JP2014036325A - Antenna device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an antenna device which can form a plurality of beams simultaneously, and can make the effective area of antenna opening for one beam substantially equal to that when a beam is formed by all antenna elements.SOLUTION: An antenna device for radiating the data transmitted by a data transmitting/receiving unit 1 as radio waves, or supplying the data received as radio waves to the data transmitting/receiving unit 1 includes an antenna section 2 configured by arranging a plurality of antenna elements 21-21in row and column on the aperture plane, and a beam forming control unit 3 for controlling the direction of radio waves transmitted or received by the antenna section 2. The beam forming control unit 3 classifies the plurality of antenna elements 21-21into a plurality of antenna element groups while maintaining the effective area of the aperture plane, determines the phase shift amount so that the beams can be formed in specific directions, respectively, and controls a variable phase shifter 22 based on the phase shift amount thus determined.

Description

  The present invention relates to an antenna device provided with a phased array antenna.

  There is a multi-beam antenna as an antenna that can form antenna beams in a plurality of directions, and a phased array antenna is one of the realization methods. The phased array antenna is a variable directivity antenna having a feature that an antenna beam can be formed in an arbitrary direction by combining a large number of antenna elements and operating as a single antenna.

FIG. 16 shows a configuration example of an antenna device 100 including a phased array antenna. The antenna device 100 is connected to a plurality of antenna elements 101 constituting a phased array antenna, a plurality of amplitude adjusters A _{1 to} A _N connected to the respective antenna elements, and each of the amplitude adjusters A _{1 to} A _N. A plurality of variable phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N , a distribution / combination unit 102 that distributes or combines data, a data transmission / reception unit 103, and a beamforming control unit 104 are provided. Note that the amplitude adjusters A _{1 to} A _N are not essential elements.

Beam forming control unit 104, based on the input beam direction (angle theta), controls the amount of phase shift of the amplitude adjuster A ₁ to A _N of the amplitude or variable phase shifter δ ₁ ~δ _N. The antenna element 101 forms a beam in an arbitrary direction (angle θ).

ただし、ｎ＝１、２、・・・Ｎである。 Here, taking the linear array antenna 201 as an example, how to determine the values of the amplitude A _n and the phase shift amount δ _n will be described (see FIG. 17).
In order to form a wavefront at a certain angle θ, a signal E _n (t) radiated from the n-th antenna element is given by the equation (1). Here, the signal at the reference point is represented as E ₀ (t), and it is assumed that each antenna element is an isotropic antenna.

However, n = 1, 2,... N.

Further, tau _n, a propagation time to wavefront at n-th antenna element, and the speed of light c, than the distance d _n of the reference point and the n-th antenna element, the propagation time from the wavefront to the antenna element, (2 ) Expression.

At this time, the voltage of the antenna element when the carrier frequency is f can be expressed as the following equation (3).

Here, λ = c / f represents the wavelength of the carrier wave. Since the signal of each antenna element is adjusted by the amplitude adjusters A _{1 to} A _N and the variable phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N , the output E _n (t) of the linear array antenna 201 is expressed by the following equation (4). Can be expressed as

When it is desired to form a main lobe at an angle theta _d is the amount of phase shift [delta] _n (5) may be obtained in the equation.

JP 2003-207559 A JP 2010-19611 A

  Thus, the phased array antenna has a feature that a beam can be formed in any direction. Therefore, an application to a radar apparatus or the like that simultaneously searches for and tracks a target object by using a multi-beam antenna technique capable of forming a plurality of beams at the same time has been attempted.

  In addition, since a beam can be simultaneously formed in a plurality of arbitrary directions, it is a technique that can be expected to have an effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency by simultaneously transmitting data to a plurality of terminals with one antenna.

  Here, as a method of realizing a multi-beam antenna that forms a plurality of beams at the same time, there are a method of simultaneously using a plurality of antennas and a method of dividing an antenna element on an aperture plane into a plurality of systems.

  In the method of using multiple antennas simultaneously, multi-beams are realized by assigning one beam to one antenna and simultaneously forming beams in different directions. However, in order to install the antennas in parallel by the number of beams to be formed simultaneously. There is a problem in the installation space.

  The method of dividing the antenna elements into a plurality of systems is a method of grouping in units of beams using the characteristics of a phased array antenna composed of a large number of antenna elements (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  For example, when two beams b1 and b2 are desired to be formed simultaneously by the aperture antenna 301, the antenna aperture Ap may be divided into left and right as shown in FIG. The left antenna element controls the amplitude and phase shift so as to form the beam b1, and the right antenna element controls the amplitude and phase shift so as to form the beam b2. In this method, since the multi-beam is formed by sharing the opening surface of the antenna, only one antenna is required.

  Patent Document 1 exemplifies a method of dividing antenna elements into left and right to form a multi-beam, and the method of grouping antenna elements is not limited to the method of dividing into left and right, but a specific arrangement method Is not described. In addition, when the effective area of an aperture surface becomes narrow, the beam width will become wide compared with the beam formed using the whole aperture surface.

  In Patent Document 2, an antenna element that forms one beam is thinned and arranged, and an antenna element that forms the other beam is arranged in an open space, and the amplitude and amplitude are independently determined for each group. It is described that a multi-beam is realized by controlling the phase shift.

  There are several methods for thinning out antenna elements. The original purpose of thinning out the antenna elements is to reduce the cost by reducing the number of variable phase shifters while suppressing the degradation of the antenna performance. That is, the method of thinning out the antenna elements according to the cited document 2 is not considered as a thinning method for using the phased array antenna with multiple beams. For this reason, the remaining open space obtained by thinning out the antenna elements related to one beam is not always suitable as the allocation position of the antenna elements related to the other beams.

  According to the present invention, in a phased array antenna based on a method of dividing an antenna element into a plurality of systems, two or more beams are simultaneously formed, and the effective area of the antenna opening for one beam is formed by all antenna elements. An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna device that can be made substantially the same as when.

  An antenna device according to the present invention is a data transmission / reception unit that transmits or receives data, and radiates data transmitted by the data transmission / reception unit as radio waves or supplies data received as radio waves to the data transmission / reception unit. And an antenna unit configured by arranging a plurality of antenna elements vertically and horizontally on an opening surface, and a beam forming control unit that controls a direction of a radio wave transmitted or received by the antenna unit, wherein the antenna unit includes: A variable phase shifter is connected to each of the antenna elements, and the beam forming control unit divides the plurality of antenna elements into two or more antenna element groups while maintaining an effective area of the aperture surface, and For each element group, radio waves are emitted in a specific direction or received from a specific direction. Determining the phase shift amount so that, based on the determined phase shift is configured to control the variable phase shifter.

  According to such a configuration, the antenna device divides a plurality of antenna elements into two or more antenna element groups while maintaining the effective area of the opening surface, and radio waves are radiated in a specific direction for each of the antenna element groups. Or the phase shift amount is determined so as to receive radio waves coming from a specific direction, and the phase shifter is controlled based on the determined phase shift amount, so that two or more beams are formed simultaneously, and The effective area of the antenna aperture for one beam can be made substantially the same as when all the antenna elements form the beam.

  In the antenna device, the beam forming control unit may be configured to divide the plurality of antenna elements into two or more antenna element groups according to a regular procedure while maintaining an effective area of the opening surface.

  According to such a configuration, the antenna device has an advantage of excellent manufacturing feasibility because two or more antenna element groups can be formed by a regular procedure while maintaining the effective area of the opening surface.

  In the antenna device, the beam forming control unit may be configured to divide the plurality of antenna elements into two or more antenna element groups using a probability distribution while maintaining an effective area of the aperture surface.

  According to such a configuration, the antenna device can create two or more antenna element groups using the probability distribution while maintaining the effective area of the aperture surface, and thus avoiding the occurrence of grating lobes while maintaining the beam width. A beam pattern with multiple peaks can be created.

  The antenna device includes a distribution / combination unit that distributes the data transmitted from the data transmission / reception unit to each antenna element, or combines the data received by each antenna element and supplies the data to the data transmission / reception unit. But you can.

  According to such a configuration, the antenna device can simultaneously distribute the same data to two or more antenna element groups, or synthesize the same data received by the antenna element groups.

  In the antenna device, the data transmitting / receiving unit transmits or receives a plurality of different data, and the distributing / synthesizing unit distributes the plurality of different data transmitted from the data transmitting / receiving unit for each antenna element group. Alternatively, a configuration may be employed in which a plurality of different data received for each antenna element group is combined and supplied to the data transmission / reception unit.

  According to such a configuration, the antenna device can simultaneously distribute a plurality of different data to two or more antenna element groups, or combine a plurality of different data received by the antenna element group for each antenna element group.

  An antenna device according to the present invention receives a data feeding horn antenna unit that supplies data and data supplied by the power feeding horn antenna unit, and re-radiates the received data. An antenna unit configured by arranging antenna elements vertically and horizontally; and a beamforming control unit that controls a direction of a radio wave transmitted or received by the antenna unit, wherein the antenna unit is variably shifted for each antenna element. A phase shifter is connected, and the beamforming control unit divides the plurality of antenna elements into two or more antenna element groups while maintaining an effective area of the opening surface, and each of the antenna element groups has a specific value. The phase shift amount is determined so that the radio wave is re-radiated in the direction, and the variable phase shifter is controlled based on the determined phase shift amount.

  According to such a configuration, for example, when transmitting the power, the antenna device converts the power supplied from the power supply unit into an RF frequency such as a microwave band, and feeds the antenna unit from the power supply horn antenna unit to re-transmit. By radiating, power can be transmitted in the intended direction.

  According to the present invention, in a phased array antenna based on a method of dividing an antenna element into a plurality of systems, two or more beams are simultaneously formed, and the effective area of the antenna aperture for one beam is the same for all antenna elements. Can be almost the same as when formed.

It is a figure which shows the 1st structure of an antenna device. It is a figure which shows the 2nd structure of an antenna device. It is a figure where it uses for description about the relationship between an antenna element and a beam direction. It is a figure which shows the radiation pattern of a two-dimensional beam. It is a figure which shows the beam radiation pattern of the horizontal direction in an elevation angle direction 0 degree. It is a figure where it uses for description about the method of assigning an antenna element regularly. It is a figure where it uses for description about the method of utilizing probability distribution for allocation of an antenna element. Three phase data _{P -10,} shows a beam radiation pattern when replacing the P _{10, P 30} in a uniform distribution. It is a figure where it uses for description about the structure of the antenna apparatus for forming three beams simultaneously. It is a figure which shows the structure of the antenna apparatus which concerns on 1st Example. It is a figure which shows the specific structure of an antenna part and a beam forming control part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the antenna apparatus which concerns on 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the specific structure of an antenna part and a beam forming control part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the antenna apparatus which concerns on 3rd Example. The specific structure of an antenna part, a beam forming control part, and a feeding horn antenna part is shown. It is a figure which shows the structure of a phased array antenna. It is a figure where it uses for description about formation of the beam forming by a linear array antenna. It is a figure which shows an example of the aperture surface division | segmentation in an aperture surface antenna.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the antenna device 10 includes a data transmission / reception unit 1, an antenna unit 2, and a beamforming control unit 3.
The data transmitter / receiver 1 transmits or receives data.
The antenna unit 2 radiates data transmitted by the data transmission / reception unit 1 as a radio wave or supplies data received as a radio wave to the data transmission / reception unit 1. The antenna unit 2 has a plurality of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 on the opening surface. _N is arranged in rows and columns.

The beam forming control unit 3 controls the direction of radio waves transmitted or received by the antenna unit 2.
Antenna unit 2, a phase shifter δ ₁ ~δ _N is connected to each antenna element ₂₁ a through 21 _N.

The beam forming control unit 3 divides the plurality of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N into two or more antenna element groups while maintaining the effective area of the aperture surface, and radio waves are transmitted in specific directions for each of the antenna element groups. The phase shift amount is determined so as to be radiated or received from a specific direction, and the phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N are controlled based on the determined phase shift amount.

According to such a configuration, the antenna device 10 divides the plurality of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N into two or more antenna element groups while maintaining the effective area of the opening surface, and each antenna element group A phase shift amount is determined so that a radio wave is radiated in a specific direction or a radio wave arriving from a specific direction is received, and the phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N are controlled based on the determined phase shift amount. Therefore, two or more beams can be formed simultaneously, and the effective area of the antenna aperture for one beam can be made substantially the same as when beams are formed by all antenna elements.

Further, the beam forming control unit 3 may be configured to divide the plurality of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N into two or more antenna element groups by a regular procedure while maintaining the effective area of the opening surface.

  According to such a configuration, the antenna device 10 can create two or more antenna element groups by a regular procedure while maintaining the effective area of the opening surface, and thus has an advantage of excellent manufacturing feasibility.

Further, the beamforming control unit 3 may be configured to divide the plurality of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N into two or more antenna element groups using a probability distribution while maintaining the effective area of the aperture surface.

  According to such a configuration, the antenna device 10 can create two or more antenna element groups using the probability distribution while maintaining the effective area of the aperture surface, so that generation of grating lobes can be performed while maintaining the beam width. A beam pattern having a plurality of peaks that avoids the above can be created.

  The antenna device 10 distributes the data transmitted from the data transmitting / receiving unit 1 to each antenna element 21, or combines the data received by each antenna element 21 and supplies the data to the data transmitting / receiving unit 1. 4 may be used.

  According to such a configuration, the antenna device 10 can simultaneously distribute the same data to two or more antenna element groups, or synthesize the same data received by the antenna element groups.

  The data transmitting / receiving unit 1 may be configured to transmit or receive a plurality of different data. The distributing / combining unit 4 distributes a plurality of different data transmitted from the data transmitting / receiving unit 1 for each antenna element group, or combines a plurality of different data received for each antenna element group to the data transmitting / receiving unit 1. Supply.

  According to such a configuration, the antenna device 10 can simultaneously distribute a plurality of different data to two or more antenna element groups, or combine a plurality of different data received by the antenna element group for each antenna element group. it can.

As shown in FIG. 2, the antenna device 10 includes a feeding horn antenna unit 5, an antenna unit 2, and a beamforming control unit 3.
The feeding horn antenna unit 5 supplies data.

The antenna unit 2 receives data supplied from the feeding horn antenna unit 5 and re-radiates the received data. A plurality of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N are arranged vertically and horizontally on the opening surface. Composed.
The beam forming control unit 3 controls the direction of radio waves transmitted or received by the antenna unit 2.
Antenna unit 2, a phase shifter δ ₁ ~δ _N is connected to each antenna element ₂₁ a through 21 _N.

The beam forming control unit 3 divides the plurality of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N into two or more antenna element groups while maintaining the effective area of the aperture surface, and radio waves are transmitted in specific directions for each of the antenna element groups. The phase shift amount is determined so as to be re-radiated, and the phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N are controlled based on the determined phase shift amount.

  According to such a configuration, for example, when transmitting power, the antenna device 10 converts the power supplied from the power supply unit into an RF frequency such as a microwave band, and the antenna unit 10 from the feeding horn antenna unit 5 By feeding and re-radiating power, power can be transmitted in the intended direction.

Next, _a problem that arises when the plurality of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N are divided into two or more antenna element groups and the solution thereof will be discussed.
The antenna unit 2 of this embodiment constitutes a so-called phased array antenna. A phased array antenna is a type of aperture antenna. Therefore, in the following, the beam radiation pattern of a general aperture antenna is examined. In addition, it is assumed that an amplitude adjuster is provided between each antenna element and the phase shifter, and the adjustment amount of the amplitude adjuster can be changed individually, but in this embodiment, all are the same. To do.

  It is known that the radiation pattern of the aperture antenna has a relationship between the amplitude and phase distribution of the aperture plane and the Fourier transform (Keisuke Iizuka, Optoelectronics, Kyoritsu Shuppan). Since the Fourier transform is a linear transform, a plurality of beams can be simultaneously formed by combining the amplitude and phase distributions of the antenna aperture plane that can form the beams in a plurality of different directions. This principle is the basis on which the antenna elements can be grouped to share the aperture surface.

  However, when the multi-beam is formed by dividing the antenna aperture plane in half on the left and right sides, the effective area of the aperture for one beam is halved, which causes problems such as an increase in beam width.

  Therefore, it is necessary to devise an allocation method so as to suppress adverse effects on all the beams when dividing the aperture plane, that is, when determining the allocation of antenna elements to be used for forming a multi-beam.

In the present embodiment, the following two antenna element assignment methods (antenna element group creation methods) are proposed in order to achieve multi-beam without substantially reducing the effective area of the aperture per beam.
1. 1. Method for regularly assigning antenna elements Method of using probability distribution for antenna element assignment

  In order to verify the effectiveness of the antenna element assignment method according to the present embodiment, a phased array antenna in which 20 × 20 antenna elements are arranged at half-wavelength intervals is considered (see FIG. 3).

The direction _{b 1 (-10 °, 0 °} ) and the direction _{b 2 (30 °, 0 °} ) phase data _P -10 of antenna elements capable of forming a _beam, the _{P 30,} the present embodiment A simulation was carried out on the radiation pattern when assigned to the same aperture surface in this procedure. FIGS. 4A and 5A correspond to the direction b ₁ (−10 °, 0 °), and FIGS. 4B and 5B show the direction b ₂ (30 °, 0 °). ).

  FIG. 4 shows a two-dimensional radiation pattern of the phased array antenna. The horizontal axis represents the angle in the x direction, and the vertical axis represents the angle in the y direction. FIG. 5 is a cut pattern on the x-axis with respect to the y-axis direction 0 ° (elevation angle direction 0 °), and the radiation power of the beam with respect to the angle in the x-direction is displayed as a maximum value 0 dB.

As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, given a phase data P _-10 to all of the antenna elements, the beam is formed to -10 ° in the x-direction, given a phase data P _30, x-direction of 30 A beam is formed at °.

In a first allocation method of this embodiment "method for allocating antenna elements regularly", as shown in FIG. 6 (a), regularly antenna alternately phase data P _-10 and P ₃₀ Assign to the element.

  In addition, FIGS. 6B and 6C show the results of calculating the beam radiation pattern when the phase data are alternately and regularly assigned to the antenna elements. FIG. 6B shows a two-dimensional radiation pattern, and FIG. 6C shows a radiation pattern at an elevation angle direction of 0 °.

  From this result, it can be seen that by arranging the phase data of the antenna elements alternately, the effective area of the aperture for one beam is not reduced, so that two beams with the beam width maintained can be formed simultaneously.

  By the way, when the antenna element interval for forming one beam is widened, a grating lobe is generated in the direction b (−30 °, 90 °) or the like. This seems to be because the antenna element spacing for forming one beam is widened by alternately assigning the antenna elements.

  By the way, the regular allocation method is limited by the range of the beam direction due to the generation of grating lobes, but the merit of excellent manufacturing feasibility due to regular allocation of antenna elements. There is.

  Next, a method for using a probability distribution for antenna element assignment will be described in detail. In this method, allocation of antenna elements is determined according to a probability distribution (for example, uniform distribution).

  When N beams are desired to be formed at the same time, one value is stochastically selected and assigned to each antenna element from the set of beam numbers [1,..., N]. For example, if the allocation probability distribution is a uniform distribution, the selection probabilities of [1,..., N] are made equal, a beam number is allocated to each antenna element, and one beam group is assigned to the same beam number. Form a beam.

Here, FIG. 7A shows an example of assigning beam numbers of antenna elements when the probability distribution is uniform to form two beams.
The antenna element of the beam number 1, and controls the amount of phase shift of the phase shifter by a phase data P _-10 described above, the antenna element of the beam number 2, the phase data P ₃₀ the amount of phase shift of phase shifters By controlling, two beams can be formed simultaneously.

  FIGS. 7B and 7C show examples of calculation results when a beam radiation pattern is simulated when antenna elements are assigned by this method. FIG. 7B shows a two-dimensional radiation pattern, and FIG. 7C shows a radiation pattern at an elevation angle direction of 0 °.

  It can be seen from the beam radiation pattern of FIG. 7 that a beam is formed in the direction b (−10 °, 0 °) and the direction b (30 °, 0 °). Furthermore, it can be seen that the generation of grating lobes as shown in FIG. 6 is not observed.

  This is because the energy concentrated in the direction in which the grating lobe is generated is diffused in various directions by changing the method of regularly assigning the antenna elements to the method of assigning the antenna elements stochastically.

  In this way, the method of assigning antenna elements stochastically assigns the phase distribution of the antenna elements stochastically, thus creating a beam pattern having a plurality of peaks while maintaining the beam width and avoiding the generation of grating lobes. Can do.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a beam radiation pattern when the three phase data P ₋₁₀ , P ₁₀ , and P ₃₀ are arranged in a uniform distribution. FIG. 8A shows a two-dimensional beam radiation pattern, and FIG. 8B shows a radiation pattern in an elevation angle direction of 0 °.

  Thus, according to the antenna element assignment method of the present invention, two or more beams can be simultaneously formed in the beam radiation pattern of the phased array antenna. Furthermore, since the effective area of one beam is hardly reduced, adverse effects such as an increase in beam width can be suppressed.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the antenna device 10 that can form three beams simultaneously.
The beam forming control unit 3 inputs the phase data 1 to 3 to the antenna unit 2. Phase data 1 to 3, which corresponds to a _{P -10, P 10, P 30} described above, the data relating to the amount of phase shift of the phase shifter δ ₁ ~δ _N.
Each phase data input to the antenna unit 2 controls each phase shifter δ ₁ ~δ _N connected to the grouped antenna elements 21 _a through 21 _N.

  The distribution / combination unit 4 includes a wiring unit 4a that performs wiring in units of groups, and a distribution synthesizer 4b that distributes or combines signals. The wiring unit 4a performs wiring so that signals transmitted and received by the data transmitting / receiving unit 1 are connected to antenna elements having a common group number.

That is, the number of distributors / combiners D constituting the distributor / combiner 4 is the same as the number of beams that are simultaneously formed. In the present embodiment, since the number of beams formed simultaneously is three, the number of distributor / synthesizers D _{1 to} D ₃ is three.

In general, since the antenna reversibility theorem holds, the multi-beam antenna according to the present invention can be used for both a transmission antenna and a reception antenna.
Since the antenna device 10 according to the present invention shares the antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N arranged on the antenna opening surface by the number of beams that are simultaneously formed, the antenna device 10 forms a beam using all the antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N. Compared to the case, the sidelobe characteristics of the antenna may be deteriorated.

This is because the number of antenna elements that can be used per beam is reduced by simultaneously forming beams without increasing the pairs of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N and phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N. . However, as can be seen from FIG. 8, it is possible to form a beam in a specified direction, which is useful in that the number of beams satisfying a required sidelobe characteristic can be used simultaneously.

<First embodiment>
Next, an embodiment will be described in which the same data is assigned to each beam and radio waves radiated in a plurality of directions or received with the same data arriving from a plurality of directions are described.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the antenna device 10 includes a data transmitting / receiving unit 1, an antenna unit 2, a beamforming control unit 3, and a distribution / combination unit 4, and simultaneously in a plurality of different directions. A radio wave is transmitted toward a terminal station that is arranged, or a radio wave transmitted from each terminal station is received. The antenna unit 2 includes antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N , phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N , and amplitude adjusters A _{1 to} A _N.

  The antenna unit 2 functions as a multi-beam antenna by being controlled so that radio waves are transmitted in a plurality of directions by the beam forming control unit 3 or receiving radio waves arriving from a plurality of directions. .

The antenna device 10 performs grouping of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N used for forming a beam to be transmitted and received in order to determine correspondence between the data transmitting and receiving unit 1 and a beam to be transmitted and received. The antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N are sorted by the above-described method (a method for regularly allocating antenna elements or a method using a probability distribution for antenna element allocation), and an antenna that forms a beam to be transmitted and received Divide element groups into three.

That is, the antenna device 10 controls grouped antenna elements ₂₁ a through 21 _N, the amplitude adjuster _A 1 to A _N and the phase shifter δ ₁ ~δ _N corresponding to each group as a group, more Beams (multi-beams) transmitted and received in different directions are formed.

Specific configurations of the antenna unit 2 and the beamforming control unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
The beam forming control unit 3 includes a beam direction instruction unit 3a, an antenna control unit 3b, and an antenna control data storage unit 3c.

The beam direction instruction unit 3a instructs the beam direction φ (for example, φ1, φ2, φ3) to the antenna control unit 3b.
The antenna control unit 3b extracts the antenna control data corresponding to the beam direction φ input from the beam direction instruction unit 3a from the antenna control data storage unit 3c, and the amplitude adjusters A _{1 to} A _{N of the} antenna unit 2 The phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N are controlled.

Here, the antenna control data P, refers to the data related to the control of the antenna section 2 amplitude adjuster A ₁ to A _N and the phase shifter δ ₁ ~δ _N.
The antenna control data storage unit 3c stores antenna control data for all directions for controlling the direction of the formed beam.

For example, when forming the beam 2 in the direction phi _N, that is, when the direction phi _N is input from the beam direction instruction section 3a to the antenna control unit 3b, the antenna control unit 3b includes an antenna control from the antenna control data storage section 3c Data P _2N is extracted, and the amplitude adjuster and phase shifter of the antenna element corresponding to the group number 2 are controlled. Beams 1 to 3 are formed by performing the same operation in other antenna control units.

Further, in this embodiment, since the same data is assigned to each beam, the wiring section is not necessary and the configuration is simple.
With such a configuration, the antenna device 10 can form the beam in a plurality of directions by allocating the same data to each beam by operating each element of the data transmitting / receiving unit 1 independently.

<Second embodiment>
Next, an embodiment will be described in which different data is assigned to each beam and radio waves are received that are radiated in a plurality of directions or assigned different data coming from a plurality of directions.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the antenna device 10 includes a data transmission / reception unit 1, an antenna unit 2, a beamforming control unit 3, and a distribution / combination unit 4, and simultaneously in a plurality of different directions. A radio wave is transmitted toward a terminal station that is arranged, or a radio wave transmitted from each terminal station is received. The antenna unit 2 includes antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N , phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N , and amplitude adjusters A _{1 to} A _N.

  The antenna unit 2 functions as a multi-beam antenna by being controlled so that a beam is formed in a plurality of directions by the beam forming control unit 3 or receiving radio waves coming from a plurality of directions. .

  The data transmitting / receiving unit 1 is composed of the same number of elements as the number of beams. The data transmitting / receiving unit 1 is assumed to have a one-to-one relationship with the beam to be transmitted / received. Specifically, the data transmitter / receiver 1 a transmits / receives data using the beam 1, the data transmitter / receiver 1 b transmits / receives data using the beam 2, and the data transmitter / receiver 1 c transmits / receives data using the beam 3.

The antenna device 10 performs grouping of antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N used for forming a beam to be transmitted and received in order to determine correspondence between the data transmitting and receiving unit 1 and a beam to be transmitted and received. The antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N are sorted by the above-described method (a method for regularly allocating antenna elements or a method using a probability distribution for antenna element allocation), and an antenna that forms a beam to be transmitted and received Divide element groups into three.

That is, the antenna device 10 controls grouped antenna elements ₂₁ a through 21 _N, the amplitude adjuster _A 1 to A _N and the phase shifter δ ₁ ~δ _N corresponding to each group as a group, more Beams (multi-beams) transmitted and received in different directions are formed.

Specific configurations of the antenna unit 2 and the beamforming control unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
The beam forming control unit 3 includes a beam direction instruction unit 3a, an antenna control unit 3b, and an antenna control data storage unit 3c.

The beam direction instruction unit 3a instructs the beam direction φ (for example, φ1, φ2, φ3) to the antenna control unit 3b.
The antenna control unit 3b extracts the antenna control data corresponding to the beam direction φ input from the beam direction instruction unit 3a from the antenna control data storage unit 3c, and the amplitude adjusters A _{1 to} A _{N of the} antenna unit 2 The phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N are controlled.

Here, the antenna control data P, refers to the data related to the control of the antenna section 2 amplitude adjuster A ₁ to A _N and the phase shifter δ ₁ ~δ _N.
The antenna control data storage unit 3c stores antenna control data for all directions for controlling the direction of the formed beam.

For example, when forming the beam 2 in the direction phi _N, that is, when the direction phi _N is input from the beam direction instruction section 3a to the antenna control unit 3b, the antenna control unit 3b includes an antenna control from the antenna control data storage section 3c Data P _2N is extracted, and the amplitude adjuster and phase shifter of the antenna element corresponding to the group number 2 are controlled. Beams 1 to 3 are formed by performing the same operation in other antenna control units.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the wiring unit 4 _a performs wiring between the data transmitting / receiving unit 1 and the antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N.
Specifically, the wiring unit 4a includes each element (for example, distributor / combiner) of the distribution / combination unit 4 that distributes the data of the data transmission / reception unit 1 to the antenna unit 2 to the antenna elements corresponding to the antenna element group numbers. Wiring is performed so that D1, D2, D3) are connected.

  For example, the signal line distributed by the distributor / combiner D2 is connected to the antenna element whose group number is 2. With such a configuration, the antenna device 10 can form beams in a plurality of directions by allocating different data to each beam by operating each element of the data transmitting / receiving unit 1 independently.

<Third embodiment>
Next, an embodiment in which space power feeding using a horn antenna (feeding horn antenna unit 5) is performed will be described. This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment.
By using space power supply in this manner, signal transmission of relatively large power becomes possible, so that it can be applied to a microwave power transmission system or the like as an application example.

The structure of the antenna device 10 according to the third embodiment is shown in FIGS.
The feeding horn antenna unit 5 includes a feeding horn 5a, an RF frequency conversion unit 5b, and a power supply unit 5c.

Data transmission between the data transmitting / receiving unit 1 and the antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N of the antenna unit 2 is performed via wiring in the first and second embodiments.
In the third embodiment, the antenna unit 2 operates as a reflector antenna that reflects the radio wave radiated from the feeding horn antenna unit 5, so that the distribution / combination unit 4 becomes unnecessary.

Specific configurations of the antenna unit 2, the beam forming control unit 3, and the feeding horn antenna unit 5 will be described with reference to FIG.
The antenna device 10, the beam forming control unit 3, the first and second embodiments and the same method, and controls the amplitude adjuster A ₁ to A _N and the phase shifter δ ₁ ~δ _N, antenna A multi-beam is formed by the part 2.

  A data transmission unit is not physically connected to the antenna unit 2. Therefore, the antenna unit 2 is supplied with a signal by the feeding horn antenna unit 5, and transmits the signal to the terminal station by re-radiating the signal to the space where the terminal station exists.

That is, the amplitude of the signals supplied from the feeding horn antenna unit 5 to the antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N of the antenna unit 2 is adjusted by the amplitude adjusters A _{1 to} A _N and the phase shifters δ _{1 to} δ _N are used. After the phase shift control is performed, the signal is reflected by the reflection circuit 6 and re-radiated from the antenna elements 21 _{a to} 21 _N.

  The antenna device 10 converts the power supplied from the power supply unit 5c into an RF frequency such as a microwave band by the RF frequency conversion unit 5b, supplies power to the antenna unit 2 from the power supply horn 5a, and re-enters the space from the antenna unit 2 into space. By radiating, electric power can be transmitted toward the target terminal station.

The main effects of this embodiment are listed below.
1. In the phased array antenna, two or more beams can be simultaneously formed with a configuration using the same number of (variable) phase shifters as the antenna elements.
2. Since the amount of phase shift of each antenna element can be freely given, the degree of freedom of beam control is high.
3. Since the effective area of the substantial aperture plane does not change, even when a plurality of beams are formed simultaneously, the beam width can be made substantially the same as when one beam is formed using all antenna elements.
4). It can also be applied to various array-shaped antennas.
5. As the phase shifter, either an analog phase shifter or a digital phase shifter can be used.
6). Since a plurality of beams are formed at the same time by sharing the aperture surface of the antenna, the installation space of the antenna can be saved.

  In this embodiment, the configuration and operation of the antenna device are mainly described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the phased array antenna that includes each component and divides the antenna element into a plurality of systems, two or more beams are used. , And the effective area of the antenna aperture for one beam may be substantially the same as when the beam is formed by all antenna elements, and a program may be configured.

  Furthermore, the program for realizing the function of the antenna device may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read by the computer system and executed.

  The “computer system” here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk built in the computer system.

  Furthermore, “computer-readable recording medium” means that a program is dynamically held for a short time, like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. It is also possible to include one that holds a program for a certain time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that becomes a server or client in that case. Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the above-described functions, and may be capable of realizing the above-described functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data transmission / reception part 2 Antenna part 3 Beamforming control part 4 Distribution / combination part 5 Feed horn antenna part 10 Antenna apparatus

Claims (6)

A data transceiver for transmitting or receiving data; and
Data transmitted by the data transmitter / receiver is radiated as radio waves, or data received as radio waves is supplied to the data transmitter / receiver, and a plurality of antenna elements are arranged vertically and horizontally on the opening surface. An antenna section;
A beam forming control unit for controlling the direction of radio waves transmitted or received by the antenna unit;
The antenna unit is connected to a phase shifter for each antenna element,
The beam forming control unit divides the plurality of antenna elements into two or more antenna element groups while maintaining an effective area of the aperture surface, and radio waves are radiated in a specific direction for each of the antenna element groups. Or an antenna device that determines a phase shift amount so as to receive radio waves coming from a specific direction and controls the phase shifter based on the determined phase shift amount.   The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the beam forming control unit divides the plurality of antenna elements into two or more antenna element groups according to a regular procedure while maintaining an effective area of the opening surface.   The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the beamforming control unit divides the plurality of antenna elements into two or more antenna element groups using a probability distribution while maintaining an effective area of the aperture surface.   The antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising a distribution / combination unit that distributes data transmitted from the data transmission / reception unit to each antenna element, or combines data received by each antenna element and supplies the data to the data transmission / reception unit. . The data transmitting / receiving unit transmits or receives a plurality of different data,
The distribution / combination unit distributes the plurality of different data transmitted from the data transmission / reception unit for each antenna element group, or combines the plurality of different data received for each antenna element group to perform the data transmission / reception. The antenna device according to claim 4, wherein the antenna device is supplied to the unit. A feeding horn antenna for supplying data;
Receiving data supplied by the feeding horn antenna unit, and re-radiating the received data, an antenna unit configured by arranging a plurality of antenna elements vertically and horizontally on the opening surface;
A beam forming control unit for controlling the direction of radio waves transmitted or received by the antenna unit;
The antenna unit is connected to a phase shifter for each antenna element,
The beam forming control unit divides the plurality of antenna elements into two or more antenna element groups while maintaining an effective area of the opening surface, and radio waves are re-radiated in a specific direction for each of the antenna element groups. An antenna device that determines a phase shift amount as described above and controls the phase shifter based on the determined phase shift amount.

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