Hyperbolic triangulation method was used for locating lightning storm path and position from VHF lightning charge emissions. Possible applications in electric power companies, forest fire lookout centers, airports, and pipeline companies are indicated

Holdsworth, T.

March, D. N.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

S3	
Station 3 
r 
LReceiver 
 
1Microwave LH FM 
Station 2 
VHF
Receiver 
Microwave
FM
December 1972
	
B72-10372 S try V
 
	 AtIL 
AEC-NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the research and development program of the U.S. 
AEC or from AEC-NASA interagency efforts. They are issued to encourage commercial application. Tech Briefs are 
available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests 
for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may be directed to the Technology Utilization 
Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
21
Automatic Lightning Location System 
	
Station I
	
Master Station 
VHF Microwave I	 I	 VHF	 I I
FM Receiver	 Receiver Receiver 
	
f
	
SM 
ve 
 
FConverter 
A—D 
	
Computer	 Display 
Microwave	 Microwave 
FM Receiver	 FM Receiver
Alarm 
Figure 1. Block Diagram of ALLS 
Hyperbolic triangulation of the vhf radiation 
emitted by a lightning discharge indicates the position 
and path of lightning storms. Three remote stations and 
one master station detect the signal to unambiguously
locate the point of discharge. Figure 1 is a block diagram 
of the system. 
The three remote stations transmit their received 
signals to the master station by FM microwave link. The 
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Atomic 
Energy Commission and/or the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration. Neither the United States Government nor any per-
son acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any
liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this 
document, or warrants that the use of any information, apparatus, 
method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe pri-
vately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720000371 2020-03-17T03:38:26+00:00Z
Sil gnat f:Master 
Signal at I
Tt' IAJ\ I 
Signal at 2 
Signal at 3
Time
	 S 
Figure 2. Waveform Matching for Time Difference Measurement 
signals are digitized in an analog-to-digital converter, fed 
into a computer and cross-correlated with the signal 
received at the master station. Waveforms are matched 
by positioning the signals along the time axis until they 
are most nearly superimposed with that received at the 
master (Figure 2). All signal arrival times are related to 
the arrival time at the master station, eliminating 
precise clock synchronization at each station. The com-
puter processing compensates for the data transmittal 
times between the remote stations and the master so the 
time delays in the signals are due only to the difference 
in distance from the lightning discharge. 
Since a hyperbola is the locus of all points whose 
difference in distance from two fixed points is constant, 
three hyperbolas can be drawn using the master station 
and each of the remote stations as foci. The difference 
in arrival times between the master and individual 
stations is the constant. The point of discharge must 
lie on each of the hyperbolas simultaneously; i.e., at the 
intersection.. 
This innovation may be of interest to large 
electric power companies, pipeline companies, forest fire 
lookout centers, and airports.
Note:
Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Mr. Glenn K. Ellis 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Division of Technical Information 
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
Washington, D.C. 20545 
Reference: TSP72-10372 
Patent status: 
Inquiries concerning rights for commerical use of 
this information may be made to: 
Mr. George H. Lee, Chief 
Chicago Patent Group 
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
Chicago Operations Office 
9800 South Cass Avenue 
Argonne, Illinois 60439 
Source: D.N. March and T. Holdsworth 
Lawrence Radiation Laboratory

under contract to
Atomic Energy Commission

(AEC-10077) 
B72-10372	 Category 02


Automatic lightning location system

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