GB1012033A - Apparatus for determining cloud height - Google Patents

Abstract

1,012,033. Photo-electric height measuring; radar. A. C. COSSOR Ltd. Jan. 23, 1964 [Jan. 11, 1963], No. 1403/63. Heading H4D. In an arrangement for determining which height zone a cloud 18, Fig. 1, falls within, a vertical beam 11 of electromagnetic radiation is emitted and a group of receiving devices at a spaced point 13 have adjacent directivities I . . . IV in the vertical plane, the directivities being wider than the width of beam 11. In the particular embodiments the radiation is visible light and may be amplitude-modulated to permit differentiation from daylight; it is mentioned that 1 cm. radio waves may be used. In a simple indicating arrangement the receiver outputs are connected to corresponding indicating lights; a " single-field " height zone causes a single light to be energized and an " over-lap " height zone causes two lights to be energized, the operator noting the height zone marked between the two lights. In Fig. 2 a logic circuit arrangement is utilized between the outputs of photo-cells I . . . IV and seven height zone indicators, e.g. 22, 24, 26; in the example illustrated photo-cells I and II produce outputs which thereby cause illumination of indicator 22 corresponding to the " over-lap " height zone 95 to 105 metres. The logic circuit of Fig. 2 may be effected as illustrated in Fig. 3 (not shown). An alternative logic circuit may be employed, Fig. 4 (not shown).