Marine Bump Map Display for Radar Signal Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar and sonar signal display systems face challenges in providing clear visual representation of signal strengths, especially in varying lighting conditions, as differences in color are not always easily recognizable.
Innovation Solution
The use of bump mapping techniques to display radar or sonar signals, where signal strength is represented by simulated varying heights of pixels, creating a three-dimensional effect through brightness and color variations, allowing for enhanced visual clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If color variations are used to represent signal strength differences, then information can be conveyed, but visual clarity deteriorates in varying lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from representing signal strength solely through color variations (2D) to using simulated height variations with brightness changes (pseud-3D). By mapping signal strength to pixel brightness values that create apparent elevation differences, the system adds a dimensional aspect that enhances detectability independent of lighting conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
While the patent does utilize color variations, it combines them with brightness-based height simulation. The color changes work in conjunction with the pseud-3D effect rather than relying on color alone, making the signal strength representation more robust across different lighting environments.
2Device complexity
If traditional flat display methods are used, then device complexity is low, but visual clarity and signal detection capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pseud-3D rendering on a standard 2D display by calculating normal vectors for pixels and simulating height variations through brightness modulation. This approach achieves enhanced visual clarity without requiring physically complex 3D display hardware, maintaining low device complexity while improving detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system modifies the brightness parameter of display pixels based on simulated height information derived from signal strength data. By dynamically adjusting brightness values according to calculated normal vectors and light direction, the system enhances visual clarity through parameter transformation rather than hardware complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A plotting system and method for plotting radar and/or sonar signals on a bump map, with a simulated height of each data point representing a corresponding signal strength. The plotting system may comprise a processing device for associating particular signal strengths with normal vectors. The normal vectors may be used to determine the simulated heights to be illustrated on the bump map. The plotting system may also comprise a display for graphically displaying the bump map. Furthermore, the processing device may also associate particular signal strengths with particular colors, such that both color and simulated height may illustrate the strength of the plotted signals.