JP2716604B2 - Target detection device and target detection method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a target detecting method and a target detecting apparatus for detecting a specific target while searching and tracking the target in a radar device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of target detection method includes:
In order to detect a specific target, the same number of plural beams are directed and transmitted / received in the azimuth and the elevation direction with the target direction predicted as the center, regardless of the target distance. Conventionally, as an apparatus for detecting a target by such a method,
There was the one shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a designated signal for a specific target;
Is a target processing unit, 3 is a first output signal of the target processing unit 2,
Is a specific target direction predicting unit for predicting an azimuth and an elevation angle at a timing at which a beam is directed to a specified target, 5 is an output signal of the specific target direction predicting unit 4, 6 is a specific direction multiple beam generating unit, and 10 is a specific direction. An output signal of the multiple beam generator 6, 11 is a reference signal generator, and 12 is a reference signal generator 11.
13 is a beam control unit, 14 is an output signal of the beam control unit 13, 15 is a transmission / reception antenna unit, 16 is a second timing and control signal of the reference signal generation unit 11, and 17 is a transmission signal. Section, 18 is the transmission section 17
, A reference numeral 19 denotes a circulator, reference numeral 20 denotes a first output signal of the circulator 19, reference numeral 21 denotes a transmission signal transmitted from the transmission / reception antenna unit 15 to space, reference numeral 22 denotes a reflected signal from a target or the like, and reference numeral 23 denotes a transmission / reception antenna. An output signal of the unit 15; 24 is a second output signal of the circulator 19;
25 is a receiving unit, 26 is an output signal of the receiving unit 25, 27 is a signal processing unit, and 28 is an output signal of the signal processing unit 27, which is input to the target processing unit 2.

Next, the operation will be described. When a target is captured by the search and capture function of the radar device and the detection rate of a specific target among the targets is to be improved,
A specific target specifying signal 1 specifying the specific target is input to the target processing unit 2. When the designated signal 1 is input to the target processing unit 2, information on the azimuth and elevation angle of the specific target is input to the specific target direction prediction unit 4 as an output signal 3 of the target processing unit 2, and the beam is directed to the specified target. The azimuth and elevation angle at the pointing timing are predicted, and input to the specific target multiple beam generation unit 6 as the output signal 5. The specific direction multiple beam generator 6 generates a control signal necessary to generate a plurality of beams centering on the predicted specific target direction based on the information of the output signal 5. Input to 11. The reference signal generator 11 outputs a first timing and a control signal 12, which are control signals for directing the beam in a predetermined timing and a specific target direction, based on the information of the output signal 10. Reference signal generator 11
The output first timing and control signal 12 is output to a beam control unit 13, and the beam control unit 13 outputs a signal 14 for controlling the beam directivity of the transmission / reception antenna unit 15 according to the signal 12. Reference signal generator 11
The second timing and control signal 16 is output to the transmission unit 17, and the transmission unit 17 generates a transmission seed signal 18 according to this signal. The transmission seed signal 18 is a circulator 19
, And becomes the first output signal 20 of the circulator 19, which is input to the transmission / reception antenna 15, and a plurality of beams centered on the predicted direction of the specific target are sequentially transmitted to the transmission signal 2
Sent as 1.

[0005] A reflected wave 22 from a specific target or the like is received by the transmission / reception antenna unit 15, passed through a circulator 19 as an output signal 23, input as an output signal 24 to a reception unit 25, and amplified and detected by the reception unit 25. You. An output signal 26 of the receiving unit 25 is input to a signal processing unit 27, and is subjected to predetermined processing in the signal processing unit 27.
The signal is input to the target processing unit 2 as an output signal 28, and the target processing unit 2 performs a predetermined process on a specific target to detect a target.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional target detection system and target detection apparatus, a plurality of the same target detection systems and target detection systems are used irrespective of the distance of a specified specific target with respect to the predicted azimuth and elevation direction. Since a number of beams were generated, when the target was at a long distance, an unnecessarily long detection time was required. In other words, in the case of a long distance, the change in the expected angle due to the movement of the target is small. Even in a bad case, the decrease in the target detection rate is small. However, in order not to change the direction range in which the beam is directed according to the distance, even at a long distance, the beam is directed in a wide direction range such that the detection probability does not decrease at the shortest distance to be detected. There was a problem that detection time was required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. Even when the tracking quality of a target is poor, the decrease in the detection probability is kept below a certain value depending on the distance to the target. It is another object of the present invention to obtain a target detection method capable of detecting a target in a minimum time and a target detection device that realizes the method.

[0008]

A target detecting method according to the present invention is a target detecting method for a radar apparatus which detects a specific target while searching and tracking the target.
A radio wave is transmitted and received by directing a beam within the search range, the received signal is processed to detect a target, and the azimuth, elevation and distance of the target detected by this processing are detected, and the target is detected. Among them, the azimuth and the elevation angle are predicted for the specific target specified by the specified signal, the distance is predicted for the specific target specified by the specified signal, and the prediction is performed for the specific target. orientation about the elevation direction, performs a directive to generate a plurality of beams number changes depending on the distance that is predicted for the specific target, so as to direct the beam by the Directive It was made.

A target detecting device according to the present invention is a radar device for detecting a specific target while searching and tracking the target. In the radar device, a transmitting and receiving antenna unit for transmitting and receiving a radio wave by directing a beam within a search range is provided. A signal processing unit that processes a received signal from the transmission / reception antenna unit and detects a target, a target processing unit that detects the azimuth, elevation and distance of the target detected by the signal processing unit, A specified signal is input, a specific target direction prediction unit that predicts the azimuth and elevation of a specific target specified by the specified signal, and predicts a distance to the specific target specified by the specified signal. The specific target distance predicting unit and the number thereof change in accordance with the distance predicted by the specific target distance predicting unit around the azimuth and the elevation direction predicted by the specific target direction predicting unit. Finger Ryosuru specific direction multibeam generation unit to generate a plurality of beams, by controlling the transmission and reception antenna unit by the Directive of the specific direction more beam generating section, a beam control unit for directing the plurality of beams Is provided.

[0010]

[Action] target detecting method according to the invention, as described above
With this configuration, even when the difference between the predicted position and the true position of the target is large, the target always enters one of the beams. time target detection that can be the target of detection
Method .

[0011] The target detection apparatus according to the present invention, the upper
With the configuration as described above, even when the difference between the predicted position and the true position of the target is large, the probability that the target can be captured does not decrease because the target always enters one of the beams. to be, that Do a target detection device capable target detection in minimum time.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radar device having a target detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The radar device directs a beam in a predetermined order within a search range, transmits and receives radio waves, processes a received signal, and processes a received signal. It captures targets, predicts the azimuths, elevations, and distances of those targets, and, among those targets, a plurality of azimuths and numbers determined by the distances of the targets, centered on the direction predicted for the specified target. This device detects a target by directing a beam in an elevation direction to transmit and receive a radio wave, and processes a received signal to detect a target.

In the drawing, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 denote the same components. Reference numeral 7 denotes a second output signal of the target processing unit 2, reference numeral 8 denotes a specific target distance prediction unit, and reference numeral 9 denotes an output signal of the specific target distance prediction unit 8.

Next, the operation of each part of the target detecting apparatus according to this embodiment and the flow of signals will be described. When a target is captured by the search and capture function of the radar device and the detection rate of a specific target is to be improved among the targets, a specific target specifying signal 1 specifying the specific target is sent to the target processing unit 2. Is entered. When the designation signal 1 is input to the target processing unit 2, information on the azimuth and elevation angle of the specific target is input to the specific target direction prediction unit 4 as the first output signal 3 of the target processing unit 2, and the specified target The azimuth and the elevation angle at the timing of directing the beam are predicted, and input to the specific direction multiple beam generation unit 6 as the output signal 5. Further, the information on the distance of the specific target from the target processing unit 2
Is output to the specific target distance prediction unit 8, the target distance at the timing of directing the beam to the specified target is predicted, and the output signal 9 is input to the specific direction multiple beam generation unit 6. . In the specific direction multiple beam generation unit 6, a direction range in which the decrease in the detection probability is equal to or less than a certain value due to the predicted distance around the specific target direction predicted based on the information of the output signal 5 and the output signal 9. Only to generate the control signals necessary to generate multiple beams,
The output signal 10 is input to the reference signal generator 11. The reference signal generator 11 is a first timing and control signal 1 which is a control signal for directing a beam at a predetermined timing and a specific target based on information of the output signal 10.
2 is output. The first signal output from the reference signal generator 11
The timing and control signal 12 is input to the beam control unit 13, and the beam control unit 13 outputs a signal 14 for controlling the beam directivity of the transmitting / receiving antenna 15 according to the signal 12. The second timing and control signal 16 of the reference signal generator 11 is input to the transmitter 17, and the transmitter 17 generates a transmission seed signal 18 according to this signal.
The transmission seed signal 18 becomes a first output signal 20 via a circulator 19 and is input to the transmission / reception antenna 15,
A plurality of beams centered on the direction of the specific target predicted from the transmitting / receiving antenna 15 are sequentially transmitted as the transmission signal 21.

A reflected wave 22 from a specific target or the like is received by the transmission / reception antenna 15, is input as an output signal 23 through the circulator 19 to the receiver 25 as an output signal 24, is amplified and detected by the receiver 25, and is output. The signal is input to the signal processing unit 27 as a signal 26, a predetermined process is performed by the signal processing unit 27, and the signal is input to the target processing unit 2 as an output signal 28, and the target processing unit 2 performs a predetermined process for a specific target. Detection is performed.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, in the target detecting device, the number of directions in which the beam is directed is changed according to the predicted distance of the target. This has the effect of reducing time.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of beams centering on the direction of the specific target are generated in both the azimuth and the elevation. However, depending on the beam width of the generated beam and the object to be detected, only the azimuth or the elevation alone is generated. It goes without saying that a beam may be generated.

Further, in the above embodiment, transmission and reception are performed by one antenna unit, but transmission and reception may be performed by different antennas, or transmission and reception may be performed by separate devices.

[0019]

As described above, according to the target detecting method according to the present invention, in a target detecting method for a radar apparatus which detects a specific target while searching and tracking the target, the beam is directed within the search range. The radio wave is transmitted and received, the received signal is processed, the target is detected, and the azimuth, elevation angle, and distance of the target detected by this processing are detected. The azimuth and elevation angle of the specific target are predicted, the distance is predicted for the specific target specified by the above-mentioned designation signal, and the azimuth and elevation direction predicted for the specific target are centered. To generate a plurality of beams whose number changes according to the predicted distance to the specific target.
Perform directive, since by this directive as to direct the beam, even if the difference between the true position of the predicted position and the target is large, sure, to become such that the target is within one of the beam In addition, there is an effect that a target detection method capable of detecting a target in a minimum time without decreasing the probability of capturing the target can be obtained.

Further, according to the target detecting device of the present invention, in a radar device for detecting a specific target while searching and tracking the target, a transmitting / receiving antenna unit for transmitting and receiving a radio wave by directing a beam within a search range. A signal processing unit that processes a signal received from the transmitting / receiving antenna unit and detects a target; a target processing unit that detects the azimuth, elevation and distance of the target detected by the signal processing unit; A designation signal is input to the unit, a specific target direction prediction unit that predicts the azimuth and elevation angle of a specific target specified by the specification signal, and a distance to the specific target specified by the specification signal. The specific target distance prediction unit to be predicted, and the azimuth and the elevation direction predicted by the specific target direction prediction unit are centered on the number predicted according to the distance predicted by the specific target distance prediction unit. Finger Ryosuru specific direction multibeam generation unit to generate a plurality of beams of, by controlling the transmission and reception antenna unit by the Directive of the specific direction more beam generating section, a beam for directing said plurality of beams Since the control unit is provided, there is an effect that a device for performing target detection by the above-described target detection method can be actually realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a radar device according to a conventional method.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Designation signal of specific target 2 Target processing part 3 First output signal of target processing part 2 Specific target direction prediction part 5 Output signal of specific target direction prediction part 4 6 Specific direction multiple beam generation part 7 Target processing part 2 2nd output signal 8 specific target distance prediction section 9 output signal of specific target distance prediction section 8 10 output signal of specific direction multiple beam generation section 6 11 reference signal generation section 12 first timing and control of reference signal generation section 11 Signal 13 Beam controller 14 Output signal of beam controller 13 15 Transmitting / receiving antenna 16 Second timing and control signal of reference signal generator 11 17 Transmitter 18 Transmission seed signal generated by transmitter 17 19 Circulator 20 Circulator 19 1 output signal 21 transmitted signal transmitted to space 22 reflected signal from target 23 output signal of transmitting / receiving antenna 15 24 Second output signal of circulator 19 25 Receiver 26 Output signal of receiver 25 27 Signal processor 28 Output signal of signal processor 27

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A target detection method for a radar device that detects a specific target while searching and tracking the target. In the target detection method, a beam is directed within a search range to transmit and receive a radio wave, and the received signal is processed to determine the target. The direction of the target detected by this process,
Detecting the elevation angle and the distance, predicting the azimuth and the elevation angle of the specific target specified by the specified signal from the targets, predicting the distance to the specific target specified by the specified signal, the specific predicted orientation with respect to the target, around the elevation direction, performs a directive to generate a plurality of beams number changes depending on the distance that is predicted for the specific target, target detection method characterized by directing the beam by the directive. 2. A radar apparatus for detecting a specific target while searching for and tracking a target, comprising: a transmitting / receiving antenna unit for transmitting / receiving a radio wave by directing a beam within a search range; and receiving a signal from the transmitting / receiving antenna unit. A signal processing unit for processing and detecting a target, a target processing unit for detecting the azimuth, elevation and distance of the target detected by the signal processing unit; a designation signal is input to the target processing unit; A specific target direction predicting unit for predicting the azimuth and elevation angle of a specific target specified by the above; a specific target distance predicting unit for predicting a distance to the specific target specified by the specifying signal; With the azimuth and the elevation angle direction predicted by the target direction prediction unit as the center, a plurality of beams whose number changes according to the distance predicted by the specific target distance prediction unit are generated.
Finger Ryosuru specific direction more beam generating section, and controls the transmission and reception antenna unit by the Directive of the specific direction more beam generating section, and characterized by comprising a beam controller for directing the plurality of beams Target detection device.