Signal processor and radar apparatus

An echo identification apparatus, comprising:

• a transducer configured to transmit a transmission wave and receive a reflection wave of the transmission wave;
• processing circuitry configured
• to detect a target object by using the transducer, based on a reception signal obtained from the reflection wave;
• to extract, from echo sample sequences each of which is obtained by plotting a plurality of samples constituting the reception signal on coordinates defined by a distance from the transducer and amplitudes of the plurality of samples and is generated for each azimuth with reference to a position of the transducer, a plurality of samples caused by the target object as a partial sample sequence;
• and
• to calculate a characteristic of the partial sample sequence as a characteristic amount;
• and
• a memory configured to store a plurality of type-based data that are data as comparison targets of the characteristic amount and correspond to types from which the target object is identified;
• the processing circuitry being further configured
• to compare the characteristic amount with each of the plurality of type-based data;
• and
• to identify the type of the target object for which the characteristic amount is calculated based on the comparison result,
• wherein the characteristic amount is one of
• a number of samples constituting a rising portion of the partial sample sequence,
• a number of samples constituting a falling portion of the partial sample sequence, and
• a value obtained based on an integral value of the falling portion.

A signal processor for detecting a target object by using a transducer configured to transmit a transmission wave and receive a reflection wave of the transmission wave, based on a reception signal obtained from the reflection wave, the signal processor comprising:

• processing circuitry configured
• to extract, from echo sample sequences each of which is obtained by plotting a plurality of samples constituting the reception signal on coordinates defined by a distance from the transducer and amplitudes of the plurality of samples and is generated for each azimuth with reference to a position of the transducer, a plurality of samples caused by the target object as a partial sample sequence;
• and
• to calculate a characteristic of the partial sample sequence as a characteristic amount;
• and
• a memory configured to store a plurality of type-based data that are data as comparison targets of the characteristic amount and correspond to types from which the target object is identified;
• the processing circuitry being further configured
• to compare the characteristic amount with each of the plurality of type-based data;
• to identify the type of the target object for which the characteristic amount is calculated based on the comparison result,
• to estimate a deterioration degree that is a degree of deterioration of the partial sample sequence, the memory storing the plurality of type-based data classified for each deterioration degree, as type-based data groups for each deterioration degree, and
• to select, based on the deterioration degree, a type-based data group for each deterioration degree to be compared with the partial sample sequence of which the deterioration degree is estimated,
• wherein the processing circuitry compares the characteristic amount with each of the plurality of type-based data constituting the type-based data group for each deterioration degree.