The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 16, 2019

Filed:

Jul. 28, 2016
Applicant:

Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US);

Inventors:

Richard D. Jinkins, Rewey, WI (US);

Richard M. Rademaker, Rijswijk, NL;

Assignee:

ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC., Cedar Rapids, IA (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 13/93 (2006.01); G01S 13/95 (2006.01); G01S 7/04 (2006.01); G01S 13/94 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 13/953 (2013.01); G01S 7/04 (2013.01); G01S 13/9303 (2013.01); G01S 13/94 (2013.01);
Abstract

A weather radar system can be used as an airborne sensor for providing an image on an electronic display during low visibility offshore IFR operations (e.g. for a helicopter approach to an offshore platform, such as, a petroleum rig or other structure). The weather radar sensed image is representative of the external surroundings of the maritime environment associated with radar returns received by the weather radar system. Beam sharpening technology produces higher angular resolution of the sensed objects in the radar image which reduces the interpreted azimuth errors from the sensed radar image. Accordingly, beam sharpening technology advantageously allows object isolation of closely clustered offshore platforms and nearby objects. With operational credit provided to these capabilities, the minimal distance for obtaining visual reference with the target platform could be reduced, increasing the success rate of completing offshore operations in low visibility IFR conditions.


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