1. Portable Sprite Observation System based on IP-Camera Leonid V. Sorokin Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia,

2. The mobile Sprite observation system is based on the IP-camera VNC748 E2 (Sony ICX-429ALL) The main purpose of making this system is the mobile decision for field observation.

3. MAIN FEATURES Max. exposition time - 16 sec Min. exposition time - 300 nanosec Sensitivity 0,005 Lux (F0,8) CCD SONY ICX429ALL passive cooling Auto-detecting of the lens type. (It is necessary only to plug in the lens and the camera would detect it’s type - manual iris lens, direct drive or video drive) Black level automatic regulation Gamma-correction in a range of 1.0 – 0.2 Amplification +24 dB

4. DIGITAL MODES OF SIGNAL PROCESSING AND DIGITAL OUTPUT: 10 bit ADC Digital zoom – x2 and x4 Night mode Freeze frame series mode (built-in 2Mb RAM) Titles and on-screen menu IP interface

5. IP-camera The IP-camera VNC748 E2 has the LAN 100 Base-T interface. It is possible to connect upto four cameras to one Notebook computer using the 1GB Router. In the current configuration the two cameras can be in use simultaneously.

6. Camera Driver The software provides access to all camera- settings and video capture parameters. This mobile Sprite observation system can be used for registration of TLE events –in the field, –at the open air, –during the expedition –in the conditions of the strict weight limitation.

7. Mobile Power Kit Automatic Battery Charger for Sealed-Lead-Acid Battery Sealed-Lead-Acid Battery 12V, 7Ah.

8. GPS Timing system can be based on: Trimble Resolution T Receiver GlobalSat ET-322 (SiRF Star III) GlobalSat BU-353 (SiRF Star III) NMEA Time Notebook computer clock synchronization with accuracy of 12,5 msec

9. Trimble Resolution T Receiver

10. GlobalSat ET-322 (SiRF Star III) 1 PPS L1, 1575.42 MHz 20 Channels TTL RS-232 Low power

11. NMEA protocol GlobalSat BU-353 (SiRF Star III)

12. GPS Signal Quality

13. NMEA Time

14. Thank you for your attention! Workshop on Coupling of Thunderstorms and Lightning Discharges to Near-Earth Space 23-27 June 2008, University of Corsica, Corte, France