JP2001024423A - Phased array antenna device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a whole device inexpensive and compact and lightweight by simplifying a phase shift control circuit. SOLUTION: The three control edges of each variable digital phase shifter 121-124 are connected with every other output edge of 25 output edges #1 to #25 of a shift register 51. Relating to the shift register 51, 24 bit parallel digital code signals are serially arrayed, and serial phase shift control information signals indicating phase shift control information corresponding to mutually different operation modes are fetched through an input terminal 511 for a signal by each bit, and the parallel digital code signals are outputted through output terminals #1 to #24 by each bit. Then, the serial phase shift control information signals are shifted by every bit as a whole according to a transmission mode and a reception mode, and the output terminal #1 to #24 are changed. Thus, the phase shift amounts of the variable digital phase shifters 121-124 can be set, and beam control can be operated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved phased array antenna device used for radar, communication, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a phased array antenna device used for radar, communication, etc., as shown in FIG. 4, is capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves and has, for example, four antenna elements 111 to 114 arranged in an array. , These antenna elements 11
Four variable digital phase shifters 121 to 121 interposed in each of the power supply paths 1 to 114 and having control ends (three control ends are shown in FIG. 4) for the number of bits representing a settable phase shift amount. 1
24, and a phase shift controller 13 that arbitrarily sets the phase shift amount of each of the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124. The four variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124 are:
A phase change is selectively applied to a signal passing in both directions of the feed path.

The phase shift controller 13 has a shift register 1 having three input terminals and 24 output terminals (# 1 to # 24).
31 and four multiplexers 1321 to 1324 connected to the output terminal of the shift register 131. The four multiplexers 1321 to 1324 connect the six output terminals of the shift register 131 and the three control terminals of the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124, respectively, and shift register 131 according to two or more operation modes.
Output from each of the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 121
124. In addition, 3 of the shift register 131
The input terminals are connected to an input terminal 133 for inputting a signal, an input terminal 134 for inputting a clock signal, and an input terminal 135 for inputting a strobe signal.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. At the time of transmission, transmission signals transmitted from the transmitter (not shown) through the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124 are transmitted from the antenna elements 111 to 114. Transmission signals transmitted from the antenna elements 111 to 114 are combined in space to form a transmission beam. In this case, the beam direction can be directed to an arbitrary direction by controlling the amount of phase shift of each of the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124. At the time of reception, each of the antenna elements 111 to 11
The receiving beam received at 4 is supplied to a receiver (not shown) along a path reverse to that at the time of transmission.

The input terminal 133 of the shift register 131 has the same number of 24-bit parallel digital code signals as the output terminals (# 1 to # 24), that is, logic "0" or "1".
Are input in serial. The shift register 131 converts the input serial phase shift control information signal into a 24-bit parallel digital code signal based on the clock signal and the strobe signal, and converts the parallel digital code signal for each bit through the multiplexer 1321 through the output terminal. 1324
In parallel.

Each of the multiplexers 1321 to 1324 selectively derives a 3-bit parallel digital code signal from a 6-bit parallel digital code signal input in accordance with the operation mode, and each of the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 1124.
24, the phase shift amount is arbitrarily set, and each antenna element 1
Control the beam formed by 11-114.

By the way, in the conventional phased array antenna apparatus having the above configuration, when the number of operation modes is increased, the design of the configuration of each of the multiplexers 1321 to 1324 must be changed, thereby increasing the circuit scale of the phase shift control unit 13. In addition, the cost will increase significantly.

On the other hand, as a conventional phased array antenna device, there is a space-feed type antenna device as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the phased array antenna device is roughly composed of a primary radiating section 20 and a secondary radiating section 30. The primary radiating unit 20 includes a power feeding horn 21, a circulator 22, a transmitter 23, and a receiver 24. The secondary radiating unit 30 includes four antenna elements 311 to 314 arranged in an array,
And four antenna elements 321 to 324 similarly arranged in the opposite direction to the antenna elements 311 to 314.
And four antenna elements 311 to 314
Four variable digital phase shifters 331 to 331 interposed in respective feeding paths with the four antenna elements 321 to 324
334 are provided. These variable digital phase shifters 331
To 334 each have control ends (three control ends are shown in FIG. 5) corresponding to the number of bits representing the settable phase shift amounts, and each of the control ends is selectively provided for a signal passing in both directions of the power supply path. To the phase change.

The control terminals of the variable digital phase shifters 331 to 334 have three input terminals and twelve output terminals (# 1).
To # 12). The three input terminals of the shift register 40 are connected to an input terminal 41 for inputting a signal, an input terminal 42 for inputting a clock signal, and an input terminal 43 for inputting a strobe signal. The shift register 40 has an input terminal 41
Is converted into a 12-bit parallel digital code signal based on the clock signal and the strobe signal, and the parallel code signal is output to each variable digital phase shifter 331-33 for each bit through an output terminal.
4, the phase shift amounts of the variable digital phase shifters 331 to 334 are set arbitrarily.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. The primary radiated radio wave generated by the transmitter 23 is transmitted to the secondary radiator 3 by the feed horn 21 via the circulator 22.
Emitted to zero. The radiated primary radiated radio waves are received by the antenna elements 311 to 314, pass through the variable digital phase shifters 331 to 334, and are transmitted to the antenna elements 331 to 334.
It is radiated from 34 as a secondary radiation wave. If the amount of phase shift of each of the variable digital phase shifters 331 to 334 is appropriately controlled, the secondary radiated radio waves radiated from each of the antenna elements 321 to 324 are combined in space to become a transmission beam.

At the time of reception, the reception beam is supplied to the receiver 24 following the reverse path of the transmission.

The beam direction can be directed to an arbitrary direction by controlling the amount of phase shift of each of the variable digital phase shifters 331 to 334 by the shift register 40, respectively.

However, in the spatially-fed phased array antenna apparatus having the above configuration, the transmission signal and the reception signal are separated by the circulator 22 in the primary radiating section 20, so that the transmission power is attenuated by the insertion loss of the circulator 22. , The reception NF is degraded.

[0014]

As described above, in the conventional phased array antenna apparatus, when the number of operation modes increases, the design of the configuration of each multiplexer must be changed, thereby increasing the circuit scale of the phase shift controller. Upsizing,
There is a problem that the cost is greatly increased. Further, the space-fed phased array antenna device has a problem in that the transmission signal is attenuated by the insertion loss of the circulator because the circulator separates the transmission signal and the reception signal, and the reception NF is degraded.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the cost and size and weight of the entire device by simplifying the phase shift control circuit, and to suppress the deterioration of the transmission / reception sensitivity even in a space-feed type, thereby improving the antenna performance. An object of the present invention is to provide a phased array antenna device that can be improved.

[0016]

A phased array antenna device according to the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves, is provided with a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array, and is interposed in a feed path of each of the plurality of antenna elements. Phase shift means for selectively changing the phase of a signal passing in both directions of a variable digital phase shifter having a control end for the number of bits representing a settable phase shift amount; at least one or more input ends; A parallel digital code having an output terminal that is at least an integral multiple of the total number of control terminals of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters and an integer multiple of at least two of the total control terminals of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters; Signals are arranged in series, and a serial phase shift control information signal representing phase shift control information corresponding to an operation mode different for each bit is input through an input terminal. A and outputs the parallel digital code signals, the plurality of control terminals of the plurality of variable digital phase shifter, each of two or more operating modes number to a plurality of output terminals 1
The serial phase shift control information signal is shifted one bit at a time in accordance with two or more operation modes, and the output terminal that outputs the parallel digital code signal for each bit is changed. By doing so, there is provided a beam control means for setting a phase shift amount of each of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters and controlling a beam formed by the plurality of antenna elements.

The beam control means has at least one input terminal and at least as many output terminals as the number obtained by multiplying at least the number of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter, the number of variable digital phase shifters, and at least two operation modes. And a shift register circuit having
A plurality of control terminals of each of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters are connected to a plurality of output terminals of the shift register circuit at intervals of a number obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of operation modes, and a plurality of bits of the serial phase shift control information signal are shifted. The parallel digital code signal is output to the register circuit through the output terminal for each bit, and the serial phase shift control information signal is shifted one bit at a time by the shift register circuit in accordance with the operation mode to obtain a plurality of variable digital codes. The phase shift amount of each phase shifter is set.

According to this configuration, the plurality of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter interposed in the feed path of each of the plurality of antenna elements are controlled by the number of variable digital phase shifters of the shift register circuit, The number of digital phase shifters and the output terminals of the number obtained by multiplying two or more operation modes of the plurality of antenna elements are connected to each other at intervals of the number of operation modes minus one,
The shift register circuit serially arranges parallel digital code signals of the same number of bits as the output terminal, and inputs a serial phase shift control information signal representing phase shift control information corresponding to an operation mode different for each bit through the input terminal. Then, after converting the serial phase shift control information signal into a format in which a parallel digital code signal of a plurality of bits, that is, a code signal of a logic "0" or "1" of a plurality of bits is added in parallel to each variable digital phase shifter, A code signal of logic "0" or "1" is output for each bit through the output terminal, and is applied to the control terminal of each variable digital phase shifter to set the amount of phase shift of the variable digital phase shifter, according to the operation mode. The shift register circuit shifts the serial phase shift control information signal by one bit as a whole and changes the output end for outputting a logic "0" or "1" sign signal, thereby changing the variable digital signal. So that changing the amount of phase shift of Le phase shifter.

For this reason, the phase shift amount of each variable digital phase shifter in accordance with the operation mode is set only by shifting the plurality of bits of the serial phase shift control information signal one bit at a time by the shift register circuit. Therefore, the phase shift control circuit can be simplified, thereby contributing to a reduction in cost, size, and weight of the entire device.

Further, in the above configuration, the shift register circuit is configured to multiply a value obtained by multiplying the number of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter, the number of variable digital phase shifters, and two or more operation modes by the number of operation modes. A bi-directional shift register circuit having an output end equal to a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the above and one or more input ends, wherein the input multi-bit serial phase shift control information signal is converted by the bi-directional shift register circuit. It is characterized in that the beam is shifted bidirectionally as needed and the beam corresponding to the operation mode is repeatedly set.

According to this configuration, when it is only necessary to set the repetition phase according to the operation mode like a radar, for example, a plurality of bits of the serial phase shift control information signal are input to the bidirectional shift register circuit and output. It holds and shifts the multi-bit serial phase shift control information signal bidirectionally according to the operation mode to repeatedly set the beam, so that the multi-bit serial phase shift control information signal does not need to be updated according to the operation mode. I'm done.

Also, a phased array antenna device according to the present invention is provided so as to face a primary radiating portion for transmission for transmitting a transmission radio wave and an opening of the primary radiating portion for transmission.
A plurality of first antenna elements arranged in an array receive transmission radio waves from the primary radiating portion for transmission, and the plurality of first antenna elements arrange the transmission radio waves separately from the plurality of first antenna elements. A secondary radiating unit that transmits to the space from the second antenna element and transmits received radio waves received from the outside by the plurality of second antenna elements to the space from the plurality of first antenna elements; The receiving primary unit is provided at a position spatially independent of the antenna unit and opposed to the plurality of first antenna elements of the secondary radiating unit, and receives received radio waves transmitted from the plurality of first antenna elements. The radiating section and the control ends of the number of bits representing the settable phase shift amount are interposed in the feed paths of the plurality of first antenna elements and the plurality of second antenna elements of the secondary radiating section. Through the variable digital phase shifter A phase shifter for selectively changing the phase of the signal, and a phase shift amount of a plurality of variable digital phase shifters of the phase shifter are set in accordance with a transmission mode and a reception mode, and a plurality of second And a beam control means for controlling a transmission beam and a reception beam formed by the antenna element.

According to this configuration, the primary radiating portion for transmission and the primary radiating portion for reception are arranged at positions spatially independent of each other.
The transmitting and receiving signals formed by the plurality of first antenna elements of the secondary radiating section are arranged at the positions where the beams are focused, so that the transmitted and received signals are separated.

For this reason, the loss due to the circulator used for separating transmission and reception as in the related art can be eliminated, and the antenna performance can be improved.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a phased array antenna device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same portions as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 50 denotes a phase shift controller, which has four input terminals (IN, CLK, STB, R / L).
And 25 output terminals (# 1 to # 25) and output terminals (OU
T), and a bidirectional shift type shift register 51 having T). The number of output terminals (# 1 to # 25) is equal to the total number of control terminals (12
) And the number of operation modes (transmission and reception) and the number of operation modes minus one. Four input terminals (I
N, CLK, STB, R / L) have input terminals 511 for signal input and input terminals 51 for clock signal input, respectively.
2. An input terminal 513 for inputting a strobe signal and an input terminal 514 for switching a shift direction are connected, and an output terminal (OU
The output terminal 515 is connected to T). The control terminals of the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124 are connected to the output terminals (# 1 to # 25) of the shift register 51 at intervals of every other one corresponding to the two modes of transmission and reception. .

Next, in the shift register 51,
Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to the signal timing chart of FIG. First, a serial phase shift control information signal for beam control as shown in FIG. 2A is input to the input terminal 511. The input terminal 512 receives a clock signal having an H (high) level and an L (low) level as shown in FIG. A strobe signal as shown in FIG. 2D is input to the input terminal 513. Input terminal 51
A shift direction switching signal as shown in FIG. Note that the signal shown in FIG. 2E is a signal indicating two modes preset in the shift register 51.

The serial signal group B1 of the serial phase shift control information signal input to the input terminal 511 includes the beam B
1 transmission (T) and 2 reception (R) modes multiplied by three control terminals of a variable digital phase shifter and four variable digital phase shifters, a 24-bit parallel digital code signal, that is, logic " Code signals of "0" or "1" are serially arranged. The serial signal group B1 represents phase shift control information corresponding to the transmission mode and the reception mode for each bit.

The shift register 51 receives the 24 clocks input through the input terminal 512, that is, the L clock.
After the serial signal group B1 of the serial phase shift control information signal input to the input terminal 511 is fetched at the timing when the level changes from the H level to the H level, the strobe signal is applied at the timing of the 25th clock. To the control terminal of the π-bit of the variable digital phase shifter 124 connected to the terminal, the information of PS1 · π · T, that is, a code signal of logic “1” or “0” is given. Similarly, information of PS1 / π / 2 · T is given to the π / 2 bit control terminal of the variable digital phase shifter 124, and PS1 / π / 4 · T is supplied to the π / 4 bit control terminal of the variable digital phase shifter 124. The information is given. Corresponding "T" information is similarly provided to the other variable digital phase shifters 121 to 123, and in this state, the antenna elements 111 to 114 form a B1 T-mode beam.

Next, when the shift direction is reversed and the 26th clock is applied to apply a strobe, the control signal of the π bit of the variable digital phase shifter 124 connected to the output terminal # 24 is connected to the serial signal group. Information of PS1 · π · R of B1 is given. Similarly, π / of the variable digital phase shifter 124
The 2-bit control terminal is provided with information of PS1 / π / 2R, and the π / 4-bit control terminal of the variable digital phase shifter 124 is provided with information of PS1 / π / 4R. The same applies to the other variable digital phase shifters 121 to 123. "
R ″ is given, and in this state, the antenna elements 111 to 114 form a B-mode R-mode beam.

That is, the shift register 51 inputs the serial phase shift control information signal to the input terminal 511, outputs parallel digital code signals for each bit from 24 output terminals (# 1 to # 24), and outputs Variable digital phase shifter 121
To 124, and the output terminal for outputting the parallel digital code signal by shifting the serial phase shift control information signal bidirectionally by one bit as a whole according to the transmission mode and the reception mode. Thus, the phase shift amounts of the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124 are changed, and the antenna elements 111
To 114 are controlled. In addition, an unnecessary serial phase shift control information signal or a parallel digital code signal of several bits is output through an output terminal 514.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the three control terminals of each of the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124 are:
25 output terminals of shift register 51 (# 1 to # 25)
The shift register 51 serially arranges a 24-bit parallel digital code signal, and represents a phase shift control information corresponding to a different operation mode for each bit. An information signal is fetched through an input terminal 511, and the serial phase shift control information signal is converted into a 24-bit parallel digital code signal, that is, a plurality of bits of logic "0, 1" code signals in parallel to the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124. After that, a code signal of logic “0, 1” is output for each bit through the output terminals (# 1 to # 24) to set the amount of phase shift of each variable digital phase shifter. The serial phase shift control information signal is shifted one bit at a time in accordance with the transmission mode and the reception mode, and the output terminal for outputting the logic "0, 1" code signal is changed to change the variable data. So that changing the phase shift amount of Tal phase shifter 121-124.

Therefore, the shift register 51 only shifts the serial phase shift control information signal by one bit as a whole, and the phase shift amount of each of the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124 according to the transmission mode and the reception mode. Can be set, so that the phase shift controller 50 can be simplified, thereby contributing to a reduction in cost and size and weight of the entire apparatus.

In the above embodiment, when it is only necessary to set the phase repeatedly according to the transmission mode and the reception mode like a radar, the serial phase shift control information signal is input to the shift register 51. And the output is held, and the beam is repeatedly set by bidirectionally shifting the serial phase shift control information signal according to the transmission mode and the reception mode, so that the serial phase shift control information signal does not need to be updated according to the mode. .

In the above embodiment, two modes of transmission and reception are assumed. However, the number of modes is not limited to two, but the number of modes can be increased by increasing the number of parallel digital code signals connected serially. In this case, the output terminals of the shift register 51 are increased, and the control terminals of the variable digital phase shifters 121 to 124 are connected to the output terminals separated from each other by the operation mode number −1, and the shift direction and the clock number are appropriately given. If the strobe is applied afterwards, the beam setting according to each mode can be repeated.

In the above embodiment, the shift register 51 of the bidirectional shift type is used. However, when beam control in multiple directions is performed, a shift register other than the bidirectional shift register may be used. . In this case, the number of output terminals of the shift register is equal to the number of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter,
It may be a number obtained by multiplying the number of variable digital phase shifters and the number of operation modes of two or more.

Further, in the above embodiment, the variable digital phase shifter 1 is provided in the feed path of each of the antenna elements 111 to 114.
Although the description has been given of the example in which the transmission / reception switch is interposed, the transmission / reception switch for switching the transmission / reception signal, the transmission amplifier for amplifying the transmission signal switched by the transmission / reception switch, and the reception amplifier for amplifying the reception signal switched by the transmission / reception switch are provided. One transmission / reception module combining the transmission / reception switch, the transmission amplifier, the reception amplifier, and the variable digital phase shifter may be interposed in the feed paths of the antenna elements 111 to 114.

(Second Embodiment) The second embodiment of the present invention is directed to a space-fed type phased array antenna device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the phased array antenna device according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted. In FIG. 3, the phased array antenna device includes a secondary radiating section 30.
The antenna elements 311 to 314 are opposed to the four antenna elements 311 to 314 at spatially independent positions.
The primary radiating section 60 for transmission and the primary radiating section 6 for reception are located at a position where the transmission beam and the reception beam formed by
1 is arranged. The primary radiating unit for transmission 60 includes a power feeding horn 601 and a transmitter 602, and transmits a transmission signal generated from the transmitter 602 to the secondary radiating unit 30 as a transmission radio wave from the power feeding horn 601. Primary radiator 61 for reception
Is provided with a power feeding horn 611 and a receiver 612, and receives a reception radio wave transmitted from each of the antenna elements 311 to 314 of the secondary radiating unit 30 to the receiver 612 via the power feeding horn 611.

Variable digital phase shifter 33 of secondary radiating section 30
The control terminals 1 to 334 include four input terminals (IN, CLK, STB, R / L), 25 output terminals (# 1 to # 25), and an output terminal (OUT) in the phase shift control unit 62. ) Are connected to the output terminal of the shift register 621 having every other interval. The three input terminals (IN, CLK, STB, R / L) of the shift register 621 have an input terminal 622 for inputting a signal, an input terminal 623 for inputting a clock signal, and an input terminal 624 for inputting a strobe signal. When,
An input terminal 625 for inputting a shift direction switching signal is connected. An output terminal 626 is connected to the output terminal (OUT). The shift register 621 has an input terminal 6
22 is converted into a parallel digital code signal, and the parallel digital code signal is output to the control terminals of the variable digital phase shifters 331 to 334 through the output terminals (# 1 to # 24) for each bit. , The amount of phase shift of each of the variable digital phase shifters 331 to 334 is arbitrarily set.

The shift register 621 includes the antenna element 3
Each of the variable digital phase shifters 331 to 334 according to the transmission mode and the reception mode so that the transmission beam and the reception beam formed by 21 to 324 are formed in the same direction.
Switch setting of the phase shift. In this case, it can be easily realized by shifting the serial phase shift control information signal input by the shift register 621 bidirectionally by one bit according to the transmission mode and the reception mode as in the previous embodiment.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the primary radiating section for transmission 60 and the primary radiating section for reception 61 are positioned at spatially independent positions of the secondary radiating section 30. The transmission and reception signals formed by each of the antenna elements 311 to 314 are disposed at a position where the transmission beam and the reception beam are focused, thereby separating transmission and reception signals.

For this reason, the loss due to the circulator used for separating transmission and reception as in the related art can be eliminated, and the antenna performance can be improved.

In the second embodiment, an example is described in which the present invention is applied to a radar that forms a transmission beam and a reception beam in the same direction. However, it is possible to form the transmission beam and the reception beam in different directions. The present invention may be applied to a communication device or the like. Also in this case, the primary radiating section 6 for transmission is used.
0 and the primary radiating section 61 for reception are spatially independent from each other, and
The transmission beam and the reception beam formed by 14 are arranged at a place where the beam is focused.

In the second embodiment, an example is described in which the bidirectional shift type shift register 621 is used, but a shift register other than the bidirectional type shift register may be used. In this case, the number of output terminals may be a number obtained by multiplying the number of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter, the number of variable digital phase shifters, and two or more operation modes. Furthermore, the number of modes can be increased by increasing the number of parallel digital code signals connected serially, not limited to the two modes of transmission and reception.

(Other Embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In each embodiment, 3
An example using four variable digital phase shifters having three control ends is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A phase shifter may be used. In this case, one or more input terminals and at least the number of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter,
A shift register having the number of variable digital phase shifters and the number of output terminals multiplied by two or more operation modes may be used. When a bidirectional shift type shift register is used, the number obtained by multiplying one or more input terminals, the number of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter, the number of variable digital phase shifters, and the number of two or more operation modes is multiplied. What is necessary is just to have the output terminal of the number which added the number of operation modes -1. Further, in addition to the shift register, the function of this shift register is executed, and one or more input terminals and at least two or more output terminals corresponding to an integral multiple of the total number of control terminals of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters are provided. If it has, it can be implemented similarly.

In addition, the type of the antenna element and the configuration of the shift register can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0047]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Provided is a phased array antenna device that simplifies a phase shift control circuit to reduce the cost and size and weight of the entire device, and also suppresses deterioration of transmission / reception sensitivity and improves antenna performance even in a space feeding type. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a phased array antenna device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a signal timing chart for explaining a method of controlling a phase shift amount of a variable digital phase shifter using a shift register in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the phased array antenna device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional phased array antenna device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another conventional phased array antenna device.

[Explanation of symbols]

13, 50, 62: phase shift control unit, 20: primary radiating unit, 21, 601, 611: feeding horn, 22: circulator, 23, 602: transmitter, 24, 612: receiver, 30: secondary radiation 40, 51, 131, 621: shift register, 60: primary radiating section for transmission, 61: primary radiating section for reception, 111 to 114, 311 to 314, 321 to 324: antenna elements, 121 to 124, 331 to 334: Variable digital phase shifter, 511 to 514, 622 to 625: Input terminals, 515, 626: Output terminals.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of antenna elements capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves and arranged in an array, interposed in a feed path of each of the plurality of antenna elements,
Phase shift means for selectively changing the phase of a signal passing through both sides of a variable digital phase shifter having a control end for the number of bits representing a settable phase shift amount; at least one or more input ends; An output terminal that is an integer multiple of at least two or more of the total number of control terminals of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters as a whole; Digital code signals are arranged in series, and a serial phase shift control information signal representing phase shift control information corresponding to an operation mode different for each bit is input through the input terminal. A parallel digital code signal is output, and a plurality of control terminals of each of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters are separated from each other by a number obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of operation modes. By connecting the serial phase shift control information signal one bit at a time and changing the output terminal for outputting a parallel digital code signal for each bit in accordance with two or more operation modes,
A phased array antenna apparatus, comprising: a beam control means for setting a phase shift amount of each of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters and controlling a beam formed by the plurality of antenna elements. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beam control means includes at least one input terminal and at least the number of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter.
A shift register circuit having the number of the variable digital phase shifters and the number of output terminals multiplied by the number of the two or more operation modes, wherein a plurality of control terminals of each of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters are set to an operation mode. Connected to a plurality of output terminals of the shift register circuit at intervals of a number obtained by subtracting 1 from the number, input the serial bit shift control information signal of the plurality of bits to the shift register circuit, and set the parallel Outputting a digital code signal through the output end;
3. The phase shift amount of each of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters is set by shifting the serial phase shift control information signal one bit at a time by the shift register circuit in accordance with the operation mode. 2. The phased array antenna device according to 1. 3. The shift register circuit according to claim 1, wherein a value obtained by multiplying the number of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter, the number of variable digital phase shifters, and the number of operation modes of two or more is multiplied by the number of operation modes. A bi-directional shift register circuit having a number of output terminals obtained by adding a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the above, and one or more input terminals. 3. The phased array antenna device according to claim 2, wherein a beam is repeatedly set in accordance with the operation mode by appropriately shifting bidirectionally by a circuit. 4. A transmission / reception switch, which is interposed in a power supply path of each of the plurality of antenna elements and switches transmission / reception signals, a transmission amplifier for amplifying a transmission signal switched by the transmission / reception switch, and switching by the transmission / reception switch And a transmission / reception switch, a transmission amplifier, a reception amplifier and the variable digital phase shifter are combined to constitute one transmission / reception module, and the operation modes are a transmission mode and a reception mode. The phased array antenna device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A transmitting primary radiating portion for transmitting a transmitting radio wave, provided opposite to an opening of the transmitting primary radiating portion, and transmitting radio waves from the transmitting primary radiating portion arranged in an array. Received by a plurality of first antenna elements, and the transmission radio wave is transmitted to a space from a plurality of second antenna elements arranged in an array separately from the plurality of first antenna elements, and the transmission radio wave is transmitted from outside. A secondary radiating unit that transmits the received radio waves received by the plurality of second antenna elements to the space from the plurality of first antenna elements, and the transmitting primary radiating unit is spatially independent at a position, A primary radiating section for reception provided opposite to the plurality of first antenna elements of the secondary radiating section and receiving a received radio wave transmitted from the plurality of first antenna elements; and the secondary radiating section The plurality of first antenna elements and the plurality of A phase selective to a signal passing through a variable digital phase shifter, which is interposed in each feed path with the second antenna element and has a control end for the number of bits representing a settable phase shift amount, in both directions. A phase shift unit for giving a change; and a phase shift amount of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters of the phase shift unit is set in accordance with the transmission mode and the reception mode, and the phase shift unit is formed by the plurality of second antenna elements. A beam control means for controlling a transmission beam and a reception beam. 6. The beam control unit according to claim 5, wherein
Switching the phase shift amounts of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters in accordance with the transmission mode and the reception mode so that the transmission beam and the reception beam formed by the antenna elements are formed in the same direction. The phased array antenna device according to claim 5, wherein: 7. The beam control means has at least one or more input terminals and at least two or more integral multiples of the total number of control terminals of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters. Serial phase shift control information representing serial phase shift control information corresponding to operation modes different from each other by serially arranging parallel digital code signals of an integral multiple of at least two or more of the total number of control terminals of the entire variable digital phase shifter. A signal is input through the input terminal, and a parallel digital code signal for each bit is output from the plurality of output terminals, and a control terminal of each of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters is connected to the plurality of output terminals. Connections are made at intervals of two or more operation modes minus one, and the serial phase shift control information signal is totally 1 according to the transmission mode and the reception mode.
A means for setting the phase shift amount of each of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters according to each mode by changing an output end for outputting a parallel digital code signal for each bit by shifting bit by bit. The phased array antenna device according to claim 5, wherein: 8. The beam control means includes at least one input terminal and at least the number of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter,
A shift register circuit having an output terminal of a number obtained by multiplying the number of variable digital phase shifters and the number of operation modes,
A plurality of control terminals of each of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters are connected to an output terminal of the shift register circuit at intervals of a number obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of operation modes, and the plurality of bits are connected to the output terminal of the shift register circuit. The shift register circuit outputs the parallel digital code signal for each bit through the output terminal, and the shift register circuit totally converts the serial phase shift control information signal according to a transmission mode and a reception mode. 8. The phased array antenna device according to claim 5, wherein a phase shift amount of each of the plurality of variable digital phase shifters is set by shifting one bit at a time. 9. The shift register circuit according to claim 1, wherein a value obtained by multiplying the number of control terminals of the variable digital phase shifter, the number of variable digital phase shifters, and the number of operation modes of two or more is multiplied by the number of operation modes. A bi-directional shift register circuit having a number of output terminals obtained by adding a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the above, and one or more input terminals. 9. The phased array antenna device according to claim 8, wherein a beam is appropriately set bidirectionally by a circuit to repeatedly set a beam according to the transmission mode and the reception mode.