Vibration estimation system with aiming device
By introducing a targeting device and processing circuit in the radar vibration estimation system, the difference in radiation and reflected signals of distance-related extensions is solved, and the estimation accuracy and system availability are improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410745676.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-06-19
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-11
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-20
AI Technical Summary
Existing radar-based vibration estimation techniques are difficult to accurately distinguish between target vibration and other structure vibration, resulting in evaluation challenges.
Using a vibration estimation system with a aiming device, the main lobe radiates electromagnetic signals through a distance-dependent plane of the radiation antenna perpendicular to the emission direction, and uses a processing circuit to estimate the vibration of the target based on the difference between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal. , and provide a visual aiming direction diagram to help the operator aim accurately.
Improve the availability and performance of the radar-based vibration estimation system, reduce the setting time, improve the vibration estimation accuracy of multiple targets, ensure that the target is located within the distance-dependent extension of the main lobe, thereby enhancing the reliability and easy operation of the system. sex.
Smart Images
Figure CN119165478A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration estimation system and a method of estimating vibration of a target. Background Art
[0002] Vibration monitoring of various equipment, such as pipelines or machinery, is used to obtain an indication of the status of the process or equipment itself.
[0003] For vibration monitoring, it is known to use accelerometers attached to the object to be monitored.
[0004] In order to overcome the disadvantages of devices with permanently mounted accelerometers, it has been proposed to use high-precision distance measurement techniques, such as certain radar techniques for contactless estimation of vibrations.
[0005] However, in the case of radar technology, it can be challenging to determine that it is the vibration of the intended target being evaluated and not some other structure.
[0006] It would therefore be desirable to provide improved radar-based vibration estimation, and in particular to increase the likelihood that the vibration being assessed is that of the intended target and not some other structure. Summary of the invention
[0007] In view of the above, it is a general object of the present invention to provide improved radar-based vibration estimation, and in particular to increase the likelihood that the vibration being estimated is that of an intended target and not some other structure.
[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is therefore provided a vibration estimation system for estimating vibrations of at least one target, comprising: a transceiver configured to generate, transmit and receive electromagnetic signals; a radiating antenna coupled to the transceiver and arranged and configured to radiate an electromagnetic transmit signal from the transceiver in the transmit direction with a radiation pattern comprising a main lobe with a distance-dependent extension in a plane perpendicular to the transmit direction, and to return to the transceiver an electromagnetic reflection signal caused by reflection of the transmit signal at the at least one target in the event that at least one target is located within the distance-dependent extension of the main lobe of the transmit signal; a processing circuit coupled to the transceiver and configured to estimate the vibrations of the target based on a difference between the transmit signal and the reflected signal; and an aiming device arranged and configured to provide a visual aiming pattern visually indicating the distance-dependent extension of the main lobe of the transmit signal.
[0009] The present invention is based on the recognition that the usability and / or performance of a radar-based vibration estimation system is improved by providing a system with an aiming device, which is arranged and configured to provide a visual aiming pattern that visually indicates the distance-related extension of the main lobe of a transmitted signal radiated toward at least one target of the vibration estimation. In particular, the synchronization of the aiming pattern with the extension of the main lobe in a plane perpendicular to the transmission direction of the transmitted signal facilitates the aiming of the radiating antenna toward the at least one target. In the case of a single target, it may be sufficient to aim the system so that the target is within the extension of the main lobe, and it will also be clear to the operator when the aiming is "good enough". This can reduce the time required to set up the vibration estimation system. In addition, when it is desired to use the vibration estimation system to estimate the vibration of each of a plurality of targets, the operator will be able to use the visual aiming pattern to determine whether all targets can actually be placed within the distance-related extension of the main lobe, or whether the installation position of the vibration estimation system needs to be modified.
[0010] In the example of the vibration estimation system, the aiming device may be mechanically coupled to the radiating antenna in such a way that a movement of the radiating antenna causes a corresponding movement of the aiming device. This provides for a simple and reliable aiming of the vibration estimation system.
[0011] In an example, the aiming device may include a laser.
[0012] In some examples, the aiming device may include a laser and a holographic pattern generator arranged to form an aiming pattern. In other examples, the aiming device may include an actuator that moves the laser to form the aiming pattern. Combinations of these examples are also possible.
[0013] In an example, the aiming device can be configured to provide an aiming pattern comprising a plurality of concentric geometric forms that substantially conform to at least the shape of the distance-dependent extension of the main lobe of the transmitted signal. In particular, the outermost of the concentric geometric forms (the concentric geometric form defining the largest area) can define the approximate boundaries of the main lobe at different distances from the radiating antenna. The effect of this can be that an operator who installs the vibration estimation system and / or adds a target, etc. can easily determine whether the target is fully radiated by the energy of the main lobe. In addition, smaller concentric geometric forms within the outermost concentric geometric form can indicate to the operator that positioning the target within such a smaller concentric geometric form can help improve the performance of the vibration estimation system.
[0014] According to an example of a vibration estimation system, the transmit signal may exhibit a time-varying frequency; the transceiver may be configured to form a measurement signal indicative of a difference between the transmit signal and the reflected signal; and the processing circuit may be configured to estimate the vibration of the target based on the measurement signal.
[0015] The measurement signal may indicate at least a phase difference between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal. Analysis of the phase difference between the reflected signal and the transmitted signal (on the order of micrometers or better for typical frequency ranges and measurement scanning configurations) may provide much higher accuracy than analysis of the frequency difference between the reflected signal and the transmitted signal (on the order of millimeters for typical frequency ranges and measurement scanning configurations).
[0016] For this measurement technique, a CW (continuous wave) or FMCW (frequency modulated continuous wave) radar system can be used. Such radar systems are themselves well known to those skilled in the art. In conventional non-contact level determination systems using FMCW technology, phase information is usually not used because the relationship between phase information and distance is unclear for typical distance ranges. The inventors have realized that this is not a problem for vibration estimation because the vibration amplitude is usually very small, so that the more accurate phase difference measurement can be used to unambiguously determine the distance change over time.
[0017] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for estimating the vibration of a target using a vibration estimation system, the vibration estimation system comprising a transceiver, a radiating antenna coupled to the transceiver; a processing circuit coupled to the transceiver; and an aiming device, the method comprising: generating an electromagnetic transmission signal by the transceiver; radiating the transmission signal in the transmission direction by the radiating antenna in a radiation pattern including a main lobe having a distance-dependent extension in a plane perpendicular to the transmission direction; returning an electromagnetic reflection signal caused by reflection of the transmission signal at the at least one target to the transceiver by the radiating antenna when at least one target is located within the distance-dependent extension of the main lobe of the transmission signal; estimating the vibration of the target based on the difference between the transmission signal and the reflection signal by the processing circuit; and providing a visual aiming pattern that visually indicates the distance-dependent extension of the main lobe of the transmission signal by the aiming device.
[0018] Other embodiments and effects obtained by the second aspect of the present invention are largely similar to those described above for the first aspect of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing example embodiments of the invention, in which:
[0020] Figure 1schematically illustrates an example vibration estimation scenario for a vibration estimation system according to an example of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 2 As seen from the vibration estimation system Figure 1 A part of the vibration estimation situation in;
[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a vibration estimation system according to an example of the present invention, and also schematically illustrates a range-dependent extension of a main lobe of a radiation pattern of the vibration estimation system and a visible aiming pattern;
[0023] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The enlarged portion of the diagram in FIG. Figure 3 Functional schematic representation of the vibration estimation system in;
[0024] Figure 5 Schematically illustrating an example of a visual aiming direction map provided by an aiming device of a vibration estimation system according to an example of the present invention;
[0025] Figure 6 As seen from the vibration estimation system Figure 1 A simplified illustration of a portion of a vibration estimation situation in FIG. 1 including operator guidance provided by a visual aiming direction diagram;
[0026] Figure 7 is another example of a pointing device that may be included in a vibration estimation system according to an example of the present invention; and
[0027] Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Figure 1 An example vibration estimation scenario for a vibration estimation system 1 according to an example of the present invention is schematically illustrated. Figure 1 The vibration estimation scenario in the embodiment relates to remote estimation, e.g. monitoring, of vibrations in an exemplary setting of a processing facility 3, which may be, for example, a factory for manufacturing chemicals. It should be understood that Figure 1 The example vibration estimation situation of is only one example of various possible and beneficial uses of the example vibration estimation system according to the present invention. Other uses include, for example, vibration estimation of targets in machinery, buildings, structures, etc. However, Figure 1 The processing facility 3 in may be used as an illustrative example of a setup in which the contactless vibration estimation provided by the vibration estimation system 1 according to examples of the present invention may be beneficial.
[0029] For example, it may be desirable to use the vibration estimation system 1 to estimate the vibration of a first target T1 on a first structure 5 and a second target T2 on a second structure 7. As seen from the vibration estimation system 1, the first structure 5 is closer to the vibration estimation system 1 than the second structure 7 and is to the left of the second structure 7. As seen from the vibration estimation system 1, the first target T1 is higher than the second target T2. Figure 2 This situation is schematically shown in Figure 2 As seen from the vibration estimation system 1 Figure 1 Since the vibration estimation system 1 uses radar signals for remote non-contact vibration estimation, it would be challenging for the operator to guide the vibration estimation system 1 to enable vibration estimation for both the first target T1 and the second target T2. This is particularly true in complex vibration estimation situations such as Figure 1 This may be particularly the case in the case of vibration estimation in radar, since it may be beneficial to configure the vibration estimation system to provide the radar signal within a relatively narrow main lobe to reduce the amount of stray reflections, etc.
[0030] Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a vibration estimation system 1 according to an example of the present invention, and also schematically shows a distance dependent extension of a main lobe 19 of a radiation pattern and a distance dependent extension of a visible aiming pattern of the vibration estimation system 1. Figure 3 In FIG. 2 , the distance-dependent extension of the main lobe 19 of the radiation pattern of the vibration estimation system is indicated by the solid line 21 and the distance-dependent extension of the visible aiming pattern is indicated by the dotted line 23 .
[0031] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The enlarged portion of the diagram in FIG. Figure 3 Schematic representation of the function of the vibration estimation system 1 in FIG. Figure 4 The vibration estimation system 1 comprises a transceiver 9, a radiating antenna 11, a processing circuit 13 and a sighting device 15. The transceiver 9 is configured to generate, transmit and receive electromagnetic signals. The radiating antenna 11, here exemplified by a dielectric lens antenna, is coupled to the transceiver 9 and is arranged and configured to radiate an electromagnetic transmit signal S from the transceiver 9 in the transmit direction 17 with a radiation pattern including a main lobe 19 with a distance-dependent extension indicated by a solid line 21 in a plane perpendicular to the transmit direction 17. T , and at least one target T1, T2 (refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 ) is located at the transmitting signal S TIn the case of a distance-dependent extension (distance-dependent extension) of the main lobe 19 of the transmitter 9, the transmission signal S T The electromagnetic reflection signal S caused by reflection at at least one target T1, T2 R The processing circuit 13 is coupled to the transceiver 9 and is configured to transmit the signal S T With the reflected signal S R The aiming device 15 is arranged and configured to estimate the vibration of the targets T1 and T2 at least within the vibration estimation range 25 (in Figure 3 A visible pointing pattern indicated by dotted line 23 is provided in the far field within the image sensor (schematically indicated in FIG. 1 ), which visually indicates the distance-dependent extension of the main lobe of the transmitted signal.
[0032] It should be noted that the processing circuit 13 need not be implemented by a single unit, but the processing circuit 13 may be implemented as a distributed system. For example, part or all of the processing performed by the processing circuit 13 may be performed at a location different from the location of the transceiver 9 or may be distributed. For example, the processing may be performed in the cloud and / or in a remote device.
[0033] like Figure 4 As schematically indicated in FIG. 1 , the aiming device 15 can in this case be mechanically coupled to the radiating antenna 11 via a housing 27 of the vibration estimation system 1 . Thus, a movement of the radiating antenna 11 will cause a corresponding movement of the aiming device 15. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the example configuration of , the aiming device 15 is fixed to the housing 27 of the vibration estimation system 1 and is arranged to provide light in the visible aiming direction pattern centered on the axis of symmetry 29 of the visible aiming direction pattern. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the example shown in FIG. 2 , the symmetry axis 29 is substantially parallel to the transmission signal S T The main lobe 19 has an axis of symmetry 31. Figure 3 and in particular according to Figure 4 As is apparent from the enlarged view in FIG. 1 , the offset distance d between the symmetry axis 29 of the aiming pattern and the symmetry axis 31 of the main lobe 19 causes a difference between the main lobe 19 (solid line 21) and the aiming pattern (dotted line 23) in a close region close to the vibration estimation system 1. Figure 3 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , in the vibration estimation range 25 of the vibration estimation system 1, the main lobe 19 and the aiming direction pattern overlap almost completely. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In an embodiment of a fixedly mounted and stationary aiming device 15 , the vibration estimation range 25 can be adjusted by tilting the aiming device 15 relative to the symmetry axis 27 of the main lobe 19 (symmetry axis 29 of the aiming pattern).
[0034] The aiming device 15 can advantageously include a laser 31. In the example, for example, a fixedly mounted aiming device 15 Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the example in FIG. 3 , the aiming device 15 may also advantageously comprise a holographic pattern generator 33 arranged to modify the light emitted by the laser 31 to form an aiming pattern. Figure 5 An example of a suitable aiming direction pattern 35 or more precisely a projection of an aiming direction pattern 35 onto a surface is schematically shown in FIG. Figure 5 As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the aiming pattern 35 may include a substantially identical signal to the transmitted signal S T The distance-dependent extension of the main lobe 19 corresponds to a plurality of concentric geometries. Figure 5 In the example of , the aiming pattern 35 is shown as comprising a set of concentric circles 37a to 37c around the axis of symmetry 29 of the aiming pattern 35. However, it should be noted that the concentric geometry may be any other suitable shape, depending on the configuration of the holographic pattern generator.
[0035] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A simplified illustration of a portion of the vibration estimation situation in Figure 2 This section is also shown in FIG, but now includes operator guidance provided by a visual aiming direction diagram 35. As can be seen from Figure 2 and Figure 6 As should be clear from the comparison between the two, the visual aiming direction diagram 35 greatly facilitates the operator to guide the vibration estimation system 1 (directing the main lobe 19) so that vibration estimation is performed on both the first target T1 on the first structure 5 and the second target T2 on the second structure 7. Figure 6 In FIG. 3 , the inner dashed circle 39 indicates the (maximum) extension of the aiming pattern 35 at the distance of the first target T1, and the outer dotted circle 41 indicates the (maximum) extension of the aiming pattern 35 at the distance of the second target T2. T By using the visual aiming direction diagram 35 extending in relation to the distance of the main lobe of , the operator can determine that vibrations can be estimated for both the first target T1 (at a first distance from the vibration estimation system 1) and the second target T2 (at a second distance from the vibration estimation system 1). T This is not possible for the operator of the aiming device of the laser beam provided in the emission direction 17, because Figure 6 In the case of vibration estimation, such rays will not hit the first structure 5 and will not hit the second structure 7, and therefore will not provide guidance for the operator.
[0036] Figure 7 is another example of an aiming device 15 that can be included in the vibration estimation system 1 according to an example of the present invention, wherein the aiming device comprises an actuator 43 that moves the laser 31 around the symmetry axis 27 of the main lobe 19 to form an aiming pattern. With this configuration, the symmetry axis 29 of the aiming pattern can be made to coincide with the symmetry axis 27 of the main lobe 19. This configuration will have the effect of enabling the visible aiming pattern to visually correctly indicate the transmitted signal S at all distances, in particular also at short distances. T However, for most applications and vibration estimation situations, it is desirable to Figure 4 The fixed coupling schematically shown in FIG. 1 will provide sufficient guidance for aiming the vibration estimation system 1 .
[0037] Figure 8 is a flow chart showing an example of a method according to the present invention. Figure 8 and Figure 4 The method involves generating 100 an electromagnetic transmission signal S by the transceiver 9 T , a transmission signal S is radiated 101 in the transmission direction 17 by the radiating antenna 11 with a radiation pattern comprising a main lobe 19 with a distance-dependent extension in a plane perpendicular to the transmission direction 17 T , and at least one target is located at the transmitting signal S T In the case where the main lobe 19 extends within the relevant distance, the transmitted signal S is returned 102 by the radiating antenna 11 to the transceiver 9 T The electromagnetic reflection signal S caused by reflection at at least one target T1, T2 R In addition, the method includes the processing circuit 13 based on the transmission signal S T With the reflected signal S R The difference between the target T1 and T2 is used to estimate 103 the vibration; and the sighting device 15 provides 104 a visual indication of the transmission signal S T The visible aiming direction pattern 35 extends in relation to the distance of the main lobe 19. Of course, the vibration estimation system 1 may provide at least one indication of the estimated vibration to enable monitoring of the vibration.
[0038] Depending on the application and / or characteristics of the targets T1 , T2 , it may be beneficial to arrange one or more radar reflectors at the target location.
[0039] According to an example, the transceiver 9 may be configured to generate and transmit an electromagnetic transmission signal S exhibiting a time-varying frequency T , and receives the transmitted signal S T The electromagnetic reflection signal S caused by the reflection at the target T1 and T2 R . Transmit signal S TThe processing circuit 13 may be configured to form the transmission signal S T With the reflected signal S R The difference between the transmission signal S and the transmission signal S is measured, and the distance indication of one or more of the targets T1 and T2 is determined based on the measurement signal. For example, the transmission signal S can first be converted into the transmission signal S using a technique known per se in the field of FMCW type radar level gauge systems. T and the transmitted signal S T The reflected signal S at the target T1, T2 R are combined to form the so-called intermediate frequency signal S IF After that, the intermediate frequency signal S can be determined IF According to an embodiment of the present invention, this can be accomplished by, for example, using FFT to transform the intermediate frequency signal S IF Transform to the frequency domain, identify the frequency differences corresponding to the reflections at the respective targets T1, T2, and determine the intermediate frequency signal S for each of these frequency differences IF For small changes in distance caused by vibrations, the change in phase can be used to unambiguously determine the change in distance with a high degree of accuracy.
[0040] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is by no means limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A vibration estimation system for estimating vibration of at least one target, comprising: a transceiver configured to generate, transmit and receive electromagnetic signals; a radiating antenna coupled to the transceiver and arranged and configured to: radiate an electromagnetic transmit signal from the transceiver in the transmit direction with a radiation pattern comprising a main lobe having a range-dependent extension in a plane perpendicular to the transmit direction, and to return to the transceiver an electromagnetic reflection signal caused by reflection of the transmit signal at at least one target in case at least one target is located within the range-dependent extension of the main lobe of the transmit signal; a processing circuit coupled to the transceiver and configured to estimate a vibration of the target based on a difference between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal; as well as Aiming means are arranged and configured to provide a visual aiming pattern visually indicating said range-dependent extension of a main lobe of said transmitted signal.
2. The vibration estimation system according to claim 1, wherein: The aiming device is mechanically coupled to the radiating antenna in such a way that a movement of the radiating antenna causes a corresponding movement of the aiming device.
3. The vibration estimation system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The aiming device comprises a laser.
4. The vibration estimation system according to claim 3, wherein: The aiming device comprises a holographic pattern generator arranged to modify light emitted by the laser to form the aiming pattern.
5. The vibration estimation system according to claim 3, wherein: The aiming device includes an actuator that moves the laser to form the aiming pattern.
6. The vibration estimation system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The aiming pattern comprises a plurality of concentric geometric shapes that substantially coincide with the distance-dependent extension of a main lobe of the transmit signal.
7. The vibration estimation system according to claim 1 or 2: The transmission signal exhibits a time-varying frequency; The transceiver is configured to form a measurement signal indicative of a difference between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal; and The processing circuit is configured to estimate vibrations of the target based on the measurement signal.
8. The vibration estimation system according to claim 7: The transceiver is configured to mix the transmit signal and the reflected signal to form the measurement signal; and The processing circuit is configured to: Sampling the measurement signal to obtain a sampled data set; Performing FFT on the sample data set to obtain an FFT data set; and Vibrations of the target are estimated based on the FFT data set.
9. The vibration estimation system of claim 7, the measurement signal indicating a phase difference between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal.
10. A method of estimating vibration of a target using a vibration estimation system, the vibration estimation system comprising a transceiver, a radiating antenna coupled to the transceiver; a processing circuit coupled to the transceiver; and a sighting device, the method comprising: generating an electromagnetic transmission signal by the transceiver; radiating the transmit signal by the radiating antenna in the transmit direction with a radiation pattern comprising a main lobe having a distance-dependent extension in a plane perpendicular to the transmit direction; returning, by the radiating antenna, to the transceiver an electromagnetic reflection signal caused by reflection of the transmit signal at the at least one target, in the event that at least one target is located within the range-dependent extension of the main lobe of the transmit signal; estimating, by the processing circuit, a vibration of the target based on a difference between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal; and A visual aiming pattern visually indicating the range-dependent extension of the main lobe of the transmitted signal is provided by the aiming device.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The aiming device comprises a laser; and The method includes moving the laser to form the aiming pattern.
12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the transmission signal exhibits a time-varying frequency, and the method comprises: forming a measurement signal indicative of a difference between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal; as well as A vibration of the target is estimated based on the measurement signal.
13. The method according to claim 12, comprising: forming the measurement signal by mixing the transmitted signal and the reflected signal; Sampling the measurement signal to obtain a sampled data set; Performing FFT on the sample data set to obtain an FFT data set; as well as Vibrations of the target are estimated based on the FFT data set. The method of claim 12 , the measurement signal indicating a phase difference between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal.