Lightning detecting and recording system
First Claim
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1. An automated system for detecting and recording a lightning strike in the vicinity of a power line, said system comprising:
- a housing having at least one viewport;
first automated means for detecting a magnetic field disturbance resulting from said lightning strike in the vicinity of said power line, said first automated means outputting a first signal representative of said lightning strike when said lightning strike is detected;
second automated means for detecting light resulting from said lightning strike in the vicinity of said power line, said second automated means outputting a signal when light is detected;
means for filtering said signal output from said second automated means, said filtering means outputting a second signal representative of said lightning strike when said output signal from said second automated means is above a preselected level;
control means coupled to receive the output of said first automated means and the output of said filtering means, said control means outputting a third signal in response to receiving at least one of said first signal and said second signal; and
means responsive to the output of said control means for visually recording said lightning strike and a subsequent lightning strike in a flash in the vicinity of said power line, said recording means being located within said housing adjacent said at least one viewport for visually recording said lightning flash through said viewport.
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Abstract
An automated system for detecting and recording lightning strikes in the vicinity of power lines. In one embodiment of the invention, the automated system includes a toroid surge sensor; a phototransistor optical sensor located within a pole mounted housing; a magnetic loop sensor; a control circuit for, one or more cameras and/or video camcorders; and a power supply all contained within a weather-tight housing. The sensors are used to detect a lightning strike and to output a signal which is transmitted via the control circuit to activate the cameras or camcorder.
40 Citations
39 Claims
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1. An automated system for detecting and recording a lightning strike in the vicinity of a power line, said system comprising:
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a housing having at least one viewport; first automated means for detecting a magnetic field disturbance resulting from said lightning strike in the vicinity of said power line, said first automated means outputting a first signal representative of said lightning strike when said lightning strike is detected; second automated means for detecting light resulting from said lightning strike in the vicinity of said power line, said second automated means outputting a signal when light is detected; means for filtering said signal output from said second automated means, said filtering means outputting a second signal representative of said lightning strike when said output signal from said second automated means is above a preselected level; control means coupled to receive the output of said first automated means and the output of said filtering means, said control means outputting a third signal in response to receiving at least one of said first signal and said second signal; and means responsive to the output of said control means for visually recording said lightning strike and a subsequent lightning strike in a flash in the vicinity of said power line, said recording means being located within said housing adjacent said at least one viewport for visually recording said lightning flash through said viewport. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An automated system for detecting and recording lightning strikes in the vicinity of a power line, said system comprising:
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automated means for detecting a lightning strike in the vicinity of said power line, said automated detecting means outputting a first signal representative of said lightning strike when said lightning strike is detected; control means coupled to receive the output of said automated detecting means, said control means outputting a second signal in response to receipt of said first signal; means responsive to the output of said control means for visually recording at least one of said lightning strike and a subsequent lightning strike in a flash in the vicinity of said power line, said recording means including a video camcorder for visual recording of at least one of said lightning strike and said subsequent lightning strike in a flash; and wherein said control means includes timing circuitry for controlling activation of said camcorder to record at least one of said lightning strike and said subsequent lightning strike in a flash in the vicinity of said power line, said timing circuitry including means for continuing camcorder activation for a preselected amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An automated system for detecting and recording lightning strikes in the vicinity of a power line, said system comprising:
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a housing having a viewport; automated means for detecting a lightning strike in the vicinity of said power line, said automated detecting means outputting a first signal representative of said lightning strike when said lightning strike is detected; control means coupled to receive the output of said automated means, said control means outputting a second signal in response to receipt of said first signal; means responsive to the output of said control means for visually recording at least one of said lightning strike and a subsequent lightning strike in a flash in the vicinity of said power line, said recording means being located within said housing adjacent said viewport for visual recording of at least one of said lightning strike and said subsequent lightning strike in a flash through said viewport, said recording means including at least one camera having a light level and a shutter speed, said at least one camera being activated upon receipt of said second signal; and wherein said control means further includes means for precalculating said light level and said shutter speed on a periodic basis. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification