JP2012047473A - Radio wave emission source estimation direction display apparatus and radio wave emission source estimation direction display method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio wave emission source estimation direction display apparatus capable of easily recognizing a position of the display device's own and an estimation direction of a radio wave emission source relative to the position when a radio wave from the radio wave emission source is received.SOLUTION: A radio wave emission source estimation direction display apparatus includes: an antenna section for receiving a radio wave from a radio wave emission source; an arrival direction estimation processing section 7 for estimating an arrival direction of the radio wave; a GPS receiver 10 for acquiring positional information of the antenna section; an azimuth sensor 11 for acquiring azimuth information of the antenna section; a map display processing section 12 which acquires map information around the antenna section on the basis of the positional information acquired by the GPS receiver 10, calculates an arrival azimuth of the radio wave received by the antenna section on the basis of the arrival direction estimated by the arrival direction estimation processing section 7 and the azimuth information acquired by the azimuth sensor, superimposes the calculated arrival azimuth and the position of the antenna section on the map information, and outputs the map information; and a display section 13 for displaying a map indicating the arrival azimuth of the radio wave received by the antenna section and the position of the antenna section.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a radio wave emission source estimated direction display device and a radio wave emission source estimated direction display method for estimating the direction of a radio wave emission source and displaying the estimated direction on a map.

  Conventionally, radio wave emission source visualization devices that can visually grasp the emission source of radio waves have been used to monitor the emission sources of illegal radio waves, analyze unwanted radiation generated by equipment, and even carry radio wave transmitters. It is used in various situations such as searching for a searcher.

  A general radio wave emission source visualization apparatus receives a radio wave with an array antenna in which a plurality of antenna elements are arranged on a plane, for example, and estimates a radio wave arrival direction based on a radio holography method using the received radio wave. The estimated arrival direction of the received radio wave in this case is represented by an azimuth angle and an elevation angle with the center of the array antenna as the origin.

  Also, the radio wave emission source visualization device includes a camera, and displays a radio wave arrival direction estimation result such as radio holography by superimposing an image captured by the camera to recognize a place where the radio wave is generated. it can.

JP 2008-128667 A JP 2007-248422 A

  However, the conventional power emission source visualization device can recognize the azimuth angle with the center of the array antenna as the origin as described above, but cannot know the absolute arrival direction and emits radio waves on the map. There is a problem that it is difficult to specify the estimated direction of the source.

  As an example, consider a case where a plurality of searchers search for a searchee carrying a radio wave transmitter. For example, a searcher who recognizes that there is a building in the image captured by the camera using the radio wave emission source visualization device and that radio waves are being emitted from the building. Can be instructed to do. However, when radio waves are emitted from a direction with no mark, the searcher can recognize the direction of the radio wave emission source with respect to his / her position and perform the search himself / herself. It is difficult to tell the point where the radio wave emission source is thought to exist.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and when receiving radio waves from a radio wave emission source, it easily recognizes its position on the map and the estimated direction of the radio wave emission source with respect to its position. It is an object to provide a radio wave emission source estimated direction display device capable of performing

  In order to solve the above problems, the radio wave emission source estimated direction display device of the embodiment includes an antenna unit that receives radio waves from a radio wave emission source, and an estimation processing unit that estimates the arrival direction of radio waves received by the antenna unit; A position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the antenna unit; an orientation sensor that acquires direction information of the antenna unit; and map information around the antenna unit based on the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit And calculating the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit based on the arrival direction estimated by the estimation processing unit and the direction information acquired by the direction sensor, and calculating the calculated arrival direction and the antenna A map display processing unit that outputs the position of the unit superimposed on the acquired map information, and the map information output by the map display processing unit, Characterized in that it comprises a display unit for displaying a map showing the location of the arrival direction and the antenna unit of the radio wave received by the antenna unit.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radio wave emission source estimated direction display apparatus of the form of Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the image of the estimated direction display by the display part of the radio wave emission source estimated direction display apparatus of the form of Example 1. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a radio wave emission source estimated direction display device and a radio wave emission source estimated direction display method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a radio wave emission source estimated direction display apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The radio wave emission source visualization apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an array antenna 2, an antenna switching unit 3, a reference antenna 4, a frequency conversion unit 5, an A / D conversion unit 6, an arrival direction estimation processing unit 7, a camera unit 8, and an image synthesis process. The unit 9 includes a GPS receiver 10, a direction sensor 11, a map display processing unit 12, and a display unit 13.

  The array antenna 2 is composed of a plurality of antenna elements 1-1 to 1-n arranged in a grid on a plane, and receives radio waves from a radio wave emission source (not shown).

  The antenna switching unit 3 switches the antenna elements 1-1 to 1-n that are sequentially received in the array antenna 2.

  The reference antenna 4 and the array antenna 2 are receiving antennas that can capture incoming waves in a common frequency band. Further, the shape and type of the array antenna 2, the total number of antenna elements, the interval for arranging the antenna elements, and the like are arbitrary depending on the measurement object, the measurement purpose, and the like. Furthermore, in order to suppress the sensitivity of radio waves incident from the opposite side of the array surface, the plane on which the array antenna 2 is arranged can be a reflecting plate.

  Note that any one of the antenna elements 1-1 to 1-n can be used as the reference antenna 4. The radio wave emission source visualization device in this case has an advantage that a mechanical structure for separately attaching the reference antenna 4 is not required.

  The array antenna 2 and the reference antenna 4 can be said to correspond to the antenna unit of the present invention, and receive radio waves from a radio wave emission source.

  The frequency conversion unit 5 amplifies the radio wave received by the reference antenna 4 and the array antenna 2 and converts the frequency to an intermediate frequency band that can be sampled.

  The A / D converter 6 converts the analog signal frequency-converted by the frequency converter 5 into a digital signal.

  The arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 corresponds to the estimation processing unit of the present invention, and estimates the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit. Specifically, the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 detects a phase difference between the received radio wave of the reference antenna 4 and the received radio waves of the selected antenna elements 1-1 to 1-n, and the received radio wave by the radio holography method is detected. Direction of arrival estimation processing is performed. Since the arrival direction estimation processing by the radio wave holography method in the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 is a conventionally known technique, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The arrival direction of the emitted radio wave estimated by the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 indicates a relative azimuth angle and elevation angle with respect to the direction of the array antenna 2, and does not indicate an absolute azimuth or the like. Absent.

  The camera unit 8 corresponds to the photographing unit of the present invention, is installed in the vicinity of the antenna unit (array antenna 2), and photographs a landscape in conjunction with the direction of the antenna unit (array antenna 2). When the camera unit 8 is installed at a location away from the phase center of the array antenna 2, a composite image can be accurately obtained by performing correction using parallax.

  The image composition processing unit 9 corresponds to the image processing unit of the present invention, performs image processing on the radio wave received by the antenna unit, and generates a composite image synthesized with the landscape photographed by the camera unit 8. Specifically, the image composition processing unit 9 superimposes the image of the arrival direction estimation result obtained by the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 according to the radio field intensity and the image captured by the camera unit 8 to superimpose the composite image. create.

  The GPS receiver 10 corresponds to the position information acquisition unit of the present invention, and acquires the position information of the antenna unit. Specifically, the GPS receiver 10 receives a positioning radio wave transmitted from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and acquires position information such as latitude and longitude of the array antenna 2.

  The direction sensor 11 acquires the direction information of the antenna unit. Specifically, the azimuth sensor 11 is, for example, a magnetic azimuth sensor, and acquires information on the absolute azimuth in which the array antenna 2 is currently facing using geomagnetism.

  The map display processing unit 12 acquires map information around the antenna unit (array antenna 2) based on the position information acquired by the GPS receiver 10. At that time, the map display processing unit 12 may extract map information around the current position of the array antenna 2 from a database owned by the map display processing unit 12 based on the position information, or obtain map information via a network such as the Internet. You may get it.

  Further, the map display processing unit 12 calculates the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit based on the arrival direction estimated by the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 and the direction information acquired by the direction sensor 11, and calculates The arrival direction and the position of the antenna unit are superimposed on the acquired map information and output.

  That is, the arrival direction estimated by the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 is a relative direction based on the direction of the array antenna 2 (information on how many directions are with respect to the direction of the array antenna 2). As it is, it cannot be displayed on the map. Therefore, the map display processing unit 12 determines the absolute arrival of radio waves based on the relative estimated arrival direction based on the direction of the array antenna 2 and the absolute azimuth information acquired by the azimuth sensor 11. It is possible to calculate the azimuth and display the arrival azimuth of radio waves on a map.

  The display unit 13 is a display or the like, for example, and displays a map indicating the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit and the position of the antenna unit based on the map information output by the map display processing unit 12. Further, the display unit 13 displays the composite image generated by the image composition processing unit 9.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. Here, consider a case where a plurality of searchers search for a search target person carrying a radio wave transmitter. Each searcher carries the radio wave emission source estimated direction display device of the present embodiment, but it is not always necessary for each searcher to carry the entire configuration. For example, only the configuration corresponding to the display unit 13 of the radio wave emission source estimated direction display device is provided at a distant position, and the supervisor is sent from each searcher carrying the antenna unit, the GPS receiver 10, the direction sensor 11, and the like. It is good also as a structure which monitors the coming information via the display part 13. FIG. Alternatively, each searcher may carry a notebook computer or the like that plays the role of the display unit 13.

  The array antenna 2 carried by each searcher receives radio waves from a radio wave emission source (not shown) (corresponding to the reception step of the present invention). At that time, the antenna switching unit 3 switches the antenna elements 1-1 to 1-n to be sequentially received in the array antenna 2. The reference antenna 4 and the array antenna 2 capture incoming waves in a common frequency band.

  The frequency conversion unit 5 amplifies the radio wave received by the reference antenna 4 and the array antenna 2 and converts the frequency to an intermediate frequency band that can be sampled.

  The A / D converter 6 converts the analog signal frequency-converted by the frequency converter 5 into a digital signal.

  The arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 estimates the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit (corresponding to the estimation processing step of the present invention). Specifically, the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 detects a phase difference between the received radio wave of the reference antenna 4 and the received radio waves of the selected antenna elements 1-1 to 1-n, and the received radio wave by the radio holography method is detected. Direction of arrival estimation processing is performed.

  The camera unit 8 carried by each searcher is installed in the vicinity of the antenna unit (array antenna 2), and photographs a landscape in conjunction with the direction of the antenna unit (array antenna 2). The photographing by the camera unit 8 may be performed by a searcher's button operation or the like, may be performed periodically, or may be performed only when the antenna unit receives radio waves from the emission source. Good.

  The image composition processing unit 9 performs image processing on the radio wave received by the antenna unit, and generates a composite image synthesized with the landscape photographed by the camera unit 8.

  The GPS receiver 10 acquires the position information of the antenna unit (corresponding to the position information acquisition step of the present invention). Since the searcher carrying the array antenna 2 always moves frequently, the position information acquired by the GPS receiver 10 always changes.

  The direction sensor 11 acquires the direction information of the antenna unit (corresponding to the direction information acquisition step of the present invention). Since the searcher who carries the array antenna 2 always changes direction, the direction information acquired by the direction sensor 11 always changes as well as the position information.

  The map display processing unit 12 acquires map information around the antenna unit (array antenna 2) based on the position information acquired by the GPS receiver 10, and the arrival direction and direction estimated by the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7. Based on the direction information acquired by the sensor 11, the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit is calculated, and the calculated arrival direction and the position of the antenna unit are superimposed on the acquired map information and output (the present invention). Corresponds to the map display processing step).

  Finally, the display unit 13 displays a map indicating the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit and the position of the antenna unit based on the map information output by the map display processing unit 12 (display step of the present invention). Corresponding). Further, the display unit 13 displays the composite image generated by the image composition processing unit 9.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an image of the estimated direction display by the display unit 13 of the radio wave emission source estimated direction display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The “visualization screen” drawn on the left side of the screen display shown in FIG. 2 is a display in which the display unit 13 displays a composite image generated by the image composition processing unit 9 and is in a landscape photographed by the camera unit 8. An image in which the estimated arrival direction of the received radio wave is visualized according to the radio wave intensity is superimposed and displayed. For example, when the searcher carries the display unit 13 as a notebook PC, the searcher can recognize the direction in which the radio wave emission source is likely to exist by looking at the “visualization screen” on the left.

  Further, the “map screen” drawn on the right side of the screen display shown in FIG. 2 is based on the map information output from the map display processing unit 12 by the display unit 13 and the arrival direction and antenna of the radio wave received by the antenna unit. A map showing the position of the part is displayed. For example, when the searcher is carrying the display unit 13 as a notebook PC, the searcher looks at the “map screen” on the right to find the absolute direction on which the radio wave emission source appears on the map. We can grasp concretely. In addition, the searcher can easily inform other searchers of a place where the radio wave emission source may exist by looking at the “map screen” on the right.

  For example, the searcher informs his / her position by latitude and longitude, and the absolute direction of the radio wave emission source based on the position (content that the radio wave emission source exists in many directions with respect to the north direction) May be notified to other searchers, or information on the “map screen” may be sent directly to other searchers via a network or the like.

  The display unit 13 does not necessarily need to display the “visualization screen” and the “map screen” together on the same screen, and may be configured to switch the screen according to a user operation or the like.

  The “visualization screen” shown in FIG. 2 is a display screen that can also be used in the conventional radio wave emission source visualization device. Therefore, the important point in the radio wave emission source estimated direction display device of this embodiment is to display the “map screen”. It is a point to do. Therefore, the radio wave emission source estimated direction display device of the present embodiment may display only the “map screen”. In that case, the camera unit 8 and the image composition processing unit 9 are not essential components.

  However, by displaying the “visualization screen” and the “map screen” on the display unit 13, the searcher can grasp the direction in which the radio wave emission source exists more accurately. For example, the “visualization screen” shown in FIG. 2 is a landscape that the searcher is actually looking at. This “visualization screen” shows the building, and the searcher knows that the radio wave emission source seems to be emitting radio waves from the left hand side of the building. Furthermore, the searcher confirms the specific azimuth angle of the radio wave emission source as well as confirming his / her position and the direction in which he / she is facing by checking the “map screen” on which the position of the building is also displayed. be able to.

  In addition, the display method by the display part 13 is not limited to the method mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, the display unit 13 may display the direction of radio wave arrival on the “visualization screen” with a color corresponding to the radio wave intensity, or with a number, symbol, mark, or the like other than the color. Furthermore, the display unit 13 may use a map in which various information other than buildings is described on the “map screen”.

  As described above, according to the radio wave emission source estimated direction display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when receiving the radio wave from the radio wave emission source, the radio wave emission source with respect to its own position on the map and its own position Can be easily recognized.

  That is, a user such as a searcher can easily grasp the absolute arrival direction of received radio waves on a map, and even when radio waves are being emitted from a direction with no mark, On the other hand, it is possible to easily tell the point where the radio wave emission source is considered to exist.

  As a modification, the radio wave emission source estimated direction display device of the present embodiment may include a posture sensor that acquires posture information of the antenna unit. This attitude sensor is connected to the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7, and outputs the acquired attitude information of the array antenna 2 to the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7.

  When estimating the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit, the arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 estimates the arrival direction using the posture information acquired by the posture sensor. The arrival direction estimation processing unit 7 can estimate the relative elevation angle with respect to the array antenna 2 as the arrival direction of the radio wave even when the posture sensor is not provided, but by providing the posture sensor, the posture of the array antenna 2 can be estimated. Since information can be obtained, the absolute elevation angle with respect to the ground can be obtained when estimating the direction of arrival of radio waves, and the direction of arrival can be estimated more accurately.

  It is conceivable that the array antenna 2 has various angles of inclination depending on the posture of the user carrying it. Therefore, obtaining attitude information of the array antenna 2 with an attitude sensor can be expected to make a great contribution in accurately estimating the direction of arrival of radio waves.

  The attitude sensor may be connected to the GPS receiver 10 and output the obtained attitude information of the array antenna 2 to the GPS receiver 10.

  In this case, the GPS receiver 10 selects a positioning satellite based on the attitude information acquired by the attitude sensor, and acquires the position information of the antenna unit. In general, when positioning is performed using information from a positioning satellite with a low elevation angle, there is a large influence on the position accuracy due to multipath. Therefore, there is a GPS receiver that uses an elevation mask to prevent a decrease in accuracy. . Assuming that the user carrying the GPS receiver 10 moves as in this embodiment, the GPS receiver 10 is considered to have various angles of inclination depending on the posture of the user. For this reason, the elevation mask function of the GPS receiver 10 may mistakenly recognize a satellite that can be originally captured as a low elevation angle depending on the inclination angle, and may reduce the number of satellites that can be captured.

  However, in the case where the attitude sensor is provided as described above, the GPS receiver 10 can obtain the attitude information of the array antenna 2, and thus accurately determines whether or not the positioning satellite has a low elevation angle. Since the positioning satellite can be appropriately selected, the position information of the array antenna 2 can be obtained more accurately.

  Obtaining accurate position information of the array antenna 2 is particularly useful for the radio wave emission source estimated direction display device of the present embodiment. When the “map screen” as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display unit 13, if the position of the array antenna 2 serving as the reference position is displayed incorrectly, the estimated arrival direction of the radio wave is also erroneous. This is because it is displayed on the map.

  The radio wave emission source estimated direction display device of the present embodiment is provided with the attitude sensor, so that the position information acquired in the GPS receiver 10 becomes more accurate, and accordingly, the radio wave emission source estimated direction display is more accurate. It can be carried out.

1-1 to 1-n Antenna element 2 Array antenna 3 Antenna switching unit 4 Reference antenna 5 Frequency conversion unit 6 A / D conversion unit 7 Arrival direction estimation processing unit 8 Camera unit 9 Image composition processing unit 10 GPS receiver 11 Direction sensor 12 Map display processing unit 13 Display unit

Claims (5)

An antenna for receiving radio waves from a radio wave emission source;
An estimation processing unit for estimating an arrival direction of radio waves received by the antenna unit;
A position information acquisition unit for acquiring position information of the antenna unit;
An orientation sensor for obtaining orientation information of the antenna unit;
Based on the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit, the map information around the antenna unit is acquired, and based on the arrival direction estimated by the estimation processing unit and the direction information acquired by the direction sensor A map display processing unit that calculates the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit and outputs the calculated arrival direction and the position of the antenna unit superimposed on the acquired map information;
Based on the map information output by the map display processing unit, a display unit for displaying a map indicating the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit and the position of the antenna unit;
A radio wave emission source estimated direction display device comprising: An imaging unit that is installed in the vicinity of the antenna unit and shoots a landscape in conjunction with the orientation of the antenna unit;
An image processing unit that performs image processing on radio waves received by the antenna unit and generates a composite image that is synthesized with a landscape captured by the imaging unit;
The radio wave emission source estimated direction display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a composite image generated by the image processing unit. A posture sensor for obtaining posture information of the antenna unit;
The said estimation process part estimates an arrival direction using the attitude | position information acquired by the said attitude | position sensor, when estimating the arrival direction of the electromagnetic wave received with the said antenna part. The radio wave emission source estimated direction display device according to 2. A posture sensor for obtaining posture information of the antenna unit;
The radio wave emission source according to claim 1, wherein the position information acquisition unit selects a positioning satellite based on attitude information acquired by the attitude sensor and acquires position information of the antenna unit. Estimated direction display device. A reception step of receiving radio waves from a radio wave emission source at the antenna unit;
An estimation processing step for estimating an arrival direction of the radio wave received in the reception step;
A position information acquisition step of acquiring position information of the antenna unit;
An orientation information acquisition step for acquiring orientation information of the antenna unit;
Based on the position information acquired by the position information acquisition step, the map information around the antenna unit is acquired, and the arrival direction estimated by the estimation processing step and the direction information acquired by the direction information acquisition step A map display processing step of calculating the arrival direction of the radio wave received by the antenna unit based on the map information and outputting the calculated arrival direction and the position of the antenna unit superimposed on the acquired map information;
Based on the map information output by the map display processing step, a display step for displaying a map showing the arrival direction of the radio wave received in the reception step and the position of the antenna unit;
A radio wave emission source estimated direction display method comprising:

Images