Howard J Simpson

US Patent:

6452373, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Jan 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/758051

Inventors:

Pedro J. Medelius - Merritt Island FL
Howard J. Simpson - Eustis FL

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01R 3102

US Classification:

324 72, 324102

Abstract:

A voltage transient recorder can detect lightning induced transient voltages. The recorder detects a lightning induced transient voltage and adjusts input amplifiers to accurately record transient voltage magnitudes. The recorder stores voltage data from numerous monitored channels, or devices. The data is time stamped and can be output in real time, or stored for later retrieval. The transient recorder, in one embodiment, includes an analog-to-digital converter and a voltage threshold detector. When an input voltage exceeds a pre-determined voltage threshold, the recorder stores the incoming voltage magnitude and time of arrival. The recorder also determines if its input amplifier circuits clip the incoming signal or if the incoming signal is too low. If the input data is clipped or too low, the recorder adjusts the gain of the amplifier circuits to accurately acquire subsequent components of the lightning induced transients.