Method for determining a rate of rain
First Claim
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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Abstract
A method for determining a rate of rain falling on a surface. As rain falls and strikes the surface, vibrations are generated on the surface. The vibrations are sensed and a vibration signal is generated, the vibration signal being proportional to the vibrations of the surface. The vibration signal includes peaks. The peaks of the vibration signal are determined. The time intervals between the peaks are then determined. Using the time intervals, a number n1 of timer intervals that occur between a first time and a second time are counted. A number n2 of time intervals that occur between the second time and a third time are also counted. The rain rate λ is then determined using an equation that is derived from a point process equation and utilizes n1 and n2.
36 Citations
29 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification