Abstract: An antenna system for a weather radar system includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The polarization of the first transceiver is orthogonal to the polarization of the second transceiver. The first transceiver and the second transceiver are interlaced to occupy the same volume.

Abstract: A terrain awareness system includes a processor for receiving radar returns and providing terrain and/or obstacle alerts or warnings in response to the radar returns. The processor receives information from a database and the information is used to select the radar transmit function and/or the radar reception function to optimize the performance of the system.

Abstract: An aperture of an antenna for a radar system comprises a first waveguide comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion, each protrusion extending longitudinally along one side of the first waveguide. The aperture further comprises a second waveguide comprising a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion, each protrusion extending longitudinally along one side of the second waveguide. The first and third protrusions and second and fourth protrusions adjoin to form a radio frequency choke at least partially suppressing cross polarization of radio frequencies between the first and second waveguides.

Abstract: A weather radar system or method can be utilized to determine a location of a weather hazard for an aircraft. The weather radar system can utilize processing electronics coupled to an antenna. The processing electronics can determine presence of the hazard in response to data related to returns received by the weather radar antenna and data from a lightning sensor. The system can include a display for showing the hazard and its location.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the altitude of an aircraft can use a relative altitude estimate using information from an onboard radar. The altitude can be referenced to a runway for landing operations. The radar can produce relative altitude information from the range to the landing point and a precision estimation of the vertical angle to the landing point. The vertical angle estimate can be made with a phase processing antenna/radar system.

Abstract: An aircraft radar system includes a radar antenna and a processing device. The processing device receives returns from the radar antenna associated with the scan. The processing device uses the returns from the scan for use in both incursion detection and weather phenomenon detection. A method for using the returns from the scan for both incursion detection and weather phenomenon detection is also disclosed.

Abstract: An aircraft weather radar system includes an input for receiving data associated with weather radar returns received by an antenna. The aircraft weather radar system further includes processing electronics for performing a routine to analyze radar returns associated with terrain. The processing electronics are configured to determine atmospheric refraction characteristics based on a range and/or an angle to terrain. The routine is based on the determination of atmospheric refraction characteristics.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a position of an antenna to reduce a position error comprises receiving first data associated with first returns associated with a first portion of an antenna. The method further comprises receiving second data associated with second returns associated with a second portion of the antenna, wherein the first portion is different than, intersects with, or includes the second portion. The method further comprises determining the angle to the terrain using the first and second data, whereby the angle is used to adjust or compensate for the position error of the antenna.

Abstract: An aircraft weather radar system for displaying an indication of a threat level presented by an obstacle to the aircraft on an electronic display. The weather radar system includes a radar antenna configured to receive radar returns from a radar sweep. The weather radar system additionally includes processing electronics configured to determine a movement vector of the obstacle using the radar returns. The processing electronics are further configured to determine the threat level of the obstacle to the aircraft based on the determined movement vector, to generate parameters for an indication based on the determined threat level and to cause the indication to be displayed on an electronic display.

Abstract: A radar system includes an antenna and has short range detection capability. The radar system includes a receiver coupled to the antenna for receiving a receive signal associated with a pulse compressed transmission signal and a matched filter configured to accumulate at least a portion of the receive signal for a particular range. The portion of the receive signal is associated with a corresponding portion of the pulse compressed transmission signal.

Abstract: A method of determining an angle with a beam to terrain for a terrain avoidance system includes receiving first data associated with first returns associated with a first portion of an antenna. The method further includes receiving second data associated with second returns associated with a second portion of the antenna, wherein the first portion is different than, intersects, or includes the second portion. The method further includes determining the angle to terrain using the first data and second data.

Abstract: A weather radar system includes an input for receiving lightning detection data and processing electronics for determining a presence of a convective cell or associated hazard. The processing electronics receive weather radar data and the lightning detection data. The weather radar data is related to radar returns. The processing electronics provide temporal or spatial filtering of the lightning detection data to provide filtered data and determine a position of the convective cell or associated hazard in response to the weather radar data and the filtered data.

Abstract: An aircraft weather radar system can be used with a terrain avoidance system to provide a terrain database. The weather radar system includes a processor and/or other electronics coupled to an antenna. The processor determines terrain data based on weather radar returns received from the antenna. The processor can utilize a variety of techniques for determining terrain data or estimates.

Abstract: An aircraft weather radar system can be used with a terrain avoidance system. The aircraft weather radar system is coupled to an antenna. A processor receives radar returns received by the antenna. The processor determines terrain elevation estimates for use with the terrain avoidance system from the radar returns. The terrain elevation estimates are compared to stored terrain elevation data used with the terrain avoidance system to verify position or to check the integrity of the stored elevation data. The processor can be part of a terrain avoidance system, a weather radar system, a navigation system, or can be a standalone system.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing elevation terrain using an airborne weather radar. Method techniques include sampling first and second radar returns from a weather radar at two portions of an antenna. First radar returns are removed from second radar returns to generate third radar returns for a third portion of the antenna. The third portion of the antenna is included in the second portion but not the first portion. Changes in the third radar return are analyzed to sense elevation of the terrain.

Abstract: A method of detecting weather on an aircraft uses a weather radar system. The method includes determining a location of a reflective radar target, accessing a database having stored information relating to ground clutter of a reflective radar target, retrieving weather radar information associated with the location, and automatically adjusting the weather radar return threshold in response to the information. The method can adjust a threshold for a weather radar display, adjust a weather radar signal gain, adjust a tilt angle of the weather radar, or adjust a ground clutter suppression threshold. The method can be implemented by hardware and/or software.

Abstract: An incursion detection system can be utilized with an aircraft. The incursion detection system can be utilized to determine a possible presence of obstacles associated with a runway, taxi-way, or other path of an aircraft. The incursion detection system preferably utilizes a sensor, such as a radar system, and a signal received on a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver can be part of an ADS-B system. A processing device determines a presence of at least one obstacle in a path based upon first data derived from the wireless receiver and/or second data received from the sensor.

Abstract: A weather radar system can be utilized on-board an aircraft. The weather radar system includes processing electronics for sensing weather. The processing electronics is configured to utilize sensed weather data to generate a vertical weather prediction for a given altitude in response to a range and an azimuth. The system can also include a display. The display provides visual indicia of the vertical weather prediction in response to the processing electronics.

Abstract: A radar system is configured to predict future storm cell characteristics and display an indication of the characteristics on an electronic display. The system has an antenna configured to receive radar returns from radar scans of storm cells. The system includes processing electronics configured to determine a characteristic of a first storm cell from the radar returns and identify at least one second storm cell. The at least one second storm cell is in the same weather system as the first storm cell. The processing electronics are configured to determine the characteristic for the at least one identified second storm cell, compare the characteristic of the first storm cell with the characteristics of the at least one second storm cell, determine a growth rate of the first storm cell, and calculate a predicted height of the first storm cell at a future time based on the comparison and determined growth rate.

Abstract: An aircraft lightning event detector includes a sensor mounted to an aircraft. The sensor determines whether a lightning event has struck the aircraft or induced a possibly damaging current into the aircraft. A threshold mechanism determines whether the sensed lightning event is greater than a predetermined size. A memory stores a record of the sensed lightning event for post-flight maintenance analysis when the lightning event is greater than the predetermined size.