JP3377960B2 - Antenna control method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises an antenna device such as an active phased array antenna,
The present invention relates to an antenna control method in a satellite communication system mounted on a mobile body such as an aircraft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional satellite communication system having a function for confirming whether or not the output from a power distributor is normal. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes an antenna device, which shows an active phased array antenna as an example. The antenna device 1 includes a plurality of antenna elements 2 that radiate radio waves in space, a plurality of amplifying elements 3, a plurality of phase shifters 4, and a power distributor 5. Further, 6 is an antenna controller for supplying power to the amplification element 3 and controlling the phase shifter 4, and 7 is a power amplifier as power output means for amplifying and outputting RF power to the power distributor 5. is there. 10 is a power amplifier 7 and a power distributor 5
A waveguide switch connected between the antenna device 1 and the dummy device 11 under the control of the antenna controller 6 to switch the output destination of the RF power to either the antenna device 1 side or the dummy device 11 side.

In this satellite communication system, the operation of radiating a synthetic beam to a target artificial satellite 20 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, when the waveguide switch is set on the antenna device 1 side by the control of the antenna controller 6, the RF power amplified by the power amplifier 7 is transmitted to the antenna via the waveguide switch 10. It is supplied to the power distributor 5 in the device 1 and distributed to each phase shifter 4. At this time, each phase shifter 4 is controlled by the antenna controller 6.
The passing phase of is set. The RF power whose phase is set by each phase shifter 4 is amplified by each amplification element 3,
Radio waves P are radiated from each antenna element 2. At this time, the radio waves P radiated from each antenna element 2 are combined, and a combined beam of each radio wave P is radiated in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the phases of the respective radio waves P are the same phase (direction of arrow X in FIG. 4). Will be. Therefore, by changing the setting of the passing phase of each phase shifter 4 by the antenna controller 6,
The beam can be emitted in the direction of.

Regarding such a satellite communication system,
Before starting the flight of an aircraft or the like as a moving body, the power amplifier 7
In order to confirm whether or not the output from the power amplifier is normal, whether or not the RF output power of the power amplifier 7 is normal is checked. At that time, an unnecessary synthetic beam is not emitted to the target such as the artificial satellite 20. Need to do so.

In this case, in the conventional satellite communication system,
As shown in FIG. 5, the waveguide switch 10 is rotated by 90 ° under the control of the antenna controller 6 and is set on the dummy device 11 side so that RF power is not supplied to the antenna device 1. In this state, as shown in FIG. 6, whether or not the RF output power amplified by the plurality of amplifying elements 7a in the power amplifier 7 is normal is confirmed by the monitor sensor 7c connected via the coupler 7b. .

As described above, in the conventional satellite communication system, the waveguide switch 1 is controlled by the antenna controller.
0 is switched to set the RF power of the power amplifier 7 to the dummy device 11
Since the RF power is not input to the antenna device 1 by outputting to the side, it is confirmed whether or not the output of the RF power of the power amplifier 7 is normal without radiating an unnecessary synthetic beam to the artificial satellite 20. be able to.

[0007]

However, in the conventional antenna control method, the waveguide switch 10 and the dummy device 11 are provided between the power amplifier 7 and the antenna device 1 in order to prevent unnecessary synthetic beams from being emitted. Since it is necessary to connect them, there is a problem that the overall configuration becomes large.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when confirming whether or not the output of the power amplifier 7 is normal, the waveguide switch 10 and the dummy device 11 are provided. The present invention provides an antenna control method that does not cause the artificial satellite 20 to emit an unnecessary synthetic beam.

[0009]

According to the antenna control method of the present invention, when confirming whether the output of the power output means (power amplifier 7) is normal or not before the movement of the moving body is started, a plurality of antennas are provided. The antenna control means (antenna controller 6) passes through each of the plurality of phase shift means (phase shifters 4) so that the phases of the radio waves radiated from the elements (2a to 2f) are inverted between adjacent antenna elements. I tried to set the phase. Further, before confirming whether the output of the power output means is normal before starting the movement of the moving body, the direction of the combined beam of the radio waves emitted from the antenna element (2) is the target (artificial satellite 2).
The antenna control means sets the passing phases of the plurality of phase shift means so as to face directions other than 0). In addition, before confirming whether or not the output of the power output means is normal before the movement of the moving body, the power supply from the antenna control means to each amplification means (amplification element 3) is stopped. .

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same parts as those in the prior art are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the connection relationship between the antenna controller and each amplification element is omitted in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the connection relationship between the antenna controller and each phase shifter is omitted in FIG.

Embodiment 1. 1 is a diagram showing a satellite communication system for performing an antenna control method according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, in the satellite communication system according to the antenna control method of the present embodiment, the power amplifier 7 and the power distributor 5 are connected without using a waveguide switch.

In this embodiment, when confirming whether the RF output power of the power amplifier 7 is normal, the RF power amplified by the power amplifier 7 is supplied to the power distributor 5 in the antenna device 1. , Are distributed to each phase shifter 4. At this time,
Radio wave P1 radiated from the antenna elements 2a, 2c, 2e
The antenna elements 2b, 2b,
The passing phase of each phase shifter 4 is set by the antenna controller 6 so that the phases of the radio waves P2 radiated from 2d and 2f are inverted. Accordingly, even when the RF power supplied from the power amplifier 7 and the phase of which is set by each phase shifter 4 is radiated as the radio waves P1 and P2 from each antenna element 2a to 2f, the RF power is radiated from the adjacent antenna elements. Radio wave P
Since 1 and the radio wave P2 are combined and cancel each other, an unnecessary combined beam is not emitted into the space. In this state, the monitor sensor 7c provided in the power amplifier 7 can confirm whether the output of the power amplifier 7 is normal.

As described above, in the antenna control method according to the first embodiment, when confirming whether the output of the power amplifier is normal, the passing phase of each phase shifter is emitted from the adjacent antenna element. So that the phase of the
By setting with the antenna controller, it is possible to suppress the emission of unnecessary synthetic beams for targets such as satellites, so the waveguide switch and dummy device are not required.
The entire satellite communication system can have a simple configuration,
The overall size and weight of the device can be reduced.

Embodiment 2. 2 is a diagram showing an antenna control method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the satellite communication system according to the antenna control method in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment,
It is configured without the waveguide switch and the dummy device.

In the present embodiment, when confirming whether the output of the power amplifier 7 is normal, as in the first embodiment,
The RF power amplified by the power amplifier 7 is supplied to the power distributor 5 in the antenna device 1 and distributed to each phase shifter 4. At this time, the radio wave P emitted from each antenna element 2
The passing phase of each phase shifter 4 is set by the antenna controller 6 so that the combined beam of 3 is directed in a direction other than the artificial satellite 20. That is, the passing phase of each phase shifter 4 is set such that the direction perpendicular to the plane where the phases of the radio waves P3 emitted from each antenna element 2 are the same phase is the direction other than the artificial satellite 20. In this case, since the position information of the artificial satellite 20 is always input to the antenna controller 6, the passing phase of each phase shifter 4 is set based on this position information. Accordingly, even when the RF power whose phase is set by each phase shifter 4 is radiated from each antenna element 2 as a radio wave P3, the combined beam is radiated in a direction other than the artificial satellite 20. Therefore, in this state, the monitor sensor in the power amplifier 7 can confirm whether the output of the power amplifier 7 is normal or not.

As described above, in the antenna control method according to the second embodiment, when confirming whether the output of the power amplifier is normal, the passing phase of each phase shifter is radiated from each antenna element. By setting the antenna controller so that the combined beam of radio waves is directed to a direction other than the target such as the satellite, it is possible to suppress the unnecessary emission of the combined beam with respect to the target such as the satellite. Since the dummy is unnecessary, the entire satellite communication system can have a simple structure, and the overall size and weight of the device can be reduced.

Embodiment 3. 3 is a diagram showing an antenna control method according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the satellite communication system is configured without providing the waveguide switch and the dummy as in the first and second embodiments, but when confirming whether the output of the power amplifier 7 is normal or not. The RF power amplified by the power amplifier 7 is supplied to the power distributor 5 in the antenna device 1, distributed to each phase shifter 4, and supplied to each amplification element 3. At this time,
By stopping the power supply from the antenna controller 6 to the amplifying element 3, the unnecessary electric wave is not emitted from the antenna element 2. That is, the amplification element 3 in the antenna device 1 is operated by the supply of DC power from the antenna controller 6, and the antenna controller 6
By stopping the power supply to all the amplifying elements 3 in the antenna device 1 by the power supply stopping means such as a switch provided in the antenna device 1, it is possible to suppress the emission of unnecessary radio waves from the antenna element 2.

As described above, according to the antenna control method according to the third embodiment, when confirming whether or not the output of the power amplifier is normal, the power supply stopping means of the antenna controller controls all the amplification elements. By stopping the power supply to the satellite, it is possible to suppress unnecessary synthesis beam radiation to the target of the satellite, etc. Therefore, the waveguide switch and dummy are not required, and the satellite communication system can be made smaller and lighter. Can be planned.

In the above description, an aircraft is taken as an example of the moving body, but the method of the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where the communication system is mounted on a moving body such as a ship or a vehicle.

[0020]

According to the antenna control method of the present invention,
Before confirming whether the output of the power output means is normal before starting the movement of the moving body, the phase of the radio wave radiated from each of the plurality of antenna elements is inverted so that the adjacent antenna elements are inverted. Since the control means sets the passing phase of each of the plurality of phase shifting means, it becomes possible to suppress the emission of an unnecessary synthetic beam with respect to a target such as a satellite without providing a waveguide switch and a dummy. The entire communication system can have a simple configuration, and the overall size and weight of the device can be reduced. Further, before confirming whether or not the output of the power output means is normal before starting the movement of the moving body, the antenna so that the direction of the combined beam of the radio waves radiated from the antenna element faces a direction other than the target. Since the control means sets the passing phase of each of the plurality of phase shifting means, it is possible to suppress the emission of an unnecessary synthetic beam with respect to a target such as a satellite without providing a waveguide switch and a dummy. The satellite communication system as a whole can have a simple structure, and the overall size and weight of the device can be reduced. Also, before confirming whether the output of the power output means is normal before the movement of the moving body, the power supply from the antenna control means to each amplification means (amplification element 3) is stopped. It is possible to suppress unnecessary synthetic beam radiation to the target of the satellite without providing a waveguide switch and dummy, and it is possible to simplify the entire satellite communication system and reduce the size and weight of the entire device. Can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration and an operation of a satellite communication system for performing an antenna control method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration and an operation of a satellite communication system for performing an antenna control method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a satellite communication system for performing an antenna control method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration and operation of a conventional satellite communication system.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an operation when confirming whether or not the output of the power amplifier is normal in the conventional satellite communication system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration for confirming output power from a power amplifier.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 antenna device, 2, 2a to 2f antenna element, 3
Amplifying element, 4 phase shifter, 5 power divider, 6 antenna controller, 7 power amplifier, 10 waveguide switch, 1
1 dummy device, 20 artificial satellites, P, P1 to P3 radio waves.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01R 31/00 G01S 7/02 G01S 7/40 H01Q 3/26

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A power output means for amplifying and outputting electric power and confirming whether or not the output of the power is normal, a distribution means for distributing the electric power supplied from the power output means, A plurality of phase shifting means for changing the phase of the power distributed by the distributing means and outputting the power; a plurality of amplifying means for amplifying the power supplied from the plurality of phase shifting means; and a plurality of the phase shifting means and the amplifying means. In a satellite communication system, which comprises antenna control means for controlling and a plurality of antenna elements for emitting electric power from the plurality of amplifying means as radio waves, and which is mounted on a mobile body, before the movement of the mobile body is started. In order to confirm whether the output of the power output means is normal, the antenna control is performed so that the phases of the radio waves radiated from the plurality of antenna elements are inverted between the adjacent antenna elements. An antenna control method, wherein the passing phase of each of the plurality of phase shifting means is set by a control means. 2. A power output means for amplifying and outputting the power and for confirming whether or not the output of the power is normal, a power distribution means for distributing the power supplied from the power output means, A plurality of phase shifting means for changing the phase of the power distributed by the distributing means and outputting the power; a plurality of amplifying means for amplifying the power supplied from the plurality of phase shifting means; and a plurality of the phase shifting means and the amplifying means. In a satellite communication system, which comprises antenna control means for controlling and a plurality of antenna elements for emitting electric power from the plurality of amplifying means as radio waves, and which is mounted on a mobile body, before the movement of the mobile body is started. At the time of confirming whether the output of the power output means is normal, the antenna control means is controlled so that the direction of the combined beam of radio waves radiated from the antenna element faces a direction other than the target. The antenna control method is characterized in that the passing phases of the plurality of phase shifting means are set. 3. A power output means for amplifying and outputting the power and confirming whether or not the output of the power is normal, a power distribution means for distributing the power supplied from the power output means, A plurality of phase shifting means for changing the phase of the power distributed by the distributing means and outputting the power; a plurality of amplifying means for amplifying the power supplied from the plurality of phase shifting means; and a plurality of the phase shifting means and the amplifying means. In a satellite communication system, which comprises antenna control means for controlling and a plurality of antenna elements for emitting electric power from the plurality of amplifying means as radio waves, and which is mounted on a mobile body, before the movement of the mobile body is started. Further, when confirming whether or not the output of the power output means is normal, the power supply from the antenna control means to the amplification means is stopped. .