Aircraft hazard detection and alerting in terminal areas
First Claim
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1. A weather radar system for an aircraft, comprising:
- a weather radar antenna; and
processing electronics, coupled to the weather radar antenna, for determining a presence of a potential hazard in a terminal area, the processing electronics determining a presence of the aircraft in or near a terminal area and determining a spectral width parameter or a mean velocity parameter, the spectral width parameter being related to returns received by the weather radar antenna, the mean velocity parameter being related to returns received by the weather radar antenna, the processing electronics determining the presence of the potential hazard in the terminal area based upon at least one of the spectral width parameter, or the mean velocity parameter.
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Abstract
A weather radar system or method can be utilized to determine potential weather hazard for an aircraft in a terminal area. The weather radar system can utilize processing electronics coupled to an antenna. The processing electronics can determine presence of the potential in response to data related to returns received by the weather radar antenna. The data can include a mean velocity parameter or a spectral width parameter or reflectivity.
151 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A weather radar system for an aircraft, comprising:
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a weather radar antenna; and processing electronics, coupled to the weather radar antenna, for determining a presence of a potential hazard in a terminal area, the processing electronics determining a presence of the aircraft in or near a terminal area and determining a spectral width parameter or a mean velocity parameter, the spectral width parameter being related to returns received by the weather radar antenna, the mean velocity parameter being related to returns received by the weather radar antenna, the processing electronics determining the presence of the potential hazard in the terminal area based upon at least one of the spectral width parameter, or the mean velocity parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of displaying a potential hazard in a terminal area of an aircraft, the method comprising:
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receiving radar returns using a radar system; determining a first parameter related to the radar returns, the first parameter being a spectral width or a mean velocity; determining a location of the aircraft being in or near the terminal area; and providing an indication on a display or an audio device of a presence of the potential hazard based upon the first parameter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for determining a potential hazard for an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
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means for determining a first factor from the weather radar returns, the first factor being a spectral width or mean velocity; means for determining a presence of the potential hazard in response to the first factor and the aircraft being in a terminal area; and means for displaying an indication of the potential hazard. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification