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Visual detection of clear air turbulence

  • US 8,339,583 B2
  • Filed: 07/17/2009
  • Issued: 12/25/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A clear air turbulence detection system, comprising:

  • an image capturing element configured to capture an ambient light image of a scene;

    a lens having a focal length adapted to focus said scene onto said image capturing element such that a combination of said lens and said image capturing element is adapted to optically resolve a visual distortion of a feature in said scene due to turbulence; and

    a processor adapted to process said image of said scene from said image capturing element, said processor being adapted to compare a plurality of said images, captured at pre-set time intervals, to detect a non-uniform change in refraction of light received from said feature from one of said plurality of said images to a next successive one of said plurality of images due to turbulence and produce an indication of an area of turbulence.

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