# US 11,442,164 B2 · Systems and methods for determining convective cell growth from weather radar reflectivity data > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,164 B2 - Document ID: US11442164B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/434,863 - Filed: 2019-06-07 - Published: 2020-12-10 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-07 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Michael Dillard; Santosh Mathan; Paul Christianson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442164B2 ## CPC - G01S 13/953: {mounted on aircraft} - G01S 7/06: Cathode-ray tube displays {or other two dimensional or three-dimensional displays} - G01S 7/22: Producing cursor lines and indicia by electronic means - G01S 7/411: {Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity (G01S7/415 takes precedence)} - G01S 13/723: {by using numerical data} - G01S 7/04: Display arrangements - G01W 1/10: Devices for predicting weather conditions (computers per se G06; display devices G09) - G01W 2001/003: {Clear air turbulence detection or forecasting, e.g. for aircrafts} - G08G 5/21: located onboard the aircraft - Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G01W: METEOROLOGY (radar, sonar, lidar or analogous systems, designed for meteorological use G01S13/95, G01S15/88, G01S17/95) - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract A method for determining convective cell growth from weather radar reflectivity data includes receiving first weather reflectivity values and receiving second weather reflectivity values at a point in time subsequent to receiving the first weather reflectivity values, storing the first and second weather reflectivity values in cells of a three-dimensional buffer, for each of the first and second weather reflectivity values, calculating a vertically-integrated reflectivity (VIR) value for a column of cells in the three-dimensional buffer, the column of cells being associated with a latitude/longitude position, and comparing the VIR value for the second weather reflectivity values against the VIR for the first weather reflectivity values to determine a difference in the VIR values. Furthermore, the method includes displaying a cell growth hazard indication at a weather display in an area of the weather display that corresponds to the latitude/longitude position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for determining convective cell growth from weather radar reflectivity data comprising: a display device couple to receive display commands and configured, in response to the display commands, to display one or more images; and a processing device coupled to the display device and configured to: a) receive first weather reflectivity values and receiving second weather reflectivity values at a point in time subsequent to receiving the first weather reflectivity values; b) store the first and second weather reflectivity values in cells of a three- dimensional buffer; c) for each of the first and second weather reflectivity values, calculate a vertically-integrated reflectivity (VIR) value for a column of cells in the three- dimensional buffer, the column of cells being associated with a latitude/longitude position; d) compare the VIR value for the second weather reflectivity values against the VIR for the first weather reflectivity values to determine a difference in the VIR values; and e) when the difference in the VIR values is greater than a threshold value, supply display commands to the display device that cause the display device to display a convective cell growth hazard indication on the display device in an area of the display device that corresponds to the latitude/longitude position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a weather radar system, wherein the first and second weather reflectivity values are generated by the weather radar system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the point in time subsequent is indicative of a scanning rate of the weather radar system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the three-dimensional buffer is representative of a volume of airspace in front of the weather radar system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the column of cells comprises reflectivity values for all altitudes scanned by the weather radar system at the latitude/longitude position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the display device comprises a cockpit weather radar display of an aircraft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the display device is further configured, in response to display commands from the processing device, to display reflectivity imagery along with the convective cell growth hazard indication, wherein the convective cell growth hazard indication is overlaid on the reflectivity imagery. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the display device is further configured, in response to display commands from the processing device, to display hail or lightning hazard indications overlaid on the reflectivity imagery. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the convective cell growth hazard indication and the hail or lightning hazard indications comprise a display hierarchy wherein only one indication is displayed at a location based on the hierarchy. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An aircraft comprising the system of claim 1.