L to R: Jim Johnson, Teresa Van Hove, Stick Ware,
John Braun

Back: Jack Fellows, Mitch Randall, Stick Ware,
Rick Anthes
Middle: Teresa Van Hove, Jim Johnson, Larry Corman
Front: John Braun, Cory Morse, Wayne Moore

These patents, (not in order with photographs) are:

1. Title: HiRIM - "High Resolution Ionospheric Technique for Regional Area High-Accuracy Global Positioning System Applications." - Patent No.: US 6,356,232 B1

Inventors: Christian Rocken, Randolph Ware, James Johnson, John Braun, Teresa Van Hove and Christopher Alber (UCAR inventors are italicized).

Division: GST

Description: HiRIM technique applies a mathematical adjustment to correct GPS location measurement errors caused by signal delays resulting from variations in the state of the ionosphere above the GPS ground network. The HiRIM technique has the ability to produce higher accuracy GPS surveying results through the use of low-cost, single-frequency receivers in real-time or in post-processing applications, obtaining results that demonstrate greater accuracy than what is currently achievable with more expensive dual-frequency receivers.

2. Title: The Storm Predictability Detector (Method for Determining Storm Predictability) - Patent No. US 6,340,946 B1

Inventors: James Wilson, Marilyn Wolfson, Barbara Forman, Robert Hallowell, Michael Moore, and Sandra Henry (UCAR inventors are italicized).

Division: RAP

Description: Accurate, short term (e.g. 30 -120 minutes) weather predictions of the location, growth and decay of organized storms are extremely important to many sectors of the population. The "Storm Predictability Detector" uses image processing techniques to analyze weather radar images at the individual pixel level to determine a "Predictability Score" proportional to the near-term (approximately 1-hour) predictability and nature of change for each pixel in an imaged storm area. The storm prediction images generated by the method of the invention provide an indication of the predictability, or likelihood, that the storm features and changes it displays will take place over the next hour. This is a joint invention of UCAR and M.I.T.

3. Title: Radar System Having Multiple Simultaneously Transmitted Beams Operating in A Scanning Mode to Identify Scatterers. - Patent No.: US 6,377,204 B1

Inventors: Mitch Randall and Joshua Wurman (bold are UCAR inventors).

Division: ATD

Description: The Multiple, Simultaneously Transmitted Beam radar system simultaneously transmits and/or receives a plurality of beams of high frequency energy in a scanning mode to identify the presence, location and characteristics of scatterers in a predetermined volume of space. This invention provides a solution in the field of radar systems, particularly weather radar systems, by creating an inexpensive self-contained radar system that collects sufficient data to provide accurate information to the users relating to the presence, locus and characteristics or scatters in a region of space and in a short period of time.

4. Title: NIMA II - NCAR Improved Moments Algorithm (Method of Moment Estimation and Feature Extraction for Devices Which Measure Spectra as A Function of Range or Time) - Patent No.: 6,307,500 B1

Inventors: Larry Cornman, Cory Morse and Robert Goodrich (UCAR inventors are italicized).

Division: RAP

Description: NIMA II presents a new method for estimating moments from wind measurement devices that measure Doppler spectra as a function of range. Quite often the spectra are contaminated by a wide variety of sources, including (but not limited to): birds, aircraft, velocity and range folding, radio frequency interference, and ground clutter. These contamination sources can vary in space, time, and even in their basic characteristics. Human experts analyzing Doppler spectra can often identify the desired atmospheric signal amongst the contamination. However, it is quite difficult to build automated algorithms that can approach the skill of the human expert. The method embodied in the patent relies on mathematical analyses, fuzzy logic synthesis, and global image processing algorithms to mimic the human expert. Fuzzy logic is a very simple, robust, and efficient technique particularly well suited to this type of feature extraction problem. These new moment estimation algorithms were originally designed for boundary layer wind profilers, however they are quite general and have wide applicability to any device that measures Doppler spectra as a function of range (e.g., lidars, sodars, and weather radars).

5. Title: "Best-in-Time" (a/k/a, User Specific Real-Time Weather Information Source for Compiling Time Varying Weather Conditions Relating to Future Event) - Patent No.: US 6,298,307 B1

Inventors: Robert Barron, Wayne Moore and John M. Murphy (UCAR inventors are italicized)

Division: RAP

Description: The Best-In-Time Forecast System, like its namesake, "just-in-time manufacturing," determines, in real-time, what forecast or observational data from its database is most appropriate and, hence, is "best" to display to answer a user requesting weather information about a particular location and future date. In addition, the Best-In-Time Forecast System is designed to display weather parameters deemed to be most relevant to the intended utility of the requested forecast, such as, providing forecast and observational data about accumulated snow depth, wind-chill, and wind speed and direction when a user requests weather information about an upcoming ski trip.