Inference of turbulence hazard from proximity to radar turbulence measurement

• US 8,059,024 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Christianson, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barker; Matthew M
• Application Number:
  US12/641,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20110148693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 342/26.B
• US Class Current: 342/26.B
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/953 mounted on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 2001/003 Clear air turbulence detection or forecasting, e.g. for aircrafts
• 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

Systems and methods for conveying turbulence hazards to a flight crew. An exemplary weather radar system includes a three-dimensional buffer, a processor, and a display. The processor receives weather radar reflectivity values, stores the received weather radar reflectivity values into a three-dimensional buffer, generates and stores turbulence values into cells of the three-dimensional buffer based on the stored respective reflectivity values, and generates first display icons for cells that are located within a predefined threshold distance from a cell in the three-dimensional buffer that has been determined to include a turbulence value that is greater than a first threshold value. The display presents the first display icons when associated cells are selected for display from the three-dimensional buffer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

automatically receiving turbulence values;

automatically enhancing one or more pixels on a display that are located within a predefined threshold distance of pixels having a turbulence value that is greater than a first threshold value; and

automatically storing the received turbulence values into corresponding cells of a three-dimensional buffer,

wherein automatically enhancing comprises automatically generating and outputting one or more first display icons for cells of the three-dimensional buffer that are located within a predefined threshold distance in the three-dimensional buffer from a cell that has been determined to include a turbulence value that is greater than the first threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first display icons is performed when the cells, located within a predefined threshold distance from a cell that has been determined to include a turbulence value that is greater than the first threshold value, have a turbulence value that is below the first threshold value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically generating and outputting one or more other display icons for cells that are within a predefined threshold of a cell that has a turbulence value that is greater than one or more other threshold values.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the one or more other display icons is performed when the proximate cells have a turbulence value that is below the one or more other threshold values.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more other display icons are at least partially similar to a display icon associated with the cell that has been determined to include a turbulence value that is greater than a one or more other threshold value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more other display icons are at least partially transparent.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display icons are at least partially similar to a display icon associated with the cell that has been determined to include a turbulence value that is greater than a first threshold value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first display icons are at least partially transparent.

9. A weather radar system comprising:

a weather radar component;

a memory comprising a three-dimensional buffer;

a processor in signal communication with the memory, the processor configured to;

receive turbulence values from the weather radar component; and

generate one or more first display icons for locations on a display that are located within a predefined threshold distance another display location having a turbulence value that is greater than a first threshold value; and

a display in signal communication with the processor, the display configured to output the first display icons.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the memory comprises a three-dimensional buffer, the processor is further configured to:

store the received weather radar reflectivity values into the three-dimensional buffer; and

generate one or more first display icons for cells that are located within a predefined threshold distance from a cell in the three-dimensional buffer that has been determined to include a turbulence value that is greater than a first threshold value, and

wherein the display is further configured to output the first display icons when associated cells are selected for display from the three-dimensional buffer.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first display icons are generated when the proximate cells have a turbulence value that is below the first threshold value.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate and output one or more other display icons for cells that are within a predefined threshold of a cell that has a turbulence value that is greater than one or more other threshold values.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more other display icons are generated when the proximate cells have a turbulence value that is below the one or more other threshold values.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more other display icons are at least partially similar to a display icon associated with the cell that has been determined to include a turbulence value that is greater than the one or more other threshold values.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more other display icons are at least partially transparent.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the first display icons are at least partially similar to a display icon associated with the cell that has been determined to include a turbulence value that is greater than a first threshold value.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first display icons are at least partially transparent.

18. A system comprising:

a means for receiving weather radar reflectivity values from a weather radar system;

a means for storing the received weather radar reflectivity values into a three-dimensional buffer;

a means for generating and storing turbulence values into cells of the three-dimensional buffer based on the stored respective reflectivity values;

a means for generating and outputting first display icons for cells that are within a predefined threshold distance from a cell in the three-dimensional buffer that has been determined to include a turbulence value that is greater than a first threshold value; and

a means for generating and outputting second display icons for cells that are within a predefined threshold from a cell that has a turbulence value that is greater than a second threshold value.