Radar Apparatus Precipitation Reflection Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar apparatuses fail to effectively display rain or snow reflection regions, leading to incomplete meteorological information for users, as signal levels are suppressed, making it difficult to visualize the presence of rain clouds alongside target objects on radar images.
Innovation Solution
A radar apparatus with a suppression processing module, precipitation reflection visualizing data creating module, and display image data creating module, which suppresses signal levels of precipitation reflections, visualizes these regions on the radar image, allowing users to distinguish between target objects and precipitation areas, using patterns, semi-translucency, or different colors for clear discrimination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If signal levels of precipitation reflections are suppressed, then target object detection is improved, but precipitation region visualization is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The radar signal processing is segmented into two separate pathways: one for target object detection (with suppression processing) and one for precipitation region visualization (without suppression). This allows both functions to operate independently with optimized processing for each purpose.
Solution Approach 2:
Precipitation reflection determining modules act as intermediaries that identify precipitation regions from the received signals, allowing the system to preserve precipitation information while still suppressing it for target detection purposes. The determined precipitation region data serves as a mediator between the suppressed signal and the final display.
2Loss of information
If signal levels are not suppressed, then precipitation region visualization is improved, but target object detection is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The processing is divided into segments where precipitation region determination is performed on original signals, while target detection uses suppressed signals. This segmentation allows each processing stream to be optimized for its specific purpose without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the received signals specifically for precipitation region determination, allowing the original signal to be used for target detection with suppression while maintaining a separate data stream for precipitation visualization.
3Ease of operation
If only precipitation region suppression is applied, then target object visibility is improved, but user awareness of rain cloud is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses different color representations to distinguish between target objects and precipitation regions on the radar display. Precipitation regions are highlighted with specific colors or patterns that differ from target object displays, enabling users to simultaneously perceive both types of information.
Solution Approach 2:
Precipitation region information is added as an additional visual dimension on the radar display, overlaying precipitation data on top of the target detection image. This allows users to perceive both target objects and precipitation regions in the same spatial context without one obscuring the other.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the visualization of precipitation regions on radar images alongside target objects, enhancing user understanding of marine meteorological situations and facilitating safe navigation by clearly differentiating between precipitation and target object displays.
Implementation Method 1
transmits radio waves while rotating an antenna and generates a radar image based on reflection waves caused by the transmitted radio waves
Data Source
AI summary
A radar apparatus (1) for creating a radar image based on reflection waves caused by radio waves transmitted from an antenna, is provided. The radar apparatus (1) includes a receiver (3) configured to receive the reflection waves of the transmitted radio waves, as reception signals, a suppression processing module (9) configured to suppress levels of reflection signals among the reception signals, each of the reflection signals caused by precipitation, a precipitation reflection visualizing data creating module (15) configured to create data indicating, as a precipitation reflection visualized area (97), an area corresponding to the signals of which levels are suppressed to below a threshold by the suppression processing module (9), and a display image data creating module (16) configured to create display image data indicating on the radar image, the precipitation reflection visualized area (97) created by the precipitation reflection visualizing data creating module (15).