Peter K Kuhn

US Patent:

42661307, May 5, 1981

Filed:

Oct 13, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/950943

Inventors:

Peter M. Kuhn - Boulder CO

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01J 100

US Classification:

250339

Abstract:

An improved clear air turbulence (CAT) detector sensing infrared radiation in the 27-33 micrometer range of the water vapor rotational wavelength band. The improved clear air turbulence detector for use on an aircraft includes a forward looking and upwardly oriented between 8. degree. to 12. degree. optical assembly having a thallium bromoiodide infrared lens, a 27-33 micrometer wavelength interference filter and an infrared detector; a radiometer amplifier for amplifying the output of the optical assembly and for generating an analog voltage signal related to the received infrared intensity, a processing unit for analyzing the analog signal, and a display unit for generating a first signal when no clear air turbulence is detected, a second signal when a moderate turbulence is detected, and a third signal when extreme turbulence is detected. A method for determining the advance time for entering the clear air turbulence after detection is based upon the altitude of the aircraft.