https://patents.google.com/patent/US5295072A/enshould be able to start there and find all the other patents as well
would def be a fun project
EDIT: actually here you go, I think this is where it started..at least in the 90's
https://patents.google.com/patent/US4023408A/enI bet you a lightning scope/meter like this evolved over 50 years and there is probably some kind of earlier version in the 70s, 60s, 50s, etc..
EDIT: OH dam that thing is from the 70s! And there is a schematic! I do not need more projects but this is pretty great