JP2002296341A - Radar apparatus and apparatus similar thereto - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To compose an apparatus for receiving and displaying a detection signal by a radar apparatus or the like for displaying normal image display and an enlarged image display of a target simultaneously. SOLUTION: An electric wave, that is discharged from an antenna 1, is reflected by the target and is received by the antenna 1. The signal is amplified via a reception circuit 2, is converted to a digital signal by an A/D converter 3, and is stored at a primary memory 4 as data corresponding to one sweep. The normal image data, data that are specified by an enlarged region specifying section 18 and is outputted from a read address generation section 16, and data that are specified by an enlarged display region specification section 19, and are outputted from a write address generation section 17 are transmitted to an image memory 11, so that they do not overlap each another, by utilizing the timing of FIRST that is outputted from a FIRST detector 22. The normal image region and the enlarged image region are displayed simultaneously on a display 12 by the data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for partially enlarging and displaying a target in a marine device such as a radar device, a sonar device, and a fish finder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional apparatus for receiving a search signal and displaying an image, such as a radar apparatus, will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a conventional radar device. 10, 1 is an antenna, 2 is a receiving circuit,
3 is an A / D converter, 4 is a primary memory, 5 and 7 are selectors, 6 is a coordinate converter, 8 is a center coordinate setting unit, 9 is a display address generator, 10 is a display timing generator, and 11 is an image memory. , 12 are indicators.

As shown in FIG. 10, a radio wave emitted from the antenna 1 is reflected by a target and received by the antenna 1. This received signal is amplified via the receiving circuit 2 and A
The analog signal is converted to a digital signal by the / D converter 3 with the sample clock. The primary memory 4 stores one sweep of A / D-converted data in real time, and is used as a buffer for writing to the subsequent image memory 11 until overwritten by the next transmission. When the center coordinate is set by the center coordinate setting unit 8, the coordinate conversion unit 6 creates an address from the center toward the periphery using the center coordinate as a start address using the following equation. X = Xs + r · sin θ Y = Ys + r · cos θ where X, Y: address indicating a pixel in the image memory Xs, Ys: center address r: distance from the center θ: antenna direction Further, the display timing generator 10 and the display address generator The unit 9 sets a readout position for display and performs display control, and displays the contents of the image memory 11 on the display 12.

[0005]

However, such a conventional radar device or the like that receives and displays a detection signal has the following problems to be solved.

[0006] In a conventional apparatus for receiving and displaying a search signal such as a radar apparatus, the size of an image in a screen is determined by a detection range. That is, when trying to detect a wide range, the range is increased so that the actual distance per unit pixel becomes longer. However, as the actual distance per unit pixel becomes longer, the target is displayed smaller accordingly. On the other hand, in order to display a small target in a large size, the range is reduced. However, contrary to the above, the detection range is narrowed. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to detect a distant target in a large size, the target may not be displayed on the screen.

[0007] There has been a radar device or the like having a function of enlarging and displaying such a small distant target.

As a method of enlarging and displaying a small target, as shown in FIG. 11, the space between the ship and the target is enlarged and displayed on the entire screen.

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a normal image display, and FIG. 11B is a diagram showing an enlarged image display.

As shown in FIG. 11A, when the coordinates of the own ship position before enlargement are (x0, y0) and the position coordinates of the target to be enlarged are (x1, y1), The frequency of the sample clock is set to a predetermined magnification (for example, a times), and the position of the own ship (starting coordinates) is calculated by a coordinate conversion circuit as X = x1-a. (X1-x0) Y = y1-a. (Y1-y0) By performing coordinate conversion, an enlarged image in which the own ship position has moved as shown in FIG. 11B can be obtained.

When a target to be enlarged is displayed at the center of the screen (own ship position), X = x0-a. (X1-x0) Y = y0-a. (Y1-y0) As a result, an image enlarged and displayed around the target is obtained.

However, when the display is enlarged by such a method, the image becomes the same as that when the range is changed, although the detection range is not changed. This is because the distance to the target, the size of the target, and the like may be erroneously recognized. In addition, the position of the own ship moves even though the operation of changing the display position of the own ship is not performed. For this reason, the own ship position may be set outside the display screen, and the own ship position may not be displayed, depending on the position of the target to be enlarged, the position where the enlarged position is displayed on the screen, the enlargement ratio, and the like. Further, for example, when the 2 × zoom is performed in the 3 nm range, the image becomes the same as the image obtained by moving the ship position in the 1.5 nm range.

When the enlargement position is switched, a new center position is provided, associated with the display address of the image, and transmitted to the image memory. Therefore, the existing enlargement display screen is turned off, and the position on the normal screen is changed again. Must be specified and a new enlarged display screen displayed.

Further, in order to perform the enlarged display, the sample clock frequency is changed and the entire screen is rewritten, so that it takes time for one scan of the antenna to create the enlarged display screen. For example, when the antenna rotation speed is 24 rpm, it takes 2.5 seconds before an enlarged image is displayed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for receiving and displaying a detection signal such as a radar device for displaying an enlarged image of a target object in real time without changing the detection range and the position of the ship on the screen. It is in.

[0016]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image memory for storing detection image data in a predetermined detection range, a display means for displaying the contents of the image memory on a display, an area in the image memory to be enlarged, Means for designating an area in which to display the enlargement result, and reading data from the area to be enlarged in the image memory at an empty timing other than the normal image data write timing for writing new detection image data to the image memory, and A radar device and a similar device are provided with means for writing to an area to be displayed.

Further, according to the present invention, when each sample data on each of a plurality of adjacent sweeps is converted into data of a corresponding pixel in rectangular coordinates, the timing at which the pixel is first accessed or the timing at which the pixel is accessed last The radar device and similar devices are configured to write normal image data.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of a radar device according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radar apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a timing chart of normal image description.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an antenna, 2 is a receiving circuit, 3 is an A / D converter, 4 is a primary memory, 5, 7, 1
4, 20, 21 are selectors, 6 is a coordinate conversion unit, 8 is a center coordinate setting unit, 9 is a display address generation unit, 10 is a display timing generation unit, 11 is an image memory, 12 is a display, 13
Is a buffer, 15 is an enlarged timing generator, 16 is a read address generator, 17 is a write address generator,
Reference numeral 18 denotes an enlarged area designation unit, and 19 denotes an enlarged display area designation unit.

A radio wave emitted from the antenna 1 is reflected by a target and received by the antenna 1. This received signal is amplified via the receiving circuit 2 and is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by the A / D converter 3 with a sample clock. The primary memory 4 stores one sweep of A / D converted data in real time, and is used as a buffer until it is overwritten by the next transmission. On the other hand, the signal converted from the polar coordinate system to the rectangular coordinate system by the coordinate conversion unit 6 is a signal which is used when one pixel is first accessed.
The signal is transmitted to the FIRST detection unit 22 that detects the signal as ST. When detecting the state of FIRST, the FIRST detection unit 22 detects a coordinate conversion clock (hereinafter, “RCLK”) that is a clock in the distance direction for one sweep as shown in FIG.
The FIRST signal is generated for one period (shown in FIG. 3) and supplied to the selector 14. The selector 14 selects the data of the normal image stored in the primary memory 4 at the timing of FIRST as shown in FIG. 2 and supplies it to the image memory 11 as write data. Here, the write address is output from the coordinate conversion unit 6 and provided to the image memory 11 via the selector 21. Thereby, the image memory 11
Is written with image data for normal display.

The configurations of the display address generator 9, display timing generator 10, and selector 7 are the same as those shown in FIG. In this way, the normal display is performed on the display device 12.

Next, the enlargement processing will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the enlargement timing generator, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a timing chart of the enlargement operation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the enlarged read area and the enlarged display area.

The RCLK and the FIRST signal are input to the expansion timing generator 15 as shown in FIG.
An R'CLK, which is an RCLK other than the ST period, is generated, and the frequency is divided by 2 to generate a 2R'CLK. In addition, this 2
Based on R'CLK, count the number of 2R'CLK,
T1 and T2 signals are generated from a predetermined start trigger. Here, T1 is 2 by the number of pixels in the x direction of the enlarged display area.
It is generated by counting R'CLK. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the enlarged display area is A times larger in the x direction than the enlarged read area, T1 is 2R '.
CLK generates a signal while A × a. T2 is generated by counting T1 by the number of pixels in the y direction of the enlarged display area. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the enlarged display area is A times larger in the y direction than the enlarged read area,
T2 generates a signal while T1 is A × b.

The 2R'CLK, T1,
The T2 signal is output to the read address generator 16 and the write address generator 17.

Here, since there is only one image memory 11, a normal image and an enlarged image cannot be processed at the same timing. Therefore, during the period in which the FIRST signal is not generated and during the "H" period of 2R'CLK, the process of reading the data in the enlarged area is performed. In the period in which the FIRST signal is not generated and during the "L" period of 2R'CLK, A process for writing data of the enlarged area is performed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the read address generator.

As shown in FIG. 6, the read address generating section 16 includes an accumulating section constituted by an adder circuit and a latch circuit, and a counter for counting the carry generated by the accumulation. The accumulation unit A calculates Δx, which is the reciprocal of the magnification of the number of pixels in the x direction of the enlarged display area, by 2R ′
To advance in the x-direction per cycle of CLK,
It is accumulated every R'CLK. The counter A is provided for each carry pulse generated as a result of accumulating in the x direction from the read start address input from the enlargement area designating unit 18 that sets the initial address of the area to be enlarged in the drawing area of the normal operation.
The X address is advanced and output. In addition, the accumulating unit B accumulates Δy, which is the reciprocal of the magnification of the number of pixels in the y-direction of the enlarged display area, in the y-direction per T1 cycle, and accumulates each ΔT1. The counter B advances and outputs the Y address for each carry pulse generated as a result of accumulating in the y direction from the read start address input from the enlarged area designating section 18.

Here, assuming that the start address is (Xs, Ys), the coordinates of the access point on the nth line in the x direction from the start address Xs and the mth line in the y direction from the start address Ys are (Xn, Ym).
Then, Xn = Xs + n · Δx Ym = Ys + m · Δy

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the write address generator. As shown in FIG. 7, the counter C stores an x address every 2R ′ CLK in the x direction from the drawing start address input from the enlarged display area specifying unit 19 which sets an initial address for writing the enlarged data to the image memory 11. And output. Further, the counter D advances the y address every T1 from the drawing start address input from the enlarged display area designating section 19 and outputs it.

Here, assuming that the start address is (Xt, Yt), the coordinates of the p-th access point in the x direction from the start address Xt and the coordinates of the access point in the qth row in the y direction from the start address Yt are (Xp, Yq).
Then, Xp = Xt + p Yq = Yt + q.

As an example, a case of double magnification will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing images of an enlarged area and an enlarged display area. FIG. 8 shows a case where the enlarged readout area of the normal display section is enlarged twice as large as an area of 16 pixels (4 pixels in the x direction and 4 pixels in the y direction), and the enlarged display area becomes 64 pixels. Here, assuming that Δx = Δy = 0.5, the read addresses are determined in the order of the numbers in the drawing, and if the read addresses are drawn correspondingly in the enlarged display area, a double-magnified image can be drawn. Specifically, the start address 1 of the enlarged read area
From (Xs, Ys), data is read up to 64 in the order of each sample point 2, 3, and correspondingly, from the start pixel 1 (address) (Xt, Yt) of the enlarged display area to 64 in the order of each pixel 2, 3 Write data. In this way, a 2 × enlarged image is drawn in the enlarged display area. In addition, it is possible to enlarge at an arbitrary magnification by setting Δx and Δy.

The read address generator 16 and the write address generator 17 output a read address and a write address to the selector 20. Selector 20
Selects a read address during the "H" period of one cycle of 2R'CLK, and selects "L" during one cycle of 2R'CLK.
During the period, a write address is selected and output to the selector 21. The selector 21 outputs a read address or a write address to the image memory 11 via the selector 7 at a timing other than the FIRST period.

The image data of the enlarged area read by the read address input to the image memory 11 is temporarily stored in the buffer 13 during the "H" period of one cycle of 2R'CLK. Thereafter, the 1R of 2R'CLK is set at a specified position of the image memory 11 specified by the write address.
The data in the buffer 13 is supplied from the selector 14 to the image memory 11 at a timing other than the FIRST period in the “L” period of the cycle. As a result, the image data for enlarged display is written into the enlarged display area in the image memory 11. As a result, an enlarged image is displayed on the display 12.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a display image on the display.

As shown in FIG. 9, the image displayed on the display unit 12 is displayed in a window so that the image in the enlarged display area does not overlap the enlarged area in a part of the area normally drawn.

More specifically, the enlarged area designating section 18 is composed of an input section including a trackball, a cursor key and the like, and usually designates a desired area on the display screen as an enlarged area. The designated value is used as data, and
At 8, the initial address of the enlarged area is set.

Although the FIRST timing is used as the normal image write timing described above, the LAST timing at which the normal image data write timing is the last access timing for each pixel may be used. That is, the normal image is written at the LAST timing, and the enlargement process is performed at a timing other than the LAST period, so that the normal image and the enlarged image can be displayed simultaneously. In addition, the normal image writing process and the enlargement process may be performed in a time division system in which the normal image writing, the enlarged area image reading, and the enlarged display image writing are sequentially repeated at predetermined intervals of the image conversion clock (RCLK). .

In the above-mentioned method, the pixel data of the normal image area is obtained by using the characteristics of the display (for example, VGA, XGA, etc.).
And the resolution corresponding to the number of display pixels. For example, in the case of double enlargement, one pixel in the normal image area is simply made to correspond to four pixels in the enlarged image area, and the area and distance of the image are simply enlarged. Therefore, the resolution does not change. However, the resolution of the enlarged image on the display screen can be increased by using this image data by making the capacity of the image memory higher resolution without depending on the number of pixels of the display.

Further, if a plurality of image memories are provided so that the image memory in which the normal image area exists and the image memory for the enlarged image area writing processing can be individually addressed, the enlarged image area reading processing and the enlarged image area writing processing can be performed. And processing can be performed simultaneously. That is, since there are a plurality of image memories, reading and writing of the enlarged image area can be processed by different image memories. Therefore, R'CLK excluding the period of FIRST can be used as the clock for the enlarged image processing, and it is not necessary to divide the frequency by two, and the circuit configuration is simplified.

In this embodiment, the radar device is shown as an example. However, the detection signal is processed and displayed on a display of a rectangular coordinate system, and a part of the data of the detection signal is partially enlarged. The same applies to the sonar device (searchlight sonar) and the fish finder in the point of observation.

Therefore, the above-described circuit configuration enables the above-described enlarged image display control to be applied to a fish finder and a sonar device.

[0044]

According to the present invention, an image memory for storing detected image data in a predetermined detection range, a display means for displaying the contents of the image memory on a display, an area to be enlarged in the image memory, and an enlargement Means for designating an area for displaying the result, and reading data from the area to be enlarged in the image memory at an empty timing other than the normal image data writing timing for writing new detected image data to the image memory, and displaying the enlarged result. The provision of the means for writing to the target area allows the target to be displayed in a separate window and enlarged at an arbitrary magnification without changing the detection range and the position of the ship on the screen.

Further, while observing the enlarged image of the target in the enlarged display window, the positional relationship between the ship and the target is usually observed in an image, so that the positional relationship with the target can be recognized without mistake. .

Further, since the position of the own ship does not change in the normal image, it is possible to prevent the display position of the own ship from being lost and the own ship from deviating from the display screen.

Further, once the entire screen is written, the enlarged image is read and written. Since the enlarged image is displayed separately from the normal image, the enlarged image is displayed in real time while observing the normal image. Can be changed.

Further, according to the present invention, when each sample data on a plurality of adjacent sweeps is converted into data of a corresponding pixel of orthogonal coordinates, the normal image data write timing is first accessed for each pixel. By setting the timing or the last access timing, it is possible to configure a radar device and a similar device capable of reading and writing an enlarged image without affecting writing of a normal image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radar device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a timing chart of normal image depiction.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an enlarged timing generator;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a timing chart of an enlarging operation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between an enlarged read area and an enlarged display area.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a read address generator;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a write address generator;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an image of an enlarged area and an enlarged display area.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display image of a display device.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a conventional radar device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a normal image display and an enlarged image display.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-Antenna 2-Receiving circuit 3-A / D converter 4-Primary memory 5,7,14,20,21-Selector 6-Coordinate conversion unit 8-Center coordinate setting unit 9-Display address generation unit 10-Display timing Generator 11-Image memory 12-Display 13-Buffer 15-Enlargement timing generator 16-Read address generator 17-Write address generator 18-Enlarged area designator 19-Enlarged display area designator 22-FIRST detector

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Motoharu Kondo 9-52, Ashihara-cho, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koichi Aridome 9-52, Ashihara-cho, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo F-term within the company (reference) 5J070 AF05 AH31 AJ03 AJ13 AK39 BG06 BG14 BG19

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image memory for storing detection image data in a predetermined detection range, display means for displaying the contents of the image memory on a display, an area in the image memory to be enlarged,
Means for specifying an area in which to display the enlargement result, and at an empty timing other than the normal image data writing timing for writing new detection image data to the image memory,
Means for reading data from an area of the image memory to be enlarged and writing the enlarged result to an area to be displayed. 2. The normal image data writing timing is such that when each sample data on each of a plurality of adjacent sweeps is converted to data of a corresponding pixel in rectangular coordinates, the first access timing for each pixel or the last timing for each pixel is converted. The radar device and the similar device according to claim 1, wherein the timing is an access timing.