Laser detection system
A monitoring system comprising a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter including a laser transmitter assembly selectively securable to a transmitter post between a transmitter proximate position adjacent a base end of the post and a transmitter distal position adjacent a distal end of the post, the laser transmitter assembly including a laser source arranged to project a laser beam from the transmitter, the receiver to be located a transmission distance from the transmitter and including a laser receiver assembly selectively securable to a receiver post between a receiver proximate position adjacent a base end of the post and a receiver distal position adjacent a distal end of the post to be aligned with the laser transmitter assembly to receive the laser beam, the laser receiver assembly including a detector to detect the laser beam and generate a signal in response to a laser beam interruption event.
1 . A snowfall accumulation monitoring system, comprising:
a transmitter to be mounted to a first surface in an outdoor environment, the transmitter including a laser transmitter assembly including a laser source arranged to generate a laser beam and an array of beam transmitters positioned to receive the laser beam from the laser source and split the laser beam into a plurality of spatially discrete laser subbeams and project the plurality of spatially discrete laser subbeams from the laser transmitter assembly; and
a receiver to be mounted to a second surface in the outdoor environment located a transmission distance from the laser transmitter assembly, the receiver including a laser receiver assembly to be aligned with the laser transmitter assembly to receive the plurality of spatially discrete laser subbeams, the laser receiver assembly including a detector to detect the laser beam and generate a signal in response to a laser beam interruption event; and
wherein the laser beam interruption event is a coincident interruption of each of the plurality of laser subbeams.
2 . The snowfall accumulation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of laser subbeams are generally parallel and spaced by at least a threshold spacing of at least 1 mm.
3 . The snowfall accumulation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam interruption event is a coincident interruption of each of the plurality of laser subbeams lasting at least 5 seconds.
4 . The snowfall accumulation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is mounted to the first surface in the outdoor environment and the receiver is mounted to the second surface in the outdoor environment.
5 . The snowfall accumulation monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second surfaces are portions of a roof.
6 . The snowfall accumulation monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a motion detector to be mounted adjacent the transmitter and the receiver and generate a motion signal in response to detecting motion between the transmitter and the receiver, the communications system communicatively coupled to the motion detector to receive the motion signal.
7 . The snowfall accumulation monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein the communications system is operable to disregard the laser beam interruption event in response to receiving the motion signal.
8 . The snowfall accumulation monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein the communications system is operable to provide an update to a user indicating both the laser beam interruption event and the motion signal.
9 . The snowfall accumulation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein:
the transmitter further includes a transmitter post having a base end for attaching to the first surface and a distal end spaced from the base end by a transmitter post length, the laser transmitter assembly selectively securable to the transmitter post between a transmitter proximate position adjacent the base end and a transmitter distal position adjacent the distal end; and
the laser receiver assembly further includes receiver post having a base end for attaching to the second surface and a distal end spaced from the base end by a receiver post length, the laser receiver assembly selectively securable to the receiver post between a receiver proximate position adjacent the base end and a receiver distal position adjacent the distal end to be aligned with the laser transmitter assembly to receive the laser beam.