Constant altitude weather and all weather display
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsRoland Y. Szeto, Bill G. Cornell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, method, and computer program product for allowing a pilot to view weather hazards at a selected altitude or within a range of altitudes. The weather display system includes a memory, a processor, and a display device. The memory stores radar return data in a three-dimensional buffer. The processor is coupled to the memory and retrieves radar return data stored in the three-dimensional buffer that corresponds to an altitude. The processor generates an image of the retrieved radar return data. The display device displays the generated image.
Claims20
A weather display method comprising:
- retrieving radar return data stored in voxels in a three-dimensional buffer that corresponds to an altitude, wherein the radar return data having been stored in the three-dimensional buffer according earth coordinates and earth curvature;
- generating an image of the retrieved radar return data;
- and
- displaying the generated image on a display devices,
- wherein each layer of voxels in the three-dimensional buffer corresponds to a constant altitude above mean sea level of the earth.
A weather display method comprising:
- retrieving radar return information stored in voxels from a three-dimensional buffer based on a range of altitudes;
- and
- displaying the retrieved radar return information on a display device,
- wherein the radar return data having been stored in the three-dimensional buffer according earth coordinates and earth curvature, and each layer of voxels in the three-dimensional buffer corresponds to a constant altitude above mean sea level of the earth.
A weather display system comprising:
- a memory configured to store radar return data in voxels in a three-dimensional buffer based on earth coordinates and earth curvature;
- a processor coupled to the memory, the processor comprising:
- a first component configured to retrieve radar return data stored in the three-dimensional buffer that corresponds to an altitude;
- and
- a second component configured to generate an image of the retrieved radar return data;
- and
- a display device coupled to the processor configured to display the generated image,
- wherein each layer of voxels in the three-dimensional buffer corresponds to a constant altitude above mean sea level of the earth.
A weather radar system comprising:
- a memory for storing radar return data in voxels in a three-dimensional buffer based on earth coordinates and earth curvature;
- a processor coupled to the memory, the processor comprising:
- a first component configured to retrieve radar return data stored in the three-dimensional buffer based on one or more ranges of altitudes;
- and
- a second component configured to generate an image of the retrieved radar return data;
- and
- a display device coupled to the processor configured to display the generated image,
- wherein each layer of voxels in the three-dimensional buffer corresponds to a constant altitude above mean sea level of the earth.
weather display computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising:
- a first component configured to store radar return data in voxels in a three-dimensional buffer based on earth coordinates and earth curvature;
- a second component configured to retrieve radar return data stored in the three-dimensional buffer that corresponds to an altitude;
- and
- a third component configured to generate an image of the retrieved radar return data,
- wherein each layer of voxels in the three-dimensional buffer corresponds to a constant altitude above mean sea level of the earth.
A weather radar computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising:
- a first component configured to store radar return data in voxels in a three-dimensional buffer based on earth coordinates and earth curvature;
- a second component configured to retrieve radar return data stored in the three-dimensional buffer based on one or more ranges of altitudes;
- and
- a third component configured to generate an image of the retrieved radar return data,
- wherein each layer of voxels in the three-dimensional buffer corresponds to a constant altitude above mean sea level of the earth.
A weather display method comprising:
- storing weather radar return data from a weather radar system in an aircraft in a three-dimensional buffer, the buffer includes voxels, wherein each voxel stores a reflectivity value;
- determining the maximum reflectivity values for each vertical column of voxels within a predefined range of distances from the aircraft;
- generating a top plan image based on the determined maximum reflectivity values;
- and
- displaying at least a portion of the generated top plan image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.