JP3292679B2 - Radar equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radar apparatus for measuring rainfall intensity based on information obtained from a reflected wave of a radar beam by an object, and more particularly to information from two or more radars. The present invention relates to arithmetic processing for summarizing rainfall intensity values in a range.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a conventional radar device. In FIG. 6, reference numerals 1a and 1b denote antenna / transmitter / receiver units of a radar placed at different locations, which emit radio waves to the surroundings while rotating an antenna (not shown) and receive reflected waves reflected from a measurement object, respectively. . 2a
And 2b are signal processing units for converting radio waves received by each antenna / transmission / reception unit into power value information for each elevation angle, and then converting them into intensity values of the object to be measured, and 3 is input via the signal processing units 2a and 2b. A synthesizing unit for synthesizing the radar data, that is, the intensity values of the object to be measured. The synthesizing unit 3 includes orthogonal coordinate converters 4a and 4b for orthogonally transforming different radar data, and an orthogonal coordinate converter. 4
The respective orthogonal transform data from a and 4b are compared to determine an overlap area, and the overlap area data is output to a low beam determination unit described later and the non-overlap area data is output to a data synthesis unit described later. An area judging section, a low beam judging section for judging and outputting radar beam data of a lower altitude from the overlapping area data from the overlapping area judging section, and a non-overlapping area from the overlapping area judging section. And a data synthesizing section 7 for obtaining synthesized data based on the data from the low beam determination section 6 and the data from the low beam determination section 6. Also, 8
Is a display unit for displaying data from the synthesis processing unit 3.

Next, the operation when the radar device having the above configuration is used as a weather radar device for measuring rainfall intensity will be described. Antenna / Transceiver 1a and 1b
Emits radio waves (microwave pulses) to the surroundings while rotating an antenna (not shown), and receives and amplifies echoes of reflected waves reflected from raindrops as objects. The signal processing units 2a and 2b receive the amplified received echoes, convert the amplified received echoes into power value information (dB) corresponding to the polar coordinate mesh of the azimuth and distance for each elevation angle, and then set the rainfall intensity value according to a so-called known radar equation. (Mm / H).

The rain intensity values as polar radar data from the signal processing units 2a and 2b are input to a synthesis processing unit 3 and synthesized. In the synthesizing unit 3, first, the rectangular coordinate conversion units 4a and 4b convert the data into rectangular coordinate data. The overlapping area determination unit 5
The rectangular coordinate data output from the rectangular coordinate conversion units 4a and 4b are compared with each other to determine an overlapping area from the coordinate position, and the data of the overlapping area is determined by the low beam determination unit 6
And the data in the non-overlapping area is output to the data synthesizing unit 7 as it is. The low beam determination unit 6 determines which radar has a lower altitude for the data of the overlapping area for each mesh of the rectangular coordinates, and determines that the lower radar is employed. The data synthesizing unit 7 synthesizes rainfall intensity values obtained from the two radars based on the data created by the low beam judging unit 6 and the data of the non-overlapping area from the overlapping area judging unit 5. The combined rectangular coordinate rainfall intensity data obtained in this manner is displayed on the display unit 8 and used for the purpose of obtaining weather information.

[0005]

FIG. 7 is an image diagram showing the function of the low beam judging section 6 used in the conventional synthesizing process. As can be seen from the figure, the data of the radar A corresponding to the antenna / transmission / reception unit 1a is on the left side and the data of the radar B corresponding to the antenna / transmission / reception unit 1b on the left side of the boundary indicated by the star mark in the figure. Becomes The reason that the low beam method is used in the conventional method is that, for example, when observing rain clouds or rain, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-52976, the beam of the radio wave radiated from the radar site is used. This is because the echo appearance rate is higher as the height from the ground surface is lower. However, for this reason, a boundary line appears on the screen displayed on the display unit 8 due to a difference in the performance of the radar, and the screen looks strange.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 55-52976 describes a method of averaging both radars in an overlapping area. However, the boundary between overlapping and non-overlapping areas is shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the altitude difference between the radars is so large that a large difference occurs on the display unit, and the accuracy as a value is also lacking because high altitude data is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a radar apparatus capable of shaping and displaying a boundary between a plurality of radars on a display screen in a more natural form. I have.

[0008]

A radar apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of antennas / transmitters / receivers for emitting radio waves to the surroundings while rotating an aerial and receiving reflected waves reflected from an object to be measured, respectively. A plurality of signal processing units that convert radio waves received by each antenna / transmission / reception unit into power value information for each elevation angle, and then convert the power values into intensity values of the measurement target, and a measurement target obtained by the plurality of signal processing units. In a radar apparatus comprising: a synthesis processing unit for synthesizing an intensity value; and a display unit for displaying an intensity value of the measurement object synthesized by the synthesis processing unit, wherein the synthesis processing unit includes the plurality of antennas / transmission / reception units. the intensity data of the maximum observed range measurement object rectangular region including the boundary line of the overlap region of and average surface provided with a smoothing processing section for obtaining the smoothed processed data, the Smoothing processing unit, the boundary line
Containing a moving line obtained by moving in a direction parallel to the boundary line
Smoothin by averaging the intensity data of the measurement object in the area
And outputting the processed data to the data synthesizing unit .

The synthesizing unit includes a plurality of orthogonal coordinate conversion units for converting polar coordinate data output from the signal processing units into orthogonal coordinate data, respectively, and orthogonal coordinate units respectively output from the orthogonal coordinate conversion units. An overlapping area determining unit that compares the data to determine an overlapping area from the coordinate positions and outputs data of the overlapping area and the non-overlapping area, and a data of the overlapping area output from the overlapping area determining unit having a lower altitude. A low beam determination unit that determines a radar beam and sends it to the smoothing processing unit, and the non-overlapping region data from the overlapping region determination unit and the smoothing processing unit for data after being determined by the low beam determination unit. And a data synthesizing unit for synthesizing the output subjected to the smoothing process through the output unit and outputting the synthesized output to the display unit.

[0010] The synthesizing processing unit is configured to obtain a plurality of CAPPI data from a plurality of iso-altitude cross-section data from three-dimensional data observed at a plurality of elevation angles output from the signal processing units.
(Constant Altitude Plane Position Indication) conversion unit, and an overlap region determination unit that compares the data of the iso-altitude sections output from each CAPPI conversion unit to determine the overlap region and outputs the data of the overlap region and the non-overlap region. An equidistant determination unit that determines a boundary that is equidistant from a plurality of radars with respect to the data of the overlapping region output from the overlapping region determination unit and sends the boundary to the smoothing processing unit; A data synthesizing unit for synthesizing the data of the area and the data determined by the equidistant determination unit with the output subjected to the smoothing processing via the smoothing processing unit and outputting the synthesized data to the display unit. It is assumed that.

[0011]

Further, the smoothing processing unit weights each mesh of the rectangular area for which the intensity data of the object to be measured is surface-averaged, and lowers the weight of the central mesh of the rectangular area compared to the weight of the peripheral mesh. The smoothing process is performed in the state.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a radar apparatus according to Embodiment 1. 1, the same parts as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. As a new code, 9 outputs the intensity data of the measurement object in a rectangular area including the boundary of the overlapping area of the maximum observation range of the antenna / transmitters 1a and 1b with respect to the output transmitted from the low beam determiner 6. This is a smoothing processing unit that obtains data subjected to smoothing processing by surface averaging, and an output via the smoothing processing unit 9 is output to the data synthesis unit 7.

Next, the operation when the radar device having the above configuration is used as a meteorological radar device for measuring rainfall intensity will be described. The operation of the antenna / transmitters 1a and 1b or the low beam determiner 6 is the same as in the conventional example. That is, the antenna / transmission / reception units 1a and 1b
Radio waves (microwave pulses) are emitted to the surroundings while rotating an antenna (not shown), and echoes of reflected waves reflected from raindrops as objects are received and amplified. Signal processing unit 2a
And 2b receive the amplified received echoes and input power value information (d
B), and then obtain the rainfall intensity value (mm / H) according to a so-called known radar equation.

The rainfall intensity values as the polar coordinate radar data from the signal processing units 2a and 2b are input to the synthesis processing unit 3 and synthesized. In the synthesizing unit 3, first, the rectangular coordinate conversion units 4a and 4b convert the data into rectangular coordinate data. The overlapping area determination unit 5
The rectangular coordinate data output from the rectangular coordinate conversion units 4a and 4b are compared with each other to determine an overlapping area from the coordinate position, and the data of the overlapping area is determined by the low beam determination unit 6
And the data in the non-overlapping area is output to the data synthesizing unit 7 as it is. The low beam determination unit 6 determines, for each mesh of the orthogonal coordinates, which of the radars has lower altitude for the data of the overlapping area, and determines to use the lower radar output.

The smoothing processing section 9 applies intensity data of the object to be measured in a rectangular area including a boundary of the overlapping area to any one of the radar outputs determined by the low beam determining section 6 for the data of the overlapping area. Are subjected to surface averaging to obtain data subjected to smoothing processing. That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, the smoothing processing unit 9 connects the intersections of the overlapping maximum observation ranges of the radar A corresponding to the antenna / transmission / reception unit 1a and the radar B corresponding to the antenna / transmission / reception unit 1b. With respect to the mesh including the line segment ab, a mesh in a certain range centered on the mesh is averaged to obtain a value of the mesh. That is, as shown in FIG. 2B, the rainfall intensity value of the mesh x is defined as the sum of the rainfall intensity values of all the meshes / the number of meshes.

The data synthesizing unit 7 calculates the amount of rainfall obtained from the two radars based on the data smoothed by the smoothing processing unit 9 as described above and the data of the non-overlapping area from the overlapping area determination unit 5. Combine the intensity values.
The combined rectangular coordinate rainfall intensity data obtained in this manner is displayed on the display unit 8 and used for the purpose of obtaining weather information. Although the smoothing processing unit 9 has been described using a 3 × 3 mesh as an example, a 5 × 5 mesh or the like may be used according to radar characteristics and the like.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment,
The smoothing processing unit 9 can smoothly shape the rainfall intensity value at the boundary between a plurality of radars to perform a more natural display.

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
For a mesh including the line segment ab, only a certain range of meshes centered on the mesh are averaged. However, similar averaging may be performed for the vicinity of the mesh including the line segment ab. good. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, by performing surface averaging on intensity data of a measurement target in a rectangular area including a movement line obtained by moving a boundary line of an overlapping region in a direction parallel to the boundary line, a plurality of areas are obtained. The rainfall intensity value at the boundary between radars can be shaped more smoothly. FIG.
Are averaged in the shaded area to obtain the boundary mesh value. This is similarly performed for the vicinity of all boundary lines by moving average. In this case, the configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 1 can be adopted.

Embodiment 3 In the above first and second embodiments, an example has been described in which the smoothing processing unit 9 averages all the rectangular areas to be averaged with the same weight. For example, as shown in FIG. The averaging may be performed in a state where the averaging is lowered. That is,
In the example of the 3 × 3 mesh, the rainfall intensity value of the central mesh x is calculated by (sum of the rainfall intensity values of the meshes excluding the mesh x + the rainfall intensity value of the mesh x × weight) / (mesh x
Number of meshes other than + weight), and the value of the weight is 0
To a value within the range of 1. Here, when the weight is "1", it is the same as in the first embodiment, and when the weight is "0", the mesh x is completely ignored. Accuracy can be improved by weighting and averaging in this way. In this case, the configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 1 can be adopted.

Embodiment 4 FIG. Embodiments 1 to 3 above
So, we have mentioned the case of two radars,
The same processing can be performed for the case of three sites. That is, since there is a boundary between each radar,
The averaging described in the above embodiment is performed for each of the line segments. The block diagram is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the number of antennas / transmitters and signal processors increases according to the number of sites.

Embodiment 5 Embodiments 1 to 4 above
Then, at a single altitude, namely PPI (Plane Position Indic
ation) data, but CAPPI (Constant Altitud) based on multiple elevation observations
Similarly, smoothing can be performed on e-plane position indication data.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a radar apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. 5, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 denote the same parts, and a description thereof will be omitted. As new codes, reference numerals 10a and 10b denote CAPPI conversion processing units for obtaining a plurality of iso-altitude cross-section data from three-dimensional data observed at a plurality of elevation angles respectively output from the signal processing units 2a and 2b. Part 5 is
The data of the equal height sections output from the CAPPI conversion units 10a and 10b are compared to determine an overlap area, and data of the overlap area and the non-overlap area are output. Also, 11
Is an equidistant determination unit that determines a boundary that is equidistant from a plurality of radars with respect to the data of the overlapping region output from the overlapping region determination unit 5 and sends the boundary to the smoothing processing unit 9;
The data synthesizing section 7 synthesizes the data of the non-overlapping area from the overlapping area judging section 5 and the output of the data after being judged by the equidistant judging section 11 and subjected to the smoothing processing through the smoothing processing section 9. And outputs it to the display unit 8.

In the above configuration, the CAPPI conversion unit 10
In a and 10b, data of a plurality of iso-altitude sections (CAPPI data) from three-dimensional data observed at multiple elevation angles
Create Since the CAPPI data has the same altitude, low beam determination is not performed, and instead, a boundary at which the two radars are at the same distance is determined by the equidistant determination unit 11. Then, smoothing is performed on data obtained by performing orthogonal transformation on the boundary line in the same manner as in the first to fourth embodiments.

Therefore, according to the fifth embodiment,
Smoothing can also be performed on CAPPI data obtained by a plurality of elevation observations, and a more natural display can be performed by smoothly shaping the rainfall intensity value at the boundary between a plurality of radars.

The smoothing processing for the CAPPI data by the multiple elevation angle observation in the fifth embodiment is also performed by the smoothing processing unit 9 by the smoothing processing unit 9 in the same manner as in the second and third embodiments. The smoothed data is output to the data synthesizing unit 7 by averaging the intensity data of the measurement object in the rectangular area including the moving line obtained by moving the boundary line of the overlapping region in the direction parallel to the boundary line. In addition, weighting is performed on each mesh of the rectangular area for which the intensity data of the measurement object is surface-averaged, and the weight of the central mesh of the rectangular area is reduced compared to the weight of the surrounding mesh. And smoothing processing can be performed, and the same effect as in the second and third embodiments can be expected.

[0027]

As described above, according to the radar apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of antennas and transmission / reception systems each of which transmits a radio wave to the surroundings while rotating an antenna and receives reflected waves reflected from an object to be measured. Unit, a plurality of signal processing units for converting radio waves received by each antenna / transmitter / receiver unit into power value information for each elevation angle, and then converting them into intensity values of the object to be measured, and measurement obtained by the plurality of signal processing units. In a radar apparatus including a combining processing unit that combines the intensity values of the target object and a display unit that displays the intensity value of the measurement target combined by the combining processing unit, the combining processing unit includes the plurality of antennas. - intensity data of the measuring object rectangular region and the average surface provided with a smoothing processing section for obtaining the smoothed processed data including the boundary line of the overlap region up to the observation area of the transceiver unit The smoothing processing unit, said border
Includes a movement line that moves the field line in a direction parallel to the boundary line
The intensity data of the measurement object in the rectangular area is averaged over the surface and the
By outputting the processed data to the data synthesizing unit, the boundary between a plurality of radars displayed on the display screen can be smoothed and shaped into a more natural shape and displayed . Extend the smoothing processing range to increase its accuracy
Can be

The synthesizing unit includes a plurality of orthogonal coordinate conversion units for converting polar coordinate data output from the signal processing units into orthogonal coordinate data, respectively, and orthogonal coordinate units respectively output from the orthogonal coordinate conversion units. An overlapping area determining unit that compares the data to determine an overlapping area from the coordinate positions and outputs data of the overlapping area and the non-overlapping area, and a data of the overlapping area output from the overlapping area determining unit having a lower altitude. A low beam determination unit that determines a radar beam and sends it to the smoothing processing unit, and the non-overlapping region data from the overlapping region determination unit and the smoothing processing unit for data after being determined by the low beam determination unit. And a data synthesizing unit for synthesizing the output subjected to the smoothing process and outputting the synthesized data to the display unit. It can be smoothed to obtain a combined data.

Further, the synthesizing unit includes a plurality of CAPPIs for obtaining a plurality of iso-altitude cross-section data from three-dimensional data observed at a plurality of elevation angles output from each of the signal processing units.
(Constant Altitude Plane Position Indication) conversion unit, and an overlap region determination unit that compares the data of the iso-altitude sections output from each CAPPI conversion unit to determine the overlap region and outputs the data of the overlap region and the non-overlap region. An equidistant determination unit that determines a boundary that is equidistant from a plurality of radars with respect to the data of the overlapping region output from the overlapping region determination unit and sends the boundary to the smoothing processing unit; A data synthesizing unit for synthesizing the data of the area and the data determined by the equidistant determination unit with the output subjected to the smoothing processing via the smoothing processing unit and outputting the synthesized data to the display unit, Smoothing processing can also be performed on CAPPI data obtained by elevation observation to perform synthesis processing of overlapping observation ranges by a plurality of radars.

[0030]

Further, the smoothing processing unit weights each mesh of the rectangular area for which the intensity data of the object to be measured is plane-averaged, and lowers the weight of the central mesh of the rectangular area compared to the weight of the peripheral mesh. By performing the smoothing process in the state, the accuracy of the averaging can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radar device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a smoothing processing method according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an averaging process image by a moving average according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an image diagram illustrating a mesh averaging process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radar device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional radar device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a low beam determination image viewed from the side.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b antenna / transmission / reception section, 2a, 2b signal processing section, 3 synthesis processing section, 4a, 4b rectangular coordinate conversion section,
5 Overlap area determination section, 6 Low beam determination section, 7 Data synthesis section, 8 Display section, 9 Smoothing processing section, 10
a, 10b CAPPI conversion unit, 11 equidistant determination unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01S ⁷ /00-7/42 G01S 13/00-13/95 G01W 1/14

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of antennas / transmitters for emitting radio waves to the surroundings while rotating an antenna and receiving reflected waves reflected from a measurement object, respectively, and transmitting the radio waves received by each antenna / transmitter for each elevation angle. A plurality of signal processing units that respectively convert the power value information into the intensity values of the measurement object, and a synthesis processing unit that synthesizes the intensity values of the measurement object obtained by the plurality of signal processing units; A display unit that displays an intensity value of the measurement object synthesized by the processing unit;
Comprising a smoothing processing section for obtaining the intensity data and the average surface smoothing data of the measuring object in the rectangular region including the boundary line of the overlap region up to the observation area of the plurality of antenna transceiver unit, the smoothing processing section Above
Includes movement lines that move the boundary in a direction parallel to the boundary.
The intensity data of the measurement object in the rectangular area
A radar apparatus for outputting data subjected to aging processing to the data synthesizing unit . A plurality of orthogonal coordinate converters for converting polar coordinate data output from each of the signal processors into orthogonal coordinate data; and a plurality of rectangular coordinate converters each of which is output from each of the orthogonal coordinate converters. An overlapping area determining unit that compares the data to determine an overlapping area from the coordinate positions and outputs data of the overlapping area and the non-overlapping area, and a data of the overlapping area output from the overlapping area determining unit having a lower altitude. A low beam determination unit that determines a radar beam and sends it to the smoothing processing unit, and the non-overlapping region data from the overlapping region determination unit and the smoothing processing unit for data after being determined by the low beam determination unit. 2. The radar according to claim 1, further comprising: a data synthesizing unit for synthesizing the output subjected to the smoothing processing via the data output unit and outputting the synthesized output to the display unit. apparatus. 3. The plurality of CAPPIs (CoPs) for obtaining data of a plurality of iso-altitude sections from three-dimensional data observed at a plurality of elevation angles output from each of the signal processing units.
(nstant Altitude Plane Position Indication) conversion unit, an overlap region determination unit that compares the data of the iso-altitude cross sections output from each CAPPI conversion unit, determines the overlap region, and outputs the data of the overlap region and the non-overlap region. An equidistant determination unit that determines a boundary that is equidistant from a plurality of radars with respect to the data of the overlapping region output from the overlapping region determining unit and sends the boundary to the smoothing processing unit; and a non-overlapping region from the overlapping region determining unit. And a data synthesizing unit for synthesizing the smoothed output through the smoothing processing unit with respect to the data determined by the equidistant determination unit and outputting the synthesized data to the display unit. The radar device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The measuring object according to claim 1 , wherein
For each mesh in the rectangular area where the intensity data of
Weighting is performed, and the weight of the center mesh of the rectangular area is
Smoothing processing with the weight reduced compared to the edge mesh
The radar apparatus according to any one of claims 1, characterized in that physical 3.