JP2013072661A - Radar image generation device and radar image generation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radar image generation device capable of suppressing loads of a GPU when generating a radar image.SOLUTION: The radar image generation device includes an interface part, a position data generation processing part, a texture conversion processing part, an apex buffer, a texture buffer, a radar image generation part, an output part, and background texture updating part. The position data generation processing part generates position data on the basis of digital signals received in the interface part. The texture conversion processing part converts target information included in the digital signals to texture data. The radar image generation part prepares first display screen data from the position data and the texture data stored in the apex buffer and the texture buffer, respectively, in a first cycle, prepares second display screen data from stipulated position data and background texture data, and generates radar image data from them. The background texture updating part updates the background texture data in a second cycle.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a radar image generation apparatus that receives a reflection signal of a radar signal reflected by a target and displays a radar image on a display unit, and a radar image generation method used in the apparatus.

  In recent years, the speed of a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) enables a radar image generation device to generate a radar image at high speed by software processing. A data signal is supplied to the graphics chip on which the GPU is mounted for each azimuth direction in which radar waves are transmitted. The memory mounted on the graphic chip stores position data corresponding to the transmission direction of the radar wave and texture data obtained based on the reflected wave of the radar wave every time a data signal is supplied. In accordance with the update rate of the display unit to which the radar image generation device is connected, the GPU converts radar images based on all azimuth direction position data stored in the memory and all texture data corresponding to these position data. The generated radar image is output to the display unit.

  However, every time the update rate is reached, if a radar image is generated based on all the azimuth position data stored in the memory and all the texture data corresponding to these position data, a heavy load is applied to the GPU. There is a problem that it takes.

JP 2011-129123 A

  As described above, the conventional radar image generation device generates a radar image based on all the position data and all the texture data stored in the memory at every update rate, so that a heavy load is applied to the GPU. There's a problem.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a radar image generation apparatus capable of suppressing the load on the GPU when generating a radar image, and a radar image generation method used in the apparatus.

  According to the embodiment, a radar image generation apparatus that displays a radar image on a display unit includes an interface unit, a position data generation processing unit, a texture conversion processing unit, a vertex buffer, a texture buffer, a radar image generation unit, an output unit, and a background image. A texture update unit is provided. The interface unit receives a digital signal including target information in the azimuth direction for each preset range. The position data generation processing unit generates position data corresponding to the azimuth direction of the preset range for the received digital signal. The texture conversion processing unit converts the target information included in the received digital signal into texture data corresponding to the display format of the display unit. The vertex buffer stores the position data and default position data set in accordance with the size of the display unit. The texture buffer stores the texture data and background texture data based on the radar image displayed on the display unit. The radar image generator generates first display screen data from the position data stored in the vertex buffer during the first period and the texture data corresponding to the position data in the first period set in advance. The second display screen data is generated from the predetermined position data stored in the vertex buffer and the background texture data stored in the texture buffer, and the radar is generated from the first and second display screen data. Generate image data. The output unit outputs the radar image data to the display unit. The background texture update unit updates the background texture data stored in the texture buffer with the generated radar image data at a preset second period.

It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of a radar system provided with the radar image generation apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of CPU shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the memory mounted in the graphic chip shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of GPU shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the radar image data generation process by the GPU shown in FIG. 1, and the texture update process for backgrounds. It is a figure which shows the radar image data generation process by GPU shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the radar image data production | generation process by GPU shown in FIG. 1 when a display center moves. It is a figure which shows the shared area | region in a radar image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a radar system including a radar image generation device 10 according to the present embodiment. The radar system shown in FIG. 1 includes an antenna 20, a reception processing unit 30, a radar image generation device 10, and a display unit 40.

  The antenna 20 receives a reflected signal obtained by reflecting a radar signal transmitted from a transmitting device (not shown) by a target or the like. The radar system performs an operation of transmitting a radar signal in a predetermined direction and receiving a reflected signal for each angle set in advance in the azimuth direction. The antenna 20 receives the reflected signal for each direction in which the radar signal is transmitted.

  The reception processing unit 30 converts the signal received by the antenna 20 into a baseband signal in a predetermined frequency band. The reception processing unit 30 performs analog-digital conversion on the baseband signal to generate a digital signal. The reception processing unit 30 compresses the digital signal according to the resolution of the display unit 40 and outputs the compressed digital signal to the radar image generation unit 10. The digital signal output to the radar image generation unit 10 includes information on the azimuth direction in which the radar signal is transmitted and target information in the azimuth direction. Although the case where the reception processing unit 30 converts the received signal into a baseband signal is shown here, the received signal may be converted into an IF signal in an IF (Intermediate Frequency) band.

  The radar image generation unit 10 includes an interface unit 11, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12, a memory 13, and a graphic board 14. The interface unit 11, the CPU 12, the memory 13, and the graphic board 14 are connected by a bus.

  The interface unit 11 serves as an interface with the reception processing unit 30 and receives a digital signal output from the reception processing unit 30.

  The CPU 12 controls processing in the radar image generation apparatus 10. When the digital signal is received by the interface unit 11, the CPU 12 reads a program recorded in advance in the memory 13 and executes position data generation processing and texture conversion processing. That is, the CPU 12 includes a position data generation processing unit 121 and a texture conversion processing unit 122 as shown in FIG. The memory 13 temporarily holds the received digital signal during the execution of the position data generation process and the texture conversion process.

  The position data generation processing unit 121 identifies which azimuth direction the received digital signal relates to, and sets a polygon having a predetermined area in that direction. Here, the polygon is a fan-shaped region having an angle corresponding to the transmission angle of the radar signal, and the distance component is set in advance. The position data generation processing unit 121 generates position data for designating the set polygon vertices.

  The texture conversion processing unit 122 converts the target information of the received digital signal into texture data corresponding to the display format of the display unit 40. Texture data means that the target information included in the digital signal is displayed on the display unit 40, so that the digital signal is converted into the color information of the image so that the intensity distribution in the region included in one transmission direction of the radar signal can be determined. The data converted to. For example, the digital signal is converted into color information by setting the display color and the value of the signal.

  Further, the CPU 12 reads a program stored in advance in the memory 13 in accordance with the display rate of the display unit 40 and gives a radar image generation instruction to the graphic chip 141 mounted on the graphic board 14. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 12 includes a radar image generation instruction unit 123 that gives a radar image generation instruction to the graphic chip 141 according to the update rate.

  The graphic chip 141 mounted on the graphic board 14 includes a GPU 1411, a memory 1412, and a timer unit 1413.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the memory 1412 includes a vertex buffer 14121 and a texture buffer 14122.

  The vertex buffer 14121 receives the position data generated by the position data generation processing unit 121 and stores the received position data. At this time, the vertex buffer 14121 stores the position data including the time information at the time of reception of the position data timed by the time measuring unit 1413. Further, the vertex buffer 14121 stores in advance the default position data of a quadrangular polygon defined according to the screen size of the display unit 40.

  The texture buffer 14122 receives the texture data generated by the texture conversion processing unit 122 and stores the received texture data. At this time, the texture buffer 14122 stores the texture data including the time information at the time of receiving the texture data timed by the time measuring unit 1413. The texture buffer 14122 stores background texture data for the radar image displayed on the display unit 40 before a predetermined period. The background texture data is data in which the radar image displayed on the display unit 40 is stored so as to maintain the color tone in the screen. For example, the radar image is stored as 32-bit color information data. The background texture data stored in the texture buffer 14122 is updated by an instruction from the GPU 1411 based on the radar image displayed on the display unit 40.

  The GPU 1411 controls processing in the graphic chip 141. Upon receiving a radar image generation instruction from the radar image generation instruction unit 123 of the CPU 12, the GPU 1411 reads a program stored in advance in the memory 1412 and executes a radar image data generation process. That is, the GPU 1411 includes a radar image generation unit 14111 shown in FIG.

  Upon receiving the radar image generation instruction, the radar image generation unit 14111 pastes texture data corresponding to these position data to the position data stored in the vertex buffer 14121 after the previous generation of the radar image data. Create display screen data. The radar image generation unit 14111 pastes the background texture data stored in the texture buffer 14122 to the default position data stored in the vertex buffer 14121 to create second display screen data. The radar image generation unit 14111 generates radar image data from the first and second display screen data. The generated radar image data includes time information at the time of generating the radar image data measured by the timer unit 1413. The radar image generation unit 14111 outputs the generated radar image data to the display unit 40 through the connector 142, for example, by DVI output.

  Further, the GPU 1411 reads a program stored in advance in the memory 1412 according to a preset cycle and executes background texture update processing. That is, the GPU 1411 includes the background texture update unit 14112 shown in FIG. As the preset period, for example, a period for receiving a digital signal for a preset number of times and a period for outputting radar image data to the display unit 40 for a preset number of times are set.

  The background texture update unit 14112 updates the background texture data stored in the texture buffer 14122 with the radar image data newly generated by the radar image generation unit 14111 according to a preset cycle. The background texture data includes time information when the radar image data that is the basis of the background texture data is generated. The background texture update unit 14112 calculates the elapsed time from the time information included in the background texture data and the current time, and multiplies the radar image data by a numerical value corresponding to the calculated elapsed time. As a result, the background texture update unit 14112 updates the background texture data with the intensity reduced by an amount corresponding to the elapsed time.

  If background texture data is not stored in the texture buffer 14122, the background texture update unit 14112 stores the radar image data generated by the radar image generation unit 14111 in the texture buffer 14122 as background texture data. .

  Next, the processing of the radar image generation device 10 configured as described above will be described in accordance with the processing procedure of the GPU 1411. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of radar image data generation processing and background texture update processing by the GPU 1411 of the radar image generation device 10 according to the present embodiment.

  First, when the GPU 1411 receives the position data generated by the position data generation processing unit 121 and the texture data generated by the texture conversion processing unit 122, the GPU 1411 stores the position data in the vertex buffer 14121 and stores the texture data in the texture buffer. 14122 (step S51).

  The GPU 1411 determines whether or not there is a radar image generation instruction from the CPU 12 (step S52). If there is an instruction (Yes in step S52), the GPU 1411 executes radar image data generation processing according to the instruction. The GPU 1411 creates first and second display screen data, and generates radar image data from the created first and second display screen data (step S53). FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram when the GPU 1411 creates first and second display screen data, and generates radar image data from the created first and second display screen data. According to FIG. 6, when position data and texture data in four directions are stored, the update rate of the display unit 40 is reached, and new radar image data is generated.

  When there is no radar image generation instruction (No in step S52), the GPU 1411 shifts the process to step S51.

  Subsequently, the GPU 1411 determines whether or not a preset period has been reached (step S54). If the preset period has not been reached (No in step S54), the GPU 1411 outputs the generated radar image data to the display unit 40 (step S55). When the preset period is reached (Yes in step S54), the GPU 1411 executes the background texture update process. The GPU 1411 updates the background texture data stored in the texture buffer 14122 with the radar image data newly generated by the radar image generation unit 14111 (step S56), and the process proceeds to step S55.

  As described above, in the above embodiment, the radar image displayed on the display unit 40 is stored as background texture data, and when the update rate is reached, the first display screen data for the measurement area of newly measured data Then, radar image data is generated from the second display screen data based on the background texture data. Thereby, the vertex buffer 14121 and the texture buffer 14122 only need to store the default position data and background texture data, and the position data and texture data from the update of the background texture data to the current time. Thus, it is not necessary to store all azimuth direction data. In addition, since the GPU 1411 only needs to create the first display screen data that is a difference from the background texture data, the GPU 1411 stores all the data in the azimuth direction stored in the vertex buffer 14121 and the texture buffer 14122 as in the past. There is no need to generate a radar image based on this.

  Therefore, according to the radar image generation apparatus according to the present embodiment, the number of drawing vertices can be significantly reduced by using off-screen rendering, so the load on the GPU is reduced when generating a radar image. Can be suppressed. Furthermore, according to the radar image generating apparatus according to the present embodiment, the drawing performance can be greatly improved. Further, according to the present embodiment, since the number of drawing vertices can be significantly reduced by using off-screen rendering, a radar capable of suppressing the load on the GPU when generating a radar image. An image generation method can be provided.

  In the above embodiment, when the background texture data is updated, a numerical value is multiplied with the radar image data according to the elapsed time. Thereby, intensity | strength becomes weak by the part according to elapsed time, and it becomes possible to respond | correspond to a time-measurement change.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the display center is stopped has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be implemented even when the display center moves.

  When the display center moves, the conventional method stores all position data in the azimuth direction including moving and all texture data corresponding to these position data until a predetermined afterglow time elapses. I had to remember it. Further, every time the update rate is reached, it is necessary to generate a radar image based on all the position data in the azimuth direction stored in the memory and all the texture data corresponding to these position data.

  According to the radar image generation device 10 according to the present embodiment, the position data and texture data from the update of the default position data and background texture data to the current time in the vertex buffer 14121 and the texture buffer 14122 until the current time are updated. Therefore, the storage capacity of the memory 1412 can be greatly reduced as compared with the conventional case. Further, since it is only necessary to create the first display screen data that is a difference with respect to the texture data for background, the processing of the GPU 1411 can be greatly reduced as compared with the conventional case.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram when the GPU 1411 generates the first and second display screen data when the display center moves, and generates radar image data from the generated first and second display screen data. Show.

  In addition, when the radar image generation unit 14111 generates the first display screen data, the region displayed by the first display screen data is the same as the region displayed by the second display screen data. Whether or not is included. When the radar image generation unit 14111 includes the same area, the intensity of the texture data in the shared area is compared with the intensity of the background texture data, and the higher intensity is used as the texture data in the shared area. The radar image generation unit 14111 creates first display screen data from the position data stored in the vertex buffer 14121 and the texture data obtained by updating the data in the shared area. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a radar image when data in the shared area is updated. In the shaded portion of FIG. 8, the strength of the texture data is compared with the strength of the background texture data, and the higher strength is the texture data in the shared area.

  When generating radar image data from the first and second display screen data, the radar image generation unit 14111 performs a process of combining the second display screen data and the first display screen data. Here, when a shared area exists in the first and second display screen data, the first display screen data is overwritten on the second display screen data in the area. For this reason, even if the second display screen data includes data that remains due to afterglow, the first display screen data is displayed rather than the second display screen data. According to the present embodiment, the strength of the texture data in the shared region is compared with the strength of the texture data for background, and the larger one is used as the texture data in the shared region, so that the second display screen data An accurate radar image is generated even if there is data remaining due to afterglow.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Radar image generation apparatus, 11 ... Interface part, 12 ... CPU, 121 ... Position data generation process part, 122 ... Texture conversion process part, 123 ... Radar image generation instruction part, 13 ... Memory, 14 ... Graphic board, 141 ... Graphic chip, 1411 ... GPU, 14111 ... Radar image generation unit, 14112 ... Background texture update unit, 1412 ... Memory, 14121 ... Vertex buffer, 14122 ... Texture buffer, 1413 ... Timekeeping unit, 142 ... Connector, 20 ... Antenna, 30 ... Reception processing unit, 40 ... Display unit

Claims (8)

In a radar image generation device that displays a radar image on a display unit,
An interface unit for receiving a digital signal including target information in the azimuth direction for each preset range;
About the received digital signal, a position data generation processing unit that generates position data according to the azimuth direction of the preset range;
A texture conversion processing unit for converting target information included in the received digital signal into texture data corresponding to a display format of the display unit;
A vertex buffer for storing the position data and default position data set according to the size of the display unit;
A texture buffer for storing the texture data and texture data for background based on a radar image displayed on the display unit;
First display screen data is created from the position data stored in the vertex buffer during the first period and texture data corresponding to the position data in the first period set in advance, and the vertex Radar that generates second display screen data from predetermined position data stored in the buffer and background texture data stored in the texture buffer, and generates radar image data from the first and second display screen data An image generator;
An output unit for outputting the radar image data to the display unit;
A radar image generation, comprising: a background texture update unit configured to update background texture data stored in the texture buffer with the generated radar image data at a preset second period. apparatus. The radar image generation unit gives time information at which the radar image data is generated to the generated radar image data,
The background texture data stored in the texture buffer includes time information of radar image data that is the basis of the background texture data,
When the background texture data is updated, the background texture update unit calculates an elapsed time from time information included in the background texture data and an update time, and updates the radar image according to the elapsed time. 2. The radar image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data intensity is weakened by a predetermined amount.   The radar image generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display center position of the radar image moves.   When the first and second display screen data include the same area, the radar image generation unit compares the intensity of the texture data and the background texture data in the area, 4. The radar image generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first display screen data is created as texture data in a region. In a radar image generation method used in a radar image generation apparatus that displays a radar image on a display unit,
Receive a digital signal containing target information in the azimuth direction for each preset range,
For the received digital signal, generate position data according to the azimuth direction of the preset range,
Storing the position data and default position data set in accordance with the size of the display unit;
The target information included in the received digital signal is converted into texture data corresponding to the display format of the display unit,
Storing the texture data and texture data for background based on a radar image displayed on the display unit;
Creating the first display screen data from the position data stored during the first period and the texture data corresponding to the position data in the first period set in advance;
Creating second display screen data from the predetermined position data and the background texture data in the first period;
Radar image data is generated from the generated first and second display screen data,
Update the background texture data with the generated radar image data at a preset second period,
A radar image generation method, comprising: outputting the generated radar image data to the display unit. The time information at which the radar image data was generated is given to the generated radar image data,
The background texture data includes time information of radar image data that is the basis of the background texture data,
When updating the background texture data, the elapsed time is calculated from the time information included in the background texture data and the update time, and the intensity of the radar image data to be updated is set in advance according to the elapsed time. 6. The radar image generation method according to claim 5, wherein the radar image is weakened by an amount corresponding to the amount.   7. The radar image generation method according to claim 5, wherein a display center position of the radar image moves.   When the first and second display screen data include the same region, the texture data and the background texture data in the region are compared in intensity, and one of the data having a higher strength is used as the texture data in the region. 8. The radar image generation method according to claim 5, wherein one display screen data is created.

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