Severe weather detection apparatus and method of detecting and warning of severe weather conditions

• US 6,310,554 B1
• Filed: 08/13/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wade J. Carrell
• Original Assignee: Wade J. Carrell
• Inventors: Carrell, Wade J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/374,559
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 340/601, 340/602, 340/603, 702/3, 324/72, 455/227, 367/13, 367/191, 367/135
• US Class Current: 340/601
• 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 severe weather detection apparatus for detecting severe weather and method of detecting and warning of approaching severe weather conditions is provided. The severe weather detector apparatus includes a barometric pressure sensor and computerized means for calculating the rate of change in the barometric pressure. By monitoring and deriving a value representative of the rate of change in the barometric pressure over time, a threshold is established and compared to the current rate of change in the barometric pressure. The derived rate of change is compared to a value stored in the device which reflects approaching severe weather conditions. Rates of change which may indicate the approach of severe weather activate a voice-enunciated alarm that announces the potentially dangerous barometric activity. The severe weather detection apparatus is portable and suitable for battery power and installation in the same manner as a home smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector. A reduced voltage ‘sleep-mode’ is included to allow the device to operate for extended periods of time without maintenance or user intervention.

Claims

1. A severe weather detecting apparatus comprising:

a sensor for detecting a physical characteristic of the ambient environment and generating a signal representative of the physical characteristic;

a microprocessor connected to said sensor for processing said signal, said microprocessor including a digital-signal processor for measuring variations of said signal, converting said variations into a rate of change value indicating the likelihood of severe weather, and generating an output signal if said rate of change value increases for a predetermined period of time; and

a voice-enunciated notification module connected to said microprocessor to receive the output signal and for providing a warning of severe weather, said notification module including a speaker for broadcasting a voice-enunciated alarm, the voice-enunciated alarm including a warning that severe weather is approaching and an instruction to seek shelter,

wherein said voice-enunciated alarm is broadcast until said rate of change value falls below a predetermined value.

2. The severe weather detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a pressure transducer for measuring barometric pressure.

3. The severe weather detecting apparatus of claim 1 further including amplification means for intensification of said signal produced by said sensor.

4. The severe weather detecting apparatus of claim 1 further including an analog-to-digital converter connected between said sensor and said microprocessor.

5. The severe weather detecting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said apparatus further includes:

a timer connected to said analog-to-digital converter;

a memory connected to said analog-to-digital converter; and

display means connected to said microprocessor for displaying said rate of change value.

6. A method of detecting severe weather, said method comprising the acts of:

monitoring barometric pressure;

generating a signal representing barometric pressure values;

comparing the barometric pressure values over time to establish a baseline barometric value;

deriving a threshold value based on the baseline barometric value;

comparing successive barometric pressure values against the threshold value to determine whether a rate of change of the successive barometric pressure values falls below or above the threshold value;

broadcasting a voice-enunciated alarm of severe weather based on the comparison and when the rate of change increases for a predetermined period of time, the alarm including a warning that severe weather is approaching and an instruction to seek shelter; and

stopping the broadcast of the voice-enunciated alarm when the rate of change falls below a predetermined value.

7. The method of claim 6 including the additional step of adjusting said threshold value for rejecting minor seasonal weather disturbances.

8. A method of monitoring weather and notifying the user of severe weather, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting barometric pressure;

generating a signal representative of the barometric pressure;

processing the signal to measure variations in the barometric pressure;

converting the variations into a rate of change value indicating the likelihood of severe weather;

alerting the user via a voice-enunciated alarm, when the rate of change value exceeds a barometric pressure threshold for a predetermined period of time, that severe weather is approaching and to seek shelter; and

ending the alert via the voice-enunciated alarm when the rate of change value falls below a predetermined value.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of amplifying the generated barometric pressure signal.

10. The method of claim 8 further including the step of converting the barometric pressure signal from analog to digital after generating the signal and before processing the signal.

11. A severe weather detecting apparatus comprising:

a sensor for detecting barometric pressure and for generating a signal representing barometric pressure values;

a micro-controller connected to the sensor for comparing the barometric pressure values over time to establish a baseline barometric value, for deriving a threshold barometric value based on the baseline barometric value, and for comparing successive barometric pressure values against the threshold value to determine whether the successive barometric pressure values fall above or below the threshold value; and

an alarm for providing a voice warning of severe weather based on the comparison between the successive barometric pressure values and the threshold value and when the rate of change value exceeds the threshold value for a predetermined time, the voice warning including an instruction to seek shelter, wherein the alarm is deactivated when the rate of change value falls below a predetermined value.

12. The severe weather detecting apparatus of claim 11, further including an amplifier for intensification of the signal generated by the sensor.

13. The severe weather detecting apparatus of claim 11, further including an analog-to-digital converter connected between the sensor and the microprocessor.

14. The severe weather detecting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus further includes:

a timer connected to the analog-to-digital converter;

a memory connected to the analog-to-digital converter; and

a display connected to the microprocessor for displaying the barometric pressure values.

15. A battery-operated severe weather detecting apparatus comprising:

a sensor for detecting barometric pressure;

an amplifier connected to the sensor;

an analog-to-digital converter connected to the amplifier;

a micro-controller connected to the analog-to-digital converter, the micro-controller operable to generate an output signal when a rate of change of barometric pressure values increases for a predetermined period of time; and

a voice playback module connected to the micro-controller to receive the output signal, the voice playback module operable to generate an alarm including a warning that severe weather is approaching and an instruction to seek shelter,

wherein the voice playback alarm is broadcast until the rate of change value falls below a predetermined value and further wherein the current draw of the severe weather detecting apparatus is less than about 2 milliamps.

16. The severe weather detecting apparatus of claim 15 further including a timer and a memory connected to the analog-to-digital converter.

17. The severe weather apparatus of claim 15 wherein the current draw of the severe weather detecting apparatus is less than about 1.85 milliamps.

18. A battery-operated severe weather detecting apparatus comprising:

a sensor for detecting barometric pressure;

an amplifier connected to the sensor;

an analog-to-digital converter connected to the amplifier;

a micro-controller connected to the analog-to-digital converter, the micro-controller operable to generate an output signal if a rate of change of barometric pressure values increases for a predetermined period of time; and

a voice playback module connected to the micro-controller to receive the output signal, the voice playback module operable to generate an alarm including a warning that severe weather is approaching and an instruction to seek shelter,

wherein the severe weather detecting apparatus operates for more than one year when powered by battery.

19. The severe weather detecting apparatus of claim 18 wherein the battery is a 9 Volt battery.