Patent ID: 6246367
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: G01R,G01S,G01W,H05F,Y02A

Abstract:
A lightning location detection system, comprising:a sensor system detecting radio-frequency (RF) energy radiated by lightning discharges, said sensor system comprising an electric-field antenna and a crossed loop antenna;a filter in electrical communication with said sensor system, said filter receiving an RF output signal from said sensor system, said filter blocking low-frequency components of said RF output signal and passing unblocked frequency components of said RF output signal; anda signal processor in communication with said filter determining the location of an initial lightning breakdown process responsive to the unblocked components of said RF output signal, the unblocked components corresponding to at least one of only a predetermined number of initial microsecond or shorter pulses corresponding to said RF energy radiated by an initial lightning discharge of an initial leader stroke of a lightning flash.