Radar derived perspective display system
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsDaniel L. Woodell, Roy E. Robertson, Nathanael A. Meyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft-based terrain display system includes a radar system configured to measure terrain data in proximity to an aircraft. The system further includes a memory coupled to the radar system and configured to store terrain data associated with the terrain data collected from the radar system. A processor is coupled to the memory and configured to use the terrain data stored in memory to generate a terrain image having a perspective view. An aircraft display coupled to the processor is configured to display the terrain image.
Claims16
An aircraft-based terrain display system configured to display a terrain image having a perspective view, comprising:
- a radar system configured to measure terrain data in proximity to an aircraft;
- a memory coupled to the radar system and configured to store terrain data associated with the terrain data collected from the radar system;
- a processor coupled to the memory and configured to use the terrain data stored in memory to generate the terrain image;
- and
- wherein the radar system is configured to share time between measuring the terrain data and weather data so that during first sweeps the radar system provides radar beams configured to return weather data and during second sweeps the radar system provides radar beams configured to return terrain data;
- wherein the processor is configured to limit the downward direction of the view angle of the perspective view to a determined maximum downward angle that hides areas of radar shadow.
A method of generating a perspective terrain image, comprising:
- determining terrain data using radar beams cast from an aircraft-based radar system, wherein the aircraft-based radar system is configured to share time between measuring the terrain data and measuring weather data so that during first sweeps the radar system provides radar beams configured to return weather data and during second sweeps the radar system provides radar beams configured to return terrain data;
- determining weather data using radar beams cast from the aircraft-based radar system;
- generating the perspective terrain image based on the determined terrain data;
- determining a maximum downward view angle of the perspective terrain image that will hide areas of radar shadow;
- limiting the downward direction of the view angle of the perspective terrain image to the determined maximum downward angle.
A radar-derived terrain display system for displaying a perspective terrain image, comprising:
- means for determining terrain altitude data using an aircraft-based radar system, wherein the aircraft-based radar system is configured to share time between measuring the terrain data and weather data so that during first sweeps the radar system provides radar beams configured to return weather data and during second sweeps the radar system provides radar beams configured to return terrain data;
- means for storing the determined terrain altitude data;
- means for generating perspective terrain image based on the stored determined terrain altitude data;
- wherein the view angle of the perspective terrain image approximates the viewing angle from a front cockpit window wherein the viewing angle is limited in the downward direction by a determined maximum downward angle that hides areas of radar shadow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.