Hazard and target alerting for weather radar

• US 6,597,305 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Cornell, Bill G., Szeto, Roland Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US10/080,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20030016156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 701/300, 701/301, 701/302, 342/26, 342/27, 342/28, 342/29, 342/30, 342/31, 342/32, 342/41, 342/89, 342/90, 342/91, 342/92, 342/93, 342/118, 342/119, 342/175-186, 342/195, 342/159, 342/165, 342/166-174, 342/134-145, 340/500, 340/501, 340/514-525, 340/540, 340/601, 340/602, 340/901, 702/1, 702/2, 702/3, 702/4
• US Class Current: 342/26.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/953 mounted on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/064 using a display memory for image processing G01S7/298 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product for alerting a flight crew of weather radar return data collected, yet not presently being displayed. The system includes a memory, a processor, and an output device. The memory stores radar return information in a three-dimensional buffer. The processor determines if any radar return information stored in a three-dimensional buffer is within a threshold distance from an aircraft'"'"'s present position and generates an image based on target data stored in the three-dimensional buffer and selected display parameters. The processor also generates a target alert if any target data is determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position and is not included in the generated image. The output device presents the generated target alert.

Claims

1. A weather radar method comprising:

determining if any radar return information stored in a three-dimensional buffer is within a threshold distance from an aircraft'"'"'s present position;

generating an image based on target data stored in the three-dimensional buffer and selected display parameters; and

generating a target alert if any target data is determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position and is not included in the generated image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if any target data stored in the three-dimensional buffer is within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position further comprises determining if the target data that is within the threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position is at the same altitude as the aircraft and is along at least one of the aircraft'"'"'s current heading or flight plan.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a target alert comprises generating an audible alarm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a target alert comprises generating at least one of a graphical or textual image and displaying the generated at least one graphical or textual image.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one graphical or textual image indicates at least one of distance to aircraft or altitude of the non-displayed target data determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a target alert comprises generating a target alert if the radar return information determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position is above a certain threshold reflectivity value.

7. A weather radar system comprising:

memory configured to store radar return information in a three-dimensional buffer;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor comprising;

a first component configured to determine if any radar return information stored in a three-dimensional buffer is within a threshold distance from an aircraft'"'"'s present position;

a second component configured to generate an image based on target data stored in the three-dimensional buffer and selected display parameters; and

a third component configured to generate a target alert if any target data is determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position and is not included in the generated image; and

an output device configured to present the generated target alert.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first component further determines if the target data that is within the threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position is at the same altitude as the aircraft and is along at least one of the aircraft'"'"'s current heading or flight plan.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the generated target alert is an audible alarm and the output device is one or more speakers.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the generated target alert is at least one of a graphical or textual image.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one graphical or textual image indicates at least one of distance to aircraft or altitude of the non-displayed target data determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the third component is further configured to generate a target alert if the radar return information determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position is above a certain threshold reflectivity value.

13. A weather radar computer program product comprising:

a first component configured to store radar return information in a threedimensional buffer;

a second component configured to determine if any radar return information stored in a three-dimensional buffer is within a threshold distance from an aircraft'"'"'s present position;

a third component configured to generate an image based on target data stored in the three-dimensional buffer and selected display parameters; and

a fourth component configured to generate a target alert if any target data is determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position and is not included in the generated image.

14. The product of claim 13, wherein the second component further determines if the target data that is within the threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position is at the same altitude as the aircraft and is along the aircraft'"'"'s current heading.

15. The product of claim 13, wherein the generated target alert is an audible alarm and the output device is one or more speakers.

16. The product of claim 13, wherein the generated target alert is at least one of a graphical or textual image.

17. The product of claim 16, wherein the at least one graphical or textual image indicates at least one of distance to aircraft or altitude of the non-displayed target data determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position.

18. The product of claim 13, wherein the fourth component is further configured to generate a target alert if the radar return information determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft'"'"'s present position is above a certain threshold reflectivity value.