Cloud Atmosphere Metric Determination Using Time-Difference Light Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cloud atmosphere measurement systems require powerful and expensive computer systems for complex signal analyses, which are voluminous, heavy, and high power-consuming due to the need for extensive computations.

Innovation Solution

A system that calculates cloud metrics using a light projector, light sensor, peak detector, and timer to determine backscatter and optical extinction coefficients, allowing for reduced signal processing requirements and the use of lower-speed analog-to-digital converters and microprocessors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If complex signal analyses are performed to determine cloud atmosphere metrics, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecloud atmosphere metrics determination accuracyVSAvoidcomputer system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential features from the complex backscattered light signal - specifically the peak amplitude and the time difference between peak and threshold crossings. By taking out only these critical parameters rather than analyzing the entire signal waveform, the system achieves accurate cloud metric determination while avoiding the need for complex, high-power computer systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing complete complex signal analysis, the patent applies partial action by measuring only specific characteristic points of the signal (peak amplitude and threshold crossing times). This partial measurement approach provides sufficient information for determining cloud atmosphere metrics without requiring extensive computational resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Measurement precision

If complex signal analyses are performed to determine cloud atmosphere metrics, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecloud atmosphere metrics determination accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses simple timing circuits and amplitude detectors that operate autonomously without requiring high-power processing. The measurement process itself generates the necessary data points (peak and threshold crossings) that directly provide the information needed for cloud metric calculation, eliminating the need for energy-intensive post-processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If high-speed converters and processors are used for complex signal analysis, then productivity is improved, but weight and volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal processing speedVSAvoidsystem weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, heavy high-speed processors with simple, lightweight timing and amplitude detection circuits. These simpler components perform the necessary measurements quickly enough for the application without requiring the computational power and associated weight of sophisticated processing systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates the determination of cloud conditions using a reduced number of signal values, enabling efficient calculation of cloud metrics with lower-speed hardware, reducing the need for high-speed converters and power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

a light sensor configured to detect a portion of the projected pulse of light backscattered by the cloud atmosphere

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBackscattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS11630215B2Determining metrics of a cloud atmosphere using time-difference measurements

Publication Date: 2023.04.18 ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC

AI summary

Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining metrics of a cloud atmosphere using time difference measurements. A light projector projects a pulse of light into a cloud atmosphere, and a light sensor detects a portion of the projected pulse of light backscattered by the cloud atmosphere. A backscatter coefficient is calculated based on peak amplitude of the detected portion. An optical extinction coefficient is calculated based on a time difference between a peak time and a post-peak time, which correspond to times at which the peak amplitude of the detected portion occurs and at which the detected portion equals or crosses a sub-peak threshold, respectively. In some embodiments, a logarithm amplifier is used to facilitate processing of signals of widely varying amplitudes. In some embodiments, the sub-peak threshold is calculated as a fraction of the peak amplitude of the detected portion.