source, said absolute time source comprising a time code broadcast by a satellite, said third means further comprising means for maintaining internal time in said controller and for receiving a satellite clock time signal from a satellite controlled clock located at said site, the satellite controlled clock receiving and decoding the time code broadcast by the satellite and generating a satellite clock time signal generally in synchronism with the time code and representative of satellite clock time, said third means further comprising means responsive to said satellite clock time signal for synchronizing said internal time with satellite clock time; and
fourth means for enabling communication of the direction and the absolute time of occurrence of the lightning return stroke to a remote network controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lightning direction finder controller (LDFC) for use at remote sites in a Lightning Detection Network provides information on lightning return strokes to a network controller. The LDFC digitizes and processes return stroke data from an analogue direction finder unit, time tags each return stroke with an absolute time accurate to the nearest 10-4 second of NIST time, and provides an interface for satellite and/or land line communication of lightning flash data to the network controller. The LDFC includes a CPU board, a multi-function analogue and digital input/output board that provides an interface to the analog direction finder unit, and an Interface Facility that provides an interface for: satellite and/or bisynchronous communications, a local data storage device, diagnostic devices, and a satellite controlled clock. A watchdog timer on the Interface Facility resets the CPU of the LDFC when data communications cease, or the execution of the main program halts. The LDFC supports a communications network overlay, using Reroute/Header messages, which allows the routing and passing of commands and the results of processed commands from any location in the network to any other location, e.g. for remote diagnostic purposes. The LDFC also supports virtual screen/keyboard capabilities, configurable parameter tables, various counts, status indications and screens, and a time correction technique for an out-of-sync LDFC.
89 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A lightning direction finder controller for use at a direction finder site in a multi-site lightning detection network, the controller comprising:
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first means for receiving and digitizing inputs from an analog direction finder unit located at said site, said inputs representing readings collected by said unit relating to a lightning return stroke detected and reported by said unit to the controller; second means for processing the digitized inputs and determining therefrom the direction of the lightning return stroke relative to the direction finder site; third means for determining and associating an absolute time of occurrence with the return stroke, said third means determining the absolute time associated with the return stroke with an accuracy at least as great as 10-3 second of an absolute time source, said absolute time source comprising a time code broadcast by a satellite, said third means further comprising means for maintaining internal time in said controller and for receiving a satellite clock time signal from a satellite controlled clock located at said site, the satellite controlled clock receiving and decoding the time code broadcast by the satellite and generating a satellite clock time signal generally in synchronism with the time code and representative of satellite clock time, said third means further comprising means responsive to said satellite clock time signal for synchronizing said internal time with satellite clock time; and fourth means for enabling communication of the direction and the absolute time of occurrence of the lightning return stroke to a remote network controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A lightning direction finder controller for use at a direction finder site in a multi-site lightning detection network, the controller comprising:
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first means for receiving and digitizing inputs from an analog direction finder unit located at said site, said inputs representing readings collected by said unit relating to a lightning return stroke detected and reported by said unit to the controller; second means for processing the digitized inputs and determining therefrom the direction of the lightning return stroke relative to the direction finder site; third means for enabling communication of the direction of the lightning return stroke to a remote network controller; and means for grouping each lightning return stroke within a corresponding flash record, the grouping being based upon (a) a remotely configurable limit upon the direction deviation of subsequent return strokes from the direction of the first return stroke in a flash, and (b) a remotely configurable limit upon the waiting time for additional lightning return strokes from the point in time when the first lightning return stroke of the flash occurred. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A lightning direction finder controller for use at a direction finder site in a multi-site lightning detection network, the controller comprising:
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first means for receiving and digitizing inputs from an analog direction finder unit located at said site, said inputs representing readings collected by said unit relating to a lightning return stroke detected and reported by said unit to the controller; second means for processing the digitized inputs and determining therefrom the direction of the lightning return stroke relative to the direction finder site; third means for enabling communication of the direction of the lightning return stroke to a remote network controller; and means for maintaining at the site statistics on the return stroke data processed at the site, tables of internal parameters and information relating to the status of the direction finder controller which can be accessed for diagnostic purposes, said maintaining means including means for maintaining separate counts of the number of return strokes occurring in different geographic sector surrounding said direction finder site, said counts indicating where lightning return strokes are occurring with respect to the direction finder site so that blind spots in the detection efficiency of the controller can be identified.
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14. A lightning direction finder controller for use at a direction finder site in a multi-site lightning detection network, the controller comprising:
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first means for receiving and digitizing inputs from an analog direction finder unit located at said site, said inputs representing readings collected by said unit relating to a lightning return stroke detected and reported by said unit to the controller; second means for processing the digitized inputs and determining therefrom the direction of the lightning return stroke relative to the direction finder site; third means for enabling communication of the direction of the lightning return stroke to a remote network controller; and means for maintaining at the site statistics on the return stroke data processed at the site, tables of internal parameters and information relating to the status of the direction finder controller which can be accessed for diagnostic purposes, said maintaining means comprising means for maintaining a message scheduling table, said table serving to internally generate messages at specific predetermined time intervals, said messages being of the type normally transmitted by the network controller and received and responded to by the direction finder controller, whereby message traffic from the network controller to the direction finder controller can be reduced.
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15. A lightning direction finder controller for use at a direction finder site in a multi-site lightning detection network, the controller comprising:
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first means for receiving and digitizing inputs from an analog direction finder unit located at said site, said inputs representing readings collected by said unit relating to a lightning return stroke detected and reported by said unit to the controller; second means for processing the digitized inputs and determining therefrom the direction of the lightning return stroke relative to the direction finder site; third means for enabling communication of the direction of the lightning return stroke to a remote network controller wherein said third means comprises an interface facility that allows for simultaneous connection between the lightning direction finder controller and the following; (a) a satellite earth station controller for satellite communications, (b) a synchronous modem for land-line communications, (c) a satellite controlled clock synchronized with NIST time for accurate time keeping at the direction finder site, (d) a local diagnostic device, and (e) a data storage device for local archiving of lightning return stroke information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A lightning direction finder controller for use at a direction finder site in a multi-site lightning detection network, the controller comprising:
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first means for receiving and digitizing inputs from an analog direction finder unit located at said site, said inputs representing readings collected by said unit relating to a lightning return stroke detected and reported by said unit to the controller; second means for processing the digitized inputs and determining therefrom the direction of the lightning return stroke relative to the direction finder site; third means for enabling communication of the direction of the lightning return stroke to a remote network controller; and means for simulating a lightning return stroke and for tagging simulated lightning stroke data prior to communication of said data from the direction finder controller to the network controller in order to differentiate said data from communicated actual lightning stroke data.
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23. A lightning direction finder controller for use at a direction finder site in a multi-site lightning detection network, the controller comprising:
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first means for receiving and digitizing inputs from an analog direction finder unit located at said site, said inputs representing readings collected by said unit relating to a lightning return stroke detected and reported by said unit to the controller; second means for processing the digitized inputs and determining therefrom the direction of the lightning return stroke relative to the direction finder site; third means for enabling communication of the direction of the lightning return stroke to a remote network controller; and means for supporting remote screen and keyboard access and control of the lightning direction finder controller; and means for supporting a virtual screen and a virtual keyboard to allow screen output and input of virtual keyboard type commands to the direction finder controller when no physical display hardware or keyboard is connected to the direction finder controller at the direction finder site.
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24. A lightning direction finder controller for use at a direction finder site in a multi-site lightning detection network, the controller comprising:
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first means for receiving and digitizing inputs from an analog direction finder unit located at said site, said inputs representing readings collected by said unit relating to a lightning return stroke detected and reported by said unit to the controller; second means for processing the digitized inputs and determining therefrom the direction of the lightning return stroke relative to the direction finder site; third means for enabling communication of the direction of the lightning return stroke to a remote network controller; and means for automatically generating audible signals and playing recognizable tunes to provide a diagnostic indication of current operational state of the direction finder controller.
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25. A lightning direction finder controller for use at a direction finder site in a multi-site lightning detection network, the controller comprising:
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first means for receiving and digitizing inputs from an analog direction finder unit located at said site, said inputs representing readings collected by said unit relating to a lightning return stroke detected and reported by said unit to the controller; second means for processing the digitized inputs and determining therefrom the direction of the lightning return stroke relative to the direction finder site; third means for enabling communication of the direction of the lightning return stroke to a remote network controller; and means for supporting a data communication overlay which allows commands to be transferred from each direction finder controller to an other direction finder controller within the lightning detection network and the results of processing said commands to be automatically transferred anywhere within the network, said supporting means comprising means for processing reroute and header messages without interfering with the processing of lightning return strokes. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification