Hot plate precipitation measuring system
First Claim
1. A precipitation measuring system comprising:
- a plurality of sensors that each include a first plate exposed to precipitation and a second plate not exposed to the precipitation and that are each configured to maintain the first plate and the second plate at a substantially constant temperature and transfer data that indicates a difference in power consumption between the first plate and the second plate; and
a remote processor configured to receive and process the data that indicates the difference in power consumption to determine precipitation rates at each of the sensors.
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Abstract
A precipitation measuring system comprising a top thermal plate positioned to maximize exposure to falling precipitation and includes at least one ridge circumscribing the top surface for capturing precipitation. A second thermal plate is positioned under the top thermal plate to protect it from falling precipitation while still exposing it to the same atmospheric temperature and wind conditions. At least one solar radiation sensor is connected to the precipitation measuring system to measure solar radiation contacting at least one of the top and bottom thermal plates. During a precipitation event, the top and bottom thermal plates are maintained at a constant temperature and a power consumption curve for each thermal plate is quantified. The precipitation rate is measured by the difference in the power consumption curve for the top thermal plate and the power consumption curve for the bottom thermal plate.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A precipitation measuring system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors that each include a first plate exposed to precipitation and a second plate not exposed to the precipitation and that are each configured to maintain the first plate and the second plate at a substantially constant temperature and transfer data that indicates a difference in power consumption between the first plate and the second plate; and
a remote processor configured to receive and process the data that indicates the difference in power consumption to determine precipitation rates at each of the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a precipitation measuring system that includes a plurality of sensors that each include a first plate exposed to precipitation and a second plate not exposed to the precipitation, the method comprising:
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in the sensors, maintaining the first plate and the second plate at a substantially constant temperature;
transferring data from the sensors to a remote processor wherein the data indicates a difference in power consumption between the first plate and the second plate; and
in the remote processor, processing the data that indicates the difference in power consumption to determine precipitation rates at each of the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A product for a precipitation measuring system comprising a remote processor and a plurality of sensors that each include a first plate exposed to precipitation and a second plate not exposed to the precipitation and that are each configured to maintain the first plate and the second plate at a substantially constant temperature and transfer data to the remote processor that indicates a difference in power consumption between the first plate and the second plate, the product comprising:
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processing instructions configured to direct the remote processor to process the data that indicates the difference in power consumption to determine precipitation rates at each of the sensors; and
a storage medium configured to store the processing instructions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification