Patent ID: 6243242
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: G01J,G01W

Abstract:
A lightning sensor device detecting the initiation of a lightning stepped leader event of a lightning flash comprising:a. sensor means for detecting said stepped leader event and producing an output signal in response thereto;b. a comparator circuit electrically connected to said sensor means for monitoring said output signal and discriminating between a stepped leader event and ambient events;c. a first band pass filter coupled with said output signal and passing only the impulse frequencies characteristic of the stepped leader event having a center band frequency of about 20 kHz within a range of approximately 8 to 50 kHz;d. a second band pass filter coupled with said output signal and passing only the frequencies characteristic of the stepped leader at the stepped leader impulse nominal one-microsecond rise time within a frequency range of approximately 300 KHz to 10 MHz; ande. control means for receiving said output signals from said first and second band pass filters and producing a controlling output signal in response thereto.