Weather detector

• US 6,076,044 A
• Filed: 02/01/1999
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: La Crosse Technology IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Anthony Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US09/246,784
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 702/3, 702/4
• US Class Current: 702/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/04 giving only separate indications of the variables measured
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/06 giving a combined indication of weather conditions catathermometers for measuring "cooling value" related either to weather conditions or to comfort of other human environment G01W1/17; computers per se G06
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/00 in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather

Abstract

A compact, portable weather station for predicting local extreme weather conditions and for reporting remote weather conditions. The weather station has sensors for determining local temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, ambient light, and ambient static charge. A microprocessor has memory for storing data relating to past weather conditions and data processing apparatus and algorithms for determining probable developing weather conditions responsive to sensed local conditions. The weather station has a radio receiver for communicating with global weather reporting communications systems utilizing cellular communications. Operating commands, predicted local weather conditions, and remote weather conditions are annunciated in synthesized voice in any one of a variety of predetermined languages. The weather station includes voice synthesizing and recognition apparatus for annunciating verbal prompts and weather conditions, and for responding to vocal control. The weather station is formed in two separable components, one having sensors and the other having radio communications apparatus. The microprocessor is preferably contained within the component having radio communications apparatus. Each component preferably has a battery for providing power.

Claims

1. A portable weather analyzing and reporting station comprising:

a sensing circuit configured to sense at least one characteristic of local weather conditions, and further configured to generate a data signal representing the at least one characteristic;

a transmitter coupled to the sensing circuit and configured to wirelessly transmit the data signal;

a receiver configured to wirelessly receive the data signal;

a storage device configured to store a characteristic of at least one of a plurality of past weather conditions;

a processor coupled to the receiver and the storage device and configured to generate a prediction of a potential local weather condition, the prediction being based on the data signal received by the receiver and at least one of the characteristics of the weather conditions stored in the storage device; and

an indicating circuit configured to indicate the prediction.

2. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein each of the past weather conditions are past local weather conditions.

3. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein each of the characteristics of the past weather conditions are characteristics sensed by the sensing circuit.

4. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the indicating circuit includes an indicator configured to audibly indicate the prediction.

5. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the indicating circuit includes an indicator configured to visually indicate the prediction.

6. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, further including:

a first housing including the sensing circuit and the transmitter; and

a second housing including the receiver, the processor, and the indicating circuit, the first and second housings configured to be physically separable from each other.

7. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, further including:

a first housing including the sensing circuit and the transmitter; and

a second housing including the receiver, the processor, and the indicating circuit, the first and second housings being physically separate from each other.

8. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, further including:

a power connection port for receiving external power and for supplying power to the weather analyzing and reporting station; and

a battery coupled to the power connection port for supplying power to the weather analyzing and reporting station when no external power is provided to the power connection port, the battery being configured to be recharged by the external power received by the power connection.

9. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, further including an interface coupled to the processor and configured to receive a threshold value, the processor being configured to determine whether a high probability of severe weather conditions exists based on a comparison of the threshold value with the characteristic sensed by the sensing circuit, the indicating circuit being configured to indicate, responsive to the processor, that severe weather conditions exist.

10. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the characteristics stored in the storage device include at least one of a rainfall value and a windspeed value.

14. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the indicating circuit is further configured to indicate a signal strength of the data signal being received by the receiver.

15. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the indicating circuit comprises a signal strength meter configured to indicate a signal strength of the data signal being received by the receiver.

16. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit includes a barometric pressure sensor, the data signal represents an amount of barometric pressure sensed by the barometric pressure sensor, and the indicating circuit is further configured to indicate the amount of barometric pressure represented by the data signal received by the receiver.

17. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit includes a humidity sensor, the data signal represents an amount of humidity sensed by the humidity sensor, and the indicating circuit is further configured to indicate the amount of humidity represented by the data signal received by the receiver.

18. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit includes a windspeed sensor, the data signal represents an amount of windspeed sensed by the windspeed sensor, and the indicating circuit is further configured to indicate the amount of windspeed represented by the data signal received by the receiver.

19. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit includes a rainfall sensor, the data signal represents an amount of rainfall sensed by the rainfall sensor, and the indicating circuit is further configured to indicate the amount of rainfall represented by the data signal received by the receiver.

20. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit includes an ambient light sensor, the data signal represents an amount of ambient light sensed by the ambient light sensor, and the indicating circuit is further configured to indicate the amount of ambient light represented by the data signal received by the receiver.

21. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit includes a static charge sensor, the data signal represents an amount of static charge sensed by the static charge sensor, and the indicating circuit is further configured to indicate the amount of static charge represented by the data signal received by the receiver.

22. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 9, wherein the interface includes a voice apparatus configured to receive and recognize a voice command representing the threshold value.

23. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, further including:

an interface coupled to the processor and configured to receive a threshold value; and

an alarm coupled to the processor, the alarm being configured to indicate an alarm condition responsive to a comparison of the data signal received by the receiver with the threshold value.

24. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 23, wherein the alarm includes an audible alarm.

25. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 23, wherein the interface includes a voice apparatus configured to receive and recognize a voice command representing the threshold value.

26. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to intermittently transmit the data signal at a predetermined interval.

11. A portable weather analyzing and reporting station comprising:

a first housing including;

a sensing circuit configured to sense at least one characteristic of local weather conditions, and further configured to generate a data signal representing the at least one characteristic, and

a transmitter coupled to the sensing circuit and configured to wirelessly transmit the data signal; and

a second housing including;

a receiver configured to wirelessly receive the data signal,

a storage device configured to store a characteristic of at least one of a plurality of past weather conditions,

a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to process the data signal received by the receiver, thereby generating a result based on the data signal, and

an indicating circuit configured to indicate the result.

12. The weather analyzing and reporting station of the claim 11, wherein the first and second housings are configured to be physically separable from each other.

13. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 11, wherein the first and second housing are physically separate from each other.

27. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 11, further including:

an interface coupled to the processor and configured to receive a threshold value; and

an alarm coupled to the processor, the alarm being configured to indicate an alarm condition responsive to a comparison of the data signal received by the receiver with the threshold value.

28. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 27, wherein the alarm includes an audible alarm.

29. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 27, wherein the interface includes a voice apparatus configured to receive and recognize a voice command representing the threshold value.

30. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 11, wherein the transmitter is configured to intermittently transmit the data signal at a predetermined interval.

31. The weather analyzing and reporting station of claim 11, wherein the sensing circuit includes a barometric pressure sensor, and the data signal transmitted by the transmitter represents a barometric pressure sensed by the barometric pressure sensor.