METHOD, DEVICE AND PROGRAM FOR PROCESSING SIGNALS, AND RADAR APPARATUS

• US 20120127018A1
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Furuno Electric Co, Ltd
• Original Assignee: Furuno Electric Co, Ltd
• Inventors: NAKAGAWA, Kazuya
• Granted Patent: US 9,041,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/90
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/937 of marine craft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/064 using a display memory for image processing G01S7/298 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/10 Providing two-dimensional and co-ordinated display of distance and direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/2923 based on data belonging to a number of consecutive radar periods

Abstract

This disclosure provides a signal processing device, which includes an echo signal input module for inputting echo signals from an antenna discharging electromagnetic waves to a predetermined area and receiving the echo signals reflected on a target object, an echo signal level detection module for detecting a level of each of the echo signals from each location within the predetermined area, a target object detection module for detecting the target object based on the levels of the echo signals, a correlation processing module for performing scan-to-scan correlation processing of a plurality of scans, and a level adjustment module for adjusting the levels of the echo signals after the scan-to-scan correlation processing. The level adjustment module adjusts the levels of the echo signals corresponding to the locations where the target object detection module detects the target object.

Claims

1. A signal processing device, comprising:

an echo signal input module for inputting echo signals from an antenna discharging electromagnetic waves to a predetermined area and receiving the echo signals reflected on a target object;

an echo signal level detection module for detecting a level of each of the echo signals from each location within the predetermined area;

a target object detection module for detecting the target object based on the levels of the echo signals;

a correlation processing module for performing scan-to-scan correlation processing of a plurality of scans; and

a level adjustment module for adjusting the levels of the echo signals after the scan-to-scan correlation processing, wherein the level adjustment module adjusts the levels of the echo signals corresponding to the locations where the target object detection module detects the target object.

2. The signal processing device of claim 1, wherein the level adjustment module additionally performs the level adjustment of the echo signal at a location close to the location where the target object detection module detects the target object.

3. The signal processing device of claim 2, wherein the level adjustment module performs the level adjustment with a characteristic based on a Gauss function, centered on each location where the target object detection module detects the target object.

4. The signal processing device of claim 3, wherein the level adjustment module performs the level adjustment with a level adjustment amount that is obtained by combining the characteristics based on the calculated Gauss functions centered on the respective locations.

5. The signal processing device of claim 1, wherein the target object detection module detects a presence or absence of the target object at every location;

and

wherein the level adjustment module performs the level adjustment when a pattern of the presence or absence of the target object at each location matches a predetermined pattern.

6. The signal processing device of claim 5, wherein the level adjustment module changes an amount of the level adjustment depending on the pattern.

7. The signal processing device of claim 1, wherein the target object detection module detects that the target object exists when the levels of the echo signals exceed a predetermined threshold.

8. The signal processing device of claim 7, wherein the target object detection module sets the threshold according to a distance of the echo signals from the antenna.

9. A radar apparatus, comprising:

the signal processing device of claim 1;

an antenna for revolving while discharging electromagnetic waves for every azimuth and receiving echo signals; and

an echo image display module for displaying an echo image based on the echo signals after the level adjustment module adjusts the levels.

10. A method of processing signals, comprising:

inputting echo signals from an antenna discharging electromagnetic waves to a predetermined area and receiving the echo signals reflected on a target object;

detecting a level of each of the echo signals from each location within the predetermined area;

detecting the target object based on the levels of the echo signals;

performing scan-to-scan correlation processing of a plurality of scans; and

adjusting the levels of the echo signals after the scan-to-scan correlation processing, wherein the adjusting step adjusts the levels of the echo signals corresponding to the locations where the target object is detected.

11. A computer-readable program for processing signals, comprising:

causing a computer to input echo signals from an antenna discharging electromagnetic waves to a predetermined area and receiving the echo signals reflected on a target object;

causing a computer to detect a level of each of the echo signals from each location within the predetermined area;

causing a computer to detect the target object based on the levels of the echo signals;

causing a computer to perform scan-to-scan correlation processing of a plurality of scans; and

causing a computer to adjust the levels of the echo signals after the scan-to-scan correlation processing, wherein the adjusting step adjusts the levels of the echo signals corresponding to the locations where the target object is detected.