JP2009192355A - Radar device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radar device that automatically outputs target information about a speed, a distance or an angle resolution to be needed so as to perform an operation of an adequate mode corresponding to a tracking condition of a target in order to stably perform tracking or identifying of the target. <P>SOLUTION: A data setting section 2A computes an FFT number satisfying a speed resolution on the basis of an operation mode, a mode parameter and the speed resolution obtained from a sensor control section 1A, and outputs a signal processing parameter including the FFT number to a target detecting section 6. The target detecting section 6 performs signal processing on the basis of the signal processing parameter including the FFT number received from the data setting section 2A so as to detect a target. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a radar apparatus using a phased array antenna that performs target detection and tracking.

  The radar device is for detecting and tracking an object. As an example of such a system, a conventional technique configured by an apparatus that performs transmission / reception of radio waves and signal processing is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the radar device, various parameters necessary for transmission / reception and signal processing are determined and instructed to perform beam scanning into space and signal processing of received signals to extract information on an object. A method for selecting an optimum beam configuration for the coverage to be scanned has already been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Further, in recent years, it is well known that the radar apparatus performs signal processing by FFT in order to perform Doppler processing, and a radar apparatus that improves resolution by changing the number of points of FFT has already been disclosed. (See, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP-A-6-273522 (FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-55363 (FIG. 1) JP-A-11-166773 (Claim 15)

  In the conventional radar apparatus as described above, the operation mode performs only limited operations determined in advance and can be selected, but can be selected only from the limited mode types. Only the target information of the speed, distance, or angular resolution that can be output can be output, and there is a problem that the operation mode is not appropriate for the tracking state of the target. Therefore, it has become unstable target tracking or target hunting. In addition, in order to separate dense targets, there is a problem that an operator needs to manually change modes.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The purpose of the present invention is to perform stable target tracking or target separation so that an appropriate mode of operation can be performed according to the target tracking state. A radar apparatus capable of automatically outputting target information of required speed, distance, or angular resolution is obtained.

  A radar apparatus according to the present invention includes an antenna that emits a transmission wave in a space in a specific direction according to an instruction of a beam control signal and receives a reflected wave, and an exciter that supplies the transmission signal to the antenna according to an instruction of transmission signal specifications A receiver that converts a reception signal from the antenna into a digital video reception signal according to an instruction of a reception control signal, a target detection unit that detects a target from the digital video reception signal according to an instruction of a signal processing parameter, and A target management unit that manages detection target information from the target detection unit, a target tracking unit that performs tracking processing using the target information from the target management unit, and a tracking processing result of the target tracking unit; The operation mode and the mode are operated based on the display unit that outputs the operation instruction, the tracking processing result from the target tracking unit, and the operation instruction from the display unit. A sensor control unit that outputs a mode parameter and a speed resolution for generating a beam, a beam control signal to the antenna, and a transmission signal specification to the exciter based on the operation mode, mode parameter, and speed resolution from the sensor control unit. And a data setting unit for outputting a signal processing parameter including a reception control signal to the receiver and an FFT number to the target detection unit.

  Since the radar apparatus according to the present invention performs stable target tracking or target separation, target information of required speed, distance, or angular resolution is obtained so that an appropriate mode of operation can be performed according to the target tracking state. There is an effect that it can be output automatically.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
A radar apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radar apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the following, in each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  In FIG. 1, a radar apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention operates an operation mode and a mode based on a tracking result from a target tracking unit (described later) and an operation instruction from a display (described later). A sensor control unit 1A that outputs mode parameters and velocity resolution, a beam control signal to an antenna (described later) based on the operation mode, mode parameters, and velocity resolution from the sensor control unit 1A, and an exciter (described later) A data setting unit 2A that outputs a signal processing parameter including a transmission signal specification, a reception control signal to a receiver (described later), and an FFT number to a target detection unit (described later), and a transmission signal from the data setting unit 2A An exciter 3 that supplies a transmission signal to an antenna (described later) according to an instruction from the specifications, and a specific direction according to an instruction of a beam control signal from the data setting unit 2A An antenna 4 that radiates a transmission wave in between and receives a reflected wave, a receiver 5 that converts a reception signal of the antenna 4 into a digital video reception signal according to an instruction of a reception control signal from the data setting unit 2A, and data setting A target detection unit 6 that detects a target from a digital video reception signal according to a signal processing parameter instruction from the unit 2A, a target management unit 7 that manages detection target information from the target detection unit 6; A target tracking unit 8 that performs tracking processing using target information, and a display 9 that displays the tracking processing result of the target tracking unit 8 and outputs an operation instruction of the operator are provided.

  Next, the operation of the radar apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the data setting unit of the radar apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  First, in step 101, the data setting unit 2A receives the operation mode, mode parameters, and speed resolution output from the sensor control unit 1A.

  Next, in step 102, using the received operation mode and mode parameters, the beam control signal content including the beam pattern and the beam directing direction, which are instructions to the antenna 4, is determined.

  Next, in step 103, using the received operation mode and mode parameters, transmission signal specifications including a transmission frequency, a pulse width, and a pulse repetition period (hereinafter referred to as PRI), which are instructions to the exciter 3, are determined. To do.

  Next, in step 104, using the received operation mode and mode parameters, the contents of the reception control signal including the transmission frequency, the pulse width, and the PRI, which are instructions to the receiver 5, are determined.

  Next, in step 105, the FFT number is calculated using the determined transmission signal specifications and the received speed resolution.

  Next, in step 106, using the received operation mode and mode parameter and the calculated number of FFTs, a signal processing parameter including the number of FFTs that are instructions to the target detection unit 6 is determined.

  Here, a method for calculating the FFT number will be described. The number of FFTs is related to the required speed resolution and the following equation (1). However, Δf is a frequency resolution obtained by converting a required speed resolution into a frequency using the transmission frequency determined in the above step 103, PRI is a pulse repetition period determined in the above step 103, and FFTr is a necessary number of FFTs. Show.

  Δf ≧ 1 / (PRI × FFTr) (1)

By the way, the number of FFTs to be calculated is the number of FFT points, and when actually used, it must be an integer value that can be expressed by a power of two. Therefore, the minimum number of FFTs satisfying the necessary speed resolution is calculated as 2 ^N using the value of the integer N satisfying the following equation (2). FFTr is a value calculated by equation (1).

2 ^N ≧ FFTr (2)

  By using Equation (1) and Equation (2), the number of FFTs that satisfy the required speed resolution can be calculated.

  Returning to FIG. 2, in step 107, the data setting unit 2 </ b> A determines the beam control signal determined in step 102 above, the transmission signal specifications determined in step 103 above, and the reception control signal determined in step 104 above. And the signal processing parameters determined in step 106 are output. By including the number of FFTs calculated in the above step 106 in the signal processing parameter, it is possible to give an instruction for performing processing that satisfies the required speed resolution.

  Further, the target detection unit 6 can output target information that satisfies the required speed resolution by performing signal processing according to the signal processing parameters including the number of FFTs from the data setting unit 2A.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
A radar apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the radar apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, a radar apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention operates an operation mode and a mode based on a tracking result from a target tracking unit (described later) and an operation instruction from a display (described later). A sensor control unit 1B that outputs a mode parameter and distance resolution, a beam control signal to an antenna (described later) based on the operation mode, mode parameter, and distance resolution from the sensor control unit 1B, and an exciter (described later) A data setting unit 2B that outputs transmission signal specifications, a reception control signal to a receiver (described later), and a signal processing parameter to a target detection unit (described later), an exciter 3, an antenna 4, and a receiver 5 A target detection unit 6, a target management unit 7, a target tracking unit 8, and a display 9. Since the exciter 3 to the display 9 are the same as those in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the radar apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the data setting unit of the radar apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  First, in step 201, the data setting unit 2B receives the operation mode, mode parameters, and distance resolution output from the sensor control unit 1B.

  The next step 202 is the same as the processing of step 102 in the first embodiment.

  Next, in step 203, the pulse width is calculated using the received distance resolution.

  Here, a method for calculating the pulse width will be described. The pulse width is related to the required distance resolution and the following equation (3). However, Δr indicates a required distance resolution, and τ indicates a necessary pulse width.

  Δr ≧ τ (3)

  By using this equation (3), a pulse width that satisfies the required distance resolution can be calculated.

  Next, returning to FIG. 4, in step 204, the data setting unit 2 </ b> B uses the received operation mode and mode parameters, and the calculated pulse width, to transmit a transmission signal including a transmission frequency and PRI that are instructions to the exciter 3. Determine the specifications.

  Next, in step 205, the received operation mode and mode parameters and the calculated pulse width are used to determine the contents of the reception control signal including the transmission frequency and PRI that are instructions to the receiver 5.

  Next, in step 206, using the received operation mode and mode parameter, a signal processing parameter which is an instruction content to the target detection unit 6 is determined.

  In step 207, the data setting unit 2B determines the beam control signal determined in step 202, the transmission signal specifications determined in step 204, the reception control signal determined in step 205, and the step 206. The signal processing parameter determined in step 1 is output.

  Although the transmission signal specifications and the reception control signal have conventionally included a pulse width, it is not necessary to indicate the pulse width calculated in step 203 above, instead of the pulse width determined for each operation mode. Therefore, transmission / reception that satisfies the required distance resolution can be performed, and as a result, target information that satisfies the required distance resolution can be output.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
A radar apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the radar apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 5, a radar apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention operates an operation mode and a mode based on a tracking result from a target tracking unit (described later) and an operation instruction from a display (described later). A sensor control unit 1C that outputs mode parameters and angular resolution, a beam control signal to an antenna (described later) based on the operation mode, mode parameters, and angular resolution from the sensor control unit 1C, and transmission to an exciter (described later) A data setting unit 2C that outputs a signal specification, a reception control signal to a receiver (described later) and a signal processing parameter to a target detection unit (described later), an exciter 3, an antenna 4, and a receiver 5; A target detection unit 6, a target management unit 7, a target tracking unit 8, and a display 9 are provided. Since the exciter 3 to the display 9 are the same as those in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the radar apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the data setting unit of the radar apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  First, in step 301, the data setting unit 2C receives the operation mode, mode parameters, and angular resolution output from the sensor control unit 1C.

  Next, in step 302, the beam width is calculated using the received angular resolution.

Here, a method for calculating the beam width will be described. The beam width is related to the required angular resolution and the following equation (4). Here, Δθ indicates the required angular resolution, and θ _B indicates the required beam width.

Δθ ≧ θ _B (4)

  By using this equation (4), the beam width satisfying the required angular resolution can be calculated.

  Next, returning to FIG. 6, in step 303, the data setting unit 2 </ b> C uses the received operation mode and mode parameters and the calculated beam width, and the beam including the beam pattern and the beam directing direction that are instructions to the antenna 4. Determine the contents of the control signal.

  The next steps 304 and 305 are the same as the processing of steps 103 and 104 in the first embodiment.

  Next, in step 306, using the received operation mode and mode parameter, a signal processing parameter which is an instruction content to the target detection unit 6 is determined.

  In step 307, the data setting unit 2C determines the beam control signal determined in step 303, the transmission signal specifications determined in step 304, the reception control signal determined in step 305, and the step 306. The signal processing parameter determined in step 1 is output.

  Conventionally, the beam control signal includes an indication of the beam width or the beam type corresponding to the beam width, but the beam width calculated in step 302 above is indicated instead of the beam width determined for each operation mode. By doing so, it is possible to perform transmission / reception that satisfies the required angular resolution, and as a result, target information that satisfies the required angular resolution can be output.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radar apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the data setting part of the radar apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radar apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the data setting part of the radar apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radar apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the data setting part of the radar apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1A sensor control unit, 1B sensor control unit, 1C sensor control unit, 2A data setting unit, 2B data setting unit, 2C data setting unit, 3 exciter, 4 antenna, 5 receiver, 6 target detection unit, 7 target management unit , 8 Target tracking unit, 9 Display.

Claims (6)

An antenna that emits a transmission wave to a space in a specific direction and receives a reflected wave according to an instruction of a beam control signal;
An exciter for supplying a transmission signal to the antenna according to an instruction of transmission signal specifications;
A receiver for converting a received signal from the antenna into a digital video received signal according to an instruction of a received control signal;
A target detection unit for detecting a target from the digital video reception signal according to an instruction of a signal processing parameter;
A target management unit for managing detection target information from the target detection unit;
A target tracking unit that performs tracking processing using target information from the target management unit;
A display for displaying the tracking processing result of the target tracking unit and outputting an operation instruction of an operator;
Based on the tracking processing result from the target tracking unit and the operation instruction from the display, a sensor control unit that outputs an operation mode, a mode parameter for operating the mode, and a speed resolution;
Based on the operation mode, mode parameters and velocity resolution from the sensor control unit, the beam control signal to the antenna, the transmission signal specifications to the exciter, the reception control signal to the receiver, and the target detection unit A radar device comprising: a data setting unit that outputs signal processing parameters including the number of FFTs. The data setting unit
Receiving the operation mode, mode parameters and speed resolution output from the sensor control unit;
Using the received operation mode and mode parameters, determine the beam control signal content including the beam pattern and the beam pointing direction, which are instructions to the antenna,
Using the received operation mode and mode parameters, determine transmission signal specifications including transmission frequency, pulse width and pulse repetition period, which are instructions to the exciter,
Using the received operation mode and mode parameters, determine the content of the reception control signal including the transmission frequency, the pulse width, and the pulse repetition period, which are instructions to the receiver,
Calculate the number of FFTs using the determined transmission signal specifications and the received speed resolution,
Using the received operation mode and mode parameter and the calculated number of FFTs, determine a signal processing parameter including the number of FFTs that are instructions to the target detection unit,
The radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determined beam control signal, transmission signal specification, reception control signal, and signal processing parameter are output. An antenna that emits a transmission wave to a space in a specific direction and receives a reflected wave according to an instruction of a beam control signal;
An exciter for supplying a transmission signal to the antenna according to an instruction of transmission signal specifications;
A receiver for converting a received signal from the antenna into a digital video received signal according to an instruction of a received control signal;
A target detection unit for detecting a target from the digital video reception signal according to an instruction of a signal processing parameter;
A target management unit for managing detection target information from the target detection unit;
A target tracking unit that performs tracking processing using target information from the target management unit;
A display for displaying the tracking processing result of the target tracking unit and outputting an operation instruction of an operator;
Based on the tracking processing result from the target tracking unit and the operation instruction from the display, a sensor control unit that outputs an operation mode, a mode parameter for operating the mode, and a distance resolution;
Based on the operation mode, mode parameters, and distance resolution from the sensor control unit, the beam control signal to the antenna, the transmission signal specifications to the exciter, the reception control signal to the receiver, and the target detection unit A radar apparatus comprising: a data setting unit that outputs signal processing parameters. The data setting unit
Receiving the operation mode, mode parameters and distance resolution output from the sensor control unit;
Using the received operation mode and mode parameters, determine the beam control signal content including the beam pattern and the beam pointing direction, which are instructions to the antenna,
Calculate the pulse width using the received distance resolution,
Using the received operation mode and mode parameters, and the calculated pulse width, determine the transmission signal specifications including the transmission frequency and the pulse repetition period, which are instructions to the exciter,
Using the received operation mode and mode parameters, and the calculated pulse width, the content of the reception control signal including the transmission frequency and the pulse repetition period, which are instructions to the receiver, is determined.
Using the received operation mode and mode parameter, determine a signal processing parameter that is an instruction content to the target detection unit,
The radar apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determined beam control signal, transmission signal specification, reception control signal, and signal processing parameter are output. An antenna that emits a transmission wave to a space in a specific direction and receives a reflected wave according to an instruction of a beam control signal;
An exciter for supplying a transmission signal to the antenna according to an instruction of transmission signal specifications;
A receiver that converts a received signal from the antenna into a digital video received signal according to an instruction of a received control signal;
A target detection unit for detecting a target from the digital video reception signal by an instruction of a signal processing parameter;
A target management unit for managing detection target information from the target detection unit;
A target tracking unit that performs tracking processing using target information from the target management unit;
A display for displaying the tracking processing result of the target tracking unit and outputting an operation instruction of an operator;
Based on the tracking processing result from the target tracking unit and the operation instruction from the display, a sensor control unit that outputs an operation mode, a mode parameter for operating the mode, and an angular resolution;
Based on the operation mode, mode parameter and angular resolution from the sensor control unit, the beam control signal to the antenna, the transmission signal specifications to the exciter, the reception control signal to the receiver, and the target detection unit A radar apparatus comprising: a data setting unit that outputs signal processing parameters. The data setting unit
Receiving the operation mode, mode parameters and angular resolution output from the sensor control unit;
Calculate the beam width using the received angular resolution,
Using the received operation mode and mode parameters, and the calculated beam width, determine the beam control signal content including the beam pattern and the beam pointing direction that are the content of the instructions to the antenna,
Using the received operation mode and mode parameters, determine transmission signal specifications including transmission frequency, pulse width and pulse repetition period, which are instructions to the exciter,
Using the received operation mode and mode parameters, determine the content of the reception control signal including the transmission frequency, the pulse width, and the pulse repetition period, which are instructions to the receiver,
Using the received operation mode and mode parameter, determine a signal processing parameter that is an instruction content to the target detection unit,
6. The radar apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the determined beam control signal, transmission signal specification, reception control signal, and signal processing parameter are each output.

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