Patent ID: 7268691

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring weather related information including wind related information and rainfall related information related to the environment, the apparatus comprising: a sensor configured to detect both wind related information and rainfall related information, the sensor including: a sensing element which provides data related to both rainfall and at least one of wind speed and wind direction a symmetrical first portion positioned such that the symmetrical first portion is contactable by the wind, a second portion positioned within the housing and having a plurality of sensor elements, a deflectable member overlaying the sensor elements of the second portion, a coupler coupling the symmetrical first portion to the deflectable member, and at least three conductive areas on a support and the deflectable member is grounded such that the conductive areas and the deflectable member cooperate to form at least three capacitors; a controller operably coupled to the sensor and configured to calculate a rainfall amount and at least one of a wind speed and a wind direction; and a housing protecting sensor elements.