JP4348252B2 - Array antenna device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an array antenna apparatus used in a base station of a mobile radio system, for example.

FIG. 14 shows the configuration of a conventional array antenna apparatus, and FIG. 15 shows the configuration of its electric circuit.
Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 14 denotes an antenna element. The antenna element 1 includes N antenna elements 1 arranged in a line to constitute an array antenna. A high-frequency circuit unit 2 is disposed at the base of each antenna element 1. As shown in FIG. 15, the high-frequency circuit unit 2 stores an antenna duplexer 8, a reception radio amplifier 9, an individual channel dedicated transmission radio amplifier 10, and an optical transmission circuit unit 11 for each antenna element 1. The
Reference numeral 4 denotes an indoor device. An adaptive signal processing unit 13 is stored in the indoor device 4, and an optical fiber cable 3 connects the adaptive signal processing unit 13 and the reception wireless amplifier 9 and the dedicated channel dedicated transmission wireless amplifier 10 stored in the high frequency circuit unit 2. is doing.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the common channel base station antenna 5 is independently provided in addition to the N antenna elements 1 (N is generally set to about 12). The common channel base station antenna 5 receives power from the shared channel transmission antenna power supply unit 6 through the common channel dedicated transmission radio amplifier 12 and the common channel cable 7 provided in the indoor unit 4 and is in the downlink (when the downlink is used). A common channel signal is transmitted.

When such an adaptive array antenna apparatus is operated, the common channel base station antenna 5 and the N antenna elements 1 constituting the array antenna apparatus are installed on the rooftop of a building or a steel tower. The scale of the device becomes a problem. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, when two common channel base station antennas 5 are provided and transmission diversity is applied to the common channel, the wind pressure load and the device scale are further problematic.
An object of the present invention is to solve these problems and to provide an array antenna apparatus capable of reducing wind pressure load and suppressing the apparatus scale.

In the present invention, the base station antenna for the common channel is abolished, and a part of the antenna elements constituting the array antenna are also used as a shared channel / individual channel, and the base station array antenna apparatus is constituted only by the antenna elements constituting the array antenna. Is.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, an array antenna apparatus is proposed in which any one of N antenna elements constituting an array antenna is used as a common channel and a dedicated channel. That is, according to the first embodiment, an array antenna is proposed in which an arbitrary number of antenna elements among the N antenna elements constituting the array antenna are used as a common channel and a dedicated channel.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, an array antenna apparatus is proposed in which one of the N antenna elements constituting the array antenna is used as a common channel and an individual channel.
The third embodiment of the present invention proposes an array antenna apparatus having a configuration in which a plurality of N antenna elements constituting the array antenna apparatus are used both as a common channel and an individual channel.
In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, an array antenna apparatus having a configuration in which antenna elements at both ends of N antenna elements arranged in a line are used both as a common antenna and an individual antenna is configured.

  In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of antenna element pairs are constituted by antenna elements adjacent to each other among N antenna elements, and the antenna elements constituting the plurality of antenna element pairs are defined as shared channels. An array antenna apparatus is proposed in which the antenna elements are also used as dedicated channels and the remaining antenna elements are dedicated to dedicated channels.

  In any of the above-described embodiments, since any one of the N lines constituting the array antenna apparatus is used as a common channel and an individual channel, only the antenna element of the array antenna apparatus is used as the antenna element. A signal can be transmitted. As a result, the wind pressure load can be reduced even when installed at a high place. Moreover, the effect that the scale of the apparatus can be reduced is also obtained.

[Example 1]
1 to 4 show a first embodiment which provides the best mode for carrying out the present invention. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, one of the N (generally about 12) antenna elements 1 constituting the array antenna apparatus is used as a common channel and an individual channel. .
This is shown in FIG. In other words, the antenna duplexer 8 connected to the (N-1) antenna elements 1 among the N antenna elements 1 is connected to the reception radio amplifier 9 and the dedicated channel dedicated transmission radio amplifier 10, and the like. The antenna duplexer 8 connected to the one antenna element 1 is connected to the reception radio amplifier 9 and the common channel / dedicated channel transmission radio amplifier 14 so that the one antenna element 1 is connected to the common channel. It is configured to be shared with individual channels.

  According to this configuration, in the uplink, signals from each mobile station are received using all N antenna elements 1, and the received power from each antenna element 1 is received by the adaptive signal processing unit 13 stored in the indoor device 4. Adaptive signal processing is performed, and received power from each mobile station is efficiently collected and received. On the other hand, in the downlink, the dedicated channel signal subjected to adaptive processing is transmitted using all N antenna elements 1, and the directivity of the array antenna apparatus is controlled by adaptive signal processing, so that each mobile station in the area can be efficiently operated. Transmit the signal. The common channel signal is transmitted together with the individual channel signal from one of the N antenna elements 1. FIGS. 3 and 4 show how the common channel signal is transmitted and the area configuration. As shown in FIG. 3, the common channel signal is transmitted from the antenna #j (1 ≦ j ≦ N), and the directivity in the horizontal plane of the antenna element 1 is set to about 120 ° by the restriction of the reflector and the like. As shown in FIG. 4, an area having a three-sector structure (area hatched in FIG. 4) can be formed. Therefore, in this base station, the hatched area in FIG. 4 is determined as the practical area.

  According to the first embodiment, the common channel base station antenna 5 and the common channel transmission antenna feeder 6 can be eliminated as compared with the conventional configuration shown in FIGS. As shown, it can be constituted only by an array antenna element. Therefore, according to this Example 1, it turns out that a wind pressure load can be suppressed and the workability | operativity of an apparatus can be improved.

[Example 2]
5 to 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, N antenna elements 1 constituting the array antenna apparatus are arranged in one row as shown in FIG. 1, and the antenna elements 1 positioned at both ends of the antenna elements 1 arranged in one row. Is configured to be used both as a common channel and an individual channel.
For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 5, the reception radio amplifier 9 and the common channel / dedicated channel transmission radio amplifier 14 are connected to the antenna duplexer 8 connected to the antenna element 1 located at both ends, and the other (N -2) The antenna duplexer 8 of the antenna element 1 is connected to the reception radio amplifier 9 and the dedicated channel dedicated transmission radio amplifier 10.

  According to this configuration, in the uplink, signals from each mobile station are received using all N antenna elements 1, and the received power from each antenna element 1 is received by the adaptive signal processing unit 13 stored in the indoor device 4. Adaptive signal processing is performed to efficiently receive signals from each mobile station. On the other hand, in the downlink, dedicated channel signals subjected to adaptive signal processing are transmitted using all N antenna elements 1. The common channel signal is transmitted from each of the two antenna elements 1 positioned at both ends of the N signals, and transmission diversity is applied.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a state in which a common channel signal is transmitted by applying transmission diversity and an area configuration thereof. As shown in FIG. No. # 1 and No. Since each of the antennas is transmitted from #N and the directivity in the horizontal plane of the antenna is set to 120 ° by the action of a reflector or the like, an area having a three-sector structure can be created as shown in FIG.
Therefore, even in the configuration of the second embodiment, the common channel base station antenna 5 and the common channel transmitting antenna feeder 6 are apparently omitted, as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. be able to. Therefore, even if it installs in the high place also by this Example 2, a wind pressure load can be suppressed and the workability of an apparatus can be improved.

[Example 3]
8 to 10 show Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of antenna element pairs are configured by N antenna elements 1 adjacent to each other, and a plurality of antenna element pairs are configured to transmit a common channel signal as a plurality of beams. It is.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, both ends of the N antenna elements 1 and one antenna element 1 adjacent to the antenna elements 1 located at both ends are combined, one set on each side of the array of antenna elements 1. Two antenna element pairs are configured, and the antenna duplexer 8 connected to each of the four antenna elements 1 constituting these antenna element pairs is connected to a reception radio amplifier 9 and a transmission radio for both common channel and individual channel. The amplifier 14 is connected and the antenna duplexer 8 connected to the other remaining antenna elements 1 is connected to the reception radio amplifier 9 and the dedicated channel radio amplifier 10.

  According to this configuration, the antenna elements constituting the antenna element pair among the N antenna elements 1 function as a common channel / individual channel antenna element, and in the uplink state, all N antenna elements 1 are used. A signal from each mobile station is received, and adaptive processing is performed by the adaptive signal processing unit 13 housed in the indoor device 4 to efficiently receive the received power of each mobile station. On the other hand, in the downlink state, the dedicated channel signal subjected to adaptive signal processing is transmitted using all N antenna elements 1, and the common channel signal is transmitted using four antenna elements 1 out of N.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show how the common channel signal is transmitted and the area configuration. As shown in FIG. 9, two pairs of 60 ° beam antennas (one antenna element 1 forms a 120 ° beam) are composed of two adjacent antenna element pairs. By securing two 6-sector areas using a total of four antenna elements 1, a 3-sector area can be created as shown by hatching in FIG.
Also according to the third embodiment, it is not necessary to provide the common channel base station antenna 5 and the common channel transmitting antenna feeder 6 shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, and the wind pressure load can be suppressed. It can also be seen that the workability of the device can be improved. Further, since the common channel signal is distributed and transmitted to the four antenna elements 1 as compared with the configuration of the first embodiment, the transmission power in each antenna element 1 can be suppressed to about 1/4 for the common channel signal. In addition, the output power and the power consumption related to the common channel signal of the common channel signal / dedicated channel combined transmission radio amplifier 14 can be suppressed.

[Example 4]
11 to 13 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment shows a case where two pairs from both ends of N antenna elements 1 arranged in a row are configured to act as a common channel / dedicated channel antenna element.
Specifically, a common channel / individual channel transmitting radio amplifier 14 is connected to the antenna duplexer 8 of each of the four antenna elements 1 from both ends of the antenna elements 1 arranged in a line. The antenna element 1 is made to act as a common channel / dedicated channel antenna, and the dedicated antenna dedicated radio amplifier 10 is connected to the antenna duplexer 8 connected to the remaining (N-8) antenna elements 1. These antenna elements 1 act as dedicated antennas for individual channels.

In the uplink, all N antenna elements 1 are used to receive signals from each mobile station, and the adaptive signal processing unit 13 performs adaptive signal processing on the received power from each antenna element 1 to receive signals from each mobile station. Receive efficiently. On the other hand, in the downlink, the dedicated channel signal subjected to adaptive signal processing is transmitted using all N antenna elements 1, and the common channel signal is transmitted using a total of eight antenna elements located on both sides of the N channels. Send.
FIGS. 12 and 13 show a state in which a common channel signal is transmitted by applying transmission diversity and an area configuration. As shown in FIG. 12, two sets of 60 ° beam antenna pairs are formed using two adjacent antenna elements 1 (in this case, 120 ° beams are formed by one antenna element 1), and two sets of antennas are formed. By securing two 6-sector areas using the element 1, a 3-sector area shown by hatching in FIG. 13 can be created. Furthermore, according to the configuration of the fourth embodiment, in order to apply transmission diversity, a common channel signal can be transmitted by multi-beams from two pairs of 60 ° beam antennas.

  By using the configuration of the fourth embodiment, the common channel base station antenna 5 and the common channel transmission power supply unit 6 can be eliminated as compared with the conventional configuration to which the transmission diversity shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is applied. Therefore, wind pressure load can be suppressed and the workability of the apparatus can be improved. Further, since the common channel signal is distributed and transmitted to the eight antenna elements 1 as compared with the array antenna apparatus to which the transmission diversity having the configuration of the second embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Since the transmission power related to the common channel signal of the antenna element pair can be suppressed, there can be obtained an advantage that the output power and the power consumption of the common channel signal / individual channel signal combined radio amplifier can be suppressed.

  The array antenna apparatus according to the present invention is used in, for example, a base station antenna apparatus in a mobile communication system.

The perspective view for demonstrating the external appearance structure of the array antenna apparatus by this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The block diagram for demonstrating the electric circuit structure of Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is an arrangement diagram for explaining a transmission situation of a common channel signal obtained by the electric circuit structure shown in FIG. 2. The top view for demonstrating the area structure obtained by the transmission condition of the common channel signal demonstrated in FIG. The block diagram for demonstrating the electric circuit structure of Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a layout diagram for explaining a transmission state of a common channel signal obtained by the electric circuit structure shown in FIG. 5. The top view for demonstrating the area structure obtained in the transmission state of the common channel signal demonstrated in FIG. The block diagram for demonstrating the electric circuit structure of Example 3 of this invention. FIG. 9 is an arrangement diagram for explaining a transmission situation of common channel signals obtained by the electric circuit structure shown in FIG. 8. The top view for demonstrating the area structure obtained by the transmission condition of the common channel signal shown in FIG. The block diagram for demonstrating the electric circuit structure of Example 4 of this invention. FIG. 12 is an arrangement diagram for explaining a state of transmission of a common channel signal obtained by the electric circuit structure shown in FIG. 11. The top view for demonstrating the area structure obtained by the transmission condition of the common channel signal demonstrated in FIG. The perspective view for demonstrating the external appearance structure of the conventional array antenna apparatus. The block diagram for demonstrating the electric circuit structure of the array antenna apparatus shown in FIG. The perspective view for demonstrating the other example of a prior art. The block diagram for demonstrating the electric circuit structure of the array antenna apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna element 2 High frequency circuit part 3 Optical fiber cable 4 Indoor device 5 Common channel base station antenna 6 Common channel transmission antenna feeder 7 Common channel cable 8 Antenna duplexer 9 Receiving radio amplifier 10 Individual channel dedicated transmission radio amplifier 11 Light Transmission circuit unit 12 Common channel dedicated transmission radio amplifier 13 Adaptive signal processing unit 14 Common channel / dedicated channel combined transmission radio amplifier

Claims (2)

N antenna elements, N high-frequency circuit units, and an adaptive signal processing unit that performs adaptive signal processing on reception signals received by the N antenna elements and transmission signals transmitted from the N antenna elements. In the array antenna device,
Two sets of antenna element pairs are constructed, one set on each side of the antenna array, from both ends of the N antenna elements arranged in a row and one antenna element adjacent to each of these antenna elements. A common channel / individual channel combined wireless amplifier is connected to a total of four antenna elements constituting an antenna element pair, and the individual channel wireless amplifier is connected to the remaining antenna elements. from the two sets of antenna element pairs which connects the radio amplifier, and transmits a common channel signal for the downlink in a multi-beam along with a separate channel signals in which the adaptive signal processing in the adaptive signal processing unit, connected to said individual channel radio amplifier and from the rest of the antenna elements, and transmits the individual channel signals in which the adaptive signal processing in the adaptive signal processing section, the two sets of a Common channel signal above the downlink transmitted from each antenna element pairs, array antenna apparatus which is a for a different sector each other. N antenna elements, N high-frequency circuit units, and an adaptive signal processing unit that performs adaptive signal processing on reception signals received by the N antenna elements and transmission signals transmitted from the N antenna elements. In the array antenna device,
One set of antenna element pairs is formed on both sides of the antenna array from both ends of the N antenna elements arranged in a line and each one of the antenna elements adjacent thereto, and the antennas of each set Each of the two antenna elements adjacent to the element pair further constitutes one antenna element pair, and thus a total of eight antenna element pairs are formed, with a total of four antenna element pairs provided on each side of the antenna array. The four antennas are connected to a common channel / dedicated channel combined wireless amplifier, the remaining antenna elements are connected to dedicated channel wireless amplifiers, and the downlink and the common channel / dedicated channel combined wireless amplifier are connected. From the antenna element pair, the downlink common channel signal is transmitted by multibeam together with the individual channel signal subjected to adaptive signal processing by the adaptive signal processing unit, The remaining antenna elements connected to the individual channel radio amplifier transmit individual channel signals subjected to adaptive signal processing by the adaptive signal processing unit, and two sets of antenna element pairs configured on one side of the antenna array. A first element pair consisting of one set of the antenna elements and one of the two antenna element pairs configured on the other side, and two sets configured on the one side of the antenna array. The second element pair set including the remaining one set of the antenna element pairs and the remaining one set of the two antenna element pairs configured on the other side, respectively, and the above-described down transmissions. An array antenna apparatus, wherein the link common channel signals are for different sectors .

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