JPH052065A - Radar - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a number of ranges to be used and a desired range to be readily and positively selected by preparing a number of usable ranges and selecting only a range which a user normally uses. CONSTITUTION:An echo data is written to a primary memory 13 in sequence every time an echo signal is received by a transmission/reception portion 11 and the data is read by a CPU 15 until a next trigger pulse is generated and then is written into a specified area of an image memory 22. A CPU 15 executes a program which is written into a ROM 16 previously and then performs a required control. The memory 22 has a memory capacity for one screen for displaying on the CRT 25, the CPU 15 writes the display data into this memory 22, and a display control circuit 23 reads data of the memory 22 in sequence. A video output circuit 24 creates a video signal from a data which is read out and then outputs it to the CRT 25, thus enabling the CRT 25 to display an image corresponding to the data within the memory 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radar that emits pulsed radio waves and receives echoes from a target to detect the target.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A radar for detecting a target by changing the directional direction of an antenna, emitting a pulsed radio wave, and receiving an echo from the target is installed in a ship or the like to assist in safe navigation. It is used as one of the devices.

In such a ship radar, the range (display distance range) is selected according to the purpose of use, the detected target, the type of ship, the ship speed, and the like. In conventional general radar, 0.25 0.5 0.75 1.5 3.0 6.0 12.0
(NM) ... multiples of 3 or 0.25 0.5
1.0 2.0 4.0 8.0 16.0 (NM) ... It is configured so that the range can be selected in a series of multiples of 2. In order to select a desired range from such a plurality of types of ranges, a rotary switch or +,-keys for increasing or decreasing the range value is used.

[0004]

As described above, the selectable range is prepared in advance as a series of multiples of 2 or multiples of 3, and the user can select and use one of them as needed. However, even with the same type of radar, it is used variously according to the purpose of use of the user, and there is an unnecessary range that is rarely used for a certain user, or conversely it is necessary to use it frequently. Sometimes there was no such range. As for the usable range, we try to equip some ranges that many users want to have without any bias, but if you try to set the usable range for all possible users, it will be extremely A large number of ranges will be prepared, and if you try to select such a large range with a small number of keys such as the + and-keys, you will have to operate the keys repeatedly until you select the desired range. However, even if a rotary switch is used, it is necessary to provide a rotary switch with a large number of contacts, and there is a problem that the entire operation section becomes large. It is difficult to pick out. Furthermore, the problem is that in the operation of selecting a desired range from such a large number of ranges, it is easy to make a selection error, and if an unintended wrong range is selected, the distance of the displayed screen will be increased. Incorrect judgment causes extremely serious problems in safe navigation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a radar which can use a large number of ranges and can select a desired range quickly and surely.

[0006]

According to the present invention, an antenna is rotated in a circumferential direction at a substantially constant cycle, and pulsed radio waves are emitted at a substantially constant time interval to receive an echo from a target and select it. In a radar that displays echoes in a specified range, means for storing all usable ranges in advance, mode switching means for switching between a setting mode for setting a combination of normally used ranges and a normal mode, and a setting mode , A means for displaying a list of all usable ranges and a plurality of normally used ranges, and a normally used range storage means for reading the operation of the range selection operation unit in the setting mode and storing the plurality of normally used ranges. In the normal mode, the operation of the range switching operation section is read and stored in the normal use range storage means. Characterized by providing a current range selection means for selecting one as the current range.

[0007]

In the radar of the present invention, all the usable ranges and a plurality of normally used ranges are displayed in a list in the setting mode for setting the combination of the normally used ranges. In this setting mode, by operating the range selection operation unit to select some of the ranges that are normally used from all the available ranges, multiple normally used ranges are stored in the normally used range storage means. Remembered. Then, in the normal mode, if the range switching operation section is operated, one of the contents stored in the normally used range storage means is selected as the current range by the current range selection means. In this way, in the setting mode, by selecting and setting a plurality of ranges that are normally used as normal use ranges from all pre-stored usable ranges, in the normal mode, The desired range can be selected from. Therefore, the user can select a desired range from the combination of ranges normally used, can use the necessary range, and can switch the range by removing unnecessary ranges from the selected range. Can be done quickly and reliably.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, FIG. 1 shows an external view of a pointing portion of a radar which is an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a CRT display unit and 3 is an operation unit. In this example, the menu is displayed in the display unit 1. The menu image is displayed as a window on the radar image. The operation unit 3 includes a plurality of keys, a knob and a trackball.
In the figure, POWER is a power / off key, TX is a send / off key, BRILL is a video brightness key, 6 is a + key used to increase the range in the normal mode and move the cursor in the menu display in the setting mode. , 7 are minus keys used for lowering the range in the normal mode and moving the cursor in the menu display in the setting mode. Further, SHIFT / ZOOM is a key for controlling the shift / zoom of the display screen, RING is a fixed distance ring display key, EBL is an electronic cursor display key, and VRM.
Is a variable distance ring display key, and GUARD is an alarm range display key. Further, reference numeral 4 is a menu key for displaying a menu in the display unit to enter the setting mode, and deleting the menu to enter the normal mode. Reference numeral 5 is a trackball used when moving a cursor or the like.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the entire structure of the radar. In FIG. 3, the antenna section 10 is installed outside the ship. The parts shown in FIG. 3 other than the antenna part 10 are shown in FIG.
The instruction section shown in FIG. The antenna 10 includes an antenna, a transmission circuit, an intermediate frequency conversion circuit, an antenna drive circuit, a pulse generator that generates a heading pulse and a bearing pulse, and the like. The transmitter / receiver 11 is a trigger pulse generation circuit that gives a trigger pulse to the antenna section 10, an amplification circuit that amplifies an intermediate frequency signal, a detection circuit that detects the intermediate frequency signal, and a distance that counts the distance as time elapses after the trigger pulse is generated. A counter, an azimuth counter that counts the azimuth of the antenna from the heading pulse and the bearing pulse, and the like. The A / D converter 12 converts the detected signal into digital data, and at the same time the primary memory 1
3 is sequentially written at a predetermined timing. Primary memory 13
Is a memory for storing echo data for one sweep. The echo data is sequentially written every time the echo signal is received by the transmitting / receiving unit 11, and the contents thereof are stored in the CPU 15 until the next trigger pulse is generated. Are read out and written in a predetermined area of the image memory 22. The CPU 15 executes a program written in the ROM 16 in advance to perform control described later. The RAM 17 stores flags and various variables described later, and is used as various working areas when performing image data processing. The interface 14 receives a predetermined timing signal from the transmitter / receiver 11 and interrupts the CPU 15. The interface 18 detects the operation of the key input device 19. CP
U15 reads the key operation content via the interface 18 at a necessary time. The interface 20 detects the operation of the trackball 5, and the CPU 15 reads the operation amount of the trackball 5 via the interface 20 at a necessary time. The image memory 22 has a memory capacity for one screen to be displayed on the CRT 25, and the CPU 15 writes the contents to be displayed in the image memory 22. The display control circuit 23 sequentially reads the contents of the image memory 22.

The video output circuit 24 creates a video signal from the read data and outputs it to the CRT 25. As a result, the CRT 25 displays an image corresponding to the contents of the image memory 22.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the menu display displayed on the display unit 1 of the CRT shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, A
0 indicates that this display is a menu display and that the setting is made by the trackball and the + key button. A1 indicates the name of an item to be set, and A2 indicates the setting contents of each item. By operating the trackball in the vertical direction in the setting mode in which this menu is displayed, one of the items in A1 can be selected. The item name highlighted in black and white in A1 is the currently selected item. Further, the contents highlighted in black and white in A2 indicate the current setting contents. In this example, the range setting mode is currently set. Here, (N.
M) indicates that the unit of the numerical value displayed on the A2 side is nautical miles, and the item name RANGE SCALE
The display below (NM) indicates that the use of the underlined range is set by operating the-key button. Therefore, in this example, 1/4 3/4
If 1.5416 is already set as the normal use range and the-key is operated in this state, the value "8" of the underlined range is newly added as the normal use range. .. In this state, for example, if the + key is operated twice to move the underline to the position of "16" and then the-key is operated, the range "16" is removed from the normal use range, The display is a normal (non-inverted) display.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a structure of a main part of the RAM 17 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, MN is the number of the item indicated by A1 in FIG. 2, for example, “ECHO STRET
If it is “CH”, the menu number MN = 0, “I.REJ
In the case of "ECT", the menu number MN = 1, and in the range setting mode, the menu number MN = 5. Figure 4
In Fig. 2, RN is a range scale number in which an underline shown in A2 in Fig. 2 is displayed. For example, when the underline is at the position of "1/4", RN = 0, and the underline is at the position of "1/2". When the underline is at the position "2", RN = 5, and when the underline is at the position "8", RN = 9. In FIG. 4, D (0) to D (11) are data indicating whether or not each range is normally used for all usable ranges, and the data value is 0 or 1. The numbers in parentheses are the numbers of usable ranges. For example, the range "1/4" range scale usage data is D.
(0), D (1) for range scale usage data for range “1/2”, D (5) for range scale usage data for range “2”, and range scale usage data for range “8” D (9), and in the example of the state shown in FIG. 2, D (0) = 1, D (1) = 0, D (5) =
0 and D (9) = 0. In FIG. 4, RSD is a value indicating the range value to be displayed in the normal mode,
The value is one of 12 ranges from "1/4" to "16". Also, S (0) to S (11) are "1/4".
It is range scale data in which twelve values of "16" are stored in advance.

The processing procedure of the CPU 15 shown in FIG. 3 is shown as a flowchart in FIGS. First, immediately after the power is turned on, it is determined whether or not it is in a completely initial state or whether the normal use range has been set, for example (n
1). This determination of the initial state can be made by a flag (not shown) indicating that the normally used range or the like has been set and a memory backup function. If it is completely initial state, various setting states of menu items are initialized (n
2). The state shown in FIG. 2 is the default value set by this initialization. Then, the key is read (n3). If there is any key input and the operated key is the menu key, the state of the flag FM is first determined (n4 → n5 → n6). Here, the flag FM distinguishes between the setting mode and the normal mode. If the normal mode, that is, FM = 0, the menu screen as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is displayed and the flag FM is set. (N7 → n8). If the trackball is operated, the operation amount is read, and in the setting mode, the menu number MN is updated according to the operation amount of the trackball (n9 → n10 → n11). That is, the menu number MN is incremented as the trackball is moved downward, and the menu number MN is decremented as the trackball is moved upward. Then, the menu item corresponding to the menu number MN is highlighted in black and white (n12). In this way, the menu item to be set can be selected by operating the trackball in the vertical direction. If the + key is operated after selecting the range scale as the menu item as shown in FIG. 2, the value of the range scale number RN is updated (n13 → n14).
→ n15 → n16 → n17). For example, if the range scale number RN is 0, RN is incremented and RN is increased.
= 1. After that, an underline is displayed at the RNth position (n1
9). If RN = 1, an underline is displayed in "1/2" in FIG. Therefore, each time the + key is operated, the position of the underline shifts to a higher range value. If R
If the + key is further operated in the state of N = 11, RN = 0
Return to and the underline is displayed in "1/4" (n16 → n1
8 → n19). In this way, the position of the underline moves cyclically by operating the + key. After moving the underline to the desired position, if the-key is operated, the data of the range scale use / non-use data D () is inverted (n20).
→ n21 → n22 → n23). For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the underline is at the position "8", that is, when RN = 9, if the-key is operated, the data of D (9) is changed from 0 to 1. After that, black-and-white reverse display or non-reverse display is performed according to the D (RN) data (n24).

After setting the normally used range as described above, if the menu key is operated again, the menu display disappears and the screen returns to the normal screen (n5 → n6 → n25). After that, the flag FM is further reset to the normal mode (n26). If the + key is operated in this normal mode, the value of the variable X is incremented (n13 → n14 → n27).
→ n28). Here, X is a value that determines which data of the range scale use / non-use data D (0) to D (11) is selected. Then, X is incremented until D (X) = 1, that is, the range set as the normally used range is found (n29 → n27 → n28 ...).
If the range of D (X) = 1 is found, the Xth range scale data S (X) is set as the current range scale data RSD (n30). However, if X = 11, the current range scale data RSD is not changed (n
27 → n3). Therefore, each time the + key is operated in the normal mode, a plurality of types of ranges that are set as normal use ranges are sequentially selected in the direction in which the range value increases. If the-key is operated in the normal mode, the current X value is decremented (n20 → n21).
→ n31 → n32). D as with the + key
X is decremented until the data with (X) = 1 is found (n33 → n31 → n32 ...). D (X) =
If the data of 1 is found, the value of the Xth range scale data S (X) is set to the current range scale data RSD.
(N34). However, if X = 0, the current range scale data RSD is not changed (n31 → n
3).

As described above, in the normal mode, each time the + key is operated, the range can be selected from within the normally used range in the direction in which the value increases, and each time the − key is operated, the normal use is performed. The range can be selected from within the range in the direction in which the value decreases.

Although the flow charts shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 show only the processing in response to the operation of the operation unit, the processing is performed in response to an interrupt given from the interface 14 shown in FIG. 3 at every predetermined timing. , The CPU performs processing of transferring the contents of the temporary memory 13 to a predetermined area in the image memory 22 and image data processing of the image memory.

[0017]

According to the present invention, if a large number of usable ranges are prepared and only the range normally used by the user is selected, normally, a desired range is selected from the plurality of normally used ranges. You will be able to select and use a range of. Therefore, it becomes possible to select and use the necessary range for each user according to the purpose of use of the device, the target to be detected, the type of ship, and the like. Moreover, since one of the normally few range types is selected, range switching can be performed quickly and reliably, and it is possible to prevent mistakes in distance determination due to incorrect range settings, which impedes safe navigation. It does not cause

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an instruction unit of a radar according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a menu display.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radar.

4 is a configuration diagram of a main part in a RAM 17 in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CRT display section 2 Menu display 3 Operation section 4 Menu key 5 Track-ball 6 + key 7-key

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Aridome 9-52 Ashihara-cho, Nishinomiya-shi Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An antenna is rotated in a circumferential direction at a substantially constant cycle, and a pulsed radio wave is emitted at a substantially constant time interval to receive an echo from a target and be selected. In a radar that displays echoes in a range that is present, means for storing all usable ranges in advance, mode switching means for switching between a setting mode and a normal mode for setting a combination of normally used ranges, and in the setting mode, A means for displaying a list of all usable ranges and a plurality of normally used ranges, a normal use range storage means for reading the operation of the range selection operation unit in the setting mode, and storing a plurality of normally used ranges, In the normal mode, the operation of the range switching operation unit is read, and one of the contents stored in the normal use range storage means is read. A radar having a current range selecting means for selecting a current range.