JP2008157884A - Radar device and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform tracking or detecting of a target by a method wherein only a tracking image in a designated region is erased and a tracking image of the target to be tracked or detected is left as it is. <P>SOLUTION: Data in a memory with a small capacity having a size of an erasing region written therein are read by using an address of an X count value and a Y count value of an erasing timing generation section in the event of the erasing operation, and then the data are used as a template of the erasing region. By enabling the high speed erasing, a large region can be erased even by using the small template while moving an erasing-designated portion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading a received detection signal in an image memory over an entire circumference in a radar or sonar device and then reading out the data of the image memory and displaying it on a display. The present invention relates to a wake display device that displays a track.

  The wake of the ship used in the ship radar can be obtained by accumulating and recording past images of the target. As a result, a moving target such as a navigating ship is drawn with a tail, and the traveling direction and speed of another ship can be grasped by the direction and length of the tail. In the case of sonar, it is possible to grasp the trend of the school of fish.

  However, by simply accumulating, unnecessary noise is accumulated with the passage of time, making it difficult to view the video. In order to prevent this, only a certain amount of track is displayed, and the old track is not automatically displayed. There is also an erasure function that erases and initializes all track screens and re-records from the beginning.

  With respect to the conventional structure of the radar apparatus having such a function, each part will be described with reference to FIG.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a radar antenna, which emits a pulsed radio wave at a certain period while rotating on a horizontal plane at a certain period, and at the same time receives a radio wave reflected by a target.

  A receiving unit 2 detects and amplifies the received signal received by the antenna 1.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes an AD converter that converts the analog signal obtained by the receiver 2 into a digital signal.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a sweep memory, which stores the data for one sweep AD-converted by the AD conversion unit 3 in real time, and stores the data for one sweep until the data obtained by the next transmission is written again. This is a buffer for writing to the image memory.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a radial drawing address generating unit, which starts from the center of the sweep and moves from the center to the periphery, for example, the angle θ of the antenna with reference to the bow direction and the corresponding orthogonal coordinates from the read position of the sweep memory 4 The address which designates the pixel of the image memory arranged in is created.

Specifically, it is configured by hardware that realizes the following equation.
X = Xs + r · sin θ
Y = Ys + r · cos θ
However,
X, Y: Address that specifies the pixel of the image memory Xs, Ys: Center address r: Distance from the center θ: Sweep angle, starting from one point and changing direction in synchronization with antenna rotation, Sweep from the starting point to the surroundings. In the present application, this drawing will be described as radial drawing (see FIG. 7).

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a current video image memory, which has a storage capacity for one screen and stores a current target video obtained by rotating the antenna. Further, the image memory is read out in synchronization with the scanning of the display by a display control unit (not shown), and the data stored in the display output combining unit is output.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a wake data detection unit, which outputs to the wake data generation unit 11 that there is target data when the received data is a certain threshold value or more.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a FIRST / LAST detector, which has a function of detecting the first or last access to the same pixel. Since the pixel on the past video image memory needs to be updated only once for each rotation of the antenna, the image memory is updated only when one of the signals FIRST and LAST is detected. This operation has been disclosed in detail in previous applications by the applicant, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-582 (FIRST) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-352212 (both).

  Reference numeral 9 denotes a wake time setting unit that determines a period of a subtraction timing signal generated by a subtraction timing generation unit 10 described later. The period of the subtraction timing signal is displayed by setting only the past video for the set time by changing the subtraction timing period determined by the time length of the wake to be set and the number of bits per pixel of the past video image memory 12 described later. Do not display past video older than time.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a subtraction timing generation unit, which performs subtraction timing over one antenna rotation period for each period determined by the wake time length set by the wake time setting unit 9 and the number of bits per pixel of the past video image memory 12 described later. Output a signal.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a wake data generation unit, inputs from the wake data detection unit 7, the FIRST / LAST detection unit 8 and the subtraction timing generation unit 10, an erasure timing signal generated by an all erasure processing timing generation unit 25 described later, and past video Write data to the past video image memory 12 is generated from the pixel data before one rotation of the antenna read from the video image memory 12 (see FIG. 2).

  Reference numeral 12 denotes an image memory for past video, which has a storage capacity for one screen, and accumulates and stores past video for a predetermined time. Further, the image memory is read out in synchronization with the scanning of the display by a display control unit (not shown), and the data is output to the display output synthesis unit.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a display output synthesis unit which synthesizes the current video in the current video image memory 6 and the past video in the past video image memory 12 to superimpose and display the current position of the target and the past video. In order to discriminate between the current video and the past video, the display colors of both are changed, and when both exist at the same time, the current video side is preferentially displayed. The output of the past video is proportional to the pixel value of the past video image memory, thereby creating data that can be displayed by reducing the luminance of the past video in proportion to the passage of time.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a display, which uses a CRT, LCD or the like.

  Reference numeral 25 denotes an all-erasing timing generation unit which generates an erasing address and erasing write data “0” for erasing all areas of the past video image memory in response to a command from an operation unit (not shown).

  Reference numeral 16 denotes a selector, which selects the radial drawing address generating unit 5 side during normal drawing, and for erasing generated by the all erasing processing timing generating unit 25 only during the erasing period generated by the all erasing processing timing generating unit 25 during erasing. An address is selected and used as the address for writing to the past video image memory.

  The operation of the prior art configured as described above will be described below.

In FIG. 2, the processing operation of the wake data generation unit 11 is as follows.
When E = 1, set F = '0' and erase.
If E = 0 and C = 0, set F = B and do not update.
In the case of E = 0 and C = 1,
If A = 1, F = maximum value, and if the target exists, write the maximum value.
When A = 0 and D = 0, F = B, and when there is no target and when it is not the subtraction timing, it is not updated.
When A = 0 and D = 1, F = B−1, and when there is no target and subtraction timing, subtract by “1” (however, the minimum value of F is 0 and is a negative value) Not).

  As described above, the generation period of the subtraction timing signal output from the subtraction timing generation unit 10 is changed, and only a wake for a predetermined time is displayed.

  When the set time = T seconds and the maximum count number determined by the bit configuration of the pixels of the past video image memory 12 by the process of the wake data generation unit 11, if the target exists, the pixel value (count value) = N is written to the past video image memory 12, and the same pixel value is written when the target does not exist and the subtraction timing is not reached. In the case where there is no target and the subtraction timing is one rotation period of the antenna that occurs every period (T / N) seconds of the subtraction timing signal, the pixel value −1 is written.

  As a result, after the pixel value is set to N when the target exists, the pixel in which the target is not detected due to the movement of the target becomes 0 after T seconds, the past image disappears, and only the track for T seconds is displayed. .

  For example, if one pixel of the past video image memory 12 is composed of 4 bits, the numerical value that can be represented by 4 bits is 0 to 15, so N = 15.

  When the set time T = 3 minutes, the period of the subtraction timing signal output from the subtraction timing generator 10 is T / N = 3 · 60/15 = 12 (seconds).

  When the set time T = 30 minutes, the period of the subtraction timing signal output from the subtraction timing generator 10 is T / N = 30 · 60/15 = 120 (seconds).

  If the minimum value after subtraction is set to 1 and pixels with a value equal to or greater than 1 are displayed, it is possible to continuously display past tracks of existing targets without disappearing.

  Further, when the wake display is displayed as the luminance proportional to the pixel value, the luminance can be displayed in a stepwise manner from the new wake to the old wake (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, a wake image erasing area display image memory for displaying the set wake image erasing range, “0” level data in the set wake image erasing range, and “1” level data in the others are stored. A wake video erasure data image memory is provided, and during the wake video erasure period, the new wake video data and the data read from the wake video erasure data image memory are ANDed. A technique for erasing only the wake image of the designated area (by “radial drawing” in the present application) by outputting the image data as it is as the update wake image data has already been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ).

JP 2004-361126 A JP2000-075016

  However, it has been found that the conventional radar apparatus as described above has the following problems.

  First, in the method of Patent Document 1, when unnecessary signals such as sea surface reflections, rain and snow reflections, and interference waves with other radar devices are drawn as past images, unnecessary images are accumulated and displayed over time. This hinders the observation of necessary targets. Conventionally, it has been necessary to wait until an unnecessary video disappears as time elapses, or once erase all and re-record from the beginning.

  Further, in the method of the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, after an erase area is once drawn in an image memory for past video erase data having a capacity of one screen by an operation for designating an erase area, this is used as a template for antenna rotation. The corresponding past video is erased by drawing based on it. Therefore, it is known that there is a problem that a large-capacity memory is required and that the erase operation takes one time because the erase is executed by one rotation of the antenna (that is, “radial drawing”).

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to move a position to be erased to an arbitrary position by specifying a position to erase and a time zone to be erased in an unnecessary past video, and adding a function for quickly erasing the designated position. It is to provide a wake display device that can be continuously erased while being easy to erase.

    The radar apparatus and the similar apparatus of the present invention synthesize current image data based on received data obtained by one rotation of an antenna and wake image data obtained based on the received data, and thereby position the current target. In a radar apparatus and a similar apparatus that simultaneously output the wake of the target and the target image, the current image data storage unit 6 that stores the current image data, the past image image storage unit 12 that stores the wake image data, A past video memory drawing data creation unit 17 that creates data to be written to the past video image storage unit 12 and a past video memory drawing data creation unit 17 that changes each pixel data constituting the wake image data at a predetermined cycle. The wake data generating unit 11 to output, the wake time setting unit 9 for arbitrarily setting the wake display length of the wake image data by time, and the wake time A subtraction timing generation unit 10 that outputs a subtraction timing signal for each period determined by the time length of the wake set by the fixing unit 9 and the number of bits per pixel of the past video image memory 12, and the past video image storage unit 12, the erasing process timing generation unit 15 for designating an area to be erased, and the wake image data and the designated erasure data are synthesized by the past video memory drawing data creation unit 17. And a display output combining unit 13 for combining and outputting the data output to the past video image storage unit 12 and the current image data.

    Further, the radar apparatus and the similar apparatus of the present invention are an image memory having a capacity for one screen, an erasing area display memory 19 for drawing a position and a size for erasing the wake image data, and the erasing area The display memory includes an address for drawing the position and size for erasing the wake image data, and an erasing area mark generating unit 18 for generating write data.

  In addition, the past video memory drawing data creation unit 17 of the radar device and the similar device of the present invention erases the wake image data in accordance with the erasure processing period signal and the input from the erasure processing timing generation unit 15 for generating the erasure area data. It is characterized by.

    Further, the past video memory drawing data creation unit 17 of the radar device and the similar device of the present invention further erases the wake image data in accordance with the input from the erasure time zone setting unit 20 for designating the time zone for performing the erasure process. It is characterized by.

With the above configuration,
(1) Since the time required for one erasing operation is short, unnecessary past images are continuously erased by continuously executing the erasing operation while moving the erasing position to an arbitrary position by the trackball operation. Can.
(2) The size of the area to be erased can be selected by one erasing operation. By selecting a size suitable for the erasing target, it is possible to quickly and easily correct a small area or a large area. Possible.
(3) Unnecessary video “time zone” can be specified from past video and can be deleted.
There is an effect.

  A radar apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. The numbers in FIG. 3 are the same for the functions similar to those of the conventional apparatus. Further, the description of the same function as that of the conventional apparatus is omitted, and only a new function is described.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a display output combining unit which inputs and combines the output of the erasing area display memory 19 in addition to the current video and past video image memory 12 of the conventional current video image memory 6 and displays the erasing area display on the display screen. Are displayed in layers.

  An erasure processing timing generation unit 15 generates an erasing process period signal, an erasing address, and erasing area data for erasing a position-specified portion of the past video image memory.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a past video memory drawing data creation unit, which outputs wake data from the wake data generation unit 11, read data from the past video image memory 12, erasure period output and erasure area data from the erasure timing generation unit 15, Write data of the past video image memory 12 is created from the output of the erase time zone setting unit 20 (see FIG. 4).

  An erasure area mark generator 18 generates an address and write data for drawing in the erasure area display memory 20 with the position and size to be corrected of the past video as marks. Note that it is not necessary to use a dedicated processing unit, and it may also be used as a graphic controller or the like for drawing other cursor graphics to be displayed on the radar screen.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes an erasure area display memory, which is an image memory having a capacity for one screen, which draws a figure to be displayed as a mark indicating a position for correcting a past image and a size for correction, and is displayed by a display control unit (not shown). The image memory is read out in synchronization with the scanning of the display device, and the mark display data is output to the display output composition unit. Note that it is not necessary to use a dedicated memory, and it can also be used as a memory for drawing cursor data to be displayed on the radar screen (that is, drawing a cursor mark that moves on the screen by operating the trackball) It is also possible to use the same memory).

  The erase position is displayed by the CPU reading the operation amount of a pointing device such as a trackball and drawing a mark indicating the erase position in the erase area display memory 19. At the same time, the CPU gives Xs, Ys, N, and M to the erase processing timing generation unit 15.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes an erasure time zone setting unit for designating a time zone to be erased by the user.

  Next, position designation deletion will be described with reference to FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 8, FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the erasure processing timing generation unit 15, FIG. 6 is a timing chart of the erasure timing generation unit 115 in the erasure processing timing generation unit 15, and FIG. FIG. 9 shows a template memory, and FIG. 10 shows a diagram showing an example in which the size of the template shown in FIG. 9 is changed.

The operation of the erase timing generator 15 is as follows.
(1) An erase start trigger is generated when the partial erase operation of the operation unit is turned ON.
(2) The erase period signal is set to 1 by the erase start trigger, and the X-direction counter is incremented by one by the clock.
(3) When the X-direction length setting value N = X count value, the X-direction counter is reset and the value = 0. At the same time, the Y direction counter is incremented by one.
(4) The above operation is repeated until the Y-direction length setting value M = Y count value.
(5) Y direction length setting value = Y count value, erase period signal = 0, and the erase operation is stopped and terminated.

  The generation of erase drawing addresses X and Y is as follows (see FIGS. 5 and 8).

  The adder adds the X count value generated by the erase timing generation unit and the erase area start point address Xs on the past video image memory to obtain an erase address in the X direction (X = Xs + n). The adder adds the Y count value and the erase area start point address Ys on the past video image memory to obtain an erase address in the X direction (Y = Ys + m). It is possible to specify the pixels of the past video image memory by the erase addresses in the X direction and the Y direction. The erase area start point addresses Xs and Ys are determined by moving the trackball.

  n is the number of pixels in the X direction from the erase start point on the past video memory, and m is the number of pixels in the Y direction from the erase start point on the past video memory.

  Further, the selector in FIG. 5 selects either the template memory output side or the erase region period signal side by selecting the erase region data.

  Next, the function of the template memory will be described (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

  The template memory is a 1-bit memory in which the size of the area to be erased in one erase operation is written, and the X count value and Y count value of the erase timing generation unit are read as addresses during the erase operation.

  By selecting the erase area data, the selector output in FIG. 5 is set to the template memory output side. For example, assuming that the erase area is circular, the erase area = '1', and the non-erasure area = '0', the past image is erased when the data read from the template memory during the erase process period = '1', and '0' If ', the past image memory is not changed. Since a large area can be erased by moving a designated position even with a small template, the capacity of the template memory may be small enough to write a small template. The size of the erase area can be changed by changing the radius of the circle (see FIG. 10).

  Next, the entire screen batch erasing operation will be described (see FIG. 5).

  The full-screen batch erasing function is a function that is also prepared in the conventional radar device, but in the present application, when initializing the entire past video image memory, the same size as the capacity of the past video image memory, The length setting values in the X direction and the Y direction are set, and at the same time, the erase processing period signal side is set as erase area data by selecting the erase area data. That is, in FIG. 8, N is set to the size in the X direction and M is set to the size in the Y direction, which is necessary for initializing the entire image memory for past video, so that a template is not used and the conventional method is used. A large area can be erased all over the screen.

  Next, a method for erasing the designated time will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, the processing operation of the past video memory drawing data creation unit 17 is as follows.
-When B = 0, F = A, and at the time of radial drawing, the output of the wake data generator is W data.
In the case of B = 1, and C = 1 and (n1 ≦ E ≦ n2), F = “0”, the erasure processing period and the erasure area data = 1, and the pixel data E of the past video image memory is , N1 to n2 is erased.
In other cases, F = E and the past video image memory is not updated.

  For example, if one pixel of the past video image memory 12 is composed of 4 bits, the numerical value that can be represented by 4 bits is 0 to 15, so N = 15. Therefore, when the set time T = 15 minutes Pixel value = 1 corresponds to 1 minute.

Therefore, depending on the combination of time designations n1 and n2,
n1 = 0, n2 = 15: All erasures n1 = 15, n2 = 15: Erasing images whose elapsed time is less than 1 minute n1 = 0, n2 = 5: Erasing images whose elapsed time is 10 minutes or more It is possible to erase freely by specifying the time.

  As an application example of timed erasure, when adjusting the image by gain, if unnecessary signals such as sea surface reflections are temporarily stored in the past screen, it is necessary to erase by deleting as a time setting to erase only new ones It is possible to save past images without erasure without being erased.

  The operation procedure of the apparatus using the present application configured as described above is as follows.

  In the case of a designated area erasing operation (basic operation), first, the erasing mode is turned ON by an operation with an operation unit such as a keyboard.

  Next, the size of the area to be erased by one erase operation is determined by the mark size selection operation, and the erase time area is designated by the time area designation operation.

  Then, the trackball of the operation unit is operated to move the mark to the position to be erased. When the erase operation is turned on in the operation unit, the erase operation is activated and the designated area is erased.

  In the case of continuous erasure, the continuous erasure in the operation unit is turned on, and the mark is moved by the trackball operation. The erase operation is continuously activated, and the moved area is continuously erased (see FIG. 11).

  When erasing all screens at once, set all screens to be erased all at the operation unit. Erase all screens all at once regardless of mark size and erase position designation.

  The relationship between radial drawing and erasure drawing is as follows. When the radial drawing access and the erasing drawing access occur simultaneously with respect to the past video image memory, one is given priority and the other is drawn in the free time.

  For example, when priority is given to radial drawing, since the drawing access is generated only in the case of FIRST or LAST in the radial drawing, the frequency of occurrence of the radial drawing access is low, and the erase access only during the time when the radial drawing is not performed is sufficiently short. Erasing is complete.

  As a result, as a whole, radial drawing and erase drawing are executed in parallel.

Block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of a conventional radar device Detailed view of conventional track data generator Block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the radar device of the present application Detailed view of the wake data generator of this application Detailed view of the erase timing generator of this application Timing chart showing operation of erase timing generator Diagram showing how the radial drawing address advances Diagram showing how the erase drawing address advances Diagram showing an example of template memory The figure which shows the example at the time of changing the magnitude | size of the template shown in FIG. Diagram showing an example of continuous erase operation

Explanation of symbols

1-radar antenna 3-AD converter 4-sweep memory 5-radial drawing address generating unit 6-current video image memory 7-track data detecting unit 8-FIRST / LAST detecting unit 9-track time setting unit 10-subtraction timing Generation unit 11-Track data generation unit 12-Past video image memory 14-Display 15-Erase processing timing generation unit 16-Erase time setting unit 17-Past video memory drawing data creation unit 18-Erase area mark generation unit 19 -Erase area display memory

Claims (4)

The current image data based on the received data obtained by one rotation of the antenna and the wake image data obtained based on the received data are combined to output the current target position and the target wake simultaneously. In radar equipment and similar equipment,
A current video image storage unit for storing the current image data;
A past video image storage unit for storing the wake image data;
A past video memory drawing data creation unit for creating data to be written to the past video image storage unit;
A wake data generating unit that outputs the past video memory drawing data creating unit while changing each pixel data constituting the wake image data at a predetermined cycle;
A wake time setting unit for arbitrarily setting the wake display length of the wake image data by time,
A subtraction timing generation unit that outputs a subtraction timing signal for each period determined by the wake time length set by the wake time setting unit and the number of bits per pixel of the past video image memory;
Of the wake image data stored in the past video image storage unit, an erasure processing timing generation unit for designating an area to be erased;
Display output for synthesizing and outputting the current image data and the data output by combining the wake image data and the designated erasure data in the past video memory drawing data creation unit and outputting them to the past video image storage unit A synthesis unit;
A radar apparatus and a similar apparatus comprising: The radar apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image memory having a capacity for one screen, and an erasing area display memory for drawing a position and a size for erasing the wake image data;
In the erase area display memory, an erase area mark generating section for generating an address and write data for drawing the position and size for erasing the wake image data,
It is characterized by providing. The past video memory drawing data creation unit
3. The radar apparatus and the similar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wake image data is erased in accordance with an erasure processing period signal and an input from an erasure processing timing generation unit for generating erasure area data. The past video memory drawing data creation unit further includes:
4. The radar apparatus and similar apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the wake image data is erased in accordance with an input from an erasure time zone setting unit for designating a time zone for performing erasure processing.