Hot plate precipitation measuring system
First Claim
1. A precipitation measuring system comprising:
- a first plate exposed to precipitation;
a second plate not exposed to the precipitation;
a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation; and
a processing and control system configured to maintain the first plate and the second plate at a substantially constant temperature and determine a precipitation rate responsive to the detected radiation and maintaining the first plate and the second plate at the substantially constant temperature.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
26 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A precipitation measuring system comprising:
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a first plate exposed to precipitation;
a second plate not exposed to the precipitation;
a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation; and
a processing and control system configured to maintain the first plate and the second plate at a substantially constant temperature and determine a precipitation rate responsive to the detected radiation and maintaining the first plate and the second plate at the substantially constant temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of measuring precipitation wherein a first plate is exposed to the precipitation and a second plate is not exposed to the precipitation, the method comprising:
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maintaining the first plate and the second plate at a substantially constant temperature;
detecting radiation; and
determining a precipitation rate responsive the detected radiation and maintaining the first plate and the second plate at the substantially constant temperature. - 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 processor, a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation, a first plate that is exposed to precipitation, and a second plate that is not exposed to the precipitation, wherein the precipitation measuring system maintains the first plate and the second plate at a substantially constant temperature, the product comprising:
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processing instructions configured to direct the processor to determine a precipitation rate responsive to the detected radiation and the precipitation measuring system maintaining the first plate and the second plate at the substantially constant temperature; and
a storage medium configured to store the processing instructions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification