Severe weather detector and alarm

• US 5,978,738 A
• Filed: 02/13/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: La Crosse Technology IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Anthony Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US08/799,838
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 702/3, 702/4, 342/26
• US Class Current: 702/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/04 giving only separate indications of the variables measured
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/06 giving a combined indication of weather conditions catathermometers for measuring "cooling value" related either to weather conditions or to comfort of other human environment G01W1/17; computers per se G06
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/00 in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather

Abstract

A compact, portable weather station for predicting local extreme weather conditions and for reporting remote weather conditions. The weather station has sensors for determining local temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, ambient light, and ambient static charge. A microprocessor has memory for storing data relating to past weather conditions and data processing apparatus and algorithms for determining probable developing weather conditions responsive to sensed local conditions. The weather station has a radio receiver for communicating with global weather reporting communications systems utilizing cellular communications. Operating commands, predicted local weather conditions, and remote weather conditions are annunciated in synthesized voice in any one of a variety of predetermined languages. The weather station includes voice synthesizing and recognition apparatus for annunciating verbal prompts and weather conditions, and for responding to vocal control. The weather station is formed in two separable components, one having sensors and the other having radio communications apparatus. The microprocessor is preferably contained within the component having radio communications apparatus. Each component preferably has a battery for providing power.

Claims

1. A weather analyzing and reporting station, comprising:

sensing means for sensing at least one characteristic of local weather conditions, and for generating a data signal responsive thereto;

a radio frequency receiver having controls for tuning said receiver to receive weather signals of variable selected frequencies relating to weather conditions prevailing at a selected remote location;

microprocessor means for processing said data signal and for predicting a potential weather condition responsive to said data signal, said microprocessor means including memory for storing base data relating to weather conditions generally; and

annunciating means for annunciating a predicted potential weather condition which correlates to a sensed weather characteristic, responsive to said microprocessor means predicting a potential weather condition and to said receiver receiving said weather signals.

2. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 1, said sensing means having a first sensor for sensing temperature, a second sensor for sensing barometric pressure, a third sensor for sensing humidity, and a fourth sensor for sensing ambient light.

3. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 2, further comprising:

a receiver section having means for communicating with external cellular radio frequency communication systems;

a sensor section having said first sensor, said second sensor, said third sensor, and said fourth sensor; and

means for manually connecting and disconnecting said receiver section and said sensor section from one another,

one of said receiver section and said sensor section having enclosed therein said microprocessor means, and at least one of said receiver section and said sensor section having enclosed therein a battery for supplying power to said weather analyzing station, whereby said weather analyzing and reporting station is readily portable and easily utilized.

4. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 3, further comprising a stand for holding and supporting said receiver section when said receiver section is disconnected from said sensor section.

5. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 1, said sensing means having a first sensor for sensing temperature, a second sensor for sensing barometric pressure, a third sensor for sensing humidity, and a fourth sensor for sensing ambient static charge.

6. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 5, further comprising:

a receiver section having means for communicating with external cellular radio frequency communication systems;

a sensor section having said first sensor, said second sensor, said third sensor, and said fourth sensor; and

means for manually connecting and disconnecting said receiver section and said sensor section from one another,

one of said receiver section and said sensor section having enclosed therein said microprocessor means, and at least one of said receiver section and said sensor section having enclosed therein a battery for supplying power to said weather analyzing station, whereby said weather analyzing and reporting station is readily portable and easily utilized.

7. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 6, further comprising a stand for holding and supporting said receiver section when said receiver section is disconnected from said sensor section.

8. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 1, said memory of said microprocessor having means for storing predetermined messages corresponding to selected weather conditions in memory, and said annunciating means having voice simulation means for annunciating said predetermined messages in the form of simulated voice of any selected one of a variety of languages.

9. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 8, further comprising cellular communications means for communicating with different international cellular protocols, whereby data corresponding to distant weather conditions is obtained by distant local weather condition broadcasts.

10. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 1, further comprising simulated vocal communication means for issuing verbal prompts for controlling said weather analyzing and reporting station according to choice selections and for recognizing and responding to human verbal responses to initiate actions responsive to choice selections.

11. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 8, further comprising means for recognizing verbal responses in any selected one of a variety of languages.

12. A weather analyzing and reporting station, comprising:

sensing means for sensing characteristic of local weather conditions, and for generating a data signal responsive thereto, including a first sensor for sensing temperature, a second sensor for sensing barometric pressure, a third sensor for sensing humidity, a fourth sensor for sensing ambient light, and a fifth sensor for sensing ambient static charge;

a radio frequency receiver having controls for tuning said receiver to receive weather signals of variable selected frequencies relating to weather conditions prevailing at a selected remote location, further including cellular communications means for communicating with different international cellular protocols, whereby data corresponding to distant weather conditions is obtained by distant local weather condition broadcasts;

microprocessor means for processing said data signal and for predicting a potential weather condition responsive to said data signal, said microprocessor means including memory for storing base data relating to weather conditions generally, said memory of said microprocessor having means for storing predetermined messages corresponding to selected weather conditions in memory, and said annunciating means having voice simulation means for annunciating said predetermined messages in the form of simulated voice of any selected one of a variety of languages;

annunciating means for annunciating a predicted potential weather condition which correlates to a sensed weather characteristic, responsive to said microprocessor means predicting a potential weather condition and to said receiver receiving said weather signals; and

simulated vocal communication means for issuing verbal prompts for controlling said weather analyzing and reporting station according to choice selections in a selected on of a variety of languages and for recognizing and responding to human verbal responses to initiate actions responsive to choice selections in any selected one of the variety of languages;

said weather analyzing and reporting station further being configured to include

a receiver section containing said radio frequency receiver, said microprocessor means, said annunciating means, and a first battery for supplying power to said receiver section, and

a sensor section containing said sensing means and a second battery for supplying power to said sensor section; and

means for manually connecting and disconnecting said receiver section and said sensor section from one another, whereby said weather analyzing and reporting station is readily portable and easily utilized.

13. The weather analyzing and reporting station according to claim 12, further comprising a stand for holding and supporting said receiver section when said receiver section is disconnected from said sensor section.