Kenneth L Cummins

US Patent:

6788043, Sep 7, 2004

Filed:

Feb 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/074863

Inventors:

Martin J. Murphy - Tucson AZ
Kenneth L. Cummins - Tucson AZ
Alburt E. Pifer - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Vaisala Oyj - Helsinki

International Classification:

G01R 3102

US Classification:

324 72, 324123 R, 324122, 342460, 342465, 7317024

Abstract:

A lightning detection and data acquisition system. A plurality of remote programmable sensor is utilized to detect cloud to ground and IC lightning strikes. Analog representations of the lightning strikes are converted to digital signals. The digital signals are classified according to user changeable criteria. The classified digital signals are compressed and optionally decimated. The compressed information is transmitted to a central location where it is decompressed and used to correlate the location, magnitude, and travel path of the detected lightning strikes.

US Patent:

6791311, Sep 14, 2004

Filed:

Feb 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/075055

Inventors:

Martin J. Murphy - Tucson AZ
Kenneth L. Cummins - Tucson AZ
Alburt E. Pifer - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Vaisala Oyj - Helsinki

International Classification:

G01R 3102

US Classification:

324 72, 324 7633, 702 4, 342460

Abstract:

A lightning detection and data acquisition system. A plurality of remote programmable sensor is utilized to detect cloud to ground and IC lightning strikes. Analog representations of the lightning strikes are converted to digital signals. The digital signals are classified according to user changeable criteria. The classified digital signals are compressed and optionally decimated. The compressed information is transmitted to a central location where it is decompressed and used to correlate the location, magnitude, and travel path of the detected lightning strikes.

US Patent:

6868339, Mar 15, 2005

Filed:

Mar 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/395809

Inventors:

Martin J. Murphy - Tucson AZ, US
Wolfgang Schulz - Vienna, AT
Alburt E. Pifer - Tucson AZ, US
Kenneth L. Cummins - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Vaisala OYJ - Helsinki

International Classification:

G06F162/00

US Classification:

702 4

Abstract:

A lightning detection system provides an estimated location of a lightning stroke. The system includes sensors, and an analyzer. Each sensor provides messages having sensor identification, an amplitude responsive to the lightning stroke, and a time of detecting the lightning stroke. The analyzer applies time corrections and amplitude corrections to improve the accuracy of determining the location of the lightning stroke. Time adjustments and amplitude adjustments for the time and amplitude corrections are recalled from a matrix accessed according to a suggested or estimated location. The matrix may be organized by coordinates of longitude and latitude.

US Patent:

7460956, Dec 2, 2008

Filed:

Jan 12, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/035018

Inventors:

Martin J. Murphy - Tucson AZ, US
Wolfgang Schulz - Vienna, AT
Alburt E. Pifer - Tucson AZ, US
Kenneth L. Cummins - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Vaisala Oyj - Helsinki

International Classification:

G01W 1/00
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702 4, 702 3, 324 72, 342460

Abstract:

A lightning detection system provides an estimated location of a lightning stroke. The system includes sensors, and an analyzer. Each sensor provides messages having sensor identification, an amplitude responsive to the lightning stroke, and a time of detecting the lightning stroke. The analyzer applies time corrections and amplitude corrections to improve the accuracy of determining the location of the lightning stroke. Time adjustments and amplitude adjustments for the time and amplitude corrections are recalled from a matrix accessed according to a suggested or estimated location. The matrix may be organized by coordinates of longitude and latitude.

US Patent:

7804309, Sep 28, 2010

Filed:

Dec 7, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/953005

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Cummins - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Vaisala OYJ - Helsinki

International Classification:

G01R 27/04

US Classification:

324694, 324637, 324640, 324643, 324329

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present invention provide estimates of soil moisture by measuring the change in electrical conductivity near the surface of the earth using surface-propagated electromagnetic fields. A method is provided for estimating near-surface soil moisture, including measuring signals from an electromagnetic ground wave propagating between one or more receiving element locations, determining a transfer characteristic proportional to an average electrical conductivity between pairs of locations; and determining estimated soil moisture in one or more regions derived from analyzing the determined electrical conductivity between pairs of locations and a predetermined regional relationship between electrical conductivity and soil moisture.

US Patent:

57291446, Mar 17, 1998

Filed:

Dec 2, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/759297

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Cummins - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

G01R 3108

US Classification:

324535

Abstract:

A power line fault locating system employing combinations of conducted electrical transient signals recorded at specific points in the power delivery network, radiated electromagnetic signals produced by the air-gap arc preceeding the fault current or by the lightning discharge causing the fault, and knowledge of the power line path associated therewith. The arrival time of conducted transient signals produced by the fault are detected with microsecond accuracy through use of a fault recording sensor (FRS). The low level electromagnetic radiation (VHF/UHF) caused by arcing associated with power line faults is detected at at least one arc detection sensor (ADS) located at some distance from the power line. The ADS senses the time of arrival of the radiated signal associated with the fault. These two sensors for detecting the conducted and radiated signals are coupled to a central power line fault locating analyzer (PLFLA) that receives and manipulates the information using appropriate algorithms and databanks containing geographical maps of electric utility power systems, to arrive at the power line fault location.

US Patent:

48872997, Dec 12, 1989

Filed:

Nov 12, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/120286

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Cummins - Madison WI
Kurt E. Hecox - Madison WI
Malcolm J. Williamson - Madison WI

Assignee:

Nicolet Instrument Corporation - Madison WI

International Classification:

H04R 2500
H03B 2900

US Classification:

381 684

Abstract:

A hearing aid system utilizing digital signal processing is programmable to fit the hearing deficit of a particular use and adaptive to the sound environment to maximize the intelligibility of the desired audio signal relative to noise. An analog signal picked from a microphone is amplified, filtered and converted to digital data. A digital signal processor preferably performs spectral shaping on the data to match the user's preference and performs a non-linear adaptive amplification function on the digital data. The amplification gain function may include several piecewise linear sections, including a first section providing expansion up to a first knee point, a second section providing linear amplification from the first knee point to a second knee point, and a third section providing compression for signals above the second knee to reduce the effort of over range signals and minimize loudness discomfort to the user. An estimate of the level of background noise is made as a function of the energy envelope of the input signal data, with the noise estimate then being used to adjust the position of the first knee up or down or to change the expansion ratio to reduce the noise component of the amplified signal supplied to the user. The digital signal processor includes a programmable read only memory which contains the desired spectral shaping characteristics and non-linear amplification characteristics suited to the user.

US Patent:

50274104, Jun 25, 1991

Filed:

Nov 10, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/269937

Inventors:

Malcolm J. Williamson - Madison WI
Kenneth L. Cummins - Madison WI
Kurt E. Hecox - Madison WI

Assignee:

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation - Madison WI

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381 684

Abstract:

A hearing aid system utilizes digital signal processing to correct for the hearing deficit of a particular user and to maximize the intelligibility of the desired audio signal relative to noise. An analog signal from a microphone is converted to digital data which is operated on by a digital signal processor, with the output of the digital signal processor being converted back to an analog signal which is amplified and provided to the user. The digital signal processor includes a time varying spectral filter having filter coefficients which can be varied on a quasi-real time basis to spectrally shape the signal to match the hearing deficit of the user and to accommodate ambient signal and noise levels. The coefficients of the spectral filter are determined by estimating the energy in several frequency bands within the frequency range of the input signal, and using those energy estimates to calculate desired gains for the frequency bands and corresponding spectral filter coefficients. The spectral energy analysis may be carried out using pairs of high pass and low pass digital filters in cascade relation, with the output of each low pass filter being provided to the next pair of high pass and low pass filters.