Video Enhancing Device for Radar Surveillance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radar systems face challenges in distinguishing low RCS and slow-moving targets from clutter due to high fluctuations in radar signal strength and noise, leading to eye strain and inefficient tracking, especially in surveillance applications with low image refresh rates.

Innovation Solution

A video enhancing device that processes successive radar images using the Lucas-Kanade image morphing algorithm to calculate optical flow and generate a smooth, predicted video stream without requiring track information, reducing eye strain and improving target detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If radar systems display raw received signal strength at low refresh rates, then the system maintains simplicity and reliability, but the image fluctuates heavily causing eye strain and making target detection difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget detection accuracyVSAvoideye strain and image fluctuation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting target positions and generating intermediate video frames between actual radar scans. The prediction unit extrapolates target trajectories based on historical data, and the video generation unit creates smooth intermediate frames, reducing the perceived fluctuation and eye strain while maintaining accurate target detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the radar system increases scan frequency to improve image refresh rate, then the smoothness of video display improves, but the detection precision and processing time for each scan decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo display smoothnessVSAvoidtarget detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates copies of target information through prediction and interpolation. Instead of relying solely on actual scan data, the video generation unit generates intermediate video frames that copy and extrapolate target positions, velocities, and trajectories based on previous scans, providing smooth visual display without requiring increased scan frequency that would compromise detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If track information is used to enhance video display, then the display smoothness improves, but the device complexity increases due to feedback loop requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay smoothnessVSAvoidfeedback loop implementation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the video enhancement function into separate, independent units: a prediction unit that handles trajectory extrapolation, and a video generation unit that creates intermediate frames. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex feedback loops while achieving smooth display, as each unit performs its function independently based on processed radar data without requiring continuous feedback adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3084724B1A video enhancing device and method
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 THALES NEDERLAND BV
  • EP3084724B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3084724B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3084724B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention provides a method for enhancing video display of a video surveillance system, comprising : a. receiving a first video image ln-1 and a second video image ln corresponding to a previous scan n-1 and a current scan n of said video surveillance system, b. determining a backwards displacement vector Dn from image ln associating with scan n to image ln-1 associated with scan n-1; c. determining a predicted image Jn+1 for scan n+1 based on the backward displacement vector Dn and on the image ln corresponding to the current scan n, the method further comprising displaying an image based on said predicted image.