Importance

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Abstract

An accurate, fast-acting, wearable lightning strike hazard detector has a plurality of collecting plates for collection of arriving charged particles. The collecting plates are insulated from each other by an insulating mechanism. A connecting mechanism electrically connects the collecting plates to a bleeding circuit to bleed accumulated charges to a ground plane. The voltage within the bleeding circuit is determined by a voltage measuring mechanism. A voltage accumulation mechanism measures the accumulated voltage of each plate and its rate of voltage accumulation as a function of time. Voltage accumulation and voltage/time data are interpreted by an algorithm to determine lightning strike potential. A signal generating mechanism connected to the algorithm mechanism generates a signal when said voltage accumulation and voltage accumulation rate exceed preselected limits. The signal actuates an alarm mechanism, which provides an audible or visual alarm to warn against an impending lightning strike. Plural detector pairs are, optionally, housed on a bracelet or placed within a wristwatch housing to determine the direction from which a lightning strike hazard is approaching. The detector has an on-board power supply, such as a lithium battery. Its warning signal provides sufficient time to permit the wearer to seek shelter, or assume a low, close to ground, profile that avoids a lightning strike.

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First Claim