JP2002098751A - Radar system, and signal transmission cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance convenience between an antenna part and a display part to enhance convenience in outdoor setting, in particular. SOLUTION: In this radar system of a type of which the antenna part 1 and the display part 2 are divided, a transmission cable 100 is used to connect the antenna part 1 to the display part 2. The cable 100 is provided with a connectors 3, 4 in its both ends, and an optical fiber cable F for connecting the connectors 3, 4. The connectors 3, 4 have electrically connecting connectors 5, 6 respectively, and the cable 100 is connected to the antenna part 1 and the display part 2 via the connectors 5, 6. An electric/photo converter 31 and photo/electric converter 41 are provided in the signal transmission cable 100, and information transmission between the antenna part 1 and the display part 2 is carried out in a form of a light signal via an optical fiber 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radar device in which an antenna portion and an image display portion are divided, and a signal transmission cable used in such a radar device, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional mobile radar device will be described with reference to FIGS. This type of radar apparatus includes an antenna unit 1 and a display unit 2 and connects them by a signal line. In particular, in the case of a high-power radar, the influence on the human body can be reduced, for example, by separating the antenna unit 1 from the display unit independently.

[0003] The radar echo received by the antenna 11 is processed by the reception processing device 12 to generate digital video data. This video data is transmitted to the display 21 of the display unit 2 via a signal line, and is used for image display.

In FIG. 3, an electric cable C is used for transmitting data such as video data. For this reason, there are problems that the transmission distance is limited, that the transmission is easily affected by external noise, and that external noise is generated.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration in which the electric cable C is replaced with an optical fiber cable F in order to solve such a problem, and signal transmission is performed using optical signals.
This configuration is effective when the optical fiber cable F is always connected.

[0006] However, in the mobile radar device, the optical fiber cable F is frequently removed because the device is frequently opened and withdrawn in the field. For this reason, there is a possibility that dust or the like may adhere to the optical connector portion, and the connection operation cannot be performed easily. If dust adheres to the optical connector, the optical signal may be attenuated and become unusable. At present, in order to avoid this risk, a connection using an electric signal is often used, but this also does not satisfy the requirements due to the above-described circumstances.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional mobile radar device in which the antenna unit and the display unit are separately connected, the transmission distance is limited when the connection is made by an electric signal. However, there has been a problem that the apparatus is susceptible to external noise and generates external noise. On the other hand, when the antenna unit and the display unit are connected via an optical signal, there is a problem that the optical connector portion is weak to dust, and inconvenience is particularly large in outdoor construction.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide a radar device and a signal transmission cable which improve convenience of connection between an antenna unit and a display unit, and particularly improve convenience in outdoor construction.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a radar apparatus according to the present invention radiates a transmission radar wave, receives a radar echo, and generates video data from the radar echo. A display unit connected to the antenna unit via a signal transmission cable, and configured to generate and display a video image from the video data transmitted from the antenna unit via the signal transmission cable; An optical fiber, a first electrical connector detachably provided to the antenna section, a second electrical connector detachably provided to the display section, the first electrical connector and the optical connector. A first photoelectric conversion unit provided between one end of the fiber and performing photoelectric conversion of a signal transmitted and received between the antenna unit and the display unit; A second photoelectric conversion unit that is provided between a second electrical connector and the other end of the optical fiber and that performs photoelectric conversion of a signal transmitted and received between the antenna unit and the display unit; It is characterized by.

[0010] The signal transmission cable according to the present invention comprises:
An optical fiber, an electrical connector formed at both ends of the optical fiber and detachably provided with a connection partner,
Provided between the electrical connector and the optical fiber, the electrical signal from the electrical connector is converted to an optical signal and sent to the optical fiber, and the optical signal from the optical fiber is converted to an electrical signal. And a photoelectric conversion unit for sending the signal to the electrical connector.

By taking such measures, the signal transmission cable is electrically connected to the antenna unit and the display unit via the first and second electrical connectors. As a result, the connection operation can be simplified and adverse effects such as poor contact due to dust or the like can be enhanced.

Signal transmission between the antenna unit and the display unit is realized in the form of an electric signal via an optical fiber by the first and second photoelectric conversion means. As a result, the distance over which signal transmission can be performed can be increased, and the effect of external noise can be reduced.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radar apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, FIG.
4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and only different portions will be described here. In this radar device, an antenna unit 1 and a display unit 2 are connected by a signal transmission cable 100. The signal transmission cable 100 has a connector section 3 connected to the antenna section 1, a connector section 4 connected to the display section 2, and an optical fiber cable F connecting the connector sections 3 and 4.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the signal transmission cable 100 of FIG. Signal transmission cable 100
Is connected to the antenna unit 1 via the electrical connection connector 5. The connector unit 3 includes an electric / optical converter 31 and an optical / electric converter 41 for providing an electric / optical interface between the electric connector 5 and the optical fiber cable F.

Similarly, the connector section 4 is connected to the display section 2 via an electrical connector 6. Connector section 4
Is an electrical / optical converter 31 for providing an electrical / optical interface between the electrical connector 6 and the optical fiber cable F;
The optical / electrical conversion unit 41 is provided. Here, the electrical / optical converter 31 and the optical / electric converter 41 of the connector units 3 and 4 are:
They are connected to each other via an optical fiber 8.

That is, in this embodiment, the optical fiber cable F of the signal transmission cable 100 is used for data transmission, and the electrical connectors 5 and 6 are used for attaching and detaching the signal transmission cable 100.
Note that the electrical connectors 5, 6 may have different shapes (male type, female type) from each other to prevent reverse connection.

In the above configuration, the reception signal obtained by the antenna 11 of the antenna unit 1 is converted into digital video data by the reception processing device 12. This digital video data is supplied to the electrical / optical converter 3 via the electrical connector 5.
The optical signal is converted to an optical signal and transmitted to the connector unit 4 via the optical fiber 8.

In the connector section 4, an optical signal arriving via the optical fiber 8 is converted back to an electric signal by the optical / electrical converter 41 and becomes digital video data of the electric signal. This digital video signal is sent to the display unit 21, where a video image is displayed.

In addition, when data such as data from the antenna unit 1 is transmitted to the display unit 2, similarly, electrical / optical conversion and optical / electrical conversion are performed in the connector units 3 and 4.
Data transmission is performed via the optical fiber 8. Further, regarding transmission of a control signal or the like from the display unit 2 to the antenna unit 1, the electrical / optical converter 31 of the connector unit 4 converts the signal into an optical signal and returns the electrical signal with the optical / electric converter 41 of the connector unit 3. Thus, it can be implemented in the form of optical transmission via the optical fiber 8.

As described above, in this embodiment, the antenna unit 1
And a display unit 2 in which a signal transmission cable 10 is connected to the antenna unit 1 and the display unit 2.
Use 0. The signal transmission cable 100 includes connector portions 3 and 4 at both ends thereof and an optical fiber cable F connecting the connector portions 3 and 4. The connector sections 3 and 4 have electrical connectors 5 and 6, respectively, and connect the signal transmission cable 100 to the antenna section 1 and the display section 2 via the electrical connectors 5 and 6. In addition, the signal transmission cable 100
An electrical / optical converter 31 and an optical / electrical converter 41 are provided on the optical fiber 8 to transmit information between the antenna unit 1 and the display unit 2.
This is performed by an optical signal passing through.

As described above, by transmitting information between the antenna unit 1 and the display unit 2 in the form of optical transmission using the optical fiber 8, it is possible to increase the data transmission distance and reduce the influence of external noise. Can be achieved. In addition, since the signal transmission cable 100 and the antenna unit 1 and the display unit 2 are electrically connected and disconnected via the electrical connectors 5 and 6, the influence of dust and the like can be reduced, and the attaching and detaching operation itself is simple. Therefore, it is possible to promote improvement of convenience particularly in outdoor operation. That is, the convenience of the connection between the antenna unit and the display unit can be improved, and it is possible to provide a radar device and a signal transmission cable that improve convenience particularly in outdoor construction.

[0023]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the convenience of connection between the antenna unit and the display unit can be improved, thereby improving the convenience particularly in outdoor construction. It is possible to provide a radar device and a signal transmission cable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radar device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the signal transmission cable 100 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional mobile radar device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional mobile radar device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Antenna part 11 ... Antenna 12 ... Reception processing device 13 ... Electric / optical conversion part 2 ... Display part 21 ... Display 22 ... Optical / electrical conversion part C ... Electric cable F ... Optical fiber cable 3, 4 ... Connector part 31 ... Electrical / optical converter 41 ... Optical / electrical converter 5,6 ... Electrical connector 8 ... Optical fiber 100 ... Signal transmission cable

Claims (2)

[Claims] An antenna for receiving a radar echo by radiating a transmission radar wave and generating video data from the radar echo; and an antenna connected to the antenna via a signal transmission cable;
A display unit that generates and displays a video image from the video data transmitted from the antenna unit via the signal transmission cable, wherein the signal transmission cable is detachable from the optical fiber and the antenna unit. A first electrical connector provided, a second electrical connector detachably provided to the display unit, and an antenna provided between the first electrical connector and one end of the optical fiber; A first photoelectric conversion unit for performing photoelectric conversion of a signal transmitted and received between a unit and the display unit; and the antenna unit provided between the second electrical connector and the other end of the optical fiber. And a second photoelectric conversion unit for performing photoelectric conversion of a signal transmitted and received between the display unit and the display unit. 2. An optical fiber; an electrical connector formed at both ends of the optical fiber and detachably provided to a connection partner; and an electrical connector provided between the electrical connector and the optical fiber; Photoelectric conversion means for converting an electrical signal from the connector into an optical signal and sending the signal to the optical fiber, and converting the optical signal from the optical fiber into an electrical signal and sending the signal to the electrical connector. Characteristic signal transmission cable.