Weather warning system and method

• US 7,202,795 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strategic Design Federation W, LLC
• Original Assignee: Strategic Design Federation W Incorporated
• Inventors: Karamanian, Ara A., Land, Kenneth C., Karamanian, Andre A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/131,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 340/601, 340/692, 340/686.6, 340/600, 340/540, 324/344, 702/2, 702/15
• US Class Current: 340/601
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/00 in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather

Abstract

A device for detecting a weather condition, particularly a tornado. The device includes a receiver module configured to receive electromagnetic signal from an atmosphere, particularly electromagnetic signal in the range of 1 MHz to 100 MHz. The device also includes a processing module coupled to the receiver module and configured to generate frequency spectrum data corresponding to the received electromagnetic signal, such as by performing a Fast Fourier Transform operation. Frequency spectrum data corresponding to the weather condition desired to be detected is stored in a stored data module. The device also includes a comparison module for comparing, such as by performing a cross-correlation operation, the generated frequency spectrum data and the stored frequency spectrum data in order to determine whether the weather condition is present in the atmosphere. An alarm module coupled to the comparison module generates an alarm condition when the comparison module determines that the weather condition is present in the atmosphere.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a weather condition comprising:

a receiver module configured to receive from an atmosphere an electromagnetic signal generated by the weather condition;

a processing module coupled to the receiver module and configured to generate frequency spectrum data corresponding to the received electromagnetic signal;

a stored data module for storing frequency spectrum data corresponding to the weather condition;

a comparison module for comparing the generated frequency spectrum data and the stored frequency spectrum data in order to determine whether the weather condition is present in the atmosphere.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the weather condition detected by the device is a tornado.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver module is configured to receive electromagnetic signals in the range of 1 MHz to 100 MHz.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver module is configured to receive electromagnetic signals in at least one range between 1 MHz to 100 MHz.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing module is configured to generate frequency spectrum data by performing a Fast Fourier Transform operation.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the stored frequency spectrum data includes Fast Fourier Transform data corresponding to the weather condition.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing module is configured to generate frequency spectrum data by performing a Discrete Fourier Transform operation.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the stored frequency spectrum data includes Discrete Fourier Transform data corresponding to the weather condition.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the comparison module is configured to perform a cross-correlation operation of the generated frequency spectrum data and the stored frequency spectrum data.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising an amplifier module coupled to the receiver module and configured to amplify the received electromagnetic signal.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising an analog filter module coupled to the receiver module and configured to filter the received electromagnetic signal.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a converter module coupled to the receiver module and to the processing module and configured to convert analog electromagnetic signals received by the receiver module to digital signal for processing by the processing module.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a digital filter module coupled to the converter module and to the processing module and configured to filter the digital signal prior to the digital signal being processed by the processing module.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising an alarm module coupled to the comparison module and configured to generate an alarm condition when the comparison module determines that the weather condition is present in the atmosphere.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the alarm condition generated by the alarm module is at least one of a visual alarm signal and an audible alarm signal.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the alarm condition generated by the alarm module corresponds to a result of a comparison performed by the comparison module.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to scale the frequency spectrum data received by the comparison module from the processing module and from the stored data module prior to performing the comparison operation.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a proximity determination module coupled to the receiver module and configured to determine, based on a magnitude of the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver module, the proximity of the weather condition relative to the device.

19. The device of claim 1, further comprising a movement determination module coupled to the processing module and configured to determine, based on changes in the generated frequency spectrum data, at least one of the speed and trajectory of the weather condition.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a self-contained unit, each of the modules being integral with the device.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is mountable on at least one of a wall or a ceiling.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is disposed in a housing, wherein the housing further includes at least one of a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector and a home security device.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to communicate with a central processor module coupled to the device, wherein the central processor is configured to perform a positioning operation.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the central processor module is configured to use triangulation in order to perform the positioning operation.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the central processor module is configured to use a higher order positioning algorithm in order to perform the positioning operation.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein the central processor module is configured to use a variable order positioning algorithm in order to perform the positioning operation.

27. A system for detecting a weather condition comprising:

a central processor module;

and a plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices in communication with the central processor module via communication means for communicating data therebetween, each of the plurality of devices including a receiver module configured to receive from an atmosphere an electromagnetic signal generated by the weather condition, and wherein at least one of the central processor module and each of the plurality of devices further include;

a processing module configured to generate frequency spectrum data corresponding to the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver module;

a stored data module for storing frequency spectrum data corresponding to the weather condition;

a comparison module for comparing the generated frequency spectrum data and the stored frequency spectrum data in order to determine whether the weather condition is present in the atmosphere.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the weather condition detected by the system is a tornado.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the receiver module is configured to receive electromagnetic signals in the range of 1 MHz to 100 MHz.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the receiver module is configured to receive electromagnetic signals in at least one range between 1 MHz to 100 MHz.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the processing module is configured to generate frequency spectrum data by performing a Fast Fourier Transform operation.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the stored frequency spectrum data includes Fast Fourier Transform data corresponding to the weather condition.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the processing module is configured to generate frequency spectrum data by performing a Discrete Fourier Transform operation.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the stored frequency spectrum data includes Discrete Fourier Transform data corresponding to the weather condition.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the comparison module is configured to perform a cross-correlation operation of the generated frequency spectrum data and the stored frequency spectrum data.

36. The system of claim 27, further comprising an amplifier module configured to amplify the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver module.

37. The system of claim 27, further comprising an analog filter module configured to filter the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver module.

38. The system of claim 27, further comprising a converter module configured to convert analog electromagnetic signals received by the receiver module to a digital signal for processing by the processing module.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising a digital filter module configured to filter the digital signal prior to the digital signal being processed by the processing module.

40. The system of claim 27, further comprising an alarm module coupled to the comparison module and configured to generate an alarm condition when the comparison module determines that the weather condition is present in the atmosphere.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the alarm condition generated by the alarm module is at least one of visual and audible.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the alarm module is adjustable by a user.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the alarm condition generated by the alarm module corresponds to a result of a comparison performed by the comparison module.

44. The system of claim 27, further comprising a proximity determination module configured to determine, based on a magnitude of the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver module, the proximity of the weather condition relative to the device.

45. The system of claim 27, further comprising a movement determination module configured to determine, based on changes in the generated frequency spectrum data, at least one of the speed and trajectory of the weather condition.

46. The system of claim 27, wherein the communication means is wired.

47. The system of claim 27, wherein the communication means is wireless.

48. The system of claim 27, further comprising a map generation module configured to generate a map providing the location of the weather condition.

49. The system of claim 48, further comprising a display module associated with the central processor, wherein the map generated by the map generation module is displayed on the display module.

50. The system of claim 48, further comprising a display module associated with at least one of the devices, wherein the map generated by the map generation module is displayed on the display module.

51. The system of claim 27, further comprising at least one telephone associated with a geographical area, wherein the system is configured to generate, upon determining that the weather condition is present in the geographical area, a warning telephone call to the at least one telephone.

52. The system of claim 27, wherein the device is configured to communicate with a central processor module coupled to the device, wherein the central processor is configured to perform a positioning operation.

53. The system of claim 27, wherein the central processor module is configured to use triangulation in order to perform the positioning operation.

54. The system of claim 27, wherein the central processor module is configured to use a higher order positioning algorithm in order to perform the positioning operation.

55. The system of claim 27, wherein the central processor module is configured to use a variable order positioning algorithm in order to perform the positioning operation.

56. A method for detecting a weather condition, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from an atmosphere an electromagnetic signal generated by the weather condition;

generating frequency spectrum data corresponding to the received electromagnetic signal;

comparing the generated frequency spectrum data with stored frequency spectrum data, the stored frequency spectrum data corresponding to the weather condition;

determining whether the weather condition is present in the atmosphere.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the weather condition detected by the device is a tornado.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the receiving step includes receiving the electromagnetic signal in the range of 1 MHz to 100 MHz.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein the receiving step includes receiving the electromagnetic signal in at least one range between 1 MHz to 100 MHz.

60. The method of claim 56, wherein the step of generating frequency spectrum data includes performing a Fast Fourier Transform operation.

61. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of storing, for use during the comparing step, Fast Fourier Transform data corresponding to the weather condition.

62. The method of claim 56, wherein the step of generating frequency spectrum data includes performing a Discrete Fourier Transform operation.

63. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of storing, for use during the comparing step, Discrete Fourier Transform data corresponding to the weather condition.

64. The method of claim 56, wherein the comparing step includes performing a cross-correlation operation with the generated frequency spectrum data and the stored frequency spectrum data.

65. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of amplifying the received electromagnetic signal.

66. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of filtering the received electromagnetic signal.

67. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of converting the analog electromagnetic signal received by the receiver module to a digital signal for processing by the processing module.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising the step of filtering the digital signal prior to the digital signal being processed.

69. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of generating an alarm condition when the comparison module determines that the weather condition is present in the atmosphere.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the step of generating an alarm condition includes generating at least one of a visual and an audible alarm signal.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising the step of a user adjusting the alarm signal.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein the step of generating the alarm condition includes corresponding the alarm signal to a result of the comparing step.

73. The method of claim 56, further comprising the steps of:

determining a magnitude of the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver module; and

determining, based on the magnitude of the electromagnetic signal, the proximity of the weather condition relative to the device.

74. The method of claim 56, further comprising the steps of:

determining changes or rate of change in the generated frequency spectrum data; and

determining, based on the changes or rate of change in the generated frequency spectrum data, at least one of the speed and trajectory of the weather condition.