Automatic horizontal and vertical scanning radar with terrain display
First Claim
1. A weather radar and terrain map display system for aircraft comprisingmeans for transmitting radar signals out from the aircraft and for receiving back reflected radar signals,means for digitizing the reflected radar signals received by the transmitting and receiving means,means for calculating the latitude and longitude coordinates of the locations from which the reflected radar signals were reflected,first means for storing the digitized signals and the latitude and longitude coordinates calculated for the reflected radar signals,second means for storing terrain elevation data referenced to latitude and longitude coordinates of the ground over which the aircraft will travel, anddisplay means, responsive to the first and second storing means, for simultaneously displaying a plan view image over a horizontal range (a) of weather, represented by digitized reflected radar signals, relative to the calculated latitude and longitude coordinates, and (b) terrain elevation data relative to the latitude and longitude coordinates of that data, said weather display and terrain data display being superimposed over one another.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A weather radar and terrain map display system for aircraft with the terrain elevation and weather information displayed in an easy to read and comprehend presentation. The system includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving radar signals, a receiver for digitizing the reflected radar signals, and a computer for storing the signals and calculating the latitude and longitude coordinates of the locations from which the reflected radar signals were reflected, and for storing terrain elevation data. A display simultaneously shows a plan view image and vertical views of contoured terrain elevation data and the weather conditions found by the radar. The terrain and weather displays are superimposed over one another to enable quick and efficient location of critical terrain and weather conditions. The system can also calculate the latitude and longitude coordinates of the radar echoes without antenna stabilization.
94 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A weather radar and terrain map display system for aircraft comprising
means for transmitting radar signals out from the aircraft and for receiving back reflected radar signals, means for digitizing the reflected radar signals received by the transmitting and receiving means, means for calculating the latitude and longitude coordinates of the locations from which the reflected radar signals were reflected, first means for storing the digitized signals and the latitude and longitude coordinates calculated for the reflected radar signals, second means for storing terrain elevation data referenced to latitude and longitude coordinates of the ground over which the aircraft will travel, and display means, responsive to the first and second storing means, for simultaneously displaying a plan view image over a horizontal range (a) of weather, represented by digitized reflected radar signals, relative to the calculated latitude and longitude coordinates, and (b) terrain elevation data relative to the latitude and longitude coordinates of that data, said weather display and terrain data display being superimposed over one another.
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16. A weather radar and terrain map display system for aircraft comprising
means for transmitting radar signals out from the aircraft and for receiving back reflected radar signals, means for digitizing the reflected radar signals received by the transmitting and receiving means, means for calculating the latitude, longitude, and elevation coordinates of the locations from which the reflected radar signals were reflected, first means for storing the digitized radar signals and the latitude, longitude, and elevation coordinates calculated for the reflected radar signals, second means for storing terrain elevation data referenced to latitude and longitude coordinates of the ground over which the aircraft will travel, filtering means, responsive to the first and second storing means, for comparing the digitized radar signals with the terrain elevation data at the same latitude and longitude as the latitude and longitude calculated for the digitized radar signal and blocking those digitized radar signals where calculated elevation of the radar signal is below the corresponding terrain elevation. display means, responsive to the filtering means, for displaying a plan view image over a horizontal range of weather, represented by the filtered digitized reflected radar signals, relative to the calculated latitude and longitude and elevation coordinates.
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23. A terrain map display system for aircraft comprising
means for storing terrain elevation data referenced to latitude and longitude coordinates of the ground over which the aircraft will travel, and display means, responsive to the storing means, for displaying a plan view image over a horizontal range showing the terrain elevation data relative to the latitude and longitude coordinates of that data.
Specification