Radar Signal Processing Device for Accurate Wave Information Calculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wave information calculation methods in radar systems are not accurate due to interference from unnecessary target objects such as ships, land, and weather conditions, which affect the reliability of wave data analysis.

Innovation Solution

A signal processing device that generates directional frequency spectrums for multiple analysis areas, integrates echo intensities using weight coefficients, and calculates wave information by excluding or reducing the influence of unnecessary target objects, thereby improving the accuracy of wave height and wavelength measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional FFT processing is applied to the entire detection area, then the calculation of wave information is simplified, but the accuracy of wave information is reduced due to interference from unnecessary target objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of wave informationVSAvoidcomplexity of signal processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection area is divided into multiple analysis areas, and FFT processing is performed separately for each area. This segmentation allows the system to exclude areas containing unnecessary target objects (ships, land, rain, snow) from the wave information calculation, thereby improving accuracy without requiring complex global processing adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different weight coefficients are assigned to different analysis areas based on their reliability. Areas free from unnecessary targets are given higher weights, while areas containing targets are given lower or zero weights. This local differentiation optimizes the overall wave information accuracy by emphasizing reliable data regions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the entire detection area is used for wave analysis, then the data quantity is maximized, but the reliability of wave data is reduced due to contamination from target objects other than waves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of wave dataVSAvoidquantity of usable echo data
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and identifies unnecessary target objects (ships, land, rain, snow) from the detection area and excludes them from wave analysis. By removing these contaminating elements, the reliability of the remaining wave data is improved while retaining as much usable data as possible from clean analysis areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Weight coefficients are introduced as a parameter to control the contribution of each analysis area to the final wave information. By adjusting these weights based on the presence of unnecessary targets, the system optimizes the balance between data quantity and reliability, giving more importance to clean data regions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3444632B1Signal processing device and radar apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 FURUNO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3444632B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3444632B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3444632B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The purpose is to calculate wave information accurately. A signal processing device 10 is provided, which may include a frequency area spectrum generating module 8, an integrating module 17, and a wave information calculating module 18. The frequency area spectrum generating module 8 may carry out a frequency analysis of the echoes from the waves included in a plurality of analysis areas set within the detection area, respectively, and generate frequency area spectrums for the plurality of analysis areas, respectively. The integrating module 17 may integrate echo intensities indicated by each sampling point that constitutes each of the frequency area spectrums while unifying directions included in coordinates of the frequency area spectrum, and generate an integrated frequency area spectrum. The wave information calculating module 18 may calculate wave information that is information related to the waves included in the analysis areas based on the integrated frequency area spectrum, respectively.