Automatic horizontal and vertical scanning radar

An automatic horizontal and vertical scanning weather radar system for aircraft comprising

• antenna means mounted in the aircraft for receiving reflected radar signals and responsive to a transmit signal for producing and directing outwardly therefrom a radar beam, and responsive both to horizontal drive signals for sweeping the radar beam back and forth horizontally, and to vertical drive signals for moving the radar beam up and down vertically,
• means for periodically supplying transmit signals to the antenna means,
• receiver means coupled to the antenna means for digitizing reflected radar signals received by the antenna means, and for producing distance information representing distances from the aircraft from which reflected radar signals are received,
• altitude means for producing altitude signals indicative of the altitude of the aircraft above sea level,
• means for storing the digitized signals, distance information, and altitude signals,
• display means responsive to display control signals for displaying a plan view image of weather over a preselected range represented by reflected radar signals received by the antenna means sweeping back and forth horizontally, a vertical view image of weather for a preselected height represented by reflected radar signals received by the antenna means moving u and down vertically, and altitude indicia indicating the altitude of the vertical view image of weather above sea level, and
• control means for supplying horizontal drive signals and vertical drive signals to the antenna means, and for producing display control signals from the stored digitized signals, distance information and altitude signals.