3-D weather display and weathercast system
First Claim
1. A method of displaying dynamic three-dimensional pictorial representations of weather conditions created from meteorological data combined with geographical and topographical data, comprising the steps of:
- retrieving, digitizing, and processing geographical and topographical data to produce a simulated three-dimensional volumetric image having a predetermined volume, and storing the digitized and processed data in memory means for later retrieval;
acquiring meteorological data comprising precipitation, cloud cover data, the bottom and top of cloud formations, and reflectivity and velocity of rain droplets, in real time from radar installations, wherein the radar installations comprise K-band or K-band Doppler radar and at least one of C-band radar, C-band Doppler radar, S-band radar, S-band Doppler Radar, X-band radar and X-band Doppler radar;
digitizing and processing said acquired meteorological data to produce a simulated three-dimensional image of said meteorological data;
combining the acquired meteorological data with the retrieved geographical and topographical data utilizing microprocessor means to produce a digital signal capable of being transmitted to a computer, displayed on a computer display screen, and manipulated by peripheral devices connected with the computer; and
displaying the combined processed meteorological data and geographical and topographical data as a three-pictorial representation of weather conditions from a selective observation point and relative to a selective geographical area.
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Abstract
A weathercasting system for displaying dynamic real time photo-realistic three-dimensional pictorial representations of weather conditions created from meteorological data combined with geographical and topographical data. Geographical and topographical data is retrieved, digitized, and processed to produce a simulated three-dimensional volumetric image and stored in memory for later retrieval. Meteorological data including precipitation, cloud cover data, the bottom and top of cloud formations, and reflectivity and velocity of rain droplets in real-time are acquired from C-band and/or K-band Doppler radar, or non-Doppler K-band and Doppler X-band radar installations which ameliorate S-band radar data and the data is digitized and processed to produce a simulated three-dimensional image of the meteorological data. The meteorological data is combined with the geographical and topographical data to produce a digital signal capable of being transmitted to a computer, displayed on a computer display screen, and manipulated by peripheral devices connected with the computer. The combined data is displayed as a photo-realistic three-dimensional pictorial representation of weather conditions from a selective observation point and relative to a selective geographical area. The pictorial representation can be manipulated to give the visual effect of moving through a weather system to allow the viewer to visualize the effects of the weather system at various geographical locations.
212 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of displaying dynamic three-dimensional pictorial representations of weather conditions created from meteorological data combined with geographical and topographical data, comprising the steps of:
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retrieving, digitizing, and processing geographical and topographical data to produce a simulated three-dimensional volumetric image having a predetermined volume, and storing the digitized and processed data in memory means for later retrieval; acquiring meteorological data comprising precipitation, cloud cover data, the bottom and top of cloud formations, and reflectivity and velocity of rain droplets, in real time from radar installations, wherein the radar installations comprise K-band or K-band Doppler radar and at least one of C-band radar, C-band Doppler radar, S-band radar, S-band Doppler Radar, X-band radar and X-band Doppler radar; digitizing and processing said acquired meteorological data to produce a simulated three-dimensional image of said meteorological data; combining the acquired meteorological data with the retrieved geographical and topographical data utilizing microprocessor means to produce a digital signal capable of being transmitted to a computer, displayed on a computer display screen, and manipulated by peripheral devices connected with the computer; and displaying the combined processed meteorological data and geographical and topographical data as a three-pictorial representation of weather conditions from a selective observation point and relative to a selective geographical area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A weathercasting system for displaying dynamic real time three-dimensional pictorial representation of weather conditions created from meteorological data combined with geographical and topographical data, comprising:
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processor for retrieving, digitizing, and processing geographical and topographical data to produce a simulated three-dimensional volumetric image having a predetermined volume; memory for storing the digitized and processed geographical and topographical data for later retrieval; accessor for accessing radar meteorological data comprising precipitation, cloud cover data, the bottom and top of cloud formations, and reflectivity and velocity of rain droplets, wherein the accessor Comprises radar installations comprising K-band or K-band Doppler radar and at least one of C-band radar, c-band Doppler radar, S-band radar, S-band Doppler Radar, X-band radar and X-band Doppler radar; retriever for synchronously and continuously retrieving said radar meteorological data in real time; digitizer for digitizing and processing said retrieved radar meteotological data to produce a simulated three-dimensional image of said radar meteorolgical data; microprocessor for combining said digitized retrieved meteorological data with said digitized retrieved geographical and topographical data and producing a digital signal capable of being transmitted to a computer, displayed on a computer display screen, and manipulated by peripheral devices connected with the computer; and display for receiving and displaying said combined digitized meteorological data and geographical and topographical data as a three-dimensional pictorial representation of weather conditions from a selective observation point and relative to a selective geographical area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification