Weather radar standard signal processor

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides a weather radar standard signal processor. The method is applied to radar technology. The signal processor comprises a signal processing unit, a signal control transmitting unit, an acquisition unit and a data storage and transmission unit; wherein the signal processing unit generates an intermediate frequency signal and sends the intermediate frequency signal to the signal control emission unit, the signal control emission unit generates an emission signal according to the received intermediate frequency signal, and the acquisition unit comprises five A / D converters, the four A / D converters are used for collecting high-gain / low-gain echo signals returned by transmitting signals in the horizontal channel / vertical channel and converting the high-gain / low-gain echo signals into digital signals, the remaining A / D converter is used for collecting transmitting pulses of the transmitting signals, generating transmitting sample signals and converting the transmitting sample signals into digital signals, and the collecting unit sends the generated digital signals to the signal processing unit. The signal processing unit carries out signal processing on the received digital signals and sends data after signal processing to the data storage and transmission unit, and the data storage and transmission unit stores the data after signal processing or sends the data to other systems / devices according to needs. In this way, data transmitted / received by radars of various models can be subjected to unified and normative standardized processing to realize functions of radar control, signal processing, calibration control and the like, so that the networking radar data quality has consistency, the networking radar data quality and the calibration precision of part of key parameters are improved, the calibration time interval is shortened, and the calibration efficiency is improved. In addition, the used standardized interface can transmit signals to radar transmitters / receivers of different models according to needs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of radar technology, and in particular to a weather radar standard signal processor. Background Art

[0002] At present, there are three bands for my country's operational weather radars, namely S band (10 cm wavelength), C band (5 cm wavelength), and X band (3 cm wavelength). There are no less than three models of weather radars in each band, and 8 manufacturers are involved in the construction. Each manufacturer uses self-developed weather radar control, signal processing and calibration control modules. This leads to large differences in the methods used by various models of radars in radar control, signal processing, and calibration control. For example, the radar produced by manufacturer A mainly uses layered processing, batch processing, and SZ phase encoding methods to achieve distance ambiguity reduction, while the radar produced by manufacturer B uses random encoding methods to achieve distance ambiguity reduction. This not only fails to meet the requirements of precision detection and consistency detection, but also the modules produced by different manufacturers are not interchangeable, which increases the difficulty of maintenance and increases the cost of hardware spare parts.

[0003] In addition, the existing use of weather radar control, signal processing and calibration control modules from different manufacturers to process the data transmitted or received by various types of radars will lead to inconsistent quality of networked radar data, that is, different types of radars have large differences in the first link of single-polarization and dual-polarization basic data output, which further leads to large differences in subsequent data, thereby hindering the improvement of networked radar data quality and seriously affecting the observation effect of networked radar, such as affecting the monitoring, forecasting and early warning of radar disastrous weather and quantitative estimation of precipitation, and may even fail to meet data assimilation requirements; therefore, it is urgent to develop a unified and standardized signal processing module so that the quality of networked radar data formed after the data transmitted or received by various types of radars is processed by the standardized signal processing module is consistent. Utility Model Content

[0004] 1. Technical problems to be solved

[0005] In view of the above technical problems, the purpose of the utility model is to provide a weather radar standard signal processor to realize unified and standardized processing of data transmitted / received by various types of weather radars. The signal processor provided by the utility model can complete all the functions of the signal processors currently used by all manufacturers, and can also improve the quality of networked radar data to make the quality of networked radar data consistent. In addition, through a standardized interface, signals can be transmitted to radar transmitters / receivers of different models as needed.

[0006] 2. Technical solution

[0007] To solve the above problems, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions.

[0008] A weather radar standard signal processor comprises a signal processing unit, a signal control transmitting unit, an acquisition unit, and a data storage and transmission unit; wherein the signal processing unit generates an intermediate frequency signal and sends it to the signal control transmitting unit; the signal control transmitting unit generates a transmitting signal according to the received intermediate frequency signal; the acquisition unit comprises 5-channel A / D converters; wherein 4-channel A / D converters are used to acquire high-gain / low-gain echo signals returned by the transmitting signal in the horizontal channel / vertical channel and convert them into digital signals, and the remaining 1-channel A / D converter is used to acquire the transmitting pulse of the transmitting signal, generate a transmitting sample signal and convert it into a digital signal; the acquisition unit sends the generated digital signal to the signal processing unit so that the signal processing unit performs signal processing on the received digital signal and sends the signal-processed data to the data storage and transmission unit; the data storage and transmission unit stores or sends the signal-processed data to other systems / devices as needed.

[0009] Furthermore, the signal processor also includes a signal conditioning unit; wherein,

[0010] The signal conditioning unit includes 5 signal conditioning modules, each of which includes a power divider, an attenuator, a first amplifier, and a filter. Each signal conditioning module is respectively arranged before the corresponding A / D converter; the signal conditioning module is used to set the acquisition channel of the echo signal or the transmission pulse to a dual channel.

[0011] Furthermore, the signal processor also includes a clock synthesis unit; wherein,

[0012] The clock synthesis unit is used to synthesize a new clock signal according to an externally input COHO signal / clock signal or an internal clock signal and provide the new clock signal to the acquisition unit, the signal control transmission unit and the signal processing unit.

[0013] Furthermore, the signal processor also includes a system timing and interface unit; wherein,

[0014] The system timing and interface unit is used to generate a corresponding timing signal according to the working timing of the radar system and send the corresponding timing signal to the signal processing unit, so that the signal processing unit triggers a corresponding operation and generates a feedback signal according to the received timing signal. It is also used to receive the feedback signal sent by the signal processing unit and adjust the corresponding timing signal according to the feedback signal.

[0015] Furthermore, the system timing and interface unit includes a timing control module and an interface module; wherein,

[0016] The timing control module is used to generate a corresponding timing signal according to the working sequence of the radar system and send the corresponding timing signal to the signal processing unit, and is also used to receive a feedback signal and adjust the corresponding timing signal according to the feedback signal;

[0017] The interface module is used to transmit the working timing of the radar system to the timing control module through the corresponding interface, and is also used to send the timing signal adjusted by the timing control module to the radar system through the corresponding interface, so as to control the operation of the radar system.

[0018] Furthermore, the signal processing unit is implemented by a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0019] Furthermore, the signal control transmission unit includes a direct digital frequency synthesizer DDS and a second amplifier; wherein,

[0020] The DDS is used to receive the intermediate frequency signal sent by the signal processing unit and mix and filter the received intermediate frequency signal with the coherent local oscillator signal of the radar to obtain an output signal;

[0021] The second amplifier is used to amplify the signal output by the DDS to obtain a transmission signal.

[0022] Furthermore, the data storage and transmission unit includes a network interface module, an optical fiber interface module and a cache module; wherein,

[0023] The network interface module includes a network physical layer interface chip and an Ethernet interface;

[0024] The optical fiber interface module includes an optical fiber interface.

[0025] Further, the network interface module is used to send the signal-processed data to the network physical layer interface chip as needed, so that the network physical layer interface chip performs differential-to-digital signal conversion on the received signal and sends it to other systems / devices through the Ethernet interface, and is also used to send the signal sent by other systems / devices to the network physical layer interface chip through the Ethernet interface, so that the network physical layer interface chip performs differential-to-digital signal conversion on the received signal and sends it to the signal processing unit;

[0026] The optical fiber interface module is used to send the signal processed data to other systems / devices through the optical fiber interface as needed, and is also used to transmit the signals sent by other systems / devices to the signal processing unit through the optical fiber interface;

[0027] The cache module is used to store the signal processed data as needed.

[0028] 3. Beneficial effects

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are:

[0030] (1) To realize the standardized processing of data transmitted / received by various types of weather radars, the signal processor provided by the utility model can complete all the functions of the signal processors currently used by all manufacturers, such as radar control, signal processing, calibration control, etc.

[0031] (2) The data quality of networked radars and the calibration accuracy of some key parameters have been improved, making the data quality of networked radars consistent and shortening the calibration time interval.

[0032] (3) The interface used is a standardized interface, through which signals can be transmitted to radar transmitters / receivers of different models as needed.

[0033] (4) The signal processors used in various types of weather radar systems can be replaced by the signal processor provided by the utility model, thereby reducing the difficulty of system maintenance and the cost of hardware spare parts.

[0034] It should be understood that the contents described in the utility model summary are not intended to limit the key or important features of the embodiments of the utility model, nor are they intended to limit the scope of the utility model. Other features of the utility model will become easy to understand through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The above and other features, advantages and aspects of the embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements, wherein:

[0036] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of the standard signal processor of the weather radar of the utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiment of the utility model clearer, the technical solution in the embodiment of the utility model will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiment of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiment is a part of the embodiment of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiment of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0038] In addition, the term "and / or" in this article is only a description of the association relationship between the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0039] In the description of the present utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "provided with", "set / connected", "connected", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connected" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0040] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a weather radar standard signal processor, which can be used to implement unified and standardized processing of data transmitted / received by various types of weather radars, complete all the functions of signal processors currently used by all manufacturers, and improve the quality of networked radar data to make the quality of networked radar data consistent. In addition, signals can be transmitted to radar transmitters / receivers of different models as needed through standardized interfaces.

[0041] Refer to the following Figure 1 The weather radar standard signal processor provided by the embodiment of the present utility model is described.

[0042] A weather radar standard signal processor, comprising a signal processing unit, a signal control transmission unit, a collection unit, and a data storage and transmission unit; wherein:

[0043] The signal processing unit generates an intermediate frequency signal and sends it to the signal control transmission unit;

[0044] The signal control transmitting unit generates a transmitting signal according to the received intermediate frequency signal;

[0045] The acquisition unit includes 5 A / D converters; among them, 4 A / D converters are used to acquire high-gain / low-gain echo signals returned by the transmission signals in the horizontal channel / vertical channel and convert them into digital signals, and the remaining 1 A / D converter is used to acquire the transmission pulses of the transmission signals, generate transmission sample signals and convert them into digital signals; the acquisition unit sends the generated digital signals to the signal processing unit, so that the signal processing unit performs signal processing on the received digital signals and sends the signal-processed data to the data storage and transmission unit;

[0046] The data storage and transmission unit stores or sends the signal processed data to other systems / devices as needed.

[0047] In this embodiment, the signal processor can increase the dynamic range to more than 100 dB, control the phase error within 0.06°, achieve a ground clutter suppression capability of 60 dB, and support no less than 4 pulse widths.

[0048] In this embodiment, the maximum acquisition rate of the A / D converter when acquiring the echo signal / transmitting pulse can reach above 100 MHz.

[0049] In this embodiment, the signal processor further includes a signal conditioning unit; wherein,

[0050] The signal conditioning unit includes 5 signal conditioning modules, each of which includes a power divider, an attenuator, a first amplifier, and a filter, and each signal conditioning module is respectively arranged before the corresponding A / D converter;

[0051] The signal conditioning module is used to set the acquisition channel of the echo signal or the transmission pulse to a dual channel.

[0052] In this embodiment, the signal processor further includes a clock synthesis unit; wherein,

[0053] The clock synthesis unit is used to synthesize a new clock signal according to the externally input COHO signal / clock signal or the internal clock signal and provide it to the acquisition unit, the signal control transmission unit and the signal processing unit; wherein the externally input COHO signal / clock signal or the internal clock signal is Figure 1 The first clock signal in the synthesis is the new clock signal Figure 1 A second clock signal in;

[0054] The new clock signal has the characteristics of high quality and low jitter, and the jitter time can be less than 1ps. The use of the clock synthesis unit can improve the flexibility and quality of the synthesized clock signal, reduce the sampling noise of the A / D converter and improve the dynamic range of the low end of the radar receiver signal.

[0055] In this embodiment, the signal processor further includes a system timing and interface unit; wherein,

[0056] The system timing and interface unit is used to generate a corresponding timing signal according to the working timing of the radar system and send the corresponding timing signal to the signal processing unit, so that the signal processing unit triggers a corresponding operation and generates a feedback signal according to the received timing signal. It is also used to receive the feedback signal sent by the signal processing unit and adjust the corresponding timing signal according to the feedback signal.

[0057] In this embodiment, the system timing and interface unit includes a timing control module and an interface module; wherein,

[0058] The timing control module is used to generate a corresponding timing signal according to the working sequence of the radar system and send the corresponding timing signal to the signal processing unit, and is also used to receive a feedback signal and adjust the corresponding timing signal according to the feedback signal;

[0059] The interface module is used to transmit the working timing of the radar system to the timing control module through the corresponding interface, and is also used to send the timing signal adjusted by the timing control module to the radar system through the corresponding interface, so as to control the operation of the radar system;

[0060] For example, the RS422 interface is connected to the J30J-25 model electrical connector, the TTL interface is connected to the J30J-74 model electrical connector, and the JTAG interface is connected to the J30J-9 model electrical connector. The interface in the interface module can not only receive the working timing of the radar system transmitted by the corresponding electrical connector, but also send the timing signal adjusted by the timing control module to the radar system through the corresponding electrical connector, thereby controlling the operation of subsystems such as the radar receiver / transmitter and antenna servo system in the radar system.

[0061] In this embodiment, the signal processing unit is implemented by a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0062] In this embodiment, the signal processing unit has the following advantages: powerful processing capability; can maintain at least 30% resource redundancy; rich multiplier resources, can meet various real-time processing requirements; can meet the requirements of high-speed data acquisition, high-speed data communication and large-capacity data caching.

[0063] In this embodiment, the signal control transmission unit includes a direct digital frequency synthesizer DDS and a second amplifier; wherein,

[0064] The DDS is used to receive the intermediate frequency signal sent by the signal processing unit and mix and filter the received intermediate frequency signal with the coherent local oscillator signal of the radar to obtain an output signal;

[0065] The second amplifier is used to amplify the signal output by the DDS to obtain a transmission signal;

[0066] Furthermore, the signal output by the DDS is amplified by a second amplifier and then transmitted by a vacuum tube or a fully solid-state transmitter to generate a high-power radio frequency transmission signal.

[0067] In this embodiment, the data storage and transmission unit includes a network interface module, an optical fiber interface module and a cache module; wherein,

[0068] The network interface module includes a network physical layer interface chip and an Ethernet interface;

[0069] The optical fiber interface module includes an optical fiber interface.

[0070] In this embodiment, the network interface module is used to send the signal-processed data to the network physical layer PHY in the network physical layer interface chip as needed, so that the PHY performs differential-to-digital signal conversion on the received signal and sends it to other systems / devices through the Ethernet interface, and is also used to send the signal sent by other systems / devices to the PHY through the Ethernet interface, so that the PHY performs differential-to-digital signal conversion on the received signal and sends it to the signal processing unit;

[0071] The optical fiber interface module is used to send the signal processed data to other systems / devices through the optical fiber interface as needed, and is also used to transmit the signals sent by other systems / devices to the signal processing unit through the optical fiber interface;

[0072] The cache module is used to store the signal processed data as needed.

[0073] In this embodiment, the optical fiber interface may be an SFP+ interface, the Ethernet interface may be an RJ45 interface, and the cache module may use a large-capacity DDR memory chip.

[0074] In this embodiment, the signal processor further includes a power control unit;

[0075] The power control unit is used to send the power signal input by the external power system to the signal processing unit through the J30J-51 model electrical connector, and is also used to perform power management according to the usage of the signal processor and feed back the management results to the external power system through the J30J-51 model electrical connector.

[0076] In this embodiment, the signal processor can replace the signal processors of various types of weather radars, and the signal processor can complete the corresponding signal processing according to the working timing of different types of weather radars. For example, the standard signal processor provided by the utility model can replace the signal processors used by various types of radars. The standard signal processor is installed in the receiver system of the replaced radar to generate a transmission timing trigger transmission pulse signal, receive echo signals, perform calibration control, control the operation of subsystems such as the antenna servo system, and communicate with the workstation host.

[0077] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the following technical effects are achieved:

[0078] The standard signal processor composed of a signal processing unit, a signal control transmission unit, an acquisition unit, a data storage and transmission unit, a signal conditioning unit, a clock synthesis unit and a system timing and interface unit can realize unified and standardized processing of data transmitted / received by various types of weather radars, and complete all functions of signal processors currently used by all manufacturers, such as radar control, signal processing, calibration control, etc., and the signal processors used in various types of weather radar systems can be replaced by the signal processor provided by the utility model, reducing the difficulty of system maintenance and the cost of hardware spare parts; in addition, the data quality of the networked radar and the calibration accuracy of some key parameters are also improved, so that the data quality of the networked radar is consistent and the calibration time interval is shortened; the interface used is a standardized interface, and signals can be transmitted to radar transmitters / receivers of different models as needed through the standardized interface.

[0079] In the description of this specification, the description of the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0080] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A weather radar standard signal processor, characterized in that: include: Signal processing unit, signal control transmission unit, acquisition unit, data storage and transmission unit; wherein, The signal processing unit generates an intermediate frequency signal and sends it to the signal control transmission unit; The signal control transmitting unit generates a transmitting signal according to the received intermediate frequency signal; The acquisition unit includes 5 A / D converters; among them, 4 A / D converters are used to acquire high-gain / low-gain echo signals returned by the transmission signals in the horizontal channel / vertical channel and convert them into digital signals, and the remaining 1 A / D converter is used to acquire the transmission pulses of the transmission signals, generate transmission sample signals and convert them into digital signals; the acquisition unit sends the generated digital signals to the signal processing unit, so that the signal processing unit performs signal processing on the received digital signals and sends the signal-processed data to the data storage and transmission unit; The data storage and transmission unit stores or sends the signal processed data to other systems / devices as needed.

2. The signal processor according to claim 1, characterized in that The signal processor also includes a signal conditioning unit; wherein, The signal conditioning unit includes 5 signal conditioning modules, each of which includes a power divider, an attenuator, a first amplifier, and a filter, and each signal conditioning module is respectively arranged before the corresponding A / D converter; The signal conditioning module is used to set the acquisition channel of the echo signal or the transmission pulse to a dual channel.

3. The signal processor according to claim 1, characterized in that The signal processor also includes a clock synthesis unit; wherein, The clock synthesis unit is used to synthesize a new clock signal according to an externally input COHO signal / clock signal or an internal clock signal and provide the new clock signal to the acquisition unit, the signal control transmission unit and the signal processing unit.

4. The signal processor according to claim 1, characterized in that The signal processor also includes a system timing and interface unit; wherein, The system timing and interface unit is used to generate a corresponding timing signal according to the working timing of the radar system and send the corresponding timing signal to the signal processing unit, so that the signal processing unit triggers a corresponding operation and generates a feedback signal according to the received timing signal. It is also used to receive the feedback signal sent by the signal processing unit and adjust the corresponding timing signal according to the feedback signal.

5. The signal processor according to claim 4, characterized in that The system timing and interface unit includes a timing control module and an interface module; wherein, The timing control module is used to generate a corresponding timing signal according to the working sequence of the radar system and send the corresponding timing signal to the signal processing unit, and is also used to receive a feedback signal and adjust the corresponding timing signal according to the feedback signal; The interface module is used to transmit the working timing of the radar system to the timing control module through the corresponding interface, and is also used to send the timing signal adjusted by the timing control module to the radar system through the corresponding interface, so as to control the operation of the radar system.

6. The signal processor according to claim 4, characterized in that The signal processing unit is implemented by a field programmable gate array FPGA.

7. The signal processor according to claim 1, characterized in that The signal control transmission unit includes a direct digital frequency synthesizer DDS and a second amplifier; wherein, The DDS is used to receive the intermediate frequency signal sent by the signal processing unit and mix and filter the received intermediate frequency signal with the coherent local oscillator signal of the radar to obtain an output signal; The second amplifier is used to amplify the signal output by the DDS to obtain a transmission signal.

8. The signal processor according to claim 1, characterized in that The data storage and transmission unit includes a network interface module, an optical fiber interface module and a cache module; wherein, The network interface module includes a network physical layer interface chip and an Ethernet interface; The optical fiber interface module includes an optical fiber interface.

9. The signal processor according to claim 8, characterized in that The network interface module is used to send the signal-processed data to the network physical layer interface chip as needed, so that the network physical layer interface chip performs differential-to-digital signal conversion on the received signal and sends it to other systems / devices through the Ethernet interface. It is also used to send the signal sent by other systems / devices to the network physical layer interface chip through the Ethernet interface, so that the network physical layer interface chip performs differential-to-digital signal conversion on the received signal and sends it to the signal processing unit; The optical fiber interface module is used to send the signal processed data to other systems / devices through the optical fiber interface as needed, and is also used to transmit the signals sent by other systems / devices to the signal processing unit through the optical fiber interface; The cache module is used to store the signal processed data as needed.

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