JP2000232302A - Electromagnet circulator and electromagnetic wave scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To scan by electrically varying the transmitting and receiving direction of an electromagnetic wave scanner by electrically controlling the moving direction of electromagnetic waves by an electromagnet circulator for a millimeter wave band. SOLUTION: A magnetic field to apply to a ferrite resonator 103 surrounded by three dielectric bodies 102 inserted between two metallic plates 101 is varied by an electromagnet 104. By inverting the magnetic field to apply, the moving direction of the electromagnetic wave can be varied. By electrically controlling the path of the electromagnetic wave by the electro magnet circulator of constitution like this, the antenna of an electromagnetic wave scanner is electrically switched to scan an object by the electromagnetic wave without mechanical movement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electromagnetic circulator and an electromagnetic wave scanning device used in the field of millimeter wave radar, and more particularly, to an electromagnetic circulator for electrically switching the path of an electromagnetic wave and an electric scan of the electromagnetic wave. Related to an electromagnetic wave scanning device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an electromagnetic wave scanning device for scanning an electromagnetic wave has been developed in a millimeter-wave radar device for a vehicle. As such an electromagnetic wave scanning device, an electromagnetic wave scanning device that mechanically moves an antenna and scans an electromagnetic wave is known.

As a means for changing the traveling direction of an electromagnetic wave such as a millimeter wave band, a circulator using a ferromagnetic material is known. 10 and 11 show the configuration of a conventional circulator. FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional perspective view of a conventional circulator. FIG. 11 is a plan view of a conventional circulator. The conventional circulator is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, two metal plates 601 and two metal plates 601 are provided.
And a ferrite resonator 603 surrounded by the three dielectrics 602 and a permanent magnet 604 for applying a magnetic field to the ferrite resonator.

The operation of the conventional circulator constructed as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, three dielectrics 602 are a, b, and c. The electromagnetic wave passing through the dielectric a sandwiched between the two metal plates 601 is bent when passing through the ferrite resonator 603 to which a magnetic field is applied by the permanent magnet 604, and passes through the dielectric b 602. Also, dielectric 6
The electromagnetic wave input to 02b passes through c of the dielectric 602. Using such a conventional circulator, an isolator for separating a transmission wave and a reception wave is configured and used for a transmission / reception wave separation circuit of an electromagnetic wave scanning device.

FIG. 12 shows a conventional electromagnetic wave scanning device that mechanically changes the transmission direction of electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic wave scanning device,
An antenna 701, mechanical scanning means 702, radio wave input / output means, and signal processing means 704 are provided. The operation of the thus configured electromagnetic wave scanning device will be described. The electromagnetic wave transmitted by the radio wave input / output unit 703 is radiated from the antenna 701 whose direction is determined by the mechanical scanning unit 702. The antenna 701 receives the electromagnetic wave reflected from the object and transmits it to the electromagnetic wave input / output unit 703. Electromagnetic wave input / output means 703
Transmits difference information between the output electromagnetic wave and the input electromagnetic wave to the signal processing unit 704. The signal processing unit 704 calculates the distance to the target and the relative speed based on the difference information.

[0006]

However, the conventional circulator has a problem that the traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave cannot be controlled because the traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave is fixed. In addition, the above-described conventional electromagnetic wave scanning device has a problem in that durability is poor because scanning is performed while mechanically changing the direction of transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to electrically control the traveling direction of an electromagnetic wave so as to electrically change the transmission / reception direction of an electromagnetic wave for scanning.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an electromagnet circulator comprising two metal plates, three dielectrics sandwiched between the two metal plates, and three The configuration includes a ferrite resonator surrounded by a dielectric and an electromagnet that changes the magnetic field of the ferrite resonator. With this configuration, the traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave can be electrically controlled.

Further, the electromagnetic wave scanning device is configured to include two permanent magnet circulators, two electromagnet circulators, and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulators and the electromagnet circulators. With this configuration, the traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave can be electrically controlled by the electromagnet circulator, and scanning can be performed while electrically changing the transmission / reception direction of the electromagnetic wave.

[0010] The electromagnetic wave scanning device is configured to include three permanent magnet circulators, four electromagnet circulators, and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulators and the electromagnet circulators. With this configuration, the traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave can be electrically controlled by the electromagnet circulator, and scanning can be performed while electrically changing the transmission / reception direction of the electromagnetic wave.

Further, the electromagnetic wave scanning device is provided with a plurality of substrate surfaces on which dielectric lines are provided, and connection elements for connecting dielectric lines provided on different substrate surfaces. With this configuration, an electromagnetic wave scanning device having a three-dimensional wiring structure can be realized by using a multilayer structure of the electromagnetic wave scanning device.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that two metal plates, three dielectrics sandwiched between the two metal plates, and three dielectrics are provided. An electromagnet circulator including the ferrite resonator described above and an electromagnet that changes the magnetic field of the ferrite resonator, and has an operation of electrically controlling the traveling direction of an electromagnetic wave.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there are provided two permanent magnet circulators, two electromagnet circulators according to the first aspect, and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulator and the electromagnetic circulator. An electromagnetic wave scanning device provided with an electromagnetic circulator, which has a function of electrically controlling the traveling direction of an electromagnetic wave and electrically changing a transmission / reception direction of the electromagnetic wave for scanning.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there are provided three permanent magnet circulators, four electromagnet circulators according to the first aspect, and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulator and the electromagnetic circulator. An electromagnetic wave scanning device provided with an electromagnetic circulator, which has a function of electrically controlling the traveling direction of an electromagnetic wave and electrically changing a transmission / reception direction of the electromagnetic wave for scanning.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electromagnetic wave scanning device according to the second or third aspect, a plurality of substrate surfaces on which the dielectric lines are provided and a dielectric line provided on different substrate surfaces are provided. And a connecting element for connecting between them, and has an effect of connecting a dielectric line of an electromagnetic wave scanning device having a three-dimensional structure.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

(First Embodiment) In a first embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic field of a ferrite resonator surrounded by three dielectrics sandwiched between two metal plates is changed by an electromagnet. And an electromagnetic circulator for controlling the traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional perspective view of an electromagnet circulator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 (a)
FIG. 2B is a plan view of the electromagnet circulator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 101 is two metal plates, and 102 is a metal plate
One dielectric, 103 is a ferrite resonator 103, 104 surrounded by three dielectrics 102 is an electromagnet that applies a magnetic field to the ferrite resonator.

The operation of the electromagnet circulator according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2A, the three dielectrics 102 are dielectrics a, b, and c. The electromagnetic wave that has passed through the dielectric a sandwiched between the metal plates 101 is bent when passing through the ferrite resonator 103 to which a magnetic field has been applied by the electromagnet 104, and travels in the direction that passes through the dielectric b. Also,
The electromagnetic wave input to the dielectric b travels in a direction passing through the dielectric c.

FIG. 2B is a diagram when the polarity of the magnetic field applied by the electromagnet 104 is changed. At this time, the electromagnetic wave incident on the dielectric c is radiated from the dielectric b, and the electromagnetic wave incident from the dielectric b is radiated from the dielectric a. Thus, by changing the polarity of the electromagnet 104, the direction in which the electromagnetic wave travels can be controlled.

As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the electromagnet circulator changes the magnetic field of the ferrite resonator surrounded by three dielectrics sandwiched between two metal plates by the electromagnet. With the configuration, the traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave can be electrically controlled.

(Second Embodiment) In a second embodiment of the present invention, two permanent magnet circulators, two electromagnet circulators, and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulator and the electromagnet circulator are provided. It is an electromagnetic wave scanning device provided.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are configuration diagrams of an electromagnetic wave scanning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 4, 201 and 202 are permanent magnet circulators and 203 and 204
Is an electromagnetic circulator, 205 and 206 are antennas, 207 is a modulator, 208 is an oscillator, 209 is a directional coupler, 210 is a mixer, and 211 is a dielectric line.

The operation of the electromagnetic wave scanning device according to the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. In the electromagnetic wave scanning device shown in FIG. 3, an electromagnetic wave oscillated by the oscillator 208 and modulated by the modulator 207 so as to fluctuate in frequency to a triangular wave travels along the dielectric line 211 and reaches the electromagnet circulator 203. Electromagnetic waves are
It is bent in the direction of a by the electromagnet circulator 203. Further, it is bent in the direction of b by the permanent magnet circulator 201. Finally, the signal is transmitted to the air through the antenna 205.

The electromagnetic wave reflected and returned from the object is
Received by antenna 205. The received electromagnetic wave travels in the direction c by the permanent magnet circulator 201. Further, it is bent in the d direction by the electromagnet circulator 204. The reference wave and the reflected wave that have passed through the directional coupler 209 are mixed by the mixer 210. Signals are analyzed for the mixed electromagnetic waves to determine the distance and speed of the object.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the electromagnetic wave scanning apparatus when the distance and the speed of the object are obtained by using the antenna 206 arranged in a different direction from the antenna 205. The applied magnetic fields of the electromagnet circulator 203 and the electromagnet circulator 204 are reversed in the reverse of the case of FIG. At this time, the electromagnetic waves are generated by the oscillator 208, the electromagnetic circulator 203, the permanent magnet circulator 202, the antenna 206, the object, and the antenna.
By proceeding in the order of 206, the permanent magnet circulator 202, the electromagnet circulator 204, and the mixer 210, an object in the direction of the antenna 206 can be captured. Thus, the electromagnetic circulator can electrically change the transmission / reception direction of the electromagnetic wave to two directions.

As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the electromagnetic wave scanning device includes two permanent magnet circulators, two electromagnet circulators, and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulators and the electromagnet circulators. Thus, scanning can be performed by electrically controlling the traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave by the electromagnetic circulator and electrically changing the transmission / reception direction of the electromagnetic wave.

(Third Embodiment) In a third embodiment of the present invention, three permanent magnet circulators, four electromagnet circulators, and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulator and the electromagnet circulator are provided. It is an electromagnetic wave scanning device provided.

FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are configuration diagrams of an electromagnetic wave scanning device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5
In FIG. 7, 301, 302 and 303 are permanent magnet circulators, 304, 305, 306 and 307 are electromagnet circulators, 30
8, 309 and 310 are antennas, 311 is modulator, 312 is oscillator, 3
13 is a directional coupler, 314 is a mixer, and 315 is a dielectric line.

The operation of the electromagnetic wave scanning device according to the third embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. In the electromagnetic wave scanning device shown in FIG.
The electromagnetic wave oscillated by the oscillator 312 and modulated by the modulator 311 so as to fluctuate in frequency according to the triangular wave is applied to the dielectric line 315.
Are transmitted in the following order. Electromagnet circulator 304, permanent magnet circulator 301, antenna 308, object, antenna 308, permanent magnet circulator 301, electromagnet circulator 306, electromagnet circulator 307, mixer 314. As in the second embodiment, the distance and speed of the target object are obtained by analyzing the signals of the mixed electromagnetic waves.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation of the electromagnetic wave scanning apparatus when the distance and the speed of the object are obtained by using the antenna 309 arranged in a different direction from the antenna 308. Electromagnet circulator 304, electromagnet circulator 305,
The applied magnetic field of the electromagnet circulator 306 is reversed in the reverse of the case shown in FIG. At this time, the electromagnetic wave
312, electromagnet circulator 304, electromagnet circulator
305, the permanent magnet circulator 302, the antenna 309, the object, the antenna 309, the permanent magnet circulator 302, the electromagnet circulator 306, the electromagnet circulator 307, and the mixer 314.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of the electromagnetic wave scanning device when the distance and the speed of the object are obtained by using the antenna 310 arranged in a different direction from the antenna 308 and the antenna 309. The applied magnetic fields of the electromagnet circulator 305 and the electromagnet circulator 307 are reversed in the opposite manner to the case shown in FIG. At this time, the electromagnetic waves are generated by the oscillator 312, the electromagnet circulator 304, the electromagnet circulator 305, the permanent magnet circulator 303, the antenna 310, the object, and the antenna.
Proceeding in the order of 310, permanent magnet circulator 303, electromagnet circulator 307, and mixer 314, an object in the direction of the antenna 310 can be captured. In this way, the electromagnetic circulator can electrically change the transmission / reception direction of the electromagnetic wave to three directions.

As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the electromagnetic wave scanning device includes three permanent magnet circulators, four electromagnetic circulators, and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulators and the electromagnetic circulators. Thus, scanning can be performed by electrically controlling the traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave by the electromagnetic circulator and electrically changing the transmission / reception direction of the electromagnetic wave.

(Fourth Embodiment) A fourth embodiment of the present invention relates to an electromagnetic wave scanning device in which dielectric lines provided on a plurality of substrate surfaces of an electromagnetic wave scanning device having a three-dimensional structure are connected by connecting elements. It is.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an electromagnetic wave scanning device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a three-dimensional electromagnetic wave scanning device in which a substrate surface provided with a dielectric waveguide has two layers. 8, 401 and 402 are permanent magnet circulators, 403 and 404 are electromagnet circulators, 405
And 406 are antennas, and 407 and 408 are connection elements.

FIG. 9 is another configuration diagram of the electromagnetic wave scanning device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
501, 502 and 503 are permanent magnet circulators, 504 and 505
And 506 and 507 are electromagnetic circulators, 508 and 509 and 510
Is an antenna, and 511, 512, and 513 are connection elements.

The operation of the electromagnetic wave scanning device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 8, the permanent magnet circulator 401 and the permanent magnet circulator 40
2, electromagnet circulator 403, electromagnet circulator 40
4 is installed on the same substrate layer. Other substrate layers include
Antennas 405 and 406 are provided. Via the connection element 407 and the connection element 408, the dielectric line of one substrate layer is connected to the dielectric line of the other substrate layer. As a connection element,
For example, a coaxial cable is used.

9, the permanent magnet circulator 501, the permanent magnet circulator 502, the permanent magnet circulator 503, the electromagnet circulator 504, the electromagnet circulator 505, the electromagnet circulator 506, and the electromagnet circulator 507 are provided on the same substrate layer. I have. On other substrate layers, antennas 508, 509, and 510 are provided. Via the connection element 511, the connection element 512, and the connection element 513, the dielectric line on one substrate layer and the dielectric line on the other substrate layer are connected. With this arrangement, a three-dimensional electromagnetic wave scanning device can be realized.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the electromagnetic wave scanning device includes a dielectric line provided on a plurality of substrate surfaces and a connection element for connecting the dielectric lines on different substrate surfaces. With the configuration, the electromagnetic wave scanning device having a three-dimensional structure can be realized by connecting the dielectric lines of different layers.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, the electromagnet circulator is surrounded by two metal plates, three dielectrics sandwiched between the two metal plates, and three dielectrics. Since the ferrite resonator and the electromagnet for changing the magnetic field of the ferrite resonator are provided, an effect that the traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave can be electrically controlled can be obtained.

Further, the electromagnetic wave scanning device is configured to include two permanent magnet circulators, two electromagnet circulators, and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulators and the electromagnetic circulators. An effect is obtained in which scanning can be performed by electrically controlling the traveling direction and electrically changing the transmission / reception direction of the electromagnetic wave.

Further, since the electromagnetic wave scanning device has three permanent magnet circulators, four electromagnet circulators, and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulators and the electromagnetic circulators, the electromagnetic wave circulators are used for the electromagnetic wave circulator. An effect is obtained in which scanning can be performed by electrically controlling the traveling direction and electrically changing the transmission / reception direction of the electromagnetic wave.

Also, since a plurality of substrate surfaces provided with the dielectric waveguides and connection elements for connecting the dielectric waveguides provided on different substrate surfaces are provided, the electromagnetic wave scanning device is formed into a multilayer structure.
An effect is obtained that an apparatus having a complicated configuration can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electromagnet circulator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electromagnet circulator according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an electromagnetic wave scanning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another operation state of the electromagnetic wave scanning device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an electromagnetic wave scanning device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another operation state of the electromagnetic wave scanning device according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing still another operation state of the electromagnetic wave scanning device according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an electromagnetic wave scanning device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is another configuration diagram of the electromagnetic wave scanning device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional circulator,

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a conventional circulator,

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a conventional electromagnetic wave scanning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Metal plate 102 Dielectric 103 Ferrite resonator 104 Electromagnet 201, 202, 301, 302, 303, 401, 402, 501, 502, 503
Permanent magnet circulators 203, 204, 304, 305, 306, 307, 403, 404, 504, 505,
506,507 Electromagnetic circulator 205,206,308,309,310,405,406,508,509,510
Antenna 207, 311 Modulator 208, 312 Oscillator 209, 313 Directional coupler 210, 314 Mixer 211, 315 Dielectric line 407, 408, 511, 512, 513 Connection element

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A metal plate, three dielectrics sandwiched between the two metal plates, a ferrite resonator surrounded by the three dielectrics, and a magnetic field of the ferrite resonator is changed. An electromagnet circulator comprising an electromagnet. 2. An electromagnetic wave scanning apparatus comprising: two permanent magnet circulators; two electromagnet circulators according to claim 1; and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulator and the electromagnetic circulator. . 3. An electromagnetic wave scanning device comprising: three permanent magnet circulators; four electromagnet circulators according to claim 1; and a dielectric line connecting the permanent magnet circulators and the electromagnet circulators. . 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of substrate surfaces on which said dielectric lines are provided; and connection elements for connecting dielectric lines provided on different substrate surfaces. Electromagnetic wave scanning device.