ams AS3935 Franklin Lightning Sensor™ IC is a programmable fully integrated lightning sensor that detects the presence and approach of potentially hazardous lightning activity in the vicinity and provides an estimation on the distance to the head of the storm. The embedded lightning algorithm checks the incoming signal pattern to reject the potential man-made disturbers. The AS3935 can also provide information on the noise level and inform the external unit (e.g. microcontroller) in case of high noise conditions, with the noise floor generator and noise floor evaluation blocks.
The AS3935 can be programmed via a 4-wire standard SPI or an I²C. Also if the latter is chosen it is possible to choose among four different addresses. Two clocks are internally generated by two different RC-Oscillators: TRCO and SRCO. An automatic procedure can increase the precision of those oscillators. The AS3935 can be either supplied by an internal voltage regulator or directly by VDD.
An AS3935 Demo Kit is also available as a fully operational handheld lightning sensor which is able to estimate the distance to the head of upcoming storms. Lightning events will trigger the AS3935 demo kit and will be shown on the LCD. The demo kit also comes with a handheld Lightning Emulator Board in order to emulate the presence of a storm. A far strike, mid strike, and close strike can be emulated as well as a disturber and noise.