RALPH JOSEPH MARKSON
Pilots at Kendal Cmn Rd, Cherry Brook, MA

6246367, Jun 12, 2001

Jun 22, 1998

9/102452

Ralph J. Markson - Weston MA
Lothar H. Ruhnke - Reston VA

Airborne Research Associates, Inc. - Weston MA

G01S 302

342460

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. In a further embodiment, a lightning detection system provides enhanced lightning location by incorporating weather data from a weather radar with detected lightning information.

8275548, Sep 25, 2012

Aug 17, 2009

12/542404

Robert S. Marshall - Ijamsville MD, US
Christopher Dale Sloop - Mount Airy MD, US
Ralph Joseph Markson - Weston MA, US
Stan Heckman - Chelmsford MA, US
Benjamin E. Beroukhim - Rockville MD, US
Chonglin Liu - Rockville MD, US

Earth Networks, Inc. - Germantown MD

G01W 1/00, G06F 19/00, G06F 17/40

702 4, 7317025, 324 72, 340601, 340659, 34087009, 34087016, 702187, 702189

Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for detecting lightning activity. Waveform data indicative of lightning activity is received by a waveform sensor from one or more signal converters. The waveform data comprises a group of electromagnetic waveforms. The waveform data is filtered by a processor to remove noise frequencies. One or more uncompressed portions of the waveform data are transmitted to a processing server. Digital filter data based on the one or more uncompressed portions of waveform data are received from the processing server. One or more frequencies are removed from the waveform data based on the digital filter data. The waveform data is compressed. The compressing includes selecting one or more points on a waveform, wherein the one or more points are above a predetermined threshold. The compressing includes determining an inflection of the selected points based on a predefined algorithm.

5771020, Jun 23, 1998

Jul 25, 1996

8/687751

Ralph J. Markson - Weston MA
Lothar H. Ruhnke - Reston VA

Airborne Research Associates, Inc. - Weston MA

G01S 302

342460

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. In a further embodiment, a lightning detection system provides enhanced lightning location by incorporating weather data from a weather radar with detected lightning information.

4801942, Jan 31, 1989

Aug 18, 1986

6/897214

Ralph Markson - Weston MA
James W. Warwick - Boulder CO
Arthur Uhlir - Weston MA

Airborne Research Associates, Inc. - Weston MA

G01J 302

342460

The lightning ranging system for determining distance between a lightning discharge and an airborne object includes a receiver on the airborne object adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation signals generated by a lightning discharge along both a direct and a surface reflected path. Signal processing apparatus is interconnected with the receiver for determining the difference in the time of arrival of the direct and reflected signals. A computer is provided to calculate the range of the lightning discharge from the difference in the time of arrival of the direct and reflected signals. In a preferred embodiment, the signal processing apparatus is digital and includes at least a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter with at least a 36 megahertz sampling rate.

5396220, Mar 7, 1995

Oct 15, 1991

7/776175

Ralph J. Markson - Weston MA
Johan A. Govaert - Peabody MA

Airborne Research Laboratories, Inc. - Weston MA

G08B 1712, G01W 100

340600

A lightning and storm warning system capable of distinguishing lightning flashes from other light flashes and indicating to an operator of the existence of a lightning flash even under high ambient illumination conditions. The device may include a visual display indicating the severity and location of the storm and providing an indication of the time progression of the lightning rate.

4972195, Nov 20, 1990

Oct 24, 1989

7/426507

Ralph Markson - Weston MA
James W. Warwick - Boulder CO
Arthur Uhlir - Weston MA

Airborne Research Associates - Weston MA

H01Q 300

342460

The lightning range system for determining distance between a lightning discharge and an airborne object includes a receiver on the airborne object adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation signals generated by a lightning discharge along both a direct and a surface reflected path. Signal processing apparatus is interconnected with the receiver for determining the difference in the time of arrival of the direct and reflected signals. A computer is provided to calculate the range of the lightning discharge from the difference in the time of arrival of the direct and reflected signals. In a preferred embodiment, the signal processing apparatus is digital and includes at least a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter with at least a 36 megahertz sampling rate.

5057820, Oct 15, 1991

May 1, 1989

7/345720

Ralph J. Markson - Weston MA
Johan A. Govaert - Peabody MA

Airborne Research Associates, Inc. - Weston MA

G08B 1712

340600

A lightning and strobe light detector and warning system capable of distinguishing strobe light and lightning flashes and indicating to an operator of the existence of a flash even under high illumination background conditions. The device may comprise a plurality of detectors and therefore not only distinguish between the strobe and lighting flashes but also indicate the direction of a flash.

4996473, Feb 26, 1991

May 17, 1989

7/353390

Ralph J. Markson - Weston MA
Bruce E. Anderson - Londonberry NH

Airborne Research Associates, Inc. - Weston MA

G01W 100, G01W 3102

324 72

A system for predicting the occurence of microburst/windshear comprising at least one sensor for receiving lightning produced signals, a processor for processing those received signals to produce data and generate a warning when the processed data indicates that a microburst/windshear is about to occur.

2012018, Jul 26, 2012

Jan 25, 2012

13/357943

Ralph J. Markson - Weston MA, US

G01T 1/02, G01R 27/00, G01T 1/20

250362, 250395, 324691

A method of locating a thermal updraft. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of flying an aircraft in a flight path; making ionization measurements at a plurality of locations along the aircraft flight path using an ionization measuring device to measure ionization rate; determining in response to the ionization measurements areas of increased ionization rate; and denoting areas of increased ionization rate as areas of thermal updraft. In another embodiment, the method includes the steps of measuring ionizing radiation at each location along the aircraft flight path; and if ionizing radiation levels are above a predetermined value, determining that the location is within a thermal updraft and if the ionizing radiation levels are below a predetermined value, determining that the location is outside of a thermal updraft.

4901564, Feb 20, 1990

Nov 2, 1987

7/116482

Earle R. Williams - Brookline MA
Ralph J. Markson - Weston MA

G01W 100

73170R

An array of sensors responsive to atmospheric electrostatic fields is deployed, preferably with the sensors elevated above the ground. Suitable sensors are corona point sensors having a stainless steel needle. The corona current signals from the sensors are digitized and processed to determine the peak in the rate of sharp discontinuities in the electrostatic field. The peak in the rate of sharp discontinuities precedes a thunderstorm microburst by several minutes. The signal processing apparatus also generates equipotential contour maps of electrostatic field for spatially locating a microburst. The latter signal may also serve as a predictor for windshear since anomalous electric fields caused by charge carrying downdrafts may occur without lightning.