JP2004179738A - Antenna system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a downsized antenna system for carrying out transmission, reception, or transmission/reception with high maintainability by distributing and supplying a transmission signal to a plurality of element antennas or combining signals received by the plurality of element antennas. <P>SOLUTION: The antenna system is configured by using a plurality of antenna units 20. Each antenna unit 20 is provided on both sides of a heat sink 21, and the plurality of antenna units 20 are provided in the length direction of the heat sink 21. Cooling tubes 22 are provided in the heat sink 21. The cooling tube 22 may be a conventional tube through which a coolant flows or a heat pipe or its equivalent. Further, a distribution and combination circuit section 23 supplies a control signal and a transmission signal to each antenna unit 20 and combines received signals from the antenna units 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an antenna device that performs transmission, reception, or transmission / reception by distributing a transmission signal to a plurality of element antennas or combining reception signals received by the plurality of element antennas.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional array antenna disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
In FIG. 5, 1 is a transmitting / receiving module, 2 is an element antenna, 3 is a cold plate, 4 is a first control signal distribution circuit, 5 is a first transmission / reception signal distribution / synthesis circuit, 6 is a control signal connector, and 7 is a transmission / reception signal. A connector, 8 is a refrigerant pipe, 9 is a second control signal distribution circuit, and 10 is a second transmission / reception signal distribution circuit.
[0003]
The element antenna 2 is provided in each of the transmitting and receiving modules 1, and the transmitting and receiving module 1 is arranged on the cold plate 3. The cold plate 3 has a refrigerant pipe 8 that penetrates vertically, and when the refrigerant flows through the refrigerant pipe 8, heat generated in the transmitting / receiving module 1 is discharged. Each transmission / reception module 1 is connected to a first control signal distribution circuit 4 and a first transmission / reception signal distribution / combination circuit 5 via connectors. Further, the first control signal distribution circuit 4 is connected to the second control signal distribution circuit 9, and the first transmission / reception signal distribution / combination circuit 5 is connected to the second transmission / reception signal distribution / combination circuit 10. With this configuration, the RF signal supplied from the second transmission / reception signal distribution / combination circuit 10 is distributed and input to each transmission / reception module 1 via the transmission / reception signal connector 7 and the first transmission / reception signal distribution / combination circuit 5, and Transmitted from antenna 2. Further, the control signal is input to each transmission / reception module 1 via the control signal connector 6 and the first control signal distribution circuit 4 via the second control signal distribution circuit 9, and the transmission / reception of each transmission / reception module 1 is performed. Used for control.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-1-146404.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the conventional antenna device is configured as described above, when attaching and detaching the transmission / reception module, if the attachment / detachment is performed in units of cold plates, the refrigerant pipe must be attached / detached from the cooling system. In the case of attaching and detaching one by one, there is a problem that the position of the adjacent element antenna element changes before and after detachment and the phase must be adjusted, resulting in low maintainability. In addition, the conventional antenna device requires a transmission / reception connector and a control signal connector for each transmission / reception module, which increases the manufacturing cost and reduces the size of the device configuration in order to secure an arrangement place for the connector and the like. There was a problem that it was not possible.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to obtain a small, highly maintainable array-type antenna device.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The antenna device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of element antennas, an antenna fixing base for fixing these element antennas, and a microscopic antenna that is disposed substantially perpendicular to the element antenna mounting surface of the antenna fixing base and connected to the element antenna. A substrate on which a stripline is formed, an antenna unit disposed on a surface of the substrate and having a plurality of transmitting and receiving modules connected to the microstrip line, and a radiator plate for discharging heat generated by the transmitting and receiving module. And a radiator plate having the antenna unit disposed on both sides.
[0008]
An antenna device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the antenna device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the antenna unit has a plurality of element antennas fixed in a row on an antenna fixing base. Are arranged in a zigzag pattern.
[0009]
An antenna device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the antenna device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the antenna unit is provided at an end of the substrate substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate, and the element antenna and the micro antenna are provided. A power supply pin for connecting to a strip line is provided.
[0010]
An antenna device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the antenna device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the radiator plate includes a heat pipe that exhausts heat of the transmitting / receiving module.
[0011]
An antenna device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of element antennas, an antenna fixing base for fixing these element antennas, and a microscopic antenna arranged substantially perpendicular to an element antenna mounting surface of the antenna fixing base and connected to the element antenna. A substrate on which a stripline is formed, an antenna unit disposed on a surface of the substrate and having a plurality of transmitting and receiving modules connected to the microstrip line, and a radiator plate for discharging heat generated by the transmitting and receiving module. A plurality of heat radiating plates having the antenna unit arranged on both sides thereof, and the plurality of heat radiating plates are arranged in parallel with each other, whereby the antenna element is arranged on a plane or a curved surface.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
An antenna device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an antenna unit in the antenna device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the antenna device according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, 11 is an element antenna, 12 is an element antenna substrate, and 13 is an antenna fixing base.
The element antenna 11 is provided on an element antenna substrate 12, and the element antenna substrate 12 is arranged on an antenna fixing base 13. Reference numeral 14 denotes a transmission / reception module having either a transmission system or a reception system, or both a transmission system and a reception system. When the transmission / reception module 14 has a transmission system, a high-output amplifier or a high-frequency When a circuit is provided, a high-frequency circuit such as a low-noise amplifier or a phase shifter for a receiving system is provided when a receiving system is provided. When a transmitting and receiving system is provided, a transmission / reception switching circuit is provided. Reference numeral 15 denotes a combined distribution circuit board, 16 denotes a power supply pin provided at an end of the microwave board, and 17 denotes a control signal connector. The combining and distributing circuit board 15 has a microstrip line from the transmitting and receiving module 14 to the power supply pin 16 and a microstrip line for distributing a transmitting signal to the transmitting and receiving module 14 or synthesizing a receiving signal from the transmitting and receiving module 14. I have. Further, a control signal line to the transmitting / receiving module 14 is provided on the combining / distributing circuit board 15, and a control signal is input from a control signal connector 17. The feed pin 16 is provided at the end of the combined distribution circuit board 15 as shown in the figure, and penetrates the hole 18 of the antenna fixing base 13 and is connected to the element antenna 11. Reference numeral 19 denotes a metal plate, which is joined to the composite distribution circuit board 15 using a conductive adhesive, and is made of a metal such as aluminum or copper.
[0013]
The plurality of element antennas 11 and the element antenna substrate 12 are fixed to the antenna fixing stand 13. As long as the element antenna 11 and the element antenna substrate 12 are fixed to the antenna fixing base 13, the positional relationship between the plurality of element antennas 11 does not change. The transmission / reception module 14 has either a transmission system or a reception system, or both a transmission system and a reception system. This depends on whether the antenna device is a transmitting antenna or a receiving antenna, or whether it is a transmitting / receiving antenna. The transmitting / receiving module 14 is connected to the element antenna 11 by a microstrip line provided on the combining / distributing circuit board 15. The composite distribution circuit board 15 is provided with a microstrip line for distributing a transmission signal to the transmission / reception module 14 or synthesizing a reception signal from the transmission / reception module 14. , And a control signal is input from the control signal connector 17. Here, the transmission / reception module 14 may be fixedly provided on the combined distribution circuit board 15, or may be provided detachably using an electrical connector.
[0014]
A power supply pin 16 is provided at an end of the combined distribution circuit board 15. The power supply pin 16 corresponds to a microstrip line terminal connecting the transmitting / receiving module 14 and the element antenna 11, and is connected to the element antenna 11 through a hole 18 provided on the element antenna 11 mounting surface of the antenna fixing stand 13. I do. With this configuration, the element antenna 11 mounting surface of the element antenna fixing base 13 and the substrate surface of the distribution / combination circuit board 15 are arranged substantially perpendicularly. This means that the antenna surface of the element antenna 11 is substantially perpendicular to the board surface of the distribution / combination circuit board 15.
[0015]
With such a connection and arrangement, in the antenna unit shown in FIG. 1, the mutual positional relationship of the plurality of element antennas 11 does not change regardless of the attachment / detachment of the transmission / reception module 14, thereby improving maintainability.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, two power supply pins 18 are provided for each transmission / reception module 14 for transmitting and receiving two polarization components. Further, the metal plate 19 has conductivity, so that it can be used as a common electric ground for the control signal line composed of the microstrip line of the distribution / synthesis circuit board 15. It acts to diffuse the heat of the plurality of transmitting / receiving modules 14 to make the temperature uniform.
[0017]
An antenna device is configured by using a plurality of antenna units configured as described above.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes the antenna unit described with reference to FIG. 1, and reference numeral 21 denotes a heat sink. The antenna units 20 are provided on both surfaces of the heat sink 21, and a plurality of antenna units 20 are provided in the longitudinal direction of the heat sink 21. Reference numeral 22 denotes a cooling pipe provided on the heat radiating plate 21. The cooling pipe may be a pipe through which a normal refrigerant flows, or may be a heat pipe. Reference numeral 23 denotes a distribution / combination circuit that supplies a control signal to the plurality of antenna units 20 and distributes / combines a transmission signal or a reception signal. It is assumed that the heat radiating plate 21 extends from one end of each of the four antenna units 14 in the longitudinal direction shown in FIG.
[0018]
The antenna unit 20 is attached to the heat sink 21 on the side opposite to the surface on which the transmitting / receiving module 14 of the distribution / synthesis circuit board 15 in the antenna unit 20 is attached. If the distribution / combination circuit board 15 is sufficiently thin, the heat generated in the transmission / reception module 14 sufficiently flows to the heat radiating plate 21 so as to discharge the heat. Further, it is also possible to provide a thermal via (a metal penetrating through the substrate in a columnar shape) or the like on the distribution / combination circuit board 15 to increase the thermal conductivity and exhaust the heat. The heat flowing to the heat radiating plate 21 is exhausted by the cooling pipe 22.
[0019]
With such a configuration, each antenna unit 20 can be detached and attached, and maintainability can be improved. Further, by disposing the antenna units 20 on both sides of the heat radiating plate 21, the number of heat radiating plates can be reduced, and the size and weight can be reduced.
[0020]
Further, referring to FIG. 2, the element antennas 11 are arranged in a staggered manner depending on how the antenna unit 20 is mounted on the heat sink 21. That is, the rows of the left and right element antennas 11 arranged in a line on both sides of the heat sink 21 are arranged at positions where the element antennas 11 are alternately shifted. With this arrangement, the distance between the adjacent element antennas 11 is kept uniform, and the isotropy of the antenna radiation characteristics is to be ensured. Such a staggered arrangement of the element antennas 11 can be adopted also in the second embodiment described below, and improves the directivity of the entire antenna (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
[0021]
Embodiment 2 FIG.
Embodiment 2 An antenna device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, a plurality of antenna devices described in the second embodiment are arranged to form an antenna device having a larger antenna opening area. 3 and 4, reference numeral 24 denotes the antenna device described in the first embodiment. In FIGS. 3 and 4, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same or corresponding portions as those in FIG.
[0022]
In the antenna device shown in FIG. 3, the element antenna 11 is arranged on a substantially plane by arranging a plurality of the antenna devices 24 described in the first embodiment so that the heat radiating plates are parallel to each other. By arranging in this manner, the aperture area of the antenna constituted by the entire element antenna can be increased.
[0023]
Next, in the antenna device shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of the antenna devices 24 described in the first embodiment are arranged so that the heat radiation plates are parallel to each other, and further, the element antennas 11 are arranged so as to be arranged on a curved surface. . This is to change the height direction (height direction shown in FIG. 4) of each of the antenna devices 24, thereby arranging the element antenna on a convex or concave. By arranging in this manner, it is possible to increase the aperture area of the antenna formed by the entire element antenna, and to configure the antenna device along a surface such as a cylindrical side surface.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of element antennas are fixed to the antenna fixing base, and a substantially vertical distribution / combination circuit board is provided on the element antenna mounting surface of the antenna fixing base. Since a plurality of transmitting / receiving modules are arranged on the combined circuit board, the mutual positional relationship of the multiple element antennas does not change regardless of the attachment / detachment of the transmitting / receiving module. Also, since the antenna units are arranged on both sides of the heat sink, the antenna device is compact. Can be achieved.
[0025]
According to the invention of claim 5 of the present invention, an antenna having a large antenna opening area can be formed by arranging a plurality of heat sinks provided with antenna units.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an antenna unit in an antenna device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the antenna device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an antenna device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an antenna device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional antenna device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Element antenna 13 Antenna fixing stand 14 Transmission / reception module 15 Distribution / combination circuit board 16 Feeding pin 20 Antenna unit 21 Heat sink 22 Heat pipe

Claims (5)

A plurality of element antennas, an antenna fixing base for fixing these element antennas, a substrate which is arranged substantially perpendicular to the element antenna mounting surface of the antenna fixing base and forms a microstrip line connected to the element antenna, a surface of the substrate An antenna unit having a plurality of transmission / reception modules connected thereto and connected to the microstrip line, and a heat radiation plate for discharging heat generated by the transmission / reception module, wherein the antenna unit is disposed on both sides. An antenna device comprising: The antenna unit is characterized in that a plurality of element antennas are fixed in a row on an antenna fixing base, and the element antennas of the antenna units disposed on both sides of the heat sink are arranged in a staggered manner. The antenna device according to claim 1. The said antenna unit was provided in the edge part of the said board | substrate substantially in parallel with the surface of the said board | substrate, and was provided with the feed pin which connects the said element antenna and the said microstrip line. Antenna device. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the heat radiating plate includes a heat pipe that exhausts heat of the transmitting and receiving module. A plurality of element antennas, an antenna fixing base for fixing these element antennas, a substrate which is arranged substantially perpendicular to the element antenna mounting surface of the antenna fixing base and forms a microstrip line connected to the element antenna, a surface of the substrate An antenna unit having a plurality of transmission / reception modules disposed on the microstrip line and a radiator plate for discharging heat generated by the transmission / reception module, wherein a plurality of the antenna units are disposed on both sides. An antenna device, comprising: a radiator plate; and arranging the plurality of radiator plates in parallel with each other, so that the antenna element is disposed on a plane or a curved surface.

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