JP5904465B2 - Antenna device, radio wave arrival direction estimation device, and radio wave arrival direction estimation program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an antenna device, a radio wave arrival direction estimation device, and a radio wave arrival direction estimation program.

  In the antenna device, the antenna element group is called an array. The subdivided array is called a subarray. In the antenna device, a rectangular array of 4 rows and 4 columns can be virtually configured by switching four rectangular subarrays of 2 rows and 2 columns. Patent Document 1 discloses a radio wave arrival direction estimation device that estimates the arrival direction of radio waves using an array.

JP 2007-64941 A

  However, in order to estimate the direction of arrival of radio waves, it is first necessary to detect whether radio waves have arrived. The radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 detects the presence or absence of radio waves by constantly switching the subarray at high speed. For this reason, the radio wave arrival direction estimation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that power consumption for estimating the arrival direction of radio waves increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an antenna device, a radio wave arrival direction estimation device, and a radio wave arrival direction estimation program capable of suppressing power consumption for estimating the arrival direction of a radio wave. For the purpose.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and is an antenna element having uniform sensitivity in a horizontal plane, the zenith element provided at the zenith of the polygonal pyramid, and the antenna element oriented in the vertical plane. An antenna device comprising: a plurality of side surface elements provided on a side surface of the polygonal pyramid so as to detect a radio wave coming from the periphery of the polygonal pyramid.

  Further, the present invention is the antenna device characterized in that the plurality of side surface elements are provided so as to form a vertex of a polygon for each side surface of the polygonal pyramid.

  The present invention is also an antenna device characterized in that an antenna element having directivity in the vertical plane is also provided at the zenith.

  The present invention is the antenna device, wherein the zenith element is a dipole antenna.

  The present invention is the antenna device, wherein the side element is a patch antenna.

  The present invention also provides an antenna element having uniform sensitivity in a horizontal plane, the zenith element provided at the zenith of the polygonal pyramid, and the antenna element having directivity in the vertical plane, the polygonal pyramid Determining whether or not the reception intensity of the zenith element is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold for an antenna device including a plurality of side elements provided on side surfaces of the polygonal pyramid so as to detect radio waves coming from the surroundings When the reception intensity of the determination unit and the zenith element is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the antenna element group including the side elements or the antenna including the zenith element and the side elements according to the reception intensity of the side elements A radio wave arrival method comprising: a selection unit that selects an element group; and an estimation unit that estimates an arrival direction of the radio wave based on a reception intensity of the antenna element group selected by the selection unit It is the estimation device.

  In the present invention, the selection unit has a predetermined order in which the reception intensity of two side elements adjacent to each other on the different side faces is higher than the reception intensity of the zenith element and all the side elements. The antenna element group including the two adjacent side elements, while the reception strength of the two adjacent side elements is equal to the reception intensity of the zenith element and all the side elements. Among them, when the received intensity is not within the predetermined order, the antenna element group including the side element having the stronger receiving intensity of the two adjacent side elements and the zenith element is selected. This is a characteristic radio wave arrival direction estimation device.

  Further, the present invention provides the two side elements, wherein the plurality of side elements are provided so as to form a vertex of a polygon for each side of the polygonal pyramid, and the selection unit is adjacent on the bottom side of the different side surfaces. The radio wave arrival direction estimating apparatus is characterized in that an antenna element group is selected in accordance with the received intensity.

  The present invention also provides an antenna element having uniform sensitivity in a horizontal plane, the zenith element provided at the zenith of the polygonal pyramid, and the antenna element having directivity in the vertical plane, the polygonal pyramid A plurality of side elements provided on the sides of the polygonal pyramid so as to detect radio waves coming from the surroundings, and a computer of the radio wave arrival direction estimating device for estimating the arrival direction of radio waves arriving at the antenna device. A procedure for determining whether or not the reception intensity of the element is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, and when the reception intensity of the zenith element is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold, an antenna composed of the side element according to the reception intensity of the side element Based on the procedure for selecting an element group or an antenna element group composed of the zenith element and the side element and the reception intensity of the selected antenna element group, the direction of arrival of radio waves is estimated. A radio wave arrival direction estimation program for executing the order, the.

  According to the present invention, an antenna device is an antenna element having uniform sensitivity in a horizontal plane, a zenith element provided at the zenith of a polygonal pyramid, and an antenna element having directivity in a vertical plane. A plurality of side elements provided on the side of the polygonal pyramid so as to detect radio waves coming from the surroundings to the polygonal pyramid. Thereby, the antenna device can suppress power consumption for estimating the arrival direction of radio waves.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the antenna apparatus and radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is an external view of an antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the directivity pattern of the antenna element which has a sensitivity uniformly in the horizontal surface in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the directional pattern of a zenith element, and the structural example of an antenna apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the directivity pattern of the antenna element which has directivity in a vertical surface in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the directivity pattern of the side surface element in one Embodiment of this invention, and the structural example of an antenna apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the subarray of a 1st structure in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the subarray of a 2nd structure in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the electromagnetic wave arrival direction estimation apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an antenna device and a radio wave arrival direction estimation device. The radio wave arrival direction estimation system is a system that estimates the arrival direction of radio waves arriving at the antenna device 100. The radio wave arrival direction estimation system includes an antenna device 100, a switch 200, a reception unit 300, an AD conversion unit 400, and a radio wave arrival direction estimation device 500.

  FIG. 2 shows an external view of the antenna device. Here, a top view of the antenna device 100 is shown in the upper part of FIG. In addition, a side view of the antenna device 100 is shown in the lower part of FIG. The antenna device 100 has a polygonal pyramid shape.

  For example, when the horizontal in-plane beam width of each side element is 120 [degrees], for example, if there are three side faces, the side element group can cover the entire circumference (= 120 [degrees] × 3). The device 100 may have a triangular pyramid shape.

  In the following, it is assumed that the beam widths in the horizontal plane of the side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152 are 90 degrees as an example. In this case, if there are four side surfaces, the side element group can cover the entire circumference (= 90 [degrees] × 4). Therefore, the antenna device 100 will be described as a quadrangular pyramid as an example.

  The antenna device 100 includes a zenith element 110 which is an antenna element having uniform sensitivity in a horizontal plane, and side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142 and 150 which are antenna elements having directivity in a vertical plane. -152.

  Here, the zenith element 110 is provided at the zenith of the antenna device 100. Further, the side elements 120 to 122 are provided on the first side surface of the antenna device 100 so as to form a vertex of a triangle. Further, the side elements 130 to 132 are provided on the second side surface of the antenna device 100 so as to form a vertex of a triangle. In addition, the side elements 140 to 142 are provided on the third side surface of the antenna device 100 so as to form a vertex of a triangle. In addition, the side elements 150 to 152 are provided on the fourth side surface of the antenna device 100 so as to form a vertex of a triangle.

  FIG. 3 shows a directivity pattern of an antenna element having uniform sensitivity in a horizontal plane. The zenith element 110, which is an antenna element having uniform sensitivity in the horizontal plane, has “8-shaped directivity” shown in the zenith element directivity patterns 11-1 and 11-2. The zenith element 110 is, for example, a dipole antenna.

  FIG. 4 shows a directivity pattern of the zenith element and a configuration example of the antenna device. The zenith element 110 has lower reception sensitivity for the radio wave 700 coming from the zenith than the reception sensitivity for the radio wave 701 coming from the oblique elevation angle. That is, the zenith element 110 has a higher reception sensitivity for the radio wave 701 coming from an oblique elevation angle than the reception sensitivity for the radio wave 700 coming from the zenith. Further, the zenith element 110 has a higher reception sensitivity for the radio wave 702 coming from the horizontal direction or the depression direction than the reception sensitivity for the radio wave 700 coming from the zenith.

  FIG. 5 shows a directivity pattern of an antenna element having directivity in a vertical plane. The side element 120, which is an antenna element having directivity in the vertical plane, has the directivity indicated by the side element directivity pattern 12. The same applies to the side elements 121 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152. Each of the side elements 121 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152 is, for example, a patch antenna.

  FIG. 6 shows a directivity pattern of the side elements and a configuration example of the antenna device. The side element 120 has a lower reception sensitivity for the radio wave 702 coming from the horizontal direction or the depression angle than the reception sensitivity for the radio wave 700 coming from the zenith. That is, the side surface element 120 has higher reception sensitivity for the radio wave 700 coming from the zenith than the reception sensitivity for the radio wave 702 coming from the horizontal direction or the depression direction. Further, the side surface element 120 has higher reception sensitivity for the radio wave 701 coming from the oblique elevation angle than the reception sensitivity for the radio wave 702 coming from the horizontal direction or the depression direction.

  An antenna element having directivity in the vertical plane may be provided at the zenith of the antenna device 100. Thereby, since the antenna device 100 has reception sensitivity with respect to the radio wave 700 coming from the zenith, the radio wave arrival direction estimation device 500 can estimate the arrival direction of the radio wave even when the radio wave arrives from the zenith.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the description of the configuration example of the radio wave arrival direction estimation system will be continued. The switch 200 is an antenna that forms a subarray selected by the radio wave arrival direction estimation device 500 among all antenna elements (the zenith element 110 and the side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152). The element group and the receiving unit 300 are connected.

  An analog signal corresponding to the radio wave arriving at the antenna element is input to the receiving unit 300 from the antenna element group constituting the subarray connected via the switch 200 for each antenna element. Here, the analog signal corresponding to the radio wave is, for example, an analog signal whose amplitude changes according to the reception intensity of the radio wave. Hereinafter, an analog signal corresponding to the radio wave arriving at the antenna element is referred to as an “RF (Radio Frequency) signal”. The input timing of each RF signal antenna element may have a time difference according to the arrangement of each antenna element. The reception unit 300 transfers the RF signal to the AD conversion unit 400 for each antenna element.

  The AD conversion unit 400 performs analog-digital (AD) conversion on the transferred RF signal, and transfers a digital signal corresponding to the incoming radio wave to the radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus 500 in association with the antenna element.

  The radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus 500 estimates the arrival direction of the radio wave arriving at the antenna device 100 based on a digital signal corresponding to the incoming radio wave. The radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus 500 includes a determination unit 510, a selection unit 520, and an estimation unit 530.

  The determination unit 510 receives a digital signal corresponding to the incoming radio wave from the AD conversion unit 400 in association with the antenna element. The determination unit 510 determines whether the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold A based on a digital signal corresponding to the incoming radio wave, and selects information indicating the determination result. Output to 520.

  When the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold A, the selection unit 520 sequentially selects the side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152 (search process), The switch 200 is switched at high speed so as to connect the selected side element and the receiving unit 300. Here, the selection unit 520 may select one side element at the same time, or may select a plurality of side elements at the same time.

  The selection unit 520 includes an antenna element group (first array subarray) including adjacent side elements on adjacent side surfaces, or an antenna element group (second array subarray) including the zenith element 110 and side elements belonging to the same side surface. ) Is selected according to the received intensity of the selected side surface element (switching process). Here, the selection unit 520 selects a combination of antenna elements constituting the sub-array (antenna element group) based on the comparison result between the reception intensity of the selected side element and the predetermined threshold values B to D. To do. This selection procedure will be described later using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the subarray having the first configuration. When both of the reception strengths of two adjacent side surface elements on adjacent side surfaces are within a predetermined order from the reception strength of all the antenna elements, the selection unit 520 A sub-array (antenna element group) including side elements is selected. Here, the predetermined order is equal to a value predetermined as the number of antenna elements constituting the subarray, for example. Hereinafter, the description will be continued assuming that the number of antenna elements constituting the sub-array, that is, the predetermined order, is a value of 4.

  In FIG. 7, the first configuration sub-array includes a first configuration sub-array 600-1 including side elements 120, 121, 151, and 152, and a first configuration sub-array 600 including side elements 121, 122, 130, and 131. -2, and a first subarray 600-3 having side elements 131, 132, 140 and 141, and a first subarray 600-4 having side elements 141, 142, 150 and 151.

  Further, in FIG. 7, in the subarray 600-1 having the first configuration, the reception intensities of both the side element 120 and the side element 152 adjacent to each other on the bottom side of the side surface of the antenna device 100 are the reception power of all antenna elements. A case is shown in which the received power is within a predetermined order (fourth place) from the strongest receiving power.

  In this case, the selection unit 520 selects the first subarray 600-1 including the side element 120 and the side element 152 that are adjacent to each other on the adjacent side surfaces, and selects the selected first subarray 600-1 and reception unit 300. The switch 200 is switched to connect.

  Note that the synchronization of the arrival timing of the radio wave to each sub-array may be detected based on the arrival timing of the radio wave arriving at the side element common to each sub-array. For example, with reference to the arrival timing of radio waves arriving at the side element 121 common to the subarray 600-1 having the first configuration and the subarray 600-2 having the first configuration, the subarray 600-1 having the first configuration and the first You may detect the synchronization of the arrival timing of the electromagnetic wave to the subarray 600-2 of a structure.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the subarray of the second configuration. The selection unit 520, when the reception strength of one of the two side elements adjacent to each other on the adjacent side surface is not within the predetermined order (fourth) from the strongest reception strength among the reception strengths of all the antenna elements, A sub-array including the side element having the stronger reception intensity and the zenith element 110 is selected from the two adjacent side elements.

  In FIG. 8, the sub-array having the second configuration includes the sub-array 610-1 having the second configuration including the zenith element 110 and the side elements 120 to 122, and the sub-array 610 having the second configuration including the zenith element 110 and the side elements 130 to 132. -2, a sub-array 610-3 having a second configuration including the zenith element 110 and the side elements 140 to 142, and a sub-array 610-4 having a second configuration including the zenith element 110 and the side elements 150 to 152.

  Further, in FIG. 8, in the subarray 610-1 having the second configuration, the reception intensity of any one of the side element 120 and the side element 152 adjacent to each other on the bottom side of the side surface of the antenna device 100 is the same for all the antenna elements. A case where the received intensity is not within the predetermined order (fourth place) from the higher received intensity is shown.

  In this case, the selection unit 520 includes the side element 120 having higher reception strength among the side elements 120 and 152 adjacent to each other on the adjacent side surfaces, the side elements 121 and 122 belonging to the same side as the side element 120, The second array sub-array 610-1 including the zenith element 110 is selected, and the switch 200 is switched so that the selected second array sub-array 610-1 and the receiving unit 300 are connected.

  Note that the synchronization of the arrival timing of the radio wave to each subarray may be detected based on the arrival timing of the radio wave arriving at the zenith element 110 common to each subarray. For example, on the basis of the arrival timing of radio waves arriving at the zenith element 110 common to the subarrays 600-1 to 600-4 having the first configuration, the radiowaves to the subarrays 600-1 to 600-4 having the first configuration are used as a reference. You may detect the synchronization of arrival timing.

  The estimation unit 530 estimates the arrival direction of radio waves based on the reception intensity of the antenna element group (subarray) selected by the selection unit 520. Here, radio waves arrive at each side element constituting the subarray with a time difference in the horizontal direction, the elevation direction, and the depression direction. Based on this time difference, the estimation unit 530 estimates the arrival direction of radio waves for the horizontal direction, the elevation angle direction, and the depression angle direction.

  When only one side element is provided for each side surface of the antenna device 100, the estimation unit 530 can estimate the arrival direction of radio waves in units of side surfaces of the antenna device 100 (for example, east, west, north, and south units). it can.

Next, an operation procedure of the radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus 500 will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the radio wave arrival direction estimating apparatus. Determination unit 510 determines whether or not the reception intensity of zenith element 110 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold A (step S1). When the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is not equal to or higher than the threshold A (step S1-No), the determination unit 510 repeats the process of step S1.

  On the other hand, when the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is greater than or equal to the threshold value A (step S1-Yes), the selection unit 520 performs a switching process. Further, the determination unit 510 determines whether or not the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold B (step S2). Here, the threshold value B is larger than the threshold value A.

  When the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is equal to or higher than the threshold value B (step S2-Yes), the determination unit 510 is selected by the switching process among the side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152. It is determined whether the received intensity of the side surface element is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold C (step S3).

  When the reception intensity of the selected side element is equal to or higher than the threshold value C (step S3-Yes), the estimation unit 530 determines that the radio wave has arrived from the horizontal direction or the low elevation direction (step S4). Then, the determination unit 510 determines whether or not the reception strengths of two adjacent side surface elements on adjacent side surfaces are within a predetermined order from the reception strengths of the zenith element 110 and all the side surface elements having the higher reception strength. Is determined (step S5).

  When the reception strengths of the two adjacent side elements on the adjacent side faces are within the predetermined order (step S5-Yes), the selection unit 520 selects the subarray including the two adjacent side elements by the switch. . Then, estimation section 530 estimates the arrival direction of radio waves based on the reception intensity of the subarray selected by selection section 520 (step S6).

  On the other hand, in step S5, when the reception intensity of any of the two adjacent side elements on the adjacent side faces is not within the predetermined order (step S5-No), the selecting unit 520 selects the two adjacent side elements. A sub-array including a side element having higher reception intensity, another side element belonging to the same side as the side element, and the zenith element 110 is selected by a switch. Then, estimation section 530 estimates the arrival direction of radio waves based on the reception intensity of the subarray selected by selection section 520 (step S6).

  In step S2, when the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is not equal to or higher than the threshold value B (step S2-No), the determination unit 510 performs a switching process among the side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152. It is determined whether or not the reception intensity of the side surface element selected by (1) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value D (step S8).

  When the reception intensity of the selected side surface element is equal to or higher than the threshold value D (step S8—Yes), the determination unit 510 determines that radio waves have arrived from the high elevation angle direction (step S9). And the estimation part 530 advances a process to step S5. On the other hand, when the reception intensity of the selected side element is not equal to or greater than the threshold value D in step 8 (step S8-No), the estimation unit 530 does not estimate the arrival direction of the radio wave, for example, moves the antenna device 100 ( Step S10). And the estimation part 530 returns a process to step S2.

  In step S3, when the received intensity of the selected side element is not equal to or higher than the threshold value C (step S3-No), the determination unit 510 determines that radio waves (ground reflected waves) have arrived from the depression direction (step S11). ). In addition, the estimation unit 530 does not estimate the arrival direction of radio waves, and moves the antenna device 100, for example (step S12). And the estimation part 530 returns a process to step S2.

  As described above, the antenna device 100 is an antenna element having uniform sensitivity in a horizontal plane (for example, a dipole antenna having a figure 8 directivity), and the zenith element 110 provided at the zenith of the polygonal pyramid. A plurality of side surface elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152, which are antenna elements (for example, patch antennas) having directivity in a vertical plane and provided on the side surfaces of the polygonal pyramid; .

  With this configuration, the antenna device 100 is an antenna element having uniform sensitivity in a horizontal plane, the zenith element 110 provided at the zenith of the polygonal pyramid, and the antenna element having directivity in the vertical plane. And side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152 provided on the side surfaces of the polygonal pyramid so as to detect radio waves coming from the surroundings to the polygonal pyramid. Therefore, the antenna device 100 always detects the presence or absence of radio waves by the zenith element 110 even if the subarray cannot be switched at high speed. Thereby, the antenna device 100 can suppress power consumption for estimating the arrival direction of radio waves. Further, the antenna device 100 does not miss detection of the arrival of radio waves at the subarray switching timing (improvement of capture accuracy). Further, the antenna device 100 can separate ground reflected waves based on the difference in directivity (sensitivity) pattern between the zenith element 110 and the side element group.

In addition, the side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152 are provided so as to form polygonal vertices for each side of the polygonal pyramid. For example, a triangle is formed by side elements 120 to 122 on the side surface of the polygonal pyramid. The same applies to the other side elements (see FIG. 2).
With this configuration, radio waves arrive at each side element arranged in a polygon with a time difference in the horizontal direction, the elevation angle direction, and the depression angle direction. Thereby, the antenna device 100 can estimate the arrival direction of radio waves with high accuracy in the horizontal direction, the elevation angle direction, and the depression angle direction.

  An antenna element (for example, a patch antenna) having directivity in the vertical plane is also provided at the zenith. Thereby, the antenna device 100 can estimate the arrival direction of radio waves even when radio waves arrive from the zenith.

  The zenith element may be a dipole antenna. The side element may be a patch antenna.

  A radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus 500 (see FIG. 1) is an antenna element having uniform sensitivity in a horizontal plane, and has a zenith element 110 provided at the zenith of a polygonal pyramid and directivity in a vertical plane. An antenna element comprising: side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152 provided on side surfaces of the polygonal pyramid so as to detect radio waves coming from the surroundings to the polygonal pyramid. A determination unit 510 that determines whether or not the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold with respect to the device 100, and when the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold, the side elements 120 to 122, 130 -Side elements 120-122, 130-132, 140-142 and 1 depending on the reception intensity of any one of -132, 140-142 and 150-152. An antenna element group (subarray) including any one or more of 0 to 152, or an antenna including any one or more of the zenith element 110 and the side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152 A selection unit 520 that selects an element group (subarray), and an estimation unit 530 that estimates the arrival direction of radio waves based on the reception intensity of the antenna element group selected by the selection unit 520.

  With this configuration, the estimation unit 530 estimates the arrival direction of radio waves when the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold. Therefore, the radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus 500 always detects the presence or absence of radio waves by the zenith element 110 without switching the subarray at high speed. Thereby, the radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus 500 can suppress power consumption for estimating the arrival direction of radio waves. Moreover, the radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus 500 does not miss the detection of the presence / absence of radio waves at the subarray switching timing (improvement of capture accuracy).

In addition, the selection unit 520 may be configured such that the reception strengths of two side elements (for example, the side elements 120 and 152) adjacent to each other on the different side surfaces are the reception strengths of the reception strengths of the zenith element 110 and all the side elements. When it is within a predetermined order from the strongest one, an antenna element group including the two adjacent side elements is selected (see FIGS. 7 and 9), while the reception strength of the two adjacent side elements is When the received intensity of the zenith element 110 and all of the side elements is not within the predetermined order from the stronger reception intensity, the side element having a higher reception intensity of the two adjacent side elements (for example, The antenna element group including the side element 120) and the zenith element 110 is selected (see FIGS. 8 and 9).
With this configuration, the selection unit 520 selects an antenna element group based on the reception intensity. Radio waves with strong received power arrive at the selected antenna element group with time differences in the horizontal direction, the elevation direction, and the depression direction. Thereby, the radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus 500 can estimate the radio wave arrival direction with high accuracy in the horizontal direction, the elevation angle direction, and the depression angle direction.

Further, the side elements 120 to 122, 130 to 132, 140 to 142, and 150 to 152 are provided so as to form a polygon (for example, a triangle) for each side surface of the polygonal pyramid, and the selection unit 520 has different side surfaces. The antenna element group (subarray) is selected according to the reception intensity of the two side elements (for example, the side elements 120 and 152) adjacent to each other on the bottom side (see FIGS. 7 to 9).
With this configuration, the selection unit 520 selects an antenna element group based on the reception intensity. Radio waves with strong received power arrive at the selected antenna element group with time differences in the horizontal direction, the elevation direction, and the depression direction. Thereby, the radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus 500 can estimate the radio wave arrival direction with high accuracy in the horizontal direction, the elevation angle direction, and the depression angle direction.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, even when the reception intensity of the zenith element 110 is not equal to or higher than the threshold A (see step S1 in FIG. 9), the selection unit 520 performs the switching process (step S2 and subsequent steps in FIG. 9) for each predetermined period. May be executed.

  Note that a program for realizing the radio wave arrival direction estimation device described above may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program may be read into a computer system and executed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included. The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Antenna apparatus, 11 ... Zenith element directivity pattern, 12 ... Side element directivity pattern, 110 ... Zenith element, 120-122 ... Side element, 130-132 ... Side element, 140-142 ... Side element, 150-152 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Side element, 200 ... Switch, 300 ... Reception part, 400 ... AD conversion part, 500 ... Radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus, 510 ... Determination part, 520 ... Selection part, 530 ... Estimation part, 600 ... Subarray of 1st structure, 610: Subarray of second configuration, 700 to 704 ... Radio wave

Claims (9)

An antenna element having a uniform sensitivity in the horizontal plane, the top element provided on the upper surface of the corner frustum,
An antenna element having a directivity in a vertical plane, and a plurality of side elements provided in the angle frustum side to detect radio waves coming from the surroundings to the angle frustum,
An antenna device comprising: It said plurality of side elements, the antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that provided so as to form the vertices of a polygon for each side of the angle frustum. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein an antenna element having directivity in the vertical plane is also provided on the upper surface . The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface element is a dipole antenna.   The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the side element is a patch antenna. An antenna element having a uniform sensitivity in the horizontal plane, the top element provided on the upper surface of the corner frustum, an antenna element having a directivity in a vertical plane, arriving from the surroundings to the angle frustum a plurality of side elements provided in the angle frustum side to detect radio waves, to an antenna device provided with,
A determination unit that determines whether or not the reception intensity of the upper surface element is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold;
When the reception intensity of the upper surface element is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the antenna element group consisting of the side element or the antenna element group consisting of the upper surface element and the side element is selected according to the reception intensity of the side element. A selection section to
An estimation unit for estimating the arrival direction of radio waves based on the reception intensity of the antenna element group selected by the selection unit;
A radio wave arrival direction estimation apparatus comprising: The selection unit, when the reception strength of the two side elements adjacent on the different side surfaces is within a predetermined order from the reception strength of the upper surface element and all of the side elements, An antenna element group including two adjacent side elements is selected. On the other hand, the reception intensity of the two adjacent side elements is higher than the reception intensity of the upper surface element and all the side elements. The antenna element group including a side element having a higher reception strength and the top surface element among the adjacent two side elements when not in the predetermined order is selected. The radio wave arrival direction estimation device according to 1. Said plurality of side elements, provided so as to form the vertices of a polygon for each side of the angle frustum,
The radio wave arrival direction estimation device according to claim 7, wherein the selection unit selects an antenna element group according to reception strengths of two side elements adjacent on the bottom side of the different side surfaces. An antenna element having a uniform sensitivity in the horizontal plane, the top element provided on the upper surface of the corner frustum, an antenna element having a directivity in a vertical plane, arriving from the surroundings to the angle frustum a plurality of side elements provided in the angle frustum side to detect radio waves, to a computer of a radio wave arrival direction estimating apparatus for estimating the direction of arrival of radio waves arriving at the antenna device comprising a,
A procedure for determining whether the reception intensity of the upper surface element is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold;
When the reception intensity of the upper surface element is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the antenna element group consisting of the side element or the antenna element group consisting of the upper surface element and the side element is selected according to the reception intensity of the side element. And the steps to
A procedure for estimating the direction of arrival of radio waves based on the received intensity of the selected antenna element group;
A radio wave arrival direction estimation program to execute.

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