KR102100913B1 - System and method for finding 2-d direction - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a direction detecting device and method. The two-dimensional direction detecting apparatus according to the present invention includes an array antenna unit comprising a predetermined number of antenna arrays; A signal amplification and filter unit having a predetermined number of reception channels and amplifying and filtering signals received from the array antenna unit; A signal processing unit that analyzes the amplified and filtered signals and acquires relative elevation and relative azimuth information while continuously tracking a specific signal; And a control unit controlling the signal processing unit.

Description

Two-dimensional direction detection device and method {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FINDING 2-D DIRECTION}

The present invention relates to a direction detecting device and method.

The technology of detecting the direction of the signal source of the detection target is largely divided into a passive direction detection method and an active direction detection method. The active direction detection method is a method of transmitting a signal like a radar and detecting a direction by receiving a signal that hits a target and returns. On the other hand, the passive direction detection method is a method of detecting a direction by receiving a signal source of a detection target without transmitting a signal.

Compared to the active direction detection method, since the passive direction detection method does not transmit a signal source, it is difficult for other electronic monitoring equipment to grasp the characteristics of the device using the passive direction detection method and information such as location or direction.

The passive direction detection method is divided into several methods such as amplitude comparison direction detection, phase comparison direction detection method, and monopulse sum / difference method. The phase comparison direction detection method is a method of performing direction detection by using a phase difference of signals received at two antennas disposed on one baseline. This is based on the principle that a signal source having an arrival angle has a propagation delay time according to a spatial difference, and a phase difference between two received signals is generated.

The present invention aims to solve the above and other problems. Another object is to provide a two-dimensional direction detection device and method for continuously tracking a specific signal desired to obtain relative azimuth and relative elevation information.

According to an aspect of the present invention to achieve the above or other object, the array antenna unit consisting of a predetermined number of antenna array; A signal amplification and filter unit having a predetermined number of reception channels and amplifying and filtering signals received from the array antenna unit; A signal processing unit that analyzes the amplified and filtered signals and acquires relative elevation and relative azimuth information while continuously tracking a specific signal; And a control unit for controlling the signal processing unit.

In an embodiment, the signal processing unit may include: a signal analysis unit that acquires a signal specification of the amplified and filtered signal, and identifies a signal type using the signal specification; The arrival of estimating the relative elevation and relative azimuth information of the signal by obtaining the phase difference between the elevation and azimuth channels using the signal specifications obtained from the signal analysis unit, and using the direction detection data and the phase difference data that are the predetermined reference. Each estimation unit; And a signal tracking unit identifying whether the signal is the specific signal by using the shape information of the signal identified by the signal analysis unit and the relative elevation and relative azimuth information estimated by the arrival angle estimation unit.

In another embodiment, the array antenna unit may include an antenna array of three or more elements having azimuth and elevation elevation baselines.

In another embodiment, the signal specification may include at least one of frequency, phase, phase difference between channels, and signal strength information.

In another embodiment, the signal analysis unit may identify a signal type as at least one of a linear frequency sweep signal, a noise signal, a multi-tone signal, and a single tone signal.

In another embodiment, the direction detection data serving as the predetermined reference is azimuth and elevation calculated by considering the phase characteristics of the array antenna unit, the phase characteristics of each channel of the signal amplification and filter unit, and the phase characteristics of the connecting cable. It may be direction detection data according to a phase difference between channels.

In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, receiving a signal through an array antenna unit consisting of a predetermined number of antenna arrays; Amplifying and filtering the received signal through the predetermined number of receive channels; And analyzing the amplified and filtered signals to obtain relative elevation and relative azimuth information while continuously tracking a specific signal.

In an embodiment, the step of obtaining the relative elevation and relative azimuth information may include: obtaining a signal specification of the amplified and filtered signals, and identifying the shape of the signal using the signal specification; Acquiring a phase difference between elevation and azimuth channels using the acquired signal specification, and estimating relative elevation and relative azimuth information of the signal using direction detection data and phase difference data serving as preset criteria; And using the type information of the identified signal and the relative elevation and relative azimuth information to identify whether the signal is the specific signal.

In another embodiment, the array antenna unit may include an antenna array of three or more elements having azimuth and elevation elevation baselines.

In another embodiment, the signal specification may include at least one of frequency, phase, phase difference between channels, and signal strength information.

In another embodiment, the step of identifying the shape of the signal; may include the step of identifying the shape of the signal as at least one of a linear frequency sweep signal, a noise signal, a multi-tone signal, a single tone signal.

In another embodiment, the direction detection data serving as the predetermined reference is based on a phase difference between the azimuth and elevation channels calculated by considering the phase characteristics of the array antenna unit, the phase characteristics of each receiving channel, and the phase characteristics of the connecting cable. It may be direction detection data.

When explaining the effects of the two-dimensional direction detection apparatus and method according to the present invention are as follows.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to implement a two-dimensional direction detection device that continuously tracks a specific signal desired to obtain relative azimuth and relative elevation information. And, using the present invention has the advantage that it can be used to provide the direction of movement of the platform by continuously providing the direction of a specific signal source.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. However, various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art, and thus, it should be understood that specific embodiments such as detailed description and preferred embodiments of the present invention are given as examples only.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a two-dimensional direction detecting device according to the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a two-dimensional direction detection method according to the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a specific embodiment of the search step described in FIG. 2.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a specific embodiment of the tracking step described in FIG. 2.
5 is a flow chart for explaining a specific embodiment of the step of identifying the signal specifications and forms described in FIGS. 3 and 4.
6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment of an antenna array having an azimuth and elevation base line.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the same reference numerals will be assigned to the same or similar elements regardless of reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "modules" and "parts" for the components used in the following description are given or mixed only considering the ease of writing the specification, and do not have meanings or roles distinguished from each other in themselves. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, when it is determined that detailed descriptions of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, and the technical spirit disclosed in the specification is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all modifications included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention , It should be understood to include equivalents or substitutes.

Terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components.

When an element is said to be "connected" or "connected" to another component, it is understood that other components may be directly connected to or connected to the other component, but may exist in the middle. It should be. On the other hand, when a component is said to be "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that no other component exists in the middle.

Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In this application, the terms "comprises" or "have" are intended to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts or combinations thereof described herein, one or more other features. It should be understood that the existence or addition possibilities of fields or numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof are not excluded in advance.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Not all embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the following description. The invention can be implemented in a wide variety of forms, and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. These embodiments are provided to meet legal requirements for filing. The same reference numerals are used throughout the same components.

In the present invention, a two-dimensional direction detecting device for obtaining a relative azimuth and relative elevation information by continuously tracking a specific signal desired is described. Most of the current direction detection devices generate only azimuth information, and some devices generate some azimuth elevation information, but they do not have a function of continuously tracking specific signals desired to obtain direction detection information.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a two-dimensional direction detecting device according to the present invention.

 Referring to FIG. 1, the two-dimensional direction detecting device according to the present invention includes an array antenna unit 10, a signal amplification and filter unit 20, a signal processing unit 30, and a control unit 40.

The array antenna unit 10 has a high-angle and azimuth-baseline, and has as many channels as the number of antenna elements.

The signal amplification and filter unit 20 has a reception channel as many as the number of antenna elements that amplify the signal received from the array antenna and filter to pass only a desired band.

The signal processing unit 30 includes a signal analysis unit 31, an arrival angle tracking unit 32, and a signal tracking unit 33.

The signal analyzer 31 acquires signal strength, frequency, phase information, etc., which are specifications of the received signal, and performs a function of identifying the shape of the signal using the signal.

The arrival angle estimator 32 acquires the phase difference between the elevation and azimuth channels using the phase information obtained from the signal analysis unit 31, and uses the direction detection data and the phase difference data that are pre-stored criteria to determine the signal source. Relative elevation and relative azimuth information is estimated.

The signal tracking unit 33 identifies whether a specific signal source is desired by using the shape information of the signal source identified by the signal analysis unit 31 and the relative elevation and azimuth information obtained by the arrival angle estimation unit 32.

 The array antenna unit 10 means that the antenna array is composed of three or more elements having azimuth and elevation elevation baselines. The antenna elements have respective output channels. Therefore, the number of channels of the signal amplification and filter unit 20 depends on the number of antenna elements.

The signal amplification and filter unit 20 needs to perform frequency conversion of the received signal according to the reception bandwidth and frequency as well as the amplification and filtering function, and in this case, has a superheterodyne reception structure. When frequency conversion is not required, it has a direct sampling reception structure. Each channel of the hand signal amplification and filter unit 20 has the same structure, and may be manufactured to have the same gain and phase characteristics.

The signal processing unit 30 performs signal amplification and conversion of the RF signal input from the filter unit 20 into digital IQ data and signal processing. The signal analysis unit 31, which is composed in detail of the signal processing unit 30, converts the RF signal into digital IQ data and then performs a fast Fourier transform, so that the frequency, signal strength, phase, and phase difference information between channels are received above the reception threshold. To extract. In addition, the type of signal is identified using the extracted information.

The arrival angle estimator 32 depends on the phase difference between the azimuth and elevation channels obtained by previously measuring the phase characteristics of the array antenna unit 10, the signal amplification and the phase characteristics of each channel of the filter unit 20, and the phase characteristics of the connecting cable. It stores direction detection data. After comparing the stored direction detection data with the phase difference information between the channels extracted by the signal analysis unit 31, a direction detection value having a minimum distance is derived to estimate a relative elevation angle and a relative azimuth angle.

The signal tracking unit 33 uses the shape information of the signal source identified by the signal analysis unit 31 and the relative elevation and azimuth information obtained from the arrival angle estimation unit 32 to determine the relative elevation and azimuth information of a specific signal source desired. , It is judged whether it is similar to the signal type information. If the desired specific signal source is not separately designated, the first received signal is automatically designated as the desired specific signal source, and the direction detection result is estimated when the same signal is continuously received.

 With such a configuration, the two-dimensional direction detecting device can continuously acquire a relative azimuth and relative elevation information by continuously tracking a specific signal desired.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a two-dimensional direction detection method according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the two-dimensional direction detecting apparatus according to the present invention can continuously acquire a relative azimuth and relative elevation information by continuously tracking a specific signal desired.

Specifically, the flowchart of the two-dimensional direction detecting apparatus includes a standby step 100 in a state of being ready for receiving a signal, and a searching step 200 in a state of collecting a signal source and confirming that a specific signal source desired is obtained. It consists of a tracking step (300) for continuously tracking the signal source when generating a specific signal source desired in the search and generating relative azimuth and relative elevation information.

 When the control unit 40 of FIG. 1 transmits a command to start receiving a signal to the signal processing unit 30 in the waiting step 100, the two-dimensional direction detecting device switches to the searching step 200 to receive and detect the signal, , Derive the specifications of the signal.

Then, after identifying the shape of the received signal using the derived specifications, the relative elevation and azimuth information is derived using the phase difference of the elevation and azimuth channels. Thereafter, it is determined whether the signal is the same as the desired specific signal source by using the signal type and the relative elevation and azimuth information of the signal, and if the signal having a certain probability or more is the same, the process is switched to the tracking step 300.

If it is not, the closed loop is formed in the search step 200 to continuously stay, and it is checked whenever the loop is over whether the signal is equal to or higher than a certain probability.

In the tracking step 300, a signal is received and detected, and specifications of the signal are derived. After identifying the shape of the received signal using the derived specifications, the relative elevation and azimuth information is derived using the phase difference of the elevation and azimuth channels.

Thereafter, it is determined whether the signal is the same as the desired specific signal source using the signal type and the relative elevation and azimuth information of the signal, and if the signal is not equal to a certain probability or less, the control unit 40 is notified of the tracking failure, and the control unit ( When 40) transmits a command to switch to the standby to the signal processing unit 30, it switches to the standby state 100.

 If the signal above a certain probability is the same, a closed loop is formed in the tracking step 300 to continuously stay, and it is checked whenever the loop is over whether the signal above a certain probability is the same.

 If the desired specific signal source is not specified, the same signal is determined by automatically designating the first received signal source as the desired specific signal source. If, in the tracking step 300, the tracking fails, and after switching to the standby step 100 and then to the searching step 200 again, the new initial received signal source is automatically designated as a desired specific signal source.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a specific embodiment of the search step described in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the search step 200 is a state in which a signal source is collected and a specific signal source desired is obtained. Looking at the detailed flow chart in the search state, first receive the signal and check whether the received signal is above the reception threshold.

 If there is no signal above the reception threshold, the signal is continuously received until a signal above the reception threshold exists.

On the other hand, if there is a signal above the reception threshold, the signal is detected to identify the specification and shape of the signal. Among the specifications of the identified signal, direction detection information of the signal source is calculated by using phase difference information between elevation and azimuth channels.

After that, it is determined whether the signal is the same as the desired specific signal by using the signal type and direction detection information of the identified signal source, and when the probability of determining the same signal exceeds a certain level, it is switched to the tracking state. If the probability of determining the same signal is below a certain level, the search state algorithm is continuously performed.

 The signal receiving step 210 means that the signal processing unit 30 starts to process signals received by the array antenna unit 10 and passed through the signal amplification and filter unit 20. At this time, after converting the analog signal to a digital signal in the signal processing unit 30, a fast Fourier transform is performed.

Thereafter, a step 220 of checking whether there is an abnormal signal or not is received. The signal detection signal 230 detects a signal exceeding a reception threshold, and identifies the frequency, phase, phase difference between channels, signal strength information, and signal type in the signal specification and shape identification step 240.

In the direction detection information calculation step 250, the relative elevation and azimuth information of the minimum distance is calculated by comparing with the reference direction detection data using the previously obtained phase difference information between channels.

And, in the same signal determination step 260, using the signal type and the relative azimuth and relative elevation information obtained in the signal specification and shape identification step 240 and the direction detection information calculation step 250, whether the desired specific signal is the same To confirm.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a specific embodiment of the tracking step described in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the specific signal source desired in a search is acquired, the tracking step 300 continuously tracks the signal source and generates relative azimuth and relative elevation information. Looking at the detailed flow chart in the search state, first receive the signal and check whether the received signal is above the reception threshold.

 If the signal above the reception threshold does not exist below a certain probability, the control unit 40 notifies the tracking failure, and the control unit 40 transmits a command to switch to the standby to the signal processing unit 30 to wait 100 Is switched to.

If there is a signal above the reception threshold, this signal is detected to identify the source and form of the signal. Among the specifications of the identified signal, direction detection information of the signal source is calculated using phase difference information between elevation and azimuth channels.

Then, it is determined whether the signal is the same as a specific signal desired using the identified signal source signal type and direction detection information. If the same signal determination probability is less than a certain probability and the signals are not the same, the control unit 40 notifies the tracking failure, and when the control unit 40 sends a command to switch to the standby, the signal processing unit 30 waits (100) Is switched to. If the signal with a certain probability or more is the same, the closed loop is formed in the tracking step 300 to continuously stay, and it is checked whenever the loop goes through whether the signal with a certain probability or more is the same.

The signal receiving step 310 means that the signal processing unit 30 starts to process signals received by the array antenna unit 10 and passed through the signal amplification and filter unit 20.

At this time, the analog signal is converted to a digital signal by the signal processor 30 and then a fast Fourier transform is performed. Thereafter, a step 320 of checking whether there is an abnormal signal or not is received.

The signal detection step 330 detects a signal exceeding the reception threshold, and the signal specification and shape identification step 340 identifies the frequency, phase, inter-channel phase difference, signal strength information, and signal shape of the signal.

In the direction detection information calculation step 350, relative elevation and azimuth information of a minimum distance is calculated by comparing the obtained direction detection data with reference to the obtained phase difference information between channels.

In the same signal determination step 360, it is determined whether the desired specific signal is the same using the signal shape and the relative azimuth and relative elevation information obtained in the signal specification and shape identification step 340 and the direction detection information calculation step 350.

5 is a flow chart for explaining a specific embodiment of the step of identifying the signal specifications and forms described in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the signal specification and shape identification steps 240 and 340, frequency, phase, phase difference between channels, signal strength information and signal shape of the corresponding signal are identified. In FIG. 5, a flowchart for identifying the signal type is shown in detail.

In the present invention, a method for discriminating a total of four signals is proposed: a linear frequency sweep signal, a noise signal, a multi-tone signal, and a single-tone signal. After the signal is detected, the number of detected signals is checked in the number of detected signals 241 and 341 to identify the signal type as the single tone signals 248 and 348 when the number is less than a certain number A.

In the case of a specific number A or more, it is determined whether there are multiple bin continuities (242, 342). In this case, the meaning of the multiple bin continuity refers to whether the bins obtained after the fast Fourier transform are continuous by the detected signal.

If it is continuous, the presence / absence of the frequency change is checked using I / Q data of the detected signal, and if there is regularity, the signal type is identified by the linear frequency sweep signals 245 and 345 do.

If there is no regularity, the signal type is identified by noise signals 246 and 346.

If there is no continuity in the presence or absence of multiple bin continuity (242, 342), the number of discontinuous points (243, 343) is determined, and if the number of discontinuous points is greater than B, phase regularity (244, 344) is determined, and B If it is smaller, the signal type is identified by the multi-tone signals 247 and 347.

After the signal type is identified, the signal frequency identification (249, 349) identifies the frequency, phase, inter-channel phase difference, and magnitude of the signal and calculates direction detection information (250, 350).

6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment of an antenna array having an azimuth and elevation base line.

Referring to FIG. 6, an antenna array having an azimuth angle and an elevation angle baseline is required for two-dimensional direction detection. 6 shows a four-element array antenna having elevation and azimuth baselines corresponding to the array antenna section 10.

Using a four-element antenna, the azimuth and elevation elevation baselines can be placed in a small space with the same length. The array antenna unit 10 includes an elevation first antenna 11, an elevation second antenna 12, an azimuth first antenna 13, and an azimuth second antenna 14, and the elevation first antenna 11 and The line formed by the second elevation antenna 12 is referred to as the elevation baseline.

In addition, the line formed by the azimuth first antenna 13 and the azimuth second antenna 14 is referred to as an azimuth baseline. The signals received from the two antennas constituting each baseline have a spatial phase difference according to the received direction, and the relative elevation and relative azimuth information can be estimated using the phase difference of the received signals.

When explaining the effects of the two-dimensional direction detection apparatus and method according to the present invention are as follows.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to implement a two-dimensional direction detection device that continuously tracks a specific signal desired to obtain relative azimuth and relative elevation information. And, using the present invention has the advantage that it can be used to provide the direction of movement of the platform by continuously providing the direction of a specific signal source.

The above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in all respects, but should be considered illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (12)

An array antenna unit comprising a predetermined number of antenna arrays;
A signal amplification and filter unit having a predetermined number of reception channels and amplifying and filtering signals received from the array antenna unit;
A signal processing unit that analyzes the amplified and filtered signals and acquires relative elevation and relative azimuth information while continuously tracking a specific signal; And
Includes a control unit for controlling the signal processing unit;
The signal processing unit,
A signal analysis unit acquiring a signal specification of the amplified and filtered signal and identifying a signal type using the signal specification;
The arrival of estimating the relative elevation and relative azimuth information of the signal by acquiring the phase difference between the elevation and azimuth channels using the signal specifications obtained from the signal analysis unit, and using the direction detection data and the phase difference data that are preset criteria. Each estimation unit; And
And a signal tracking unit for identifying whether the signal is the specific signal using the shape information of the signal identified by the signal analysis unit and the relative elevation and relative azimuth information estimated by the arrival angle estimation unit,
The signal processing unit,
The signal received from the pre-arranged antenna unit and the specific signal are determined until the same signal is identified with a certain probability or more,
When a signal equal to or greater than a certain probability is identified, the two-dimensional direction detecting device, characterized in that it continuously generates relative elevation and azimuth information of the identified signal. delete According to claim 1,
The array antenna portion,
A two-dimensional direction detection device, characterized in that it consists of an array of three or more elements having azimuth and elevation elevation baselines. According to claim 1,
The signal specifications,
A two-dimensional direction detecting device comprising at least one of frequency, phase, phase difference between channels, and signal strength information. According to claim 1,
The signal analysis unit,
A two-dimensional direction detecting device characterized by identifying a signal type as at least one of a linear frequency sweep signal, a noise signal, a multi-tone signal, and a single-tone signal. According to claim 1,
The direction detection data serving as the predetermined reference is:
A two-dimensional direction detection device, characterized in that it is direction detection data according to the phase difference between azimuth and elevation channels calculated by considering the phase characteristics of the array antenna unit, the signal amplification and the phase characteristics of each channel of the filter unit, and the phase characteristics of the connecting cable. . Receiving a signal through an array antenna unit comprising a predetermined number of antenna arrays;
Amplifying and filtering the received signal through the predetermined number of receive channels; And
Including the step of obtaining the relative elevation and relative azimuth information while continuously tracking a specific signal by analyzing the amplified and filtered signals; and,
The obtaining of the relative elevation and relative azimuth information may include:
Obtaining a signal specification of the amplified and filtered signal, and identifying the signal type using the signal specification;
Acquiring a phase difference between elevation and azimuth channels using the acquired signal specification, and estimating relative elevation and relative azimuth information of the signal using direction detection data and phase difference data that are preset criteria; And
And identifying whether the signal is the specific signal by using the identified signal type information and the relative elevation and relative azimuth information.
Determining the identity of a signal received from a pre-arranged antenna unit and the specific signal until a signal equal to or greater than a certain probability is identified with the specific signal; And
And when the same signal is identified with a certain probability or more, the step of continuously generating relative elevation and azimuth information of the identified signal. delete The method of claim 7,
The array antenna portion,
A two-dimensional direction detection method, characterized in that it consists of an array of three or more elements with azimuth and elevation baselines. The method of claim 7,
The signal specifications,
A two-dimensional direction detection method comprising at least one of frequency, phase, phase difference between channels, and signal strength information. The method of claim 7,
Identifying the form of the signal; is,
And identifying the shape of the signal as at least one of a linear frequency sweep signal, a noise signal, a multi-tone signal, and a single-tone signal. The method of claim 7,
The direction detection data serving as the predetermined reference is:
A two-dimensional direction detection method, characterized in that it is direction detection data according to a phase difference between azimuth and elevation channels calculated by considering the phase characteristics of the array antenna unit, the phase characteristics of each receiving channel, and the phase characteristics of the connecting cable.

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