Weather radar system and method for high altitude crystal warning interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9823347-B1
Application number	US-201414207034-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 12, 2014
Priority date	Mar 12, 2014
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A hazard warning system can be utilized in an aircraft. The hazard warning system can include a processing system for determining a high altitude ice crystal (HAIC) condition and causing a warning of the HAIC condition to be displayed. An avionic display can be used to display the warning of the HAIC condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft hazard warning system, comprising:
a processing system configured to detect a high altitude ice crystal (HAIC) or high altitude ice crystal cloud (HAIC 2 ) condition and cause a warning of the HAIC or HAIC 2 condition to be displayed, wherein the HAIC or HAIC 2 warning is provided on a weather radar display such that weather regions in a same location as the HAIC or HAIC 2 warning are viewable on the weather radar display, the HAIC or HAIC 2 condition being detected using weather radar returns associated with a high altitude region, the weather radar returns being processed to detect the HAIC or HAIC 2 condition, wherein the weather regions are provided as a solid green region for precipitation levels below a first level, a solid yellow region for precipitation levels above the first level below a second level, and a solid red region for precipitation levels above a third level, wherein the HAIC or HAIC 2 warning is displayed as yellow dots or cross sectional lines on a weather region depicted as a solid green region, wherein the processing system detects a high altitude associated threat (HAAT) condition and wherein the weather radar display provides visual indicia according to the following table:

HAIC

Con-

Weather
or HAIC 2
HAAT

dition
Display
Color
Condition
Condition

1
Solid Red
Red
Yes
Yes

2
Solid Yellow with Red Dots
Yellow
Yes
Yes

3
Solid Green with Red Dots
Green
Yes
Yes

4
Solid Red
Red
Yes
No

5
Solid Yellow
Yellow
Yes
No

6
Solid Green with Yellow Dots
Green
Yes
No

7
Solid Red
Red
No
Yes

8
Solid Yellow with Red Dots
Yellow
No
Yes

9
Solid Green with Red Dots
Green
No
Yes

10
Solid Red
Red
No
No

11
Solid Yellow
Yellow
No
No

12
Solid Green
Green
No
No.

2. The aircraft hazard warning system of claim 1 , wherein the warning of the HAIC or HAIC 2 condition is provided as a speckled region, a striped region, or a region with outlined contours.

3. The aircraft warning system of claim 1 , wherein the warning of the HAIC or HAIC 2 condition is provided as a speckled region of a color indicating a lower level of hazard.

4. The aircraft warning system of claim 1 , wherein the speckled region includes yellow dots.

5. The aircraft warning system of claim 1 , wherein the HAAT condition is a lightning or hail condition.

6. The aircraft hazard warning system of claim 1 , wherein the high altitude associated threat (HAAT) condition is a lightning condition.

7. The aircraft hazard warning system of claim 6 , wherein the warning of the HAAT condition is displayed with a color symbolizing a higher threat level than the warning associated with the HAIC or HAIC 2 condition.

8. The aircraft hazard warning system of claim 1 , wherein the warning is displayed using a rectangular shaped region whereby the rectangular shaped region enhances the ability to notice the warning.

9. The aircraft hazard warning system of claim 8 , wherein the warning of the HAIC or HAIC 2 condition is provided corresponding to its size and location correlated on the weather radar display.

10. The aircraft hazard warning system of claim 9 , wherein dots associated with a HAAT condition at the location overwrite dots associated with the HAIC condition at the location.

11. A method of providing a high altitude associated threat (HAAT) warning and one of at least a high altitude ice crystal (HAIC) or high altitude ice crystal cloud (HAIC 2 ) warning on an aircraft using an electronic processor, the method comprising:
receiving radar reflectivity data and determining at least one of a HAIC or HAIC 2 condition exists;
displaying the at least one of the HAIC or HAIC 2 warning of the HAIC or HAIC 2 condition over weather regions on a weather radar display, wherein the weather regions on the weather radar display are viewable when the at least one of the HAIC or HAIC 2 warning is displayed;
determining the HAAT condition exists; and
displaying the HAAT warning over weather regions on a weather radar display, wherein the weather regions on the weather radar display are viewable when HAAT warning is displayed, and wherein the HAIC or HAIC 2 warning is not viewable at locations where the HAAT warning is displayed, wherein the HAAT warning and HAIC or HAIC warnings are displayed according to the following table:

HAIC

Con-

Weather
or HAIC 2
HAAT

dition
Display
Color
Condition
Condition

Assignees

• Koenigs Gregory J
• Finley Jeffery A
• Rockwell Collins Inc

Inventors

• Koenigs Gregory J
• Finley Jeffery A

Classifications

• B64D15/20

  Means for detecting icing or initiating de-icing · CPC title

• G01S13/953 Primary

  mounted on aircraft · CPC title

• G01S7/22

  Producing cursor lines and indicia by electronic means · CPC title

• Y02A90/10

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