DE102018002512A1 - Device for antenna measurement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a device for measuring the antenna characteristic r of a vehicle having at least one high-frequency generator, at least one first biasing antenna and at least one second non-biased antenna having, characterized in that the activation and deactivation of the measurement signal of the high-frequency generator is remotely controllable.

Description

The invention relates to a device for measuring an antenna characteristic of a vehicle. A measurement setup for measuring the change in antenna characteristics on a host vehicle (eg, a tank or helicopter, etc.) is known. The measurement setup includes a signal generator that generates a CW signal in the direction of the test vehicle via a LogPeer antenna. The test vehicle is located at a distance of about 300m on a turntable and recorded by means of a measuring receiver, the high-frequency signals (RF signal). In this procedure, the carrier vehicle is rotated on the turntable. All devices are connected via a LAN connection (RJ45) and are controlled by a measuring computer. This measuring computer now correlates the angle of rotation of the carrier vehicle with the level values of the RF signals received at the carrier vehicle. The aim is to find any weak points in order to work out changes in the antennas or recommendations for action.

From the publication of the PCT application DE 112009000561T5 is a method known with the following steps:

Setting a priority level of a slot based on determining a probability that the slot is needed by a first radio; and signaling the priority level to a second radio, wherein the first and second radios are located at the same location and share a resource.

• einen Innenzylinder aus leitfähigem Material, in den eine Antenne an einem ersten Ende desselben über eine ausgewählte Tiefe (Lt) entlang der Achse des Innenzylinders eingebracht werden kann, wobei der Innenzylinder einen konstanten Innen- und Außendurchmesser entlang einer Länge, die mindestens gleich der ausgewählten Tiefe ist, die bei dem ersten Ende beginnt, aufweist, und wobei sich danach der Außendurchmesser des Innenzylinders über eine zweite Länge zu einem ersten ausgewählten Durchmesser verjüngt, wobei der konstante Innendurchmesser des Innenzylinders mit einer eingebrachten Antenne eine nicht-abgeschlossene koaxiale Übertragungsleitung mit einer Kennimpedanz Zm bildet; einen Außenzylinder aus leitfähigem Material, bei dem ein erstes Ende desselben im allgemeinen gegenüber dem ersten Ende des Innenzylinders angeordnet ist, und der die gleiche Achse wie der Innenzylinder aufweist, wobei der Außenzylinder den Innenzylinder enthält und gegenüber dem Bereich mit einem konstanten Außendurchmesser des Innenzylinders und über die gleiche Länge einen konstanten Innendurchmesser aufweist, und wobei sich danach der Innendurchmesser des Außenzylinders über die zweite Länge verjüngt, um eine konstante Kennimpedanz Z_in aufrecht zu erhalten, wenn sich der Außendurchmesser des Innenzylinders zu dem ersten ausgewählten Durchmesser verjüngt, wobei der konstante Innendurchmesser des Außenzylinders mit dem konstanten Außendurchmesser des Innenzylinders eine koaxiale Übertragungsleitung, die ebenfalls eine Kennimpedanz Z_0out aufweist, bildet; und eine HF-Verbindung zum Übertragen von HF-Leistung, die zwischen der Antenne und einer Stufe eines Testgeräts gekoppelt wird, wobei sich die HF-Verbindung an den fernen Enden des Innenzylinders bzw. Außenzylinders an oder jenseits der Verjüngung befindet.

Next is from the published patent application DE 10034308A1 an antenna coupler for coupling the antenna of a device under test to a stage of a test device, the antenna coupler having the following features:

• an inner cylinder of conductive material into which an antenna at a first end thereof may be inserted through a selected depth (Lt) along the axis of the inner cylinder, the inner cylinder having a constant inner and outer diameter along a length at least equal to the selected depth Thereafter, the outer diameter of the inner cylinder tapers through a second length to a first selected diameter, wherein the constant inner diameter of the inner cylinder with an inserted antenna is a non-terminated coaxial transmission line having a characteristic impedance Zm forms; an outer cylinder of conductive material having a first end thereof disposed generally opposite to the first end of the inner cylinder and having the same axis as the inner cylinder, the outer cylinder containing the inner cylinder and opposite to the constant outer diameter portion of the inner cylinder and Thereafter, the inner diameter of the outer cylinder tapers over the second length to maintain a constant characteristic impedance Z _in as the outer diameter of the inner cylinder tapers to the first selected diameter, the constant inner diameter the outer cylinder with the constant outer diameter of the inner cylinder, a coaxial transmission line, which also has a characteristic impedance Z _0ou t forms; and an RF link for transmitting RF power coupled between the antenna and a stage of a tester, wherein the RF link is located at the distal ends of the inner cylinder and outer cylinder at or beyond the taper.

• • eine Antennencharakteristik des Antennenarrays des Kommunikationsprüflings einzustellen, um dadurch eine Richtung maximaler Verstärkung des Antennenarrays einzustellen,
• • den Prüflingshalter anzuweisen, den Kommunikationsprüfling unter Aufhebung der eingestellten Richtung maximaler Verstärkung des Antennenarrays zu drehen, derart, dass die eingestellte Richtung maximaler Verstärkung des Antennenarrays einer Richtung der Messantenne in Bezug auf den Kommunikationsprüfling genügt,
• • und um eine tatsächliche Richtung maximaler Verstärkung des Antennenarrays durch iteratives Anweisen des Prüflingshalters zum Drehen des Kommunikationsprüflings zu bestimmen, indem eine gegenwärtige Verstärkung des Antennenarrays bestimmt wird und die tatsächliche Richtung maximaler Verstärkung als eine Drehrichtung maximaler Verstärkung des Prüflingshalters bestimmt wird.

Next is from the European patent specification EP 3104539B1 a measuring system for measuring an accuracy of setting a maximum gain direction of an antenna array of a communication test object. This includes a control unit, a measuring device, at least one measuring antenna and a DUT holder, wherein the DUT holder is adapted to hold the Kommunikationsprüfling and to rotate the Kommunikationsprüfling at least one axis, wherein the control unit is adapted to

• To set an antenna characteristic of the antenna array of the communication sample to thereby set a direction of maximum gain of the antenna array,
• Instructing the DUT to rotate the communication sample while canceling the set direction of maximum gain of the antenna array such that the set maximum gain direction of the antenna array satisfies a direction of the measurement antenna with respect to the communication sample;
• And to determine an actual direction of maximum gain of the antenna array by iteratively instructing the device holder to rotate the communication sample by determining a current gain of the antenna array and determining the actual maximum gain direction as a maximum gain direction of rotation of the device holder.

The following disadvantage arises from the prior art: Usually, antennas to be measured need no bias voltage. This is included Antennas introduced in the Bundeswehr are not always the case. Built-in lightning protection diodes require a -50 volt (V) bias to ensure correct operation of the antenna. There are high frequency generators which generate this -50V bias and thus can be used to provide the bias for the antenna.

Due to the fact that the high-frequency generator which supplies the voltage can not be remotely controlled, the distance of about 300 m must be overcome for setting changes during the test procedure and the high-frequency generator manually switched on and off. This hampers the automation of the experimental setup considerably.

The object of the invention is to provide a remote-controlled measuring method, which can measure the antenna characteristics of a vehicle with biased antennas and non-biased antennas in conjunction with a high frequency generator. This object is solved by the characterizing features of the main claim. Advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the subclaims.

The advantage of the invention is that by the remote activation and deactivation of the measurement signal of the high-frequency generator, the measurement cycle can also be carried out continuously using a first biasing antenna and a second non-biasing antenna by the control of the measurement signal of the high-frequency generator is remotely controllable.

Switching takes place via a receiver module and a voltage disconnection module, which are both housed on a circuit board. This advantageous embodiment is described in dependent claim 2.

In order to bring the board into the measuring device, the board is connected to an FPGA board, which enables remote control of the board according to the invention.

An advantageous embodiment according to dependent claim 4 provides that the FPGA board for remote control via a LAN port and a processor has. Because the FPGA board has a LAN port and processor for remote control, the FPGA board can communicate with a LAN network through the LAN port and perform arithmetic operations through the processor. This allows the FPGA board to be remotely controlled via a LAN network.

Furthermore, the connection according to the invention is realized via the FPGA board for remote control by means of a LAN cable to a computer. This computer can be a test computer of the experimental setup. Since a connection to the measuring computer can be realized via the FPGA board for remote control by means of a LAN cable, the FPGA board can be integrated into the usual measuring setup and thus controlled via the measuring computer. This advantageous embodiment is described in dependent claim 5.

A further advantageous embodiment is described in dependent claim 6. A high-frequency generator of the measuring device is for advantageous signal evaluation, a radio with a bias voltage at the antenna output. A radio has the advantage that its use makes the test setup more realistic.

For a better understanding, the following functional sequence is described:

The measurement setup includes a signal generator that generates a CW signal in the direction of the test vehicle via a LogPeer antenna. The test vehicle is at a distance of about 300m on a turntable and recorded by means of a measuring receiver, the high frequency signals. In this procedure, the carrier vehicle is rotated on the turntable.

Usually antennas to be measured need no bias. This is not always the case with antennas imported in the Bundeswehr. In this case, built-in lightning diodes require a -50 V bias to ensure the correct function of the antenna.

By the construction according to the invention, a radio is integrated into the measurement setup. In this case, the remote control of a circuit board according to the invention takes place via an FPGA board by means of a LAN connection and a processor. The measuring signal of the high-frequency generator can be remotely activated and deactivated via the board. This allows the radio to be integrated into the test setup for both bias and non-bias antennas.

The FPGA board connected to the board can be used to create a LAN connection to the rest of the measuring setup and a measuring computer. This provides a remote control in the usual measurement setup.

The connected FPGA board has at least one digital Pmod interface, an RJ45 adapter for the LAN connection and a power supply, which can be connected by a Battery pack can be given. The memory area of the FPGA board can be realized, for example, with a USB stick on which the control software is stored.

The board is connected via the Pmod interface with the FPGA board. The board switches on the input of the corresponding control command via the software of the FPGA board by means of a transistor, the PTT circuit, which supplies the bias for the antenna. In addition, the board includes a diode which optically represents the circuit state of the transistor.

By means of this principle according to the invention, all devices can be connected to one another via a LAN connection and controlled by the measuring computer and thus integrated into the usual measuring setup.

The measuring computer now correlates the angle of rotation of the carrier vehicle with the level values of the radio-frequency signals received at the carrier vehicle. The aim of the measurement is to find any weak points in order to identify changes in the antennas or recommendations for action.

The only 1 shows the schematic structure of the board.

1 shows a board 10 with connections 20 for connecting the board 10 to a Pmod interface of an FPGA board. This will be a first connection 21 via a solder joint 11 on the board 10 circuitry with a first resistance 31 in series with a transistor 30 and parallel to a second resistor 32 connected. In series with the transistor 30 and the first resistance 31 becomes a diode 33 connected. Via a second connection 22 the connections 20 the circuit to the FPGA board is closed via a ground connection of the Pmod interface. As it is the job of the board 10 is to activate and deactivate the measuring signal of the high frequency generator is to the transistor 30 a third connection 23 soldered and in the direction of current flow to the diode 33 a fourth connection 24 soldered. The third and fourth connection ( 23 . 24 ) serve as a connection point for the high-frequency generator.

The first and the second connection ( 21 . 22 ) represent - in connection with the FPGA board - the receiver module described above. The third and fourth connection ( 23 . 24 ) in conjunction with the transistor 30 Correspondingly represent the voltage release module described above.

Through this structure of the board 10 By appropriate signal processing in the FPGA board, the activation and deactivation of the measuring signal of the high-frequency generator can be remotely controlled.

This is done with appropriate signal input in the FPGA board at the Pmod interface on the first port 21 a voltage is connected, which in turn is used to switch the transistor 30 and lighting up the diode 33 leads. The diode 33 serves as a recognition feature for a switched-on state. The switching of the transistor 30 As a result, the third port 23 and the fourth connection 24 be connected conductively. As a result, the voltage of the connected high-frequency generator is switched through.

Correspondingly, when the signal is input to the FPGA board, the result is that the Pmod interface is at the first port 21 no voltage switches, the transistor is also not powered, thereby disconnecting the third port 23 and the fourth connection 24 , The diode 33 In this case too, it will not be supplied with power and does not light up.

That way, with the board 10 by appropriate signal processing in the FPGA board, the measuring signal of the high-frequency generator can be remotely controlled.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

circuit board

20

connections

21

first connection

22

second connection

23

third connection

24

fourth connection

30

transistor

31

first resistance

32

second resistance

33

diode

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 112009000561 T5 [0002]
• DE 10034308 A1 [0004]
• EP 3104539 B1 [0005]

Claims (6)

Device for measuring the antenna characteristic of a vehicle having at least one high-frequency generator, at least one first biasing antenna and at least one second non-biased antenna comprising, characterized in that - the activation and deactivation of the measurement signal of the high-frequency generator is remotely controllable. Device after Claim 1 , characterized in that the remote control is realized via a circuit board. Device after Claim 2 , characterized in that the board for remote control is connected to an FPGA board. Device after Claim 3 , characterized in that the FPGA board for remote control has a LAN port and a processor. Device after Claim 4 , characterized in that the FPGA board is connected to a computer via a LAN port. Device after Claim 1 , characterized in that the high frequency generator is a radio with a bias at the antenna output.

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