Unified PPI Display for Shipboard Radar Blind Zone Elimination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Shipboard radar systems face challenges in providing a full 360-degree view due to blind zones caused by ship structures, requiring multiple radar devices and separate PPI displays, which is inefficient in terms of space and leads to inaccurate target handoff issues when combining data from different radar devices.
Innovation Solution
Combining data from multiple radar signals into a single buffer table to generate combined radar signal data, which compensates for blind zones and eliminates the need for multiple PPI displays by correlating and merging data from different radar devices, including dissimilar ones like X-band and S-band systems, to create a unified PPI display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate PPI displays are provided for each radar device, then blind zones are eliminated and full 360-degree visibility is achieved, but display space consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines data from multiple radar devices into a single buffer table and generates one unified PPI display showing all targets from all radar devices. This merging approach eliminates blind zones by integrating data from multiple angular ranges while using only one display device, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving full 360-degree visibility and minimizing display space consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The single PPI display is designed to serve multiple functions: it displays data from the primary radar device and simultaneously integrates and displays data from one or more additional radar devices. This multi-functionality allows one display to provide the comprehensive coverage that would otherwise require multiple separate displays
2Reliability
If multiple separate PPI displays are provided for each radar device, then full 360-degree visibility is achieved, but the number of display devices and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple radar devices into a single buffer table and generates one unified PPI display. This consolidation reduces the number of display devices from multiple separate displays to a single display device while maintaining full 360-degree visibility through data integration
Solution Approach 2:
The single PPI display performs multiple functions by displaying targets detected by the primary radar device and additional targets detected by other radar devices. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate display devices for each radar while achieving comprehensive angular coverage
3Area of stationary object
If data from separate radar devices is displayed on a single PPI display with track handoff, then display space is optimized, but target tracking accuracy deteriorates due to handoff inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines target data from multiple radar devices into a single buffer table before display, allowing continuous tracking of targets across different radar fields of view. This merging approach eliminates the need for track handoff between separate displays, thereby maintaining target tracking accuracy while using optimized display space
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer table serves as an intermediary data structure that consolidates target information from multiple radar devices. This intermediary allows seamless integration and continuous tracking of targets without the inaccuracies introduced by direct handoff between separate display systems
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
In certain embodiments, a method for combining data from multiple radar signals on a single PPI includes receiving, from a first radar device having a first angular range of visibility, first radar signal data corresponding to the first angular range of visibility. The method further includes receiving, from a second radar device having a second angular range of visibility, second radar signal data corresponding to the second angular range of visibility. The method further includes performing compensation processing on at least a portion of the second radar signal data to form modified second radar signal data that is correlated to the first radar signal data. The method further includes combining at least a portion the first radar signal data with at least a portion of the modified second radar signal data to form combined radar signal data and generating, based on the combined radar signal data, a display on a radar PPI display.