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Method for determining a rate of rain

  • US 6,892,580 B2
  • Filed: 07/21/2003
  • Issued: 05/17/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a rate of rain falling on a surface wherein the rain causes vibrations of the surface, said method comprising the steps of:

  • sensing the vibrations of the surface;

    generating a vibration signal proportional to the vibrations of the surface, wherein the vibration signal includes peaks;

    determining the peaks of the vibration signal;

    determining intervals of time between the peaks;

    counting a number n1 of intervals of time that occur between a first time and a second time and that fall in a first range of the intervals of time;

    counting a number n2 of intervals of time that occur between the second time and a third time and that fall in a second range of the intervals of time; and

    determining the rain rate λ

    with an equation derived from a point process equation utilizing n1 and n2 in order to differentiate vibrations caused by rain from vibrations caused by non-rain disturbances.

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