ES2359128T3 - RADAR WITH REPRESENTATION DESIGNED THREE-DIMENSIONAL. - Google Patents

Abstract

RADAR WITH A THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN SCREEN IN WHICH A BIDIMENSIONAL IMAGE DATA AND A THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE DATA ARE SHOWN COMBINEDLY IN A VIDEO MEMORY (40) WITH THE HELP OF AN IMAGE CONTROLLER (44), AND THESE ARE MORE ON A DISPLAY OF A PRESENTATION UNIT (42).

Description

The present invention relates to a three-dimensionally designed representation radar that is transported, for example on a ship and preferably detects a target.

Description of Related Techniques:

In recent years, radar is widely used on small boats such as pleasure boats. As is known in the art, such radar is operated as follows. That is, a radio wave transmission, which is transmitted from a rotating antenna, is reflected by a target. The radio wave reflected from it is received to represent a concentric circular image represented around the center of its own position on a representation unit.

In such a system, the intensity of the reflected radio wave is represented as a difference in brightness of the point at which the objective exists, for example, on a screen of the unit of representation of the type of raster scan.

When such a radar is used, it is possible to observe a moving target ship that focuses on a subjective ship during its navigation and anchorage. In addition, it is possible to monitor whether or not the subjective ship deviated from its anchoring position, for example, due to a tide, based on the radio wave reflected from a fixed reflective object.

In general, when such a display unit equipped for a ship radar is operated, the target point on the screen is represented in a mode designed in a two-dimensional manner as a flat view, in which the image is not represented so that the target It is represented based on the height information on the screen.

Therefore, for example, when the radar is transported on a pleasure boat or similar, it is difficult for a user who is not very familiar with radar observation, to effectively recognize and observe the surrounding circumstances and the detection of the objective based on the image represented. The problem arises that the radar transported is difficult to use in an effective way.

To solve this problem, the present applicant has proposed a radar device that allows a user who is not very accustomed to radar observation, for example, to effectively detect the target, representing the target three-dimensionally on the screen of the unit of representation. Details of the three-dimensionally designed rendering radar are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 830732.

The three-dimensionally designed representation radar comprises a radar transmission / reception unit to deduce, from a target, the signals with respect to the orientation information, the distance information, and the reception intensity information; a unit of representation; a three-dimensional coordinate converter designed to convert to a signal to indicate orientation information and distance information as XY coordinate values based on the method of drawing the perspective projection along with the intensity information of reception to indicate a straight line length as a target height, a means of generating markings to send a distance marking signal in the form of a grid when the three-dimensionally designed representation is performed on the display of the representation unit , and a storage medium provided with storage addresses corresponding to the respective image elements on the display unit; to store the reception intensity information in the storage direction corresponding to the XY coordinates obtained by the three-dimensionally designed coordinate converter and store the marking signal when the three-dimensionally designed representation is performed so that the information stored and The stored dialing signal is read successively to send an image signal to the display unit.

The three-dimensional representation radar designed with respect to the conventional technique allows an observer who is not very accustomed to radar observation to perform the detection or the like representing the objective three-dimensionally on the representation radar.

However, the three-dimensionally designed representation radar is constructed so that the two-dimensional representation and the three-dimensionally designed representation are switched to be used selectively. Therefore, first, when the two-dimensional representation screen is switched to the three-dimensionally designed representation screen, or when the three-dimensionally designed representation screen is switched back to the two-dimensional representation screen, it is required a certain period of time to allow the antenna to turn around. That is, in the case of an ordinary radar, a period of time of approximately 2.5 to 3 seconds is required. During this period, the user, for example the navigator, has to wait until this period of time elapses.

Secondly, some time is required until the navigator, who is accustomed to the two-dimensional representation screen gets used to the three-dimensionally designed representation screen. During this period until the navigator gets used, it is preferable that the two-dimensional screen and the three-dimensionally designed display screen can be used simultaneously in combination. However, such an operation cannot be performed when a conventional three-dimensional rendering radar is used.

In addition, the conventional three-dimensional representation radar is constructed in such a way that the indication of distance markings in the form of a grid overlaps the representation unit. However, when radar is used during navigation through a river or a cove, the surrounding targets themselves have shapes that are easily observable in three dimensions in many cases. If the distance marker is represented on the screen in the overlay mode when three-dimensionally designed image data is represented, then the representation is on the contrary complicated, and in some cases it is difficult to observe the objective image.

In addition, the three-dimensionally designed representation radar described above is constructed so that the three-dimensionally designed representation is made on the basis of a single viewing point in a certain fixed direction. Therefore, the three-dimensionally designed representation radar does not satisfy the demand that the three-dimensionally designed representation be made based on a point of view at an arbitrary angle.

Document US-A-5,061,935 discloses a three-dimensional radar representing a radar transmission-reception unit, a screen, a three-dimensional coordinate converter, a dial generator and a video memory. The three-dimensional representation radar also comprises a selection switch so that it selects either a two-dimensional or three-dimensional representation mode.

US-A-5,357,258 describes the conversion of a representation of the flat position indicator to a perspective representation correctly scaled based on the altitude of an aircraft and the representation parameters. Two representation memories are involved, both Cartesian based: one stores the image of the flat position indicator to be converted; and the other stores the converted image for representation. The first memory is addressed for each image point of the data stored in the second memory.

Document US-A-5,339,085 discloses the conversion of a radar signal into radar image information expressed in a three-dimensional coordinate system with the coordinates relative to a particular point of view. A three-dimensional representation is produced from the combination of the radar image information with the terrain and objective information (which has been converted to the same coordinate system). Clipping is used to remove portions of the radar image arranged behind the ground or the target images and intensity reduction is used for the terrain and target images arranged behind the radar image.

US-A-5,257,629 describes the manipulation of stored digital signals (obtained by the conversion of analog echo signals) to produce a real-time two-dimensional image of the interior of a human organ, which can be simultaneously represented with a Three-dimensional image, not in real time (produced by the system).

The present invention has been carried out taking into consideration the above problems, an object of which is to provide a three-dimensionally designed representation radar that makes it unnecessary to provide switching time between the three-dimensionally designed representation and the two-dimensional representation.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensionally designed representation radar that makes it possible to selectively represent distance marking.

Another additional objective of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensionally designed representation radar that makes it possible to perform the three-dimensionally designed representation based on an arbitrary point of view.

The present invention provides a three-dimensional representation radar according to claim 1. Preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the representation radar designed in a three-dimensional manner in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of the three-dimensionally designed rendering radar in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 is used to explain the operation of two-dimensional coordinate conversion with respect to the embodiments of FIG. 1 and 2; FIG. 4 is used to explain the operation of three-dimensionally designed coordinate conversion with respect to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and 2; FIG. 5 shows an image of the two-dimensional representation with respect to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and 2; FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensionally designed representation image with respect to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and 2; FIG. 7 shows an example in which the two-dimensional representation image and the three-dimensionally designed representation image with respect to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and 2 are simultaneously represented in combination; FIG. 8 shows another example representation image designed in a three-dimensional manner with respect to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and 2; FIG. 9 shows another example in which the two-dimensional representation image and the three-dimensionally designed representation image with respect to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and 2 are simultaneously represented in combination; and FIG. 10 is used to explain the relationship between reception intensity and screen brightness, turbidity and color.

The three-dimensional rendering radar according to the present invention will be explained in detail below as preferred example relationships with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a three-dimensional rendering radar in accordance with the present invention. The three-dimensionally designed representation radar 1 with respect to this embodiment basically comprises a radar transmission / reception section 10 including an antenna 12, and a processing section of the representation signal 30 connected thereto.

The radar transmission / reception section 10 includes a motor 14 for the rotation of the antenna 12, an encoder 16 coupled to the axis of rotation of the motor 14, a transmission activation generator 18, a transmitter 20 for transmitting a signal from transmission at a predetermined frequency from the antenna 12, a receiver 22 connected to the antenna 12 to receive the radio wave reflected from a target, an A / D converter 24 to digitize the output signal of the receiver 22, and a measurement timer distance 26 connected to the transmission activation generator 18.

On the other hand, the processing section of the representation signal 30 includes a two-dimensional coordinate converter 32, a dimensionally designed coordinate converter 34, a two-dimensional image memory 321, a three-dimensional image memory 341, a generator Dial 38 capable of performing the ON / OFF operation, an image controller 44, a video memory (storage medium) 40 as representation memory, a modulator (color modulator, turbidity modulator, brightness modulator) 41 , a representation unit 42 based on the frame scanning system, and an operation instruction unit (also referred to simply as "operation unit") 50.

Next, an explanation will be given for the operation of the three-dimensionally designed rendering radar in accordance with the present invention constructed as described above.

The antenna 12, which is associated with the radar transmission / reception section 10, is subject to a rotation advance in the horizontal plane made by the motor 14. An orientation signal Sθ, indicating the orientation information (angle θ ) of the antenna 12 with respect to a moving object, for example, the bow of a ship, is extracted from the encoder 16, and is introduced into an input terminal of the two-dimensional coordinate converter 32 of the signal processing section of representation 30.

The transmission activation, which is extracted from the transmission activation generator 18, is introduced into the transmitter 20. The transmission activation allows the transmission of an oscillation pulse of an oscillator such as a magnetron to radiate from the transmitter 20 through antenna 12.

The signal of the transmission pulse, which is radiated from the antenna 12, is reflected by an objective not illustrated. A radio wave reflected from the target is received through the antenna 12 by the receiver 22. An intensity signal Sb, indicating the amplitude value of the reception signal extracted from the receiver 22, that is, the intensity information of reception of the reflected radio wave, it is converted by the A / D converter 24 into a digital signal that is introduced into the coordinate converter designed in three dimensions 34 of the processing section of the representation signal 30.

The transmission activation output of the transmission activation generator 18 is also supplied to the distance measurement timer 26. The elapsed time, which is required from the time point of supply of the activation signal to the wave reception of radio reflected by the receiver 22, is measured by the distance measurement timer 26. Half the product of the time elapsed by the transmission speed of the transmitted radio wave, that is, the information on the distance to the target is converted in a digital signal that is used as a distance signal Sr to be sent to the other input terminal of the two-dimensional coordinate converter 32. The distance measurement operation performed by the distance measurement timer 26 is completed with the step detection of the time that indicates the maximum measurement distance previously set using, for example, a switch not shown.

The intensity signal Sb will now be explained. The directivity of the antenna 12 of the ordinary boat radar is usually set so that the beam width in the horizontal direction is approximately 2 degrees, and the beam width in the vertical direction is of approximately 25 degrees in many cases. Therefore, a band-shaped beam is provided, in which the cross section is narrow in the horizontal direction and wide in the vertical direction.

Therefore, when a target located at a short distance is detected, the radio wave reflected from a lens that has a large horizontal width and a high height has a high degree of reflection due to its large area of reflection, compared to the wave of radius reflected from an objective that has a large horizontal width and low height, assuming that the objectives have the same physical properties. Therefore, the representation of the three-dimensionally designed image can be performed by performing the signal processing based on the difference in the level of the reception signal as described below.

The orientation signal Sθ, the intensity signal (reception intensity signal) Sb, and the distance signal Sr, which are obtained by the radar transmission / reception section 10 as described above, are supplied to the processing section of the representation signal 30.

In this embodiment, the orientation signal Sθ and the distance signal Sr are entered into the two-dimensional coordinate converter 32. The position of the polar coordinates of the objective (R, θ), which are represented by the polar coordinate systems, are converted into an output signal that indicates the values of the XY coordinates (X, Y) on the display of the display unit 42 based on the frame scan system. This operation will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.

The reference symbol S in FIG. 3 indicates the representation screen of the representation unit 42 based on the two-dimensional coordinate converter 32 adopted by the frame scan system. The reference symbol C indicates a circle that has a radius Rmax that represents the radar measuring distance range. The segment of the line BB 'indicates the X axis that passes through the center O of the representation screen S, the segment of the line AA' indicates the Y axis that passes through the center O of the representation screen S, and center O indicates the position of the subjective ship.

When the antenna 12 radiates the radio wave from the position of the subjective ship in a direction of rotation of an angle 8 with respect to the orientation of the bow (direction A together with the line segment AA '), the radio wave proceeds from center O to the maximum radius Rmax. The two-dimensional coordinate converter 32 calculates the value of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate value of each of the image elements arranged along the ORmax line segment. For example, the values of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the image element that has the polar coordinates P (R, θ) of the objective P are represented by X = Rsenθ and Y = Rcosθ respectively.

The output signal, that is the coordinates of P (X, Y), which represent the values of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the image element on the representation screen S calculated by the two-dimensional coordinate converter 32 as has been described above, they are supplied as a memory address for the two-dimensional image memory 321. The intensity signal Sb is stored in a memory cell corresponding to the coordinates P (X, Y). The coordinates P (X, Y) are entered in the three-dimensionally designed coordinate converter 34.

The three-dimensionally designed coordinate converter 34 performs the calculation to express the three-dimensionally designed information on the two-dimensional screen in an imitation mode. In this embodiment, first, the intensity signal Sb, which represents the reception intensity of the reflected radio wave obtained by the radar transmission / reception section 10, is added to the two-dimensional coordinates P (X, Y) of objective P. In this way, the coordinates designed in three-dimensional form Q (X ', Y') are obtained, which are used to obtain the three-dimensionally designed representation of the two-dimensional coordinates. The three-dimensional designed coordinates Q (X ', Y'), which are obtained by the three-dimensional designed coordinate converter 34, are supplied to the three-dimensional image memory 341. The intensity signal Sb is stored in the cell of memory corresponding to the three-dimensional coordinates designed Q (X ', Y').

The operation of the three-dimensional coordinate converter designed with reference to FIG. 4. It is assumed that the two-dimensional coordinates of the target image element on the representation screen S is P (X, Y), and the reception intensity (intensity signal level Sb) of the radio wave reflected from the target is represented by SB (Sb = SB). Based on them, the three-dimensionally designed coordinate converter 34 obtains the three-dimensionally designed coordinates Q (X ', Y') in accordance with the perspective projection drawing method. In this process, the coordinate on the X axis, X 'as the coordinate of the image element on the representation screen S is represented as follows:

X '= X - Krx Y (if X ≥ 0 is given)

 = X + Krx Y (if X <0) ... (1)

where Kr is a positive constant selected properly.

On the other hand, the coordinate on the Y axis, Y 'is represented as follows, to perform the indication using a straight line that extends over a range of Y to Y'.

Y '= Y + KrSB… (2)

where Kr is a positive constant selected properly.

That is, the coordinates P (X, Y) of the objective P on the two-dimensional coordinates can be represented with the depth perception in accordance with the position in front or behind the subjective vessel on the three-dimensional coordinates so that the objective P is expressed to make the focus on the Y axis in the position in front of the subjective ship (Y≥0), and the objective P is expressed to make separation from the Y axis to the rear of the subjective ship (Y <0). The point of the objective P on the two-dimensional coordinates is represented on the coordinates designed in a three-dimensional manner so that the point expands in the vertical direction in response to the reception intensity SB (intensity signal level Sb) of the wave of radius reflected from the target P. Therefore, even if the height is the same, a target P located at a short distance is expressed by a long straight line, while a goal P located at a great distance is expressed by a straight line short. In this way, objective P is represented with three-dimensional effect. Therefore, the representation is easily seen and recognized by the user who is not accustomed to radar operation.

The coordinates designed in three dimensions Q (X ', Y'), which are calculated by the coordinate converter designed in three dimensions 34, are taken to the three-dimensional image memory 341. The reception intensity SB (intensity signal level) Sb) of the radio wave reflected from the target P is stored in each of the memory cells of the storage address (X ', Y to Y') as the corresponding memory address. The operation described above is repeated during a period in which the antenna 12 makes a revolution, that is, until the image corresponding to a screen on the display unit 42 is completed. There is no problem even when the reception intensity SB (level of the intensity signal Sb) of the radio wave reflected from the target P to be stored is a previously determined constant value.

The two-dimensional coordinates P (X, Y), which are calculated by the two-dimensional coordinate converter 32 described above, are taken to the two-dimensional image memory 321 simultaneously with the operation described above. The reception intensity SB (intensity signal level Sb) of the radio wave reflected from the target P is stored in the memory cell of the corresponding storage address (X, Y). The operation described above is repeated during the period in which the antenna 12 makes a revolution, that is, until the image corresponding to a screen on the display unit 42 is completed, in the same way as for the three-dimensionally designed information described above.

As described above, the last two-dimensional image and the last three-dimensionally designed image corresponding to a screen are stored in the two-dimensional image memory 321 and the three-dimensional image memory 341 respectively. The two image information elements are stored (represented) in the video memory 40 as the representation memory through the image controller 44.

The image controller 44 processes the image data, and performs the control operation as one or both of the two storage data elements selected and designated by the user or the user are stored in the video memory 40 navigator as a radar operator by the help of the operating unit 50, ie the image data in the two-dimensional image memory 321 and the image data in the three-dimensional image memory 341.

On the other hand, the dial generator 38 is provided to generate the coordinates of the image elements of the distance markers to be written into the video memory 40 based on the instruction from the operating unit 50. When the markers of distance is superimposed on the two-dimensional image, for example, the marking generator 38 generates a signal from the image element (concentric distance marking) for the coordinates corresponding to the concentric circles arranged at radius intervals of 1 mile from the position of the subjective ship (center O) as indicated by the symbols M11, M12, M13 in FIG. 5. When the distance markers are superimposed on the three-dimensionally designed image, for example, the marking generator 38 generates a signal from the image element (distance marking in the form of a grid based on perspective projection) for the coordinates corresponding to reticles arranged vertically and horizontally at 1 mile intervals from the position of the subjective ship (center O) as indicated by the symbols M21, M22, M23 in FIG. 6.

The output of the dial generator 38 is superimposed on the two-dimensional image data and the three-dimensionally designed image data to be stored in the video memory 40 by making the selection and designation by operating, for example, a predetermined switch of the unit of operation 50 by the user or the navigator as a radar operator with the help of the image controller 44, in the same way as for the data of the two-dimensional image and the three-dimensionally designed image described above. In this way, it is possible to represent on the representation unit 42, the image with respect to the two-dimensional image data (referred to as "two-dimensional image" or two-dimensional representation image ") and the image with respect to the designed image data of three-dimensional shape (referred to as "three-dimensionally designed image" or "three-dimensionally designed representation image") superimposed with the markers.

As described above, according to the three-dimensionally designed representation radar with respect to the present invention, the following operation can be performed by activating the operating unit 50 by the navigator as the radar operator. That is, the image controller 44 is used to store, in the video memory 40, any one or both image data in the two-dimensional image memory 321 and the image data in the three-dimensional image memory 341. Any one of the image with respect to the two-dimensional image data and the image with respect to the three-dimensionally designed image data can be selectively represented on the display unit 42. Alternatively, both the image with respect to the two-dimensional image data and The image with respect to the dimensionally designed image data can be simultaneously represented in combination on the display unit 42.

When the data of the two-dimensional image, the earth contours and the earth images L1, L2 are selected linearly on the representation screen S of the representation unit 42 in the same way as in the conventional technique as shown in the FIG. 5. The portion that has a higher reception intensity SB (intensity signal level Sb) is represented with a higher brightness thereof. When three-dimensionally designed image data is selected, the ground contours of the ground images L1, L2 are represented using lengths of the height images (in the Y direction) corresponding to the magnitude of the reception intensity SB ( intensity signal level Sb) of the radio wave reflected on the representation screen S of the representation unit 42 as shown in FIG. 6. In this way, the image is represented with depth perception and three-dimensional effect.

When both two-dimensional image data and three-dimensionally designed image data are selected, the two-dimensional image and the three-dimensionally designed image are shown in FIG. 5 and 6 simultaneously represented in combination on the representation screen S of the representation unit 42 as shown in FIG. 7. The navigator as a radar operator can simultaneously observe both images.

FIG. 5 and 6 are illustrative of the cases in which the markers to indicate the distance delivered by the marking generator 38 are superimposed on the two-dimensional image and the three-dimensionally designed image respectively to be represented on the representation screen S of the unit of representation 42.

In the example representation shown in FIG. 6 and the example representation shown in FIG. 7, the grid-shaped distance markers based on the perspective projection (M21, M22, M23), which are obtained by converting the distance marking signals in the form of a rectangular grid into XY coordinate values based on the method of Perspective projection drawing, are superimposed on the image designed in a three-dimensional manner to perform the representation on the representation screen S of the representation unit 42. However, there is no limitation for it. Another provision may be available. That is, as indicated by the symbols M31, M32, M33 in FIG. 8, substantially egg-shaped distance marking signals, which are obtained by converting concentric circular distance marking signals into XY coordinate values based on the perspective projection drawing method, are supplied from the generator dialing 38 to video memory 40. Substantially egg-shaped distance markings (M31, M32, M33) overlap on ground images L1, L2 which are images designed in a three-dimensional manner to render on the screen of representation S of the representation unit 42.

Substantially egg-shaped distance markings (M31, M32, M33) may also be subject to ON / OFF rendering (which may or may not be represented) in accordance with the control performed by the image controller 44 on the basis of the action performed by the operator using the operating unit 50.

Also in this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the three-dimensionally designed representation image and the two-dimensional representation image may be simultaneously represented in combination on the representation screen S of the representation unit 42 on the basis of the operation performed using the operation unit 50.

The following procedure is available for representation on the representation screen S of the representation unit 42 with respect to the examples shown in FIG. 5 to 9. That is, the reception intensity SB (intensity signal level Sb), which is stored in the video memory 40 corresponding to the coordinates (X, Y) of the image element of the display unit 42 , it is read to perform the representation while modulating with the modulator 41 for brightness, turbidity, or color of the image (signal) to be represented on the coordinates (X, Y) of the unit image element is performed of representation 42 corresponding to the magnitude (amplitude) of the reception intensity SB. In other words, in the example representations shown in FIG. 5 to 9, it is possible to change the brightness, turbidity or color of the ground images L1, L2 in response to the magnitude of the reception intensity SB.

Specifically, for example, the reception intensity SB of the reflected radio wave obtained from a single target provides a pulse-shaped reception intensity SB as shown in FIG. 10. The brightness is changed so that it is bright when the reception intensity SB is large, and it is dark as the reception intensity SB becomes small. Turbidity is changed so that the purity is high (the turbidity is low) where the reception intensity SB is large, and the purity is low (the turbidity is high) as the reception intensity SB becomes small. The color is gradually changed from red to orange, yellow, green and blue so that the wavelength gradually becomes shorter from the portion in which the reception intensity SB is greater for the next portion.

As described above, when rendering is performed although modulation of brightness, turbidity, or color is possible, it is possible to further improve the visual recognition of the objective. When representation is performed with brightness modulation, representation with turbidity modulation, or representation with color modulation, a logarithmic amplifier is used for receiver 22 to receive the reflected radio wave from the target. In this way, it is possible to increase the dynamic range, making it possible to provide a more effective representation.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating a three-dimensionally designed rendering radar 1A according to another embodiment of the present invention. The respective constituent components shown in FIG. 2 and the functions thereof are basically the same as the respective constituent components shown in FIG. 1. Those corresponding to them are designated by the same numerical references.

The three-dimensionally designed rendering radar 1A shown in FIG. 2 is different from the three-dimensionally designed representation radar shown in FIG. 1 in which the reception intensity SB and the output coordinates (X, Y) of the two-dimensional coordinate converter 32 entered in the three-dimensionally designed coordinate converter 34 are supplied from the output of the two-dimensional image memory 321. Even such an arrangement makes it possible to perform essentially the same operation as that performed by the three-dimensionally designed rendering radar 1 shown in FIG. one.

This embodiment is arranged so that the three-dimensionally designed coordinate converter 34 is connected to the operating unit 50A, and the desired rotation conversion operation is performed in addition to the three-dimensionally designed coordinate conversion operation, on the basis of the operation performed using the 50A operation unit. By doing so, the objective can be observed at a desired angle based on the image data extracted from the two-dimensional image memory 321. In this way, it is possible to provide the three-dimensionally designed rendering radar 1A which is more useful.

When the three-dimensionally designed representation is always represented as a normal form of representation, the following provision is available. That is, the three-dimensional image memory 341 is omitted, and the image data of the three-dimensionally designed coordinate converter 34 is stored directly in the video memory 40 through the image controller 44.

The three-dimensionally designed representation radars 1, 1A shown in FIG. 1 and 2 may be arranged such that, for example, a cross-shaped marking is generated from the marking generator 38. The cross-shaped marking M40, M41, enables the navigator as the radar operator to designate a point arbitrary on the representation screen S of the representation unit 42 by means of an input means such as a tracking ball or a joystick arranged for the operating unit 50. As shown in FIG. 7, when a specific position is pointed on the three-dimensionally designed representation screen S, then the cross-shaped marking M40 is represented on the three-dimensionally designed representation screen S along with the pointed position and the marking is also represented M41 cross-shaped in the corresponding position on the two-dimensional display

S. As described above, cross-shaped markings M40, M41 are represented in corresponding positions on both the three-dimensionally designed representation screen S and the two-dimensional representation screen S that are simultaneously represented in combination. In this way, the specified positions on the screens are allowed to correspond correctly with each other. The cross-shaped markings M40, M41 can be represented as a plurality of elements on both display screens S respectively, or they can be represented as other marks such as asterisks.

In addition, it is possible to provide three-dimensionally designed representation radars 1, 1A that are more convenient by making the arrangement so that the orientation and distance from the position of the subjective vessel (center O) for cross-shaped markings are represented. M40, M41, for example, using numerical values. Furthermore, if necessary, it is possible to omit the representation of the distance markings in the form of a grid in the three-dimensionally designed representation and the representation of the distance markings substantially in the form of an egg on the basis of the operation performed using the units operating 50, 50A so that the image can be easily observed.

As described above, in accordance with the three-dimensionally designed rendering radar with respect to the present invention, the following effect is achieved. That is, the concentric circular two-dimensional representation and the three-dimensionally designed representation to indicate the height of the target detected using the length (in the Y direction) of the representation image can be selectively represented, or both images can be represented simultaneously in combination, over the basis of the orientation, distance and reception intensity information that are obtained according to the process for the received signal as performed by the well-known radar.

Therefore, the three-dimensionally designed representation radar with respect to the present invention is advantageous in that the image of the objective provided with the depth perception and the effect of three dimensions is formed, making it possible to effectively observe the screen, and especially recognize the condition of the objective. Furthermore, it is possible to simultaneously represent both the two-dimensional representation image and the three-dimensionally designed representation image in combination. In this way the effect is obtained that no time is required to switch representation.

The following effects are also obtained. That is, distance marking can be selectively represented, and the three-dimensionally designed representation can be made from an arbitrary point of view.

Claims (11)

1. A three-dimensional rendering radar comprising: a radar transmission / reception section (10) to deduce an orientation signal (SO), a distance signal (Sr) and a reception intensity signal (Sb) with respect to a target respectively. a unit of representation (42); a representation memory (40) provided with a memory cell corresponding to each of the image elements on said representation unit (42), to read the image data stored in said memory cell for supply to said representation unit ; a two-dimensional coordinate converter (32) for converting said orientation signal and said distance signal into XY coordinate values to be used for two-dimensional screen representation; a two-dimensional image memory (321) for storing said reception intensity signal as two-dimensional image data (x, y) in said memory cell designated by said XY coordinate values; a three-dimensional coordinate converter (34) for converting said orientation signal and said distance signal into coordinate values (x ', y') based on a perspective projection drawing method, and converting said signal from reception intensity in an indication signal (Sb) to indicate a height of said target with a length of a straight line; the dimensionally designed representation reader characterized in that it also includes: an image controller (44) for selectively removing said representation memory (40), one or both of said two-dimensional image data (x, y) taken from said two-dimensional image memory (321) and the designed image data from three-dimensional shape (x ', y', Sb) taken from said three-dimensionally designed coordinate converter (34) on the basis of an operator instruction, in which: either one or both of a two-dimensional image with respect to said two-dimensional image data (x, y) and a three-dimensionally designed image with respect to said three-dimensionally designed image data (x ', y', Sb) are represented on said representation unit (42) on the basis of the control performed by said image controller (44); and a modulator (41), in which: said modulator (41) is supplied with said indication signal (Sb) to indicate said reception intensity signal as said height of said target with said length of said straight line, as data of said image data designed in a three-dimensional manner from said representation memory (40), and in which the modulator (41) supplies a change signal to change the brightness, turbidity, or color corresponding to the magnitude of said indication signal (Sb) for said representation unit ( 42) so that said brightness, said turbidity, or said color are changed and represented on said representation unit (42) depending on the heights of the individual portions of said objective.

2.

The three-dimensional rendering radar according to claim 1, further comprising:

a marking generator (38), wherein: said marking generator (38) converts the distance marking signals in the form of a rectangular grid into XY coordinate values based on said perspective projection drawing method to obtain signals for marking distances in the form of a grid based on the perspective projection (M21, M22, M23) that are supplied to said representation memory (40) when said three-dimensionally designed image is represented on a screen in said representation unit ( 42).

3.

The three-dimensional representation radar according to claim 2, wherein said distance marking signals in the form of a grid based on the perspective projection supplied from said marking generator (38) selectively overlap said data of image designed in a three-dimensional way on the basis of an instruction of said operator.

Four.

The three-dimensional rendering radar according to claim 1, further comprising:

a marking generator (38), in which: said marking generator (38) supplies concentric circular distance marking signals (M11, M12, M13) to said representation memory (40) when said two-dimensional image is represented on a screen of said representation unit (42).

5.

The three-dimensional rendering radar according to claim 4, wherein said concentric circular distance marking signals supplied from said marking generator (38)

they overlap selectively over said two-dimensional image data based on an instruction of said operator.

6.

The three-dimensional rendering radar according to claim 1, further comprising:

a marking generator (38), wherein: said marking generator (38) converts the concentric circular distance marking signals into XY coordinate values based on said perspective projection drawing method to obtain marking signals of substantially egg-shaped distances (M31, M32, M33) that are supplied to said representation memory (40) when said three-dimensionally designed image is represented on a screen of said representation unit (42).

7.

The three-dimensionally designed rendering radar according to claim 6, wherein said substantially egg-shaped distance marking signals supplied from said marking generator (38) selectively overlap on said three-dimensionally designed image data on the basis of an instruction of said operator.

8.

The representation radar is designed in a three-dimensional manner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said marking generator (38) also generates a cross-shaped marking (M40, M41) in a designated position on said screen of said representation unit (42) based on an instruction of said operator.

9.

The three-dimensionally designed representation radar according to claim 8, wherein said cross-shaped markings are represented in said designated positions corresponding to each other on said two-dimensional representation image and said three-dimensionally designed representation image represented on said unit of representation respectively.

10.

The three-dimensional rendering radar according to claim 1, further comprising:

a marking generator (38), in which: said marking generator (38) converts the distance marking signals in the form of a rectangular grid or concentric circular distance marking signals into XY coordinate values based on said perspective projection drawing method respectively to obtain the signals of distance marking in the form of a grid based on perspective projection or substantially egg-shaped distance marking signals that are supplied to said representation memory when said three-dimensionally designed image is represented on a screen of said representation unit ( 42) so that said distance marking signals in the form of a grid based on perspective projection or said substantially egg-shaped distance marking signals selectively overlap on said three-dimensionally designed image data on the basis of a instruction of said op treasury. said marking generator (38) also supplies concentric circular distance marking signals to said representation memory (40) when said two-dimensional image is represented on said display of said representation unit (42) so that said distance marking signals concentric circulars selectively overlap said two-dimensional image data on the basis of an instruction of said operator, and said marking generator (38) also generates cross-shaped markings at designated positions on said display of said representation unit (42) on the basis of an instruction of said operator so that said cross-shaped markings are represented in said designated positions corresponding to another on said two-dimensional representation image and said three-dimensionally designed representation image on said representation unit (42) respectively. 11. The three-dimensionally designed representation radar according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said three-dimensionally designed coordinate converter (34) applies rotation to the coordinate conversion operation of said converter. three-dimensional designed coordinates (34) based on an instruction of said operator.