Omnidirectional Atmospheric Vapor Measurement System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring time-varying characteristics of atmospheric vapor radiation in the terahertz band face challenges with low temporal resolution and limited omnidirectional coverage, making it difficult to accurately detect short-term changes in atmospheric vapor.
Innovation Solution
An omnidirectional measurement system comprising an antenna and calibrator assembly, a receiver assembly, and a data acquisition and system control assembly, featuring a pitch scanning metal mirror, omnidirectional rotating mechanism, and dual-temperature-scale self-calibration using a three-phase chopper wheel and high-temperature blackbody calibration sources, combined with a superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixer and room temperature IF processing units for ultra-wideband signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional radiometers use pitch scanning to measure atmospheric opacity, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement time increases to about 10 minutes, reducing temporal resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing the traditional fixed pitch scanning mechanism with a dynamic omnidirectional rotating mechanism. The antenna assembly rotates dynamically around the vertical axis to scan 360° horizontally, while the receiver dynamically tracks signals from multiple directions simultaneously. This dynamic scanning approach maintains high measurement accuracy while reducing measurement time from 10 minutes to less than 10 minutes, improving temporal resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional pitch scanning to two-dimensional omnidirectional scanning by adding horizontal rotation around the vertical axis. This dimensional change allows the system to measure atmospheric vapor radiation from all horizontal directions simultaneously while maintaining the vertical pitch angle measurement capability, thereby reducing measurement time without sacrificing accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If satellites' meteorological data is used for PWV measurement, then global coverage is achieved, but temporal and spatial resolutions are low, unable to measure short-term changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by deploying a ground-based station that acts as a mediator between satellite data and local atmospheric conditions. The station continuously measures local PWV changes with high temporal resolution while satellite data provides contextual information. This intermediary ground station enables detection of short-term atmospheric vapor changes that satellite data alone cannot capture, while still benefiting from the global coverage perspective.
3Loss of time
If GPS meteorology measures PWV with high temporal resolution, then measurement frequency is improved, but measurement accuracy decreases to 1-2 mm, far less than required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of different measurement methods by combining GPS meteorology's high temporal resolution with radiometer-based high accuracy measurement. The system integrates multiple measurement channels including GPS, radiometers, and omnidirectional rotating antenna arrays, allowing it to achieve both high temporal resolution (several tens of minutes) and high measurement accuracy (above 0.1 mm) simultaneously, overcoming the limitations of individual methods.
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
Enables fast, high-precision, omnidirectional measurement of atmospheric vapor radiation within 360° in less than 10 minutes, improving detection accuracy and reducing mechanical and electrical load through dynamic and static separation of system components.
Implementation Method 1
a pitch scanning metal mirror M1, a first turning metal mirror M2, a second turning metal mirror M3... the pitch scanning metal mirror M1 adjusts a pitch angle through a hydraulic mechanism, and receives and reflects the atmospheric signal to the first turning metal mirror M2
Implementation Method 2
an omnidirectional rotating mechanism AzR... the omnidirectional rotating mechanism AzR is configured to rotate the entire platform, such that the pitch scanning metal mirror M1 receives atmospheric signals within different ranges
Implementation Method 3
a three-phase chopper wheel C... the three-phase chopper wheel C periodically rotates to periodically release the atmospheric signal reflected by the first turning metal mirror M2 to the second turning metal mirror M3, periodically reflect a signal emitted by the first high-temperature blackbody calibration source H1 to the second turning metal mirror M3
Implementation Method 4
a first high-temperature blackbody calibration source H1 and a second high-temperature blackbody calibration source H2... periodically reflect a signal emitted by the first high-temperature blackbody calibration source H1 to the second turning metal mirror M3
Implementation Method 5
the receiver assembly is configured to process each signal reflected by the second turning metal mirror M3, including mixing the signal to an intermediate frequency and performing an ultra-wideband low-noise amplification
Implementation Method 6
combined with a superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixer and room temperature IF processing units for ultra-wideband signal processing
Data Source
AI summary
An omnidirectional measurement system for a time-varying characteristic of atmospheric vapor radiation includes an antenna and calibrator assembly, a receiver assembly, a room temperature IF assembly, and a data acquisition and system control assembly. Atmospheric vapor features a wide profile and strong radiation in a frequency band of 183 GHz, and is often seen in the characteristic measurement of atmospheric vapor in high-altitude areas. The omnidirectional measurement system combines a superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer with high detection sensitivity in the frequency band of 183 GHz with a structure that integrates pitch scanning, omnidirectional scanning, and automatic calibration to achieve fast and high-precision omnidirectional scanning measurement of the time-varying characteristic of atmospheric vapor radiation. The omnidirectional measurement system has a pitch adjustment-based fast omnidirectional scanning function, and can measure the time-varying characteristic of atmospheric vapor radiation with higher precision and higher temporal resolution through the SIS mixer with higher sensitivity.