Antenna adjustment system and method for an aircraft weather radar system
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsDaniel L. Woodell, Gregory J. Koenigs, Charles J. Dickerson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A weather radar system or method can be utilized to adjust a position of a weather radar system. The weather radar system can utilize processing electronics coupled to an antenna control system. The processing electronics can determine an error associated with the position of the weather radar antenna and adjust the position of the weather radar antenna in response to data related to returns received by the weather radar antenna and data related to expected returns.
Claims20
A weather radar system, comprising:
- a weather radar antenna;
- an antenna control system for adjusting a position of the weather radar antenna;
- and
- processing electronics, coupled to the antenna control system, for determining an error factor or an adjustment factor in response to data related to returns received by the weather radar antenna and data related to expected returns, the processing electronics causing the antenna control system to adjust the position of the weather radar antenna in response to the error factor or the adjustment factor.
A weather radar system, comprising:
- a weather radar antenna;
- an antenna control system for adjusting a position of the weather radar antenna;
- processing electronics, coupled to the antenna control system, for determining an error associated with the position of the weather radar antenna, wherein the processing electronics determines an error factor or an adjustment factor in response to data related to returns received by the weather radar antenna and data related to expected returns and stores the error factor or adjustment factor, the processing electronics causing the antenna control system to adjust the position of the weather radar antenna in response to the error factor or adjustment factor.
A method of determining an error factor associated with an antenna of an aircraft radar system, the method comprising:
- receiving radar returns;
- determining a first factor related to the radar returns;
- determining a second factor related to a modeled return estimation without using the radar returns associated with the first factor;
- and
- determining the error factor using the first factor and the second factor.
An apparatus for determining an adjustment to correct at least one position error associated with an antenna of an aircraft radar system, the apparatus comprising:
- means for determining a first factor related to a first range from the weather radar returns;
- means for determining a second factor related to a second range using altitude information;
- and
- means for determining the adjustment using the first factor and the second factor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.