Patents by Inventor Lothar H. Ruhnke

Lothar H. Ruhnke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7957902
    Abstract: A real-time, multi-sensor local-area lightning detection network system. The system uses waveform indicative of electrostatic field changes with respect to time is generated at each of N locations due to a cloud-to-ground lightning strike occurring in the vicinity of the N locations. Each waveform is integrated to generate a corresponding electric field associated with a corresponding one of the locations. A mathematical relationship is used to determine a ground surface location of the lightning strike, height of the lightning strike, and charge per unit length of the lightning strike using each electric field generated during integration of the waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Christopher R. Karabin, Robert M. Daily, Shad M. Reese, Lothar H. Ruhnke, Vladislav Mazur
  • Publication number: 20100023267
    Abstract: A real-time, multi-sensor local-area lightning detection network system. The system uses waveform indicative of electrostatic field changes with respect to time is generated at each of N locations due to a cloud-to-ground lightning strike occurring in the vicinity of the N locations. Each waveform is integrated to generate a corresponding electric field associated with a corresponding one of the locations. A mathematical relationship is used to determine a ground surface location of the lightning strike, height of the lightning strike, and charge per unit length of the lightning strike using each electric field generated during integration of the waveforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher R. Karabin, Robert M. Daily, Shad M. Reese, Lothar H. Ruhnke, Vladislav Mazur
  • Patent number: 6246367
    Abstract: A lightning detection system for detecting and locating an initial discharge of an initial leader stroke of a lightning flash. An initial lightning discharge produces a pulse that can be used to accurately detect lightning, and more particularly, the location of the initial lightning discharge. In one embodiment, at least three sensors detect and determine the location of the first pulses from initial lightning discharges using time difference of arrival information of the pulses at each of the three sensors. In another embodiment, a single sensor is used to determine the range of an initial lightning discharge from the amplitude of a corresponding initial detected pulse, and to determine the direction from a crossed loop antenna An alternative embodiment of a single sensor system determines a distance of a lightning event from a peak amplitude value derived from a pulse amplitude distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Airborne Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph J. Markson, Lothar H. Ruhnke
  • Patent number: 5771020
    Abstract: A lightning detection system for detecting and locating an initial discharge of an initial leader stroke of a lightning flash. An initial lightning discharge produces a pulse that can be used to accurately detect lightning, and more particularly, the location of the initial lightning discharge. In one embodiment, at least three sensors detect and determine the location of the first pulses from initial lightning discharges using time difference of arrival information of the pulses at each of the three sensors. In another embodiment, a single sensor is used to determine the range of an initial lightning discharge from the amplitude of a corresponding initial detected pulse, and to determine its direction from a crossed loop antenna. An alternative embodiment of a single sensor system determines a distance of a lightning event from a peak amplitude value derived from a pulse amplitude distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Airborne Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph J. Markson, Lothar H. Ruhnke