Radar Image Display Using Crown Envelope Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radar image generation techniques for aeronautical devices face challenges in efficiently calculating and displaying conical images due to high computational requirements, as they perform pixel-by-pixel analysis without adapting to the size of the crowns, leading to inefficient use of computing power and image precision.

Innovation Solution

The method evaluates a specific rectangular envelope for each crown, comparing it to a reference surface called 'grain', allowing for the calculation of which pixels belong to the crown or approximating the crown's drawing based on the grain size, optimizing the compromise between computing power, image size, and precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If pixel-by-pixel analysis is used to determine which pixels belong to the crown, then manufacturing precision of the image layout is improved, but computing time and computational resources increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage layout precisionVSAvoidcomputing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image processing task by dividing the display area into multiple crowns (annular sectors). For each crown, it calculates a bounding rectangle that encompasses all pixels belonging to that crown. This segmentation allows the system to process each crown independently and efficiently, avoiding the need for exhaustive pixel-by-pixel analysis across the entire image, thus reducing computing time while maintaining layout precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary calculations to determine the bounding rectangle for each crown before actual image rendering. By pre-calculating which pixels belong to each crown and defining their bounding boxes in advance, the system avoids repeated pixel analysis during rendering, significantly reducing real-time computing time while preserving image layout precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the computer configuration is optimized for high image precision, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage precisionVSAvoidcomputer configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the processing parameter from individual pixel analysis to crown-level bounding rectangle calculation. By shifting the unit of processing from pixels to crowns and using geometric calculations to define bounding boxes, the system achieves high image precision with simpler computational parameters, reducing the need for complex high-performance computer configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the image is broken down into many angular sectors and crowns, then measurement precision of the conical image is improved, but productivity of image generation decreases due to increased computational load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconical image precisionVSAvoidimage generation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the conical image into multiple angular sectors and crowns to improve measurement precision, but applies the bounding rectangle optimization to each segment. This allows the system to maintain high precision through fine segmentation while achieving improved productivity through efficient bounding box calculations that reduce the computational burden of processing numerous small segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2282223B1Method for displaying a radar image
Publication Date: 2012.05.09 THALES SA
  • EP2282223B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2282223B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2282223B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves selecting a ring from a set of rings in angular sectors of a disc portion, where each of the rings has a predefined and assigned rectangular envelope whose area covers the area of the corresponding ring. The area of the rectangular envelope assigned to the selected ring is compared with a predefined value such as grain. A plot corresponding to the area of the ring or to the area of the rectangular envelope is generated based on the result of comparison. The grain is a square area whose side comprises a set of pixels, or a configurable input item of data.