Millimeter wave radar system for and method of weather detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9459348-B2
Application number	US-201213492580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2012
Priority date	Jun 8, 2012
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A system and method relates to a weather detection system using millimeter wave radar data. Processing electronics receives millimeter wave radar (MMWR) data and senses a presence of weather spatial extent using return strength data associated with the MMWR data. The processing electronics uses spectral width data associated with the MMWR data to assign a level to the weather in the spatial extent.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A weather radar system for an aircraft, comprising:
a radar antenna; and
processing electronics configured to use millimeter wave radar (MMWR) data derived from signals received on the radar antenna, the processing electronics configured to sense a presence of weather and a spatial extent of the weather using return strength data associated with the MMWR data, the processing electronics configured to use spectral width data associated with the MMWR data to assign precipitation rates to the weather in the spatial extent, the processing electronics configured to provide display data for representing a portion of the weather in the spatial extent at the precipitation rates, wherein each of the precipitation rates is one of at least three radar precipitation rate levels.

2. The weather radar system of claim 1 , wherein the processing electronics is configured to identify a convective cell using the spectral width data and lightning data from a lightning sensor.

3. The weather radar system of claim 1 , wherein the processing electronics is configured to map a presence of a weather hazard on a display using the precipitation rates assigned using the spectral width data.

4. The weather radar system of claim 3 , wherein the processing electronics is configured to use red, yellow, and green levels as the radar precipitation rate levels.

5. The weather radar system of claim 1 , wherein the processing electronics is configured to receive lightning data and the processing electronics is configured to use the lightning data to identify a convective cell, turbulence, or hail.

6. The weather radar system of claim 5 , further comprising a display, wherein the convective cell on the display is marked as hazardous based on the correlation of the MMWR data and a geographic area of the aircraft.

7. The weather radar system of claim 1 , wherein the MMWR data is provided by an MMWR radar providing signals in the 13 to 300 GHZ range.

8. The weather radar system of claim 7 , wherein the MMWR radar includes the radar antenna, the radar antenna having a diameter of less than 18 inches.

9. The weather radar system of claim 1 , wherein the processing electronics is configured to provide an indication of convective or stratiform weather based upon the spectral width data.

10. A method of displaying an indication of weather on an aircraft display, the method comprising:
receiving millimeter wave radar (MMWR) returns on a radar antenna;
receiving MMWR data derived from the MMWR returns;
estimating a presence of weather in a spatial region using a reflectivity parameter associated with the MMWR data;
determining precipitation rate levels of the estimated presence of weather in the spatial region using a spectral width parameter associated with the MMWR data; and
causing the precipitation rate levels to be displayed on a display as red, yellow, and green regions.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the precipitation rate levels are determined using the reflectivity parameter according to a model for reflectivity parameters below 20 dBZ.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining a convective cell using the MMWR data and lightning data.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a stratiform rain indication is provided in response to the spectral width parameter.

14. A method of displaying weather, the method comprising:
sensing reflectivity and spectral width using a millimeter wave sensor;
receiving millimeter wave data from the millimeter wave sensor;
using a reflectivity data portion of the millimeter wave data to determine location and spatial extent of a weather system;
determining at least three weather precipitation rates for the spatial extent of the weather system using a spectral width data portion of the millimeter wave data; and
displaying the weather precipitation rates on a display using three colors.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising displaying the weather system with respect to a location of an aircraft.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing a turbulence warning in response to the spectral width data portion.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising using the millimeter wave sensor for targeting.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein red, yellow, or green are used to display the weather precipitation rates.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving lightning data and using the lightning data to identify a convective cell, hail, or turbulence.

Assignees

• Jinkins Richard D
• Rademaker Richard M
• Woodell Daniel L
• Finley Jeffery A
• Rockwell Collins Inc

Inventors

• Jinkins Richard D
• Rademaker Richard M
• Woodell Daniel L
• Finley Jeffery A

Classifications

• G01W1/00 Primary

  Meteorology · CPC title

• G01S13/953 Primary

  mounted on aircraft · CPC title

• Y02A90/10

  Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation · CPC title