Atmospheric data measurement system

• US 6,813,563 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Corporation For Atmospheric Research
• Original Assignee: University Corporation For Atmospheric Research
• Inventors: Greenberg, James P., Bradley, William E., Prevost, Pierre-Louis, Guenther, Alex B., Schnell, Ryan W-M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCELHENY JR, DONALD E
• Application Number:
  US10/408,945
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 702/2, 702/3, 702/4, 702/5
• US Class Current: 702/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers

Abstract

An atmospheric data measurement system comprises an atmospheric sensor, personal digital assistant, link, power system, and enclosure. The atmospheric sensor measures an atmospheric parameter and generates data indicating the atmospheric parameter. The link transfers the data from the atmospheric sensor to the personal digital assistant. The personal digital assistant receives, stores, and transfers the data. The power system provides power to the atmospheric sensor and the personal digital assistant. The enclosure houses the atmospheric sensor, the personal digital assistant, the link, and the power system.

Claims

1. An atmospheric data measurement system comprising:

an atmospheric sensor configured to measure an atmospheric parameter and generate data indicating the atmospheric parameter;

a personal digital assistant configured to receive, store, and transfer the data;

a link configured to transfer the data from the atmospheric sensor to the personal digital assistant;

a power system configured to provide power to the atmospheric sensor and the personal digital assistant;

an enclosure configured to house the atmospheric sensor, the personal digital assistant, the link, and the power system; and

a transport mechanism configured to transport the enclosure to an altitude.

2. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 1 with the transport mechanism further-comprising a tethered balloon configured to transport the enclosure to an altitude.

3. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 1 wherein the atmospheric parameter comprises one of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, water vapor, ozone, nitrous oxide, and methane.

4. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 1 wherein the atmospheric parameter comprises one of temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, and solar radiation.

5. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 1 wherein the personal digital assistant is configured to control operation of the atmospheric sensor.

6. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 1 wherein the personal digital assistant is configure to correlate the data for individual atmospheric samples with individual times of measurement of the individual atmospheric samples.

7. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 1 wherein the personal digital assistant is configured to correlate the data for individual atmospheric samples with individual geographic locations of measurement of the individual atmospheric samples.

8. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 1 wherein the personal digital assistant is configured to transfer the data using wireless communications when the enclosure is being transported.

9. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is transported to various altitudes and the personal digital assistant is configured to control the altitudes using wireless communications.

10. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 1 further comprising:

a pump configured to transfer atmospheric air to the atmospheric sensor, and wherein

the power system is configured to provide power to the pump; and

the enclosure is configured to house the pump.

11. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 10 wherein the personal digital assistant is configured to control operation of the pump.

12. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is configured to allow a display on the personal digital assistant to be visible when the personal digital assistant is in the enclosure.

13. A method of operating an atmospheric data measurement system, the method comprising:

housing an atmospheric sensor and a personal digital assistant in an enclosure;

transporting the enclosure to an altitude using a transport mechanism;

in the atmospheric sensor that is in the enclosure at the altitude, measuring an atmospheric parameter and generating data indicating the atmospheric parameter;

in the personal digital assistant that is in the enclosure at the altitude, receiving and storing the data; and

transferring the data from the personal digital assistant.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein transporting the enclosure to the altitude using a transport mechanism comprises using a tethered balloon.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the atmospheric parameter comprises one of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, water vapor, ozone, nitrous oxide, and methane.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the atmospheric parameter comprises one of temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, and solar radiation.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising, in the personal digital assistant that is in the enclosure at the altitude, controlling operation of the atmospheric sensor.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising, in the personal digital assistant that is in the enclosure at the altitude, correlating the data for individual atmospheric samples with individual times of measurement of the individual atmospheric samples.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising, in the personal digital assistant that is in the enclosure at the altitude, correlating the data for individual atmospheric samples with individual geographic locations of measurement of the individual atmospheric samples.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein transferring the data from the personal digital assistant comprises transferring the data using wireless communications from the personal digital assistant that is in the enclosure at the altitude.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein transporting the enclosure to the altitude comprises, in the personal digital assistant, controlling the altitude using wireless communications.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

housing a pump in the enclosure; and

in the pump that is in the enclosure at the altitude, pumping atmospheric air to the atmospheric sensor.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising, in the personal digital assistant that is in the enclosure at the altitude, controlling operation of the pump.

24. A software product for an atmospheric data measurement system that includes a personal digital assistant, an atmospheric sensor to measure an atmospheric parameter and generate data indicating the atmospheric parameter, and a transport mechanism to transport the personal digital assistant and the atmospheric sensor to an altitude, the software product comprising:

application software configured to direct the personal digital assistant to receive the data indicating the atmospheric parameter, store the data, transfer the data, and control operation of the atmospheric sensor; and

a memory that stores the application software.

25. The software product of claim 24 wherein the atmospheric data measurement system includes a pump to transfer atmospheric air to the atmospheric sensor and wherein the application software is configured to direct the personal digital assistant to control operation of the pump.

26. The software product of claim 24 wherein the application software is configured to direct the personal digital assistant to correlate the data for individual atmospheric samples with individual times of measurement of the individual atmospheric samples.

27. The software product of claim 24 wherein the application software is configured to direct the personal digital assistant to correlate the data for individual atmospheric samples with individual geographic locations of the individual atmospheric samples.

28. The software product of claim 24 wherein the application software is configured to direct the personal digital assistant to transfer the data using wireless communications when the enclosure is being transported.

29. The software product of claim 24 wherein the atmospheric data measurement system is transported to various altitudes and the application software is configured to direct the personal digital assistant to control the altitudes using wireless communications.

30. The software product of claim 24 wherein the atmospheric parameter comprises one of the carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, water vapor, ozone, nitrous oxide, and methane.

31. The software product of claim 24 wherein the atmospheric parameter comprises one of temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, and solar radiation.

32. An atmospheric data measurement system comprising:

a control system that is configured for removable coupling to any of a plurality of different atmospheric sensors and that is configured to receive data indicating an atmospheric parameter from a coupled one of the atmospheric sensors, store the data, and transfer the data;

a power system configured to provide power to the coupled one of the atmospheric sensors and the control system;

an enclosure configured to house the coupled one of the atmospheric sensors, the control system, and the power system; and

a transport mechanism configured to transport the enclosure to an altitude.

33. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 32 with the transport mechanism further comprising a tethered balloon configured to transport the enclosure to an altitude.

34. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 32 wherein the atmospheric parameter comprises one of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, water vapor, ozone, nitrous oxide, and methane.

35. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 32 wherein the atmospheric parameter comprises one of temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, and solar radiation.

36. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 32 wherein the control system is configured to control operation of the atmospheric sensor.

37. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 32 wherein the control system is configured to correlate the data for individual atmospheric samples with individual times of measurement of the individual atmospheric samples.

38. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 32 wherein the control system is configured to correlate the data for individual atmospheric samples with individual geographic locations of measurement of the individual atmospheric samples.

39. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 32 wherein the control system is configured to transfer the data using wireless communications when the enclosure is being transported.

40. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 32 wherein the enclosure is transported to various altitudes and the control system is configured to control the altitudes using wireless communications.

41. The atmospheric data measurement system of claim 32 wherein the control system comprises a personal digital assistant.