JP2002529003A - Signaling device, receiving device, and signaling method - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved signaling system that transmits messages by optical signals and is particularly suitable as a means of communication between warships. The present invention requires a high degree of automation by entering messages into data entry systems as easy-to-understand text fragments, encoding the messages, and automatically sending them. The light signal of the signal lamp is received by a receiving device such as a TV camera. The optical signal is extracted from the TV video and stored as a bit string. This bit string is converted into easy-to-understand text. The receiver and the signal ramp are preferably mounted on a joint, ie a stabilized platform.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a signal device for transmitting a message through free space by an optical signal. The invention also relates to a receiving device for receiving an optical signal transmitted through free space by a signal lamp and representing an encoded message. Further, the present invention relates to a signal system for transmitting a message through free space by an optical signal and receiving and decoding the optical signal. The present invention also relates to an upgrade kit for automating a manual signal mounting lamp that transmits a message through free space by an optical signal. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for transmitting a message through free space by means of an optical signal, provided with an actuator means for obtaining an optical signal and applying a signal lamp for carrying the optical signal.

[Industrial applications]

[0002]

[Prior art]

Such signal lamps are used in particular for being able to communicate with each other by means of light signals that can be monitored and deciphered by observers. For this purpose, it is generally necessary to establish intercommunication using narrow beams focused on the warship. In this process, the signal ramp switches on and off according to a known Morse code. This communication method is particularly suitable when wireless communication cannot be performed. An advantage of the optical signal is that the warship can exchange messages with a minimum of risk of unwanted interception of these messages by outsiders.

[0003] The operation of known signal lamps, the monitoring of light signals and the subsequent decoding of the messages carried by the light signals requires a skilled person. However, today's naval organizations are increasingly inclined to automate tasks to the greatest extent possible to reduce staffing and training costs.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

It is an object of the present invention to further promote the above-mentioned tendency by automating the above-mentioned communication method.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The present invention is for transmitting a message through free space by an optical signal,
In a signaling device having an actuator means for obtaining an optical signal and comprising a signal lamp for carrying the optical signal, a first storage means for storing the message, and an encoding means for converting the message into an encoded message; Interface means provided between the storage means and the actuator means for operating the actuator means based on an encoded message.

Further, the present invention relates to a receiver for receiving an optical signal representing an encoded message transmitted through free space by means of a signal ramp, comprising: an optical detector means for recording the optical signal representing said encoded message; , A second storage unit for storing the recorded signal, and a decoding unit for decoding the recorded signal.

[0007]

[Action]

According to the invention, such automation is achieved by the signaling device of the invention. The signal system according to claim 6 can be obtained by combining such a signal device and a receiving device.

The tendency for automation can be further enhanced by an upgrade kit according to claim 14. This upgrade kit further adds the advantage that existing signal lamps can be used to achieve an automated signaling system.

The message transmission method according to the present invention stores the message in a first storage means,
Converting the message into an encoded message, controlling the actuator means based on the encoded message, generating a recorded message by recording an optical signal by the optical detector means, and decoding the recorded message. It is characterized in that it is stored in the second storage means.

[0010] The signaling device, the receiving device, the signaling system, the upgrade kit and the message transmission method according to the present invention have a common advantage that a message can be introduced into the first storage means in a form that can be understood by a sender. For this purpose, a keyboard or voice recognition interface connected to a personal computer or any other type of available data entry system can be used. The message can be converted to an encoded message, for example a Morse code, based on existing programs. If such a message is to be easily transmitted, an instruction is sent by the message's compiler and then passed to the actuator via a suitable interface to activate the signal ramp.

[0011] The reception of the encoded message is automated. A light / dark signal from a signal lamp is detected and recorded by an optical detector, for example, a TV-camera provided with a pixel array, and these signals are processed and stored in the second memory means. The stored signal is decoded by a suitable computer program and then converted to spoken language if printed or publicly available speech generating software is available.

[0012] Such a procedure can be performed completely without the intervention of a skilled operator having knowledge of Morse code signalling.

[0013] There is also the added advantage that faster message rates can be obtained by using existing signaling ramps. The reason is that the signaling and the reception are performed automatically. Nevertheless, the receiver according to the invention can be used for receiving signals transmitted by conventional signal ramps, and the transmission rate of the signal ramp should also be adapted to the rate at which the reception rate monitors and / or decodes the message. Can be.

According to the fourth aspect, the receiving apparatus of the present invention can be further automated. This necessarily automatically directs the detection means to the signal lamp.

According to the fifth aspect, the position of the signal lamp is determined by the optical detecting means, whereby the available optical detecting means is used favorably, but no external position detecting means is required.

A preferred example of the signaling system is defined in claim 7. The advantage of this example is that the signaling system can be operated from a central position.

According to claim 8, the detection means and the signal lamp are mounted on a common platform. The advantage of this arrangement is that both devices can be mounted as a unit on a substructure, for example a ship. In this regard, the platform can be made rotatable and the detection means and signal lamp can be directed by a single pointing device.

[0018] According to claim 10, when a signal lamp is used, it is advantageous to provide the lamp with automatic directing means, so that a skilled crew for holding the signal lamp in a desired direction is not required. .

An advantage of the signal lamp according to claim 11 is that the signal lamp can be held in a desired direction despite movement of a sub-structure, for example, a ship. A gyro unit for detecting the angular position can be used for this purpose. These advantages can be applied mutatis mutandis to the receiving device according to claims 12 and 13.

[0020]

【Example】

The invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the signal system of the present invention. In this example, the signaling system can be suitably mounted on a mobile platform, for example on a ship. The signal lamp 1 can rotate the signal lamp 1 on a directing device 2 or about a bearing axis 3 and a pivot axis 4 and is suitably mounted on a stabilizing platform for directing / targeting the lamp 1. The directional lamp may be of a type commonly used in warships.
In addition to the signal lamp, the stabilizing platform 2 comprises an optical receiver 5 embodied as a TV camera. FIG. 1 shows the signal lamp 1, the pointing device 2 and the receiving device 5 in a front view. The receiving device 5 and the signal lamp 1 are arranged substantially on the same line and are fixed to each other. The signal lamp 1 is provided with a manually operated handle 6 which is normally used to obtain the light / dark signal produced by the signal lamp. According to the present invention,
The operating handle 6 is provided with an actuator 7 which is implemented as a solenoid and which automatically obtains an optical signal.

Further, the signal system includes a control unit 8, a computer 9, a keyboard 10
, A joystick 11, a data recognition means such as a voice recognition interface 12, and a data output means such as a display unit 13.

The control unit 8, the solenoid 7 and the receiving device 5 each provide an interface for a computer network of a ship, for example, comprising an Ethernet connection 14. The solenoid 7 operates on the signal lamp via the Ethernet connection 14 and can supply data of the data to the control unit 8 from the receiving device.

In order to target the pointing device 2, a first servo motor 15 and a second servo motor 16 are provided for the bearing shaft and the rotation shaft 4, respectively, and these servo motors are controlled by a servo control unit 17. The control servo unit 17 is connected to a computer network via the interface 17A so that it can receive external control commands and supply angular position data from the pointing device 2.

In addition, the control servo unit provides a gyro means 1 for providing the absolute angular position of the ship.
8 receives the order. To this end, the gyro means are also provided with an interface 18A to the computer network. These control commands ensure that the signal lamp and the receiving device are maintained in a substantially horizontal position despite the movement of the vessel.

The operation of the above signaling system is as follows. An operator establishes a connection from the control unit 8 to the actuator 7, the receiving device 5 and the servo control unit 17. Using the joystick 11, the pointing device is positioned at a desired position with respect to the fixed earth axis coordinate system that coincides with the signal direction.

The compensation for the movement of the ship is completely automatic. A signal from the receiving device is received by the display unit 13, and the signal is used by an operator to position the pointing device 2. Then, the operator operates the keyboard 10 or the voice recognition interface 12.
Enter the message by The voice recognition is performed by the software of the computer 9, and the text-entered message is made to exist on the display unit 13 and displayed. When the transmission of the message is enabled, the operator sends a command through the keyboard 10. Next, the message is converted into a Morse code by software, and the Morse code is passed through the actuator 7 via the Ethernet connection unit 14, and the signal lamp 1 transmits the Morse code as a light / dark signal. The signal frequency of the Morse code can be predetermined and adjusted according to the rate at which the message is received by the recipient.

If the operator wishes to receive a message, the pointing device is appropriately positioned so that the signal lamp of the sender is in the field of view of the receiving device 5. The light / dark signal of the transmitter is received by the receiving device and supplied to the control unit 8 via the computer network 4. To extract these light / dark signals from the TV image by means of a suitable image processing device of the computer 9 using a threshold circuit for discriminating between the light state and the dark state of the signal lamp, and to determine the length of the light pulse. In combination with the timing signal. For this purpose, the optical signal is converted into a bit string having a logical value “1” corresponding to the “bright” state and a logical value “0” corresponding to the “dark” state. Then, the length of the non-cut string in the logical "1" state is determined with respect to the length of the associated light pulse. This makes it possible to distinguish between long and short pulses. Next, the message stored in the memory of the computer is decoded by the code table also stored in the memory, and can be printed on the display device 13 or by voice if suitable voice recognition software is available. , Or also by other means.

When the signaling device is used for communication between two ships, it is important to keep the receiving device at the same level as the signal lamp of the other ship. This can also be done automatically, as described below with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A shows the signal lamp 1, in this case the lamp of the other vessel, the receiving device 5, and the field of view 19 of the receiving device. First, the receiving device 5 is appropriately positioned so that the signal lamp 1 enters the field of view 19 of the receiving device 5. FIG. 2B shows the relevant TV video in this state. The TV image is divided into four quadrants 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D, and the image of the signal lamp is located in the first quadrant A. Next, using a suitable extraction software, the position of the signal lamp of the TV image and the TV
The difference from the center 21 of the image can be determined in the XY direction shown. These difference signals are supplied to a servo control unit 17 for controlling the pointing device 2 so that the image of the signal device is located at least approximately at the center 21 of the TV image. For this reason, the receiving device monitors the signal lamp. However, since the signal lamp generates a light / dark signal, it cannot always be seen in a TV image. The drawback is that the last recorded position of the signal ramp is stored each time and a suitable filtering algorithm can be applied to this recorded position to predict the position of the signal ramp during the "dark" state.

As in the case of the signaling system described above, solenoids, servo control units, receivers and control units, each having a suitable interface with a computer network, can be used as an upgrade kit for existing signaling lamps.

Instead of a TV camera, a less complex form such as a set of four light-sensitive diodes arranged in a square configuration and provided with suitable optical means for directing the light emitted from the signal lamp to the diodes. Optical sensor can be used. In order to position the optical sensor, known monopulse processing can be applied to a diode configuration arranged in a square.

The receiving device and the signal lamp can be mounted as separate units at different locations. However, in this case, separate pointing devices are required for both the signal lamp and the receiving device. In addition, the arrangement needs to be able to compensate for the parallax effect.

In a semi-automatic configuration, the servo unit can be omitted. In this configuration,
The pointing device must be operated by a trained crew. However, transmission, reception, decoding and display are performed automatically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a signaling device and a signaling system comprising a receiving device according to the invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show details of a receiver according to the invention in cooperation with an automatically tracked signal ramp.

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Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A signal device for transmitting a message through free space by means of an optical signal, said device comprising actuator means for obtaining the optical signal and comprising a signal lamp for conveying the optical signal, wherein said message is stored. First storage means; encoding means for converting the message into an encoded message; and interface means provided between the storage means and the actuator means for operating the actuator means based on the encoded message. A signal device characterized by doing so. 2. A receiver for receiving an optical signal transmitted through free space by a signal ramp and representing an encoded message, wherein the optical detector means records an optical signal representing the encoded message; A second storage unit for storing the recorded signal; and a decoding unit for decoding the recorded signal. 3. The receiving device according to claim 2, wherein said optical receiving device includes a TV-camera means. 4. The receiving device according to claim 1, further comprising: a position detecting means for detecting a position of the signal lamp; and a control means for controlling a directing means so that the optical detector means faces the signal lamp. The receiving device according to claim 3. 5. The receiving device according to claim 4, wherein said position detecting means includes said optical detector means. 6. A signal system for transmitting a message through free space by an optical signal and receiving and decoding the optical signal, wherein the system is a signal device according to claim 1 and any one of claims 1 to 3. A signal system comprising the receiving device according to the above item. 7. The signal system according to claim 6, further comprising a central control unit for operating a signal lamp and representing recorded data from the receiving device.
A signaling system according to claim 1. 8. The signal system according to claim 6, wherein said signal system comprises a common platform and said signal lamp and said detector means are mounted on said common platform. 9. The signal system according to claim 8, wherein said common platform is rotatable so that said signal lamp and said detector means function in one operation. 10. The signal mounting according to claim 1, wherein said signal mounting includes first automatic directing means for automatically directing a signal lamp. 11. In the application of a movable platform, for example a ship, the automatic pointing means is designed to automatically point the signal lamp based on information on the angular position of the ship. The signal mounting according to claim 10. 12. The receiving device according to claim 3, wherein said receiving device includes an automatic pointing means for automatically pointing said optical detector means. 13. The method according to claim 13, wherein in applying a movable platform, for example, a ship, the automatic pointing means is designed to automatically point the signal lamp based on information on an angular position of the ship. The receiving mounting according to claim 12. 14. An upgrade kit for automating a manual signal mounting lamp adapted to transmit a message through free space by an optical signal, comprising: a storage means for storing a message; an encoding means for encoding a message; An upgrade kit comprising an actuator means for operating, an interface means provided between the storage means and the actuator means, and a means for issuing a command for operating the actuator means. 15. The upgrade kit according to claim 14, further comprising an automatic directing unit for automatically directing the signal lamp. 16. A method for transmitting a message through free space by an optical signal under the application of a signal lamp for transmitting an optical signal, wherein the actuator means for obtaining an optical signal is provided, wherein the message is stored in a first storage means. Converting the message into an encoded message, controlling the actuator means based on the encoded message,
A method for transmitting a message, wherein a recorded message is generated by recording an optical signal by the optical detector means, and the recorded message is decoded and stored in the second storage means.