Severe weather detector and alarm

• US 6,597,990 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: La Crosse Technology IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Anthony Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US09/546,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20020026284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 702/2, 702/3, 342/26
• 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.

Claims

1. A weather station for monitoring weather conditions at at least one remote location comprising:

a detachable, portable, battery-powered and hand-holdable weather station unit situated at the at least one remote location including;

a microprocessor;

at least one data sensor coupled to the microprocessor for generating a data signal representative of weather conditions at the at least one remote location;

a transmitter coupled to the microprocessor for transmitting said data signal;

an antenna coupled to the transmitter, and

a detachable, portable, battery powered and hand holdable weather station receiver for receiving and displaying the weather conditions received from said weather station unit.

2. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the data sensor monitors the weather data and wherein the transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit a data signal, said data signal being representative of the weather data monitored at the at least one location.

3. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the data sensor senses temperature.

4. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the data sensor senses wind speed.

5. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the data sensor senses rain.

6. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the data sensor senses barometric pressure.

7. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the data sensor senses ambient light.

8. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the data sensor senses static charge.

9. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the data sensor senses humidity.

10. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises an indicating circuit configured to indicate a temperature trend.

11. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the receiver further comprises an alarm configured to indicate an alarm condition responsive to a comparison of the data signal received by the receiver with a predetermined threshold value.

12. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the receiver further comprises an indicating circuit configured to indicate a signal strength of the data signal being received by the receiver.

13. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the receiver is configured to receive a telemetry signal from a NOAA weather radio.

14. The weather station of claim 1 further comprising an alarm.

15. The weather station of claim 14 wherein the alarm is triggered when a probability of a predetermined weather condition is detected.

26. The weather station of claim 1 wherein the receiver is configured to receive a telemetry signal from a NOAA weather radio.

27. The weather station of claim 14 wherein the alarm is triggered when a predetermined weather condition is detected.

16. A weather station for monitoring weather conditions at at least one remote location comprising:

a portable, battery-powered and hand-holdable weather station unit situated at the at least one remote location including;

a microprocessor;

at least one data sensor coupled to the microprocessor for sensing at least one weather condition and generating a data signal representative of the at least one weather condition condition at the at least one remote location;

a transmitter coupled to the at least one data sensor for transmitting said data signal; and

an antenna coupled to the transmitter,

a portable, battery powered and hand holdable receiver configured to receive the data signal comprising;

a storage device configured to store at least one of a plurality of measured remote weather conditions;

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

an indicating circuit configured to indicate the prediction.

17. The weather station of claim 16 wherein the receiver further comprises an interface configured to receive a latitude coordinate.

18. The weather station of claim 16 wherein the receiver further comprises an interface configured to receive a longtitude coordinate.

19. The weather station of claim 16 wherein the receiver further comprises an interface configured to receive a geographic area latitude position.

20. The weather station of claim 16 wherein the receiver further comprises an interface configured to receive a geographic area longtitude position.

21. The weather station of claim 16 wherein the processor is coupled to the receiver and storage device and configured to generate a prediction of a potential remote weather condition, the prediction being based on the data signal received by the weather station receiver and at least one of the measured weather conditions compared to said stored data.

22. The weather station of claim 16 wherein the prediction of a weather condition is based on the received data signal and at least one of the measured weather conditions stored in the storage device.

23. The weather station of claim 16 wherein the indicating circuit is configured to indicate a temperature trend.

24. The weather station of claim 16 wherein the receiver further comprises an alarm configured to indicate an alarm condition responsive to a comparison of the data signal received by the receiver with a predetermined threshold value.

25. The weather station of claim 16 wherein the indicating circuit comprises a signal strength indicator configured to indicate a signal strength of the data signal being received by the receiver.

28. The weather station of claim 16 further comprising an alarm.

29. The weather station of claim 28 wherein the alarm is triggered when a predetermined weather condition is detected.

30. The weather station of claim 28 wherein the alarm is triggered when a probability of a predetermined weather condition is detected.