KR101119212B1 - Detection of lightning - Google Patents

Abstract

Lightning detector and lightning detection method for lightning detection, the lightning detector uses at least two separate channels or frequency bands for lightning detection, the lightning detector has a radio interface for at least two communication channels or frequency bands At least one of the air interfaces provided is normally a mobile RF device in the telecom channel / frequency range and these channels / ranges are used for lightning detection.

Description

Detection of lightning

The present invention relates to a lightning detector. The present invention relates to a lightning detector wherein the lightning detector uses at least two separate channels for lightning detection. The invention also relates to a method for detecting lightning.

Thunderstorms are a major weather hazard, but are difficult to predict. They can travel at speeds of 20 km / h to 40 km / h, and lightning strikes can occur in front of rain clouds over 10 km and behind them at equally some distance. While lightning strikes are generated by clouds or weather fronts, most of the most dangerous lightning strikes actually occur when no visible clouds exist in the sky as a warning of thunderstorms. Thus, a system that warns of the possibility of thunderstorms can be considered a major safety feature only about 10 minutes before a harmful thunderstorm is seen.

There are many people who would benefit from such a safety feature. For some people, it may just provide good everyday knowledge. However, for a significant number of people, the threats from storms and lightnings are of considerable closeness in the form of increased risk, loss of property, or even fatal consequences. Lightning warning systems are of particular interest to, for example, those who spend a lot of time outdoors, and equally aviation, navigation, and the like. Even when the weather seems completely calm and sunny, a system that provides lightning warnings allows people to take appropriate safety measures in a timely manner, such as searching for shelters.

From the state of the art, many single-purpose lightning detectors are known, but they have some disadvantages from a commercial standpoint. Scientific lightning detectors used in meteorology are very large and their range is hundreds of kilometers.

Other high-end lightning detectors that also use a single radio frequency (RF) band are large and relatively expensive, for example compared to mobile phones. Moreover, they are usually required to stand on a desk or on a wall with a certain orientation, for example, in order to obtain the required accuracy or direction. They are therefore not well suited for mobile use. These devices typically need to be placed in an additional constant fashion and remain stationary for a few minutes before reliable detection of thunderstorms is possible.

In addition, there are currently slightly cheap low end lightning detectors that are completely portable in size and do not require a specific orientation. However, these detectors are quite susceptible to artificial electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) emissions, and therefore tend to cause false alarms, especially in urban settings or near highways.

Most commercially available mobile lightning detectors now detect lightning strikes by measuring the electromagnetic emissions caused by lightning at very low frequencies (VLF: 3-30 kHz). In addition, the lightning strike can be heard by using a traditional AM broadcast radio receiver operating at long wave frequencies (150 to 300 kHz), medium frequency (500 to 1700 kHz) and short wave frequencies (SW: 2 to 30 MHz). "It has been known for decades. However, there are numerous publications that lightning was detected and measured by its emission at high (HF) and VHF frequencies between 3-300 MHz and even at higher (UHF) frequencies.

The present invention starts with the idea that the thunderstorm is a single flash that generates not only simple but strong electromagnetic waves extending over a wide range of wavelengths but also visual and partially audible pressure signals. Typical electromagnetic pulses induced by the thunderstroke include frequencies between 10 Hz and 5 GHz, ie, in the audible frequency range, with peaks around 500 Hz. At a normalized distance of 10 km, the amplitudes of such pulses are at a bandwidth of 1 kHz in the range from 107 mV / m to 1 mV / m, and the strongest signal of the electromagnetic pulse is caused by the vertical current at the lightning strike. Inductive electric field, which is the most commonly measured parameter in large distance-bearing instruments.

However, due to the complexity of the lightning strike, there are also strong signals in the ultra low frequency (ELF) range of several hundred Hz and below and weaker signals extending beyond the GHz range.

It is well known that the exact characteristics and time spectra of the electromagnetic interference (EMI) signature (signature) to different degree the kHz and Hz ranges due to the slightly different meteorological mechanisms causing them in the MHz range.

It is sufficient to note that at all frequencies of interest for the purposes of the present invention the lightning strike is accompanied by an EMI pulse that can be identified at a large number of kilometers.

As a result of the lightning strike generating the EMI pulses, the RF channels are simply disturbed during nearby lightning strikes. Damage to the RF receiver due to EMI caused by the lightning strike can be experienced in the form of static electricity, clicks, scratches, noise or loss of sound or image during use of AM / FM radios, TVs or power lines. Disturbance of radio frequency channels due to lightning strikes can be detected over very long distances. While professional and large-scale lightning detectors can detect lightning disturbances, or so-called sferics, hundreds of kilometers from the lightning strike, they detect inductive electric or magnetic fields rather than interference in audio or RF signals like the present invention. It typically works by doing.

General AM radios are known to be able to withstand EMI disturbances at distances of up to 30 km or more from the lightning strike, which may be heard directly as various clicks in the audio signal. At frequencies above the AM band, the signal is typically much weaker because of both atmospheric attenuation and other causal mechanisms, but nevertheless is detectable over long distances.

In known mobile RF devices, ordinary mobile phones, electromagnetic interference of received RF signals can be immediately eliminated by filtering, but the present invention proposes that such electromagnetic interference be assessed in the monitored RF channel. If the detected interference appears to be due to a lightning strike, for example the user of the mobile phone may be alerted. For example, if the interference exceeds a predetermined threshold or if it has a frequency spectrum that is characteristic of the lightning stroke, the interference can be assumed to be caused by the lightning strike. As long as RF detection is performed, lightning detection can be performed.

The present invention thus provides a new security feature that can be implemented in a mobile RF device, for example a cellular telephone.

In many cases, the desire to detect lightning strikes in the vicinity may not be large enough to justify the costs and obstacles associated with dedicated lightning detectors, but many people can incorporate them into devices such as mobile phones they already have anyway. You will appreciate the low cost detection system that was there. Known techniques do not provide such integration of lightning detection as a new functionality of known mobile RF devices.

It has been found that lightning detection and ranging features will be desired features, for example in mobile phones. Sufficient detection range for the lightning detection feature in mobile products will be about 20-30 km. This detection range may be limited to an appropriate range depending on the receiver sensitivity and the expected ejection force from the thunderstorm. 9 shows in graphical form the frequencies and amplitudes produced by the lightning strikes as determined by many researchers. The graph according to FIG. 9 can thus be used as a guideline for estimating the strength of signals that can be expected from thunderstorms at different distances. In this graph, the distance is normalized to 10 km and the bandwidth is normalized to 1 kHz. According to this graph, lightning signals can be detected up to at least 300 MHz.

The present invention is based on the fact that the incoming spectrum generated by thunderstorms has been studied using all or many available RF channels available in mobile RF devices, such as cellular telephones. Many radio (wireless) interfaces (ie hundreds of channels in each of the three bands of the tri-band, Bluetooth receiver frequencies, FM radio with pilot tone channel, Wi-Fi) Because of radio near field receivers, RFID tag readers and even RDS and / or DARC receivers), the present invention provides a new and reasonable method for lightning detection.

Thus, according to a first aspect of the invention, the invention is based on using at least two channels for lightning detection, wherein at least one of the channels is a telecom channel.

For a first aspect of the invention it is therefore proposed that the lightning detector is a mobile RF device provided with radio interfaces for at least two frequency ranges, at least one of which is usually a telecom channel.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, taking into account that the emission from the thunderstorm is a wideband burst, the multiple channels or complete frequency bands reserved for telecommunications receive the maximum energy and thus trigger the least increase in sensitivity. It is used to provide a mode.

According to another further embodiment of the invention at least one of the bands is an FM broadcast frequency band.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes suitable parts of the FM radio receiver for lightning detection and adds a dedicated lightning detection branch to the receiver.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention further comprise a number of embodiments of modifying the FM receiver to identify and measure the lightning strike. Theoretically, FM modulation is chosen specifically for broadcast to minimize static and cracking caused by atmospheric disturbances such as lightning. However, if the FM demodulator, in particular the limiter stage, is bypassed and the resulting signal is for example AM demodulated, the disturbance resulting from the thunderstroke can be analyzed.

The unique features of the lightning detector and the method for detecting lightning according to the invention are set out in detail in the enclosed claims.

The invention has the advantage that it can provide a portable lightning detector integrated with a mobile phone. Another aspect of the invention is that hardware changes can be minimized in such a way that hardware changes can be minimized, thus limiting costs and reducing time to market.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

1 shows an operating environment,

2 shows auxiliary reception bands,

3 shows a block diagram of a single radio implementation,

4 shows a flow diagram of a single radio operation,

5 shows a block diagram of a multiple radio implementation,

6 shows a flow diagram of multiple radio operations,

7 shows a block diagram of a receiver with lightning detection,

8 shows an alternative block diagram of a receiver with lightning detection,

9 is a lightning data graph,

10 shows another block diagram of a modified receiver modulator with lightning detection,

11 depicts a modified I / Q demodulator,

12 depicts a modified I / Q demodulator with a switch.

The basic principle of the invention utilizes the appropriate parts of the telecommunications wireless receiver of lightning detection and adds a dedicated lightning detection branch to the receiver.

The lightning strike emits bursts of detectable pulses at the frequencies used for the broadcast radio. The original FM radio broadcast system was introduced because the existing AM radio system was too sensitive to interference generated by, for example, lightning strikes. The reason for the sensitivity to the lightning strike of the AM radio is that the interference from the lightning strike is combined with the amplitude modulated signal. Amplitude interference is heard as cracking static in an AM wireless receiver. The intensity of the signal emitted by the lightning strike is also higher at AM broadcast frequencies (near 1 MHz) than FM broadcast frequencies (near 100 MHz). Since in an FM system the audio signal is modulated such that frequency or phase changes in the carrier change, the interference of amplitude does not cause audible cracking or other error in the received signal, since the amplitude is not modulated, which is why the FM identifier or non- ration) because it can be limited by the limiter in front of the detector. However, if a lightning strike occurs in the vicinity of the FM receiver (within a few kilometers), then the correlation between the interfering noise and lightning flashes heard from, for example, a battery powered FM receiver can be observed.

However, if demodulation is not considered, lightning strikes are detectable at the frequencies used for FM radio reception, such as the 87.5-108 MHz frequency band in Europe and the 88-108 MHz band in the USA and the 76-91 MHz frequency band in Japan. Still emit bursts of pulses. Since FM modulation is robust against interference due to thunderstroke, the interference cannot be heard by using traditional FM wireless receivers. The lightning detection feature requires a demodulator that works like the AM demodulator. As already mentioned, the AM demodulator is much more sensitive to interference due to lightning strikes. Additional lightning strike detectors can be added in parallel with the FM demodulator / receiver. The exact stage where the lightning detector hardware should be added is after the downconversion mixer and before the limiter stage in the FM radio receiver.

As can be seen from the depiction of FIG. 2, the FM stereo broadcast is suppressed 38 kHz with a pilot subcarrier 22 of 19 kHz to facilitate the regeneration of left and right stereo channels in addition to the main monophonic FM broadcast 21. And a subcarrier 23 of a center frequency of 30 kHz wide.

A 57 kHz center frequency and 7 kHz wide Radio Data System (RDS) subcarrier 24 was later added to most FM broadcasts to transmit program content and other data to a radio receiver equipped with a display. . A new 32 kHz wide Data Ratio Channel (DARC) subcarrier (25) centered around 76 kHz was additionally standardized as ETS 300751 by ETSI in 1995.

Currently, the FM channel spacing is 100 kHz in Europe and 200 kHz in the United States. Receiving RDS signals will require a slightly wider bandwidth than 100 kHz, but whether channels with RDS broadcasts have wider channel spacing in Europe It's not clear. In the future, all new FM receivers will be able to receive the full (approximately 200 kHz wide) frequency band containing RDS and DARC subcarriers.

The burst of pulses generated by the thunderstroke can be detected at a carrier frequency near 100 MHz (at least in the empty FM channel) with the receiver. As shown in Figure 2, reception of a pulse burst is possible at least if the receiving channel is about 300 kHz wide. Narrower bandwidths may be feasible. According to an actual implementation the channel width of the FM receiver front end is about 100-200 kHz as shown above.

Since the spectrum of the RF emission from the thunderstorm is stronger at low frequencies, the bottom of the FM frequencies is better than the higher. The most relevant FM channels are near the bottom of the FM frequency band, which is 76 MHz (Japan), 87.5 MHz (Europe) or 88 MHz (US).

Several embodiments of lightning detection using modified FM receivers will now be described below.

The arrangement is depicted in FIG. 7 where the signals 81 or 83 for the lightning detection block 80 split off in front of the limiter 75 because most of the lightning noise information would be lost by the amplitude limiting operation of the limiter 75. However, the split signals 81, 82 shown in the figure as typical differential signals, as in today's circuits, are unaffected and still contain information relating to thunderstorm noise.

The FM receiver path from the antenna to the identifiers 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and 76 can be considered similar to the corresponding path in commercial ICs sold as TEA5767 by Philips.

Example 1

In the first embodiment the FM receiver path from the antenna to the identifiers 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76 will be between the downconversion mixer 73 and the limiter stage 75 81). Circuit block 74 includes amplification and frequency selection means. An intermediate signal containing amplitude information resulting from the RF emission from the thunderstroke is input via 81 to the lightning detection specific block 80. In alternative implementations the detection bandwidth will be similar to the selected FM channel (100-200 kHz).

Example 2

In another alternative embodiment, the intermediate output 82 is located immediately after the low noise preamplifier 72. In this alternative the detection bandwidth would be the entire FM band (eg 87.5-108 MHz in Europe) passed by the FM band filter 71 between the antenna 70 and the low noise preamplifier 72. This alternative embodiment may be advantageously used for lightning like signals in trigger mode. Receive power on the band can be measured with a wideband power detector and if a fast wideband signal (such as a thunderbolt) is present in the signal, more accurate detection is initiated for one of the FM channels, for example.

One possibility is to have an additional separate downconversion mixer for the lightning detector. This is indicated at 83 in lightning detection block 80 of FIG. 8 and this arrangement will allow simultaneous lightning detection and FM radio reception in different or identical FM bands.

However, this kind of implementation requires additional hardware dedicated to lightning downconversion, which would not be necessary if signal 82 split off behind downconversion mixer 73 as in the first embodiment.

Example 3

Lightning detection can advantageously occur on an empty FM channel. The discovery of an empty FM channel is easy using the existing FM stereo receiver path. Found empty channels can be used for lightning detection. As indicated above, lightning detection on an empty FM channel will require an intermediate output behind the downmixer at the FM receiver. The reason is that the FM modulated signal is limited to low amplitude before frequency demodulation at FM identifier 76. The limit extracts the signal due to the RF emission from the thunderstorm and no lightning detection behind the limiter is possible. In addition, if no FM signal is present in the FM channel, the noise of the FM demodulator is significantly increased. Only this noise increase makes the detection of lightning difficult but otherwise it will be possible from the demodulated but empty FM channel. For lightning detection, the FM identifier must be replaced with an AM detector that is sensitive to amplitude changes.

The entire channel can be used for an empty FM channel. In the case of a basic FM stereo receiver, the Rx channel is +/- 53 kHz wide around the center frequency. For stereo FM RDS receivers the Rx channel is +/- 60 kHz wide and for DARC compatible FM receivers the channel width is +/- 92 kHz around the center frequency.

Example 4 Detection While FM Reception is Active

The optimal situation from the user's point of view is to implement a lightning detection feature that allows both lightning detection and reception of FM radio broadcasts simultaneously. However, FM radio signals are persistent and therefore do not have any gaps in the transmission, so if the lightning strike is weak (e.g. a long distance lightning strike), it may be difficult to detect the strike on the FM channel where the radio transmission is active. It can still be used for lightning warning or trigger purposes.

Now some ideas for implementation are:

a) Lightning detection may be made based on the signal received around the 19-kHz subcarrier. Current stereo FM broadcasts leave subcarriers on an empty 15-23 kHz channel except for a narrow 19 kHz pilot subcarrier. This frequency portion around the pilot carriers is available on all FM channels.

b) One alternative is to detect the lightning strike simultaneously with FM stereo reception on inactive RDS or DARC channels. In addition, if the RDS and / or DARC contain spaces in the transmission, the gaps can be used to detect lightning strikes simultaneously with stereo FM reception.

c) It is possible to detect interference at the same time when receiving the FM transmission. If for example detectable interference is present in the channel around the 19 kHz pilot subcarrier, then a more accurate lightning detection mode may be activated. More accurate detection can be made on an empty FM radio channel and can also include distance estimation. The trigger mode will only detect lightning-like interference.

d) If the receiving bandwidth can be arranged to be wider than the 100 kHz individual 200 kHz bandwidth required for the FM broadcast channel, lightning detection or lightning triggering can be performed between the FM channels, because in practice, neighboring channels are rarely used. Because it is not.

Example 5 Use of Automatic Gain Control (AGC)

One valid idea is the use for lightning detection of the AGC stage of an FM receiver. The AGC function is widely used in FM receivers (see Philips TEA5767 FM receiver, for example). If some of the loops of the AGC circuit can be sensitive to the signal component generated by the lightning strike, it may be possible to obtain sufficient intermediate signal directly from the AGC stage and no other changes are necessary at the FM receiver stage. However, the time constant of the AGC circuit must be adjusted short enough to allow detection of short pulses due to lightning strikes.

External capacitors are often needed in implementations of on-chip AGC stages and therefore only small changes to the integrated circuit are needed if an intermediate output can be connected to these external capacitors. If pulse detection is justified, the idea can be used for at least triggering mode if more accurate detection is not possible. Other measurement modes can be implemented for distance estimation and the like.

Example 6 Multimode Detection:

In the simplest mode, only one radio (ie FM radio receiver) is used during detection. 3 depicts such a system 34 including a single radio 31. Different modes are used by the processor 33 to optimize power consumption. For example, in less power consumption mode, perhaps only the front end is turned on in power saving mode and analog peak detection is used to trigger more power consuming components such as ADCs and processors, as shown in Embodiment 2 above. . Between full-acting lightning detection and triggering modes, there may be a monitoring mode that will determine whether the device should switch to lightning measurement mode or return to triggering mode. An example of an operational chart of operation for a single radio implementation is shown in FIG. 4. The signal received during the low power monitoring mode of step 41 is continuously monitored in step 42 and more power is consumed if lightning activity is detected, but a more accurate detection mode is selected in step 43 and the analysis in step 44 triggers a user alert. If the criteria are met, this is done in step 45, otherwise the system returns to the low power monitoring mode in step 41.

Another possibility is that the system 53 depicted in FIG. 5 uses less power, but less accurate, with two separate radios, one using a common antenna or two separate antennas, namely the main lightning detection radio 51. Another radio 52 is to be used. In this case, a radio 52 consuming less power, such as an RFID tag reader, is used in the triggering mode. An example of an operational chart of operation for a multi-radio implementation is shown in FIG. 6. Low-powered monitoring of the empty channel takes place in step 61 using AM detection, which is beneficial for lightning detection. When lightning energy is detected in step 62 by the AM detector, the processor 52 controls the other radio in step 63 to analyze the received signal and if the analysis in step 64 meets the criteria for a user alert, it is step 65 Otherwise, the system returns to the low power monitoring mode of step 41 using the radio 51 after a predetermined time.

Example 7 Energy-Optimized, Multimode Multiband, Triggering System for Lightning Detection

Mobile devices capable of operating in at least two modes, each mode capable of some level of photodetection and ranging, are described in the art. These modes can use the same radio in different ways or use separate radios for various modes. This embodiment includes controllers 33 and 53 in each of FIGS. 3 and 5, which can keep the device in a low energy “triggering” mode as much as possible, only to launch more power consumption modes when triggered. To be. The controller selects the optimal radio for the semi-passive low energy consumption "triggering" mode: the radio simply responds to all EMI pulses that may be involved in lightning but do not undergo further processing. Instead, when triggered, it opens a "watch" mode that can consume more energy. This may be another radio or may be the same radio operating in different modes. The watchdog mode evaluates EMI pulses more accurately. If it detects an event that has a good chance of being a lightning event, then only the "measurement" mode is opened. In this mode, full processing power is used to detect, identify, and evaluate possible lightning strikes with the best possible accuracy. In a preferred embodiment, the measurement mode opens two or more of the possible detection channels.

 Note that the mode structure may be simpler or more complex than described. In the simplest possible mode, there is a triggering mode (eg RFID) which directly launches the measurement mode. In more complex systems, there may be multiple triggering & monitoring & measurement modes.

The number of radio receiver combinations that can be used in lightning detection is relatively large. Below is a short list of possible combinations and an evaluation of how power is saved by using the trigger mode and detection mode separately.

Audio + AM Of FM  use

Most current commercial lightning detectors operate at relatively low frequencies, audible frequencies from hundreds of Hz to 10-100 kHz. Some commercial or research detectors also operate at AM or FM frequencies. It is very likely that a good and power efficient lightning detector implementation uses the receivers simultaneously, especially in audio and / or AM / FM frequencies, in equipment where the AM and / or FM receiver is in some way present. Detection of multiple frequency bands (far enough from each other) gives a good estimate of the distance to the lightning strike. On the other hand, power consumption is of course higher if several receivers are active at the same time. Therefore it is beneficial to have separate trigger and measurement modes. Depending on the current consumption and sensitivity of the other receivers and parts, the triggering receiver can be either an audio, AM or FM receiver. For example, a peak detector implemented over an audible frequency path may be a trigger to allow more accurate detection of multiple frequencies.

Use RFlD :

As mentioned previously, the modified RFID reader can be used as a triggering device to launch a more accurate lightning detection mode. The RFID reader front end can be modified, for example, by adding a frequency selective (5-10 kHz) peak detector. If some predefined peak level is exceeded in the triggering mode, the measurement mode will be launched. The measurement mode may include, for example, the use of audio and / or AM / FM based detection and ranging.

Detection based on detection at frequency 100 MHz and above :

According to the lightning literature, there are electromagnetic emissions at relatively high frequencies, depending on the phase and type of lightning. For example, cloud-cloud lightning emits signals at the GHz frequency. In addition, the stepped leader phase of cloud-ground lightning emits high frequencies. Thus, the detection of emission at higher frequencies can be an indicator for increased lightning probability that can trigger the measurement mode. But. As can be seen from the graph depicted in FIG. 9, the power of the emission at GHz frequencies is relatively low and therefore the sensitivity of the triggering device becomes high.

art EMC  remove

In addition, so-called artificial noise cancellation can be implemented as a software function that can find and filter fixed interval peaks from the received signal. This may be implementations, for example, by keeping a record of detected intervals and analyzing if some specific intervals appear constant or which period includes constantly. Lightning detection can be switched off during artificial noise.

Use other auxiliary receivers

Although the above description is mainly related to the use of FM radio in lightning detection, it also includes hundreds of channels in each of the three bands of the three-band receiver, Bluetooth receiver frequencies, pilot tone channel FM radio, Wi-Fi radio short range receivers, RFID tag readers and even RDS receivers can be used.

Use I / Q branches asymmetrically

During reception, the signal is typically decoded in a demodulator with in-phase and quadrature branches. These branches are made as symmetrically as possible in traditional receivers to minimize errors in the removal of the local oscillator signal. For example, frequency and gain are traditionally the same for both branches. However, lightning does not have any phase information in the lightning's electromagnetic signature, so lightning detection can only be made based on the magnitude and envelope shape of the signal. It is therefore possible to use the I and Q branches of the receiver separately, i.e. the receiver can be modified so that the lightning detector uses two channels to detect other characteristics of the signal.

Different in I / Q branches LO  Frequency use

A typical dual branch I / Q demodulator can be arranged to be used to detect lightning strikes at different frequencies in one mode, while in other normal modes typically, especially if the placement does not affect the precise branch balance for this normal use. Can be arranged to function. For example, and as depicted by FIG. 10, the local oscillator frequency for one branch can be changed using digital means, eg, using a programmable counter 101 to adjust the local oscillation signal. . Using the in-phase and quadrature branches of this type of I / Q demodulator is equivalent to having two different radio receivers operating at different frequencies and is a very cost effective way to implement simple multiple receivers.

Use different gains for I / Q branches

A typical dual branch I / Q demodulator may be further arranged to function normally for different receptions in one mode while operating with different gains in different branches. This is depicted in FIG. 11 where control means 111 and 112 adjust the gain in each of the in-phase and quadrature branches. Since the amplitudes of the thunderstorm signals show great variation, this is a very effective way to implement far and near detection of lightning strikes and this method may also be advantageously used for triggering in the monitoring mode discussed previously.

Baseband In mode  Use of one branch

12 is a very efficient way to receive a lightning strike of value at low frequency energy, in particular at low frequencies 91, according to the graph depicted in FIG. 9, where one branch can be used in baseband mode without any frequency conversion. Depicts. Suitable longer wire antennas 121, for example headset wire antennas, can advantageously be used in this manner. The use of amplification, filtering and data conversion 126 means on the branches can thus be used very cost-effectively if switch 124 amplifies the signal from front end 122 or directly from the antenna by switch 124. And arranged to be switched to the filtering path and converted by the analog-to-digital converter 126 of FIG. When used for this purpose, a suitable gain for the amplification and filtering path can be selected using the controller 125.

It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments of the invention are not limited to the examples described above and that the embodiments may vary within the scope of the enclosed claims.

Claims (55)

delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete A communication radio receiver configured to receive a communication frequency band signal and configured to provide a triggering mode in response to detecting a broadband interference burst; A frequency modulated radio receiver configured to receive a frequency modulated frequency band signal; And An apparatus comprising a processor, comprising: The processor comprising: In response to the triggering mode, bypassing the limiter stage of the frequency modulated radio receiver to provide a resulting signal; Demodulating the resulting signal using amplitude modulation demodulation; And Based on the demodulated resultant signal, by detecting interference resulting from lightning, Wherein the device is configured to detect interference resulting from lightning. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a frequency modulation demodulator and a lightning detection block arranged in parallel. 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the lightning detection block is located after the downconversion mixer and before the limiter stage in a frequency modulated radio receiver. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the apparatus has an intermediate output behind a downmixer in the frequency modulated radio receiver and the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform the use of an empty frequency modulated channel for lightning detection. Characterized in that the device. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform receiving frequency modulated radio signals simultaneously with lightning detection. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform the use of an automatic gain control stage of a frequency modulated radio receiver upon lightning detection. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform use of in-phase and quadrature branches of the telecommunications radio receiver to provide the triggering mode. 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform the use of different local oscillator frequencies in in-phase and quadrature branches. 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform using different branch gains in in-phase and quadrature branches. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the communication radio receiver comprises a radio frequency identification tag. A method of detecting lightning in a device comprising a communications radio receiver and a frequency modulated radio receiver, the method comprising: Receiving a communication frequency band signal using the communication radio receiver; Providing a triggering mode in response to detecting a wideband interference burst by the communications radio receiver; Receiving a frequency modulated frequency band signal using the frequency modulated radio receiver; In response to the triggering mode, bypassing the limiter stage of the frequency modulated radio receiver to provide a resulting signal; Demodulating the resulting signal using amplitude modulation demodulation; And Based on the demodulated resultant signal, detecting interference resulting from lightning. 46. The method of claim 45, comprising placing the frequency modulation demodulator and the lightning detection block in parallel. 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the lightning detection block is located after the downconversion mixer and before the limiter stage in a frequency modulated radio receiver. 46. The method of claim 45, further comprising: defining an intermediate output behind a downmixer in the frequency modulated radio receiver; And Using an empty frequency modulation channel for lightning detection. 46. The method of claim 45, comprising receiving frequency modulated radio signals simultaneously with lightning detection. 46. The method of claim 45, comprising using an automatic gain control stage of a frequency modulated radio receiver upon lightning detection. 46. The method of claim 45, comprising using in-phase and quadrature branches in the communication radio receiver to provide the triggering mode. 52. The method of claim 51, comprising using different local oscillator frequencies in in-phase and quadrature branches. 52. The method of claim 51, comprising using other branch gains in in-phase and quadrature branches. 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the communication radio receiver comprises a radio frequency identification tag. 53. The method of claim 51, comprising detecting lightning strikes using the in-phase and quadrature branches while the frequency modulated radio receiver is receiving frequency modulated radio signals.

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