JP2001177328A - Integrated rf sensor system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an antenna system that generates multi-beams by means of digital beam forming that effectively utilizes limited hardware resources for the antenna system and can integrally control array antennas. SOLUTION: This RF sensor system, consisting of N-set of array antennas 1, reduces the hardware scale of the entire system by using a reception frequency converter group 3 and a transmission frequency converter group 4 to provide a function of using a common IF signal, interconnecting the array antennas 1 and M-sets of reception systems 6 and transmission systems 9 via a common IF network 13 and using a common IF switch 14, consisting of a switch matrix in the IF network to revise the connection relation among the array antennas 1, the reception systems 6 and the transmission systems 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming applicable to applications such as radar, electron beam, and communication, and more particularly, to transmission and reception with a plurality of array antennas. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an integrated RF sensor system for integrally controlling a machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 has a plurality of array antennas,
1 shows a general configuration of an integrated RF sensor system that forms a multi-beam by digital beam forming. In the figure, 1 is an N array antenna (N is an integer of 2 or more), 2 is an antenna group including a plurality of antenna elements for transmitting and receiving radio waves, and 3 is a received RF.
A group of receiving intermediate frequency converters for converting a signal into an intermediate frequency signal, a group of transmitting frequency converters for converting an intermediate frequency signal to be transmitted to an RF signal, a local oscillation corresponding to a frequency to be transmitted and received by an external control signal Frequency variable local oscillation signal generator for outputting a frequency, 6 for a reception system, 7 for an A / D converter for performing analog-digital conversion, 8 for reception for changing a beam forming load by a control signal and outputting a desired radiation pattern 9 is a transmission system, 10 is a D / A converter that performs digital-analog conversion, 11 is a transmission beamformer that changes the beamforming load by a control signal and outputs a desired intermediate frequency signal, and 12 is a plurality of transmission beamformers. Is a controller that performs integrated control of the array antenna.

Next, the operation will be described. At the time of reception, the reception signal received by the antenna group 2 is frequency-converted by the reception frequency converter group 3 by a local oscillation signal corresponding to the reception frequency output from the frequency variable local oscillation signal generator 5, and A / D converted. The digital signal is analog-to-digital converted by the group of devices 7 and subjected to a phase detection process and a complex product-sum operation with a beam forming weight by the reception beamformer 8 to form a desired reception beam and output to the controller 12. During transmission, the transmission seed signal generated by the controller 12 is transmitted to the transmission beamformer 1.
In step 1, a calculation process with the beam forming load is performed to output a desired intermediate frequency signal, which is digital-to-analog converted in the D / A converter group 10, and the frequency variable local oscillation signal generator 5
The frequency is converted by the transmission frequency converter group 4 by the local oscillation signal corresponding to the transmission frequency output from the antenna group 2 and the antenna group 2
Emitted at

[0004]

A conventional integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beamforming comprising a plurality of array antennas is configured as described above, and a receiving system and a receiving system are provided for each array antenna. There is a problem that the transmission system is provided and the device scale and the amount of wiring of the transceiver increase in proportion to the number of array antennas.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and it is possible to effectively use a limited number of hardware resources of a device and to integrally control a plurality of array antennas and a transceiver. It is an object of the present invention to obtain an integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an integrated R is provided.
The F sensor system is provided with M (M <N) receiving and transmitting systems for N (N is an integer of 2 or more) array antennas, and a common interface is used between the array antenna and the receiving and transmitting systems. (IF) A common IF switch composed of a switch matrix connected by a common intermediate frequency signal via a network and capable of changing the connection relationship between an array antenna, a receiving system, and a transmitting system by an external control signal. Things.

Further, the integrated RF sensor system according to the second invention comprises M (M <N) reception systems and transmission systems for N (N is an integer of 2 or more) array antennas, A common IF capable of connecting the array antenna, the receiving system, and the transmitting system with a common optical intermediate frequency signal by a common IF optical network and changing the connection relationship between the array antenna, the receiving system, and the transmitting system by a control signal from the outside An optical switch is provided.

The integrated RF sensor system according to the third aspect of the present invention includes M (M <N) receiving and transmitting systems for N (N is an integer of 2 or more) array antennas, The array antenna is connected to a receiving system and a transmitting system via a broadband RF network, and includes a wideband RF switch capable of changing a connection relationship between the array antenna, the receiving system, and the transmitting system by a control signal from the outside.

The integrated RF sensor system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes M (M <N) receiving and transmitting systems for N (N is an integer of 2 or more) array antennas, It has a broadband RF optical switch that connects the array antenna to the receiving system and the transmitting system via a broadband RF optical network, and that can change the connection relationship between the array antenna, the receiving system, and the transmitting system by an external control signal. is there.

The integrated RF sensor system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention provides M (M <N) receive beamformers and transmit beamformers for N (N is an integer of 2 or more) array antennas. And a digital switch for connecting the array antenna to the receive beamformer and the transmit beamformer.

The integrated RF sensor system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention provides an M-ary (M <N) receive beamformer and a transmit beamformer for N (N is an integer of 2 or more) array antennas. And a digital optical switch for connecting the array antenna to the receive beamformer and the transmit beamformer.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numerals 1 to 12 are exactly the same as those of the above-mentioned conventional device. Reference numeral 13 denotes a common IF network, which connects the array antenna 1, the receiving system 6, and the transmitting system 9 to each other. Reference numeral 14 denotes a common IF switch formed of a switch matrix, and the common IF switch 14 receives the control signal from the outside. The connection between the system 6 and the transmission system 9 can be changed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the details of a common IF switch constituted by a switch matrix. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 25 denotes a 1-input 2M-output switch. Can be connected. Reference numeral 26 denotes an N-input / one-output switch, which can be connected to any one of the ports 1 to N by an external control signal. The switch matrix connects the output ports of the N 1-input 2M output switches 25 and the input ports of the 2M N-input 1-output switches to each other, and connects arbitrary ports by an external control signal. be able to.

In the integrated RF sensor system which forms a multi-beam by digital beam forming composed of a plurality of array antennas 1 configured as described above, a common IF switch 14 is used to control the array antenna, the reception system, and the transmission system. Since the connection relationship can be changed, beam forming processing can be performed for N (N <M) receiving and transmitting systems for N array antennas, and the hardware scale in proportion to the number of array antennas can be reduced. Not needed,
The array antenna can be flexibly selected according to the situation.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention.
Numerals 12 to 12 are exactly the same as the above-mentioned conventional apparatus. Reference numeral 15 denotes an O / E converter for performing optical-to-electric conversion, 16 denotes an E / O converter for performing electrical-to-optical conversion, and 17 denotes a common IF optical network. Reference numeral 18 denotes a common IF optical switch constituted by a switch matrix, which can change the connection between the array antenna 1, the receiving system 6, and the transmitting system 9 by a control signal from the outside.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing details of the common IF optical switch 17 constituted by a switch matrix.
In the figure, reference numeral 25 denotes a 1-input 2M-output switch, which can be connected to an arbitrary port of 1 to 2M by an external control signal. Reference numeral 26 denotes an N-input / one-output switch, which can be connected to any one of the ports 1 to N by an external control signal. The switch matrix includes the output ports of N 1-input 2M output switches 25 and 2M N-input 1-M switches.
The input ports of the output switch are connected to each other, and arbitrary ports can be connected by an external control signal.

In the integrated RF sensor system which forms a multi-beam by digital beam forming composed of a plurality of array antennas 1 configured as described above, a common IF optical switch 14 controls the array antenna, the receiving system, and the transmitting system. , The beam forming process can be performed on M (N <M) receiving systems and transmitting systems for N array antennas, and the hardware scale is proportional to the number of array antennas. And the array antenna can be flexibly selected according to the situation.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention.
Numerals 12 to 12 are exactly the same as the above-mentioned conventional apparatus. Reference numeral 19 denotes a broadband RF network, which connects the array antenna 1, the reception system 6, and the transmission system 9 to each other. Reference numeral 20 denotes a wideband RF switch composed of a switch matrix. The connection between the system 6 and the transmission system 9 can be changed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing details of a wideband RF switch constituted by a switch matrix. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 25 denotes a 1-input 2M-output switch. Can be connected. Reference numeral 26 denotes an N-input / one-output switch, which can be connected to any one of the ports 1 to N by an external control signal. The switch matrix has N 1-input 2M
The output port of the output switch 25 and the input ports of the 2M N-input 1-output switches are connected to each other, and arbitrary ports can be connected to each other by a control signal from the outside.

In the integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming composed of a plurality of array antennas 1 configured as described above, a wide-band RF switch 20 is used to control the array antenna, the reception system, and the transmission system. Since the connection relationship can be changed, beam forming processing can be performed for N (N <M) receiving and transmitting systems for N array antennas, and the hardware scale in proportion to the number of array antennas can be reduced. It is not necessary, and the array antenna can be flexibly selected according to the situation.

Embodiment 4 FIG. FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
Numerals 12 to 12 are exactly the same as the above-mentioned conventional apparatus. Reference numeral 21 denotes a broadband RF optical network, which connects the array antenna 1, the receiving system 6, and the transmitting system 9 to each other. Reference numeral 22 denotes a broadband RF optical switch constituted by a switch matrix. And receiving system 6
And the transmission system 9 can be changed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a broadband RF optical switch constituted by a switch matrix.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a 1-input 2M output switch, which can be connected to an arbitrary port of 1 to 2M by an external control signal. Reference numeral 26 denotes an N-input / one-output switch, which can be connected to any one of the ports 1 to N by an external control signal. The switch matrix connects the output ports of the N 1-input 2M output switches 25 and the input ports of the 2M N-input 1-output switches to each other, and connects arbitrary ports by an external control signal. be able to.

In the integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming composed of a plurality of array antennas 1 configured as described above, a wide-band optical RF switch 22 controls the array antenna, the receiving system, and the transmitting system. Can be changed, so that M (N <M) for N array antennas
The beamforming process is possible in the receiving system and the transmitting system, and the array antenna can be flexibly selected according to the situation without requiring a hardware scale proportional to the number of array antennas.

Embodiment 5 FIG. 5 shows a functional block diagram of Embodiment 5 of the present invention.
Numerals 12 to 12 are exactly the same as the above-mentioned conventional apparatus. Reference numeral 23 denotes a digital switch composed of a switch matrix, which connects the array antenna 1, the receiving system 6, and the transmitting system 9 to each other, and connects the array antenna 1, the receiving system 6, and the transmitting system 9 by a control signal from the outside. Can exchange data in both directions.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing details of a digital switch constituted by a switch matrix. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 25 denotes a 1-input 2M-output switch, which is connected to an arbitrary port of 1 to 2M by an external control signal. can do. Reference numeral 26 denotes an N-input / one-output switch, which can be connected to any one of the ports 1 to N by an external control signal. The switch matrix has N 1-input 2M
The output port of the output switch 25 and the input ports of the 2M N-input / one-output switches are connected to each other, and arbitrary ports can be connected to each other by an external control signal.

In an integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming composed of a plurality of array antennas 1 configured as described above, a digital switch is used between an array antenna, a receiving system, and a transmitting system. Since the configuration is such that data can be exchanged in both directions, M (N <N)
The beam forming process is possible in the receiving system and the transmitting system of M), and the array antenna can be flexibly selected according to the situation without requiring a hardware scale proportional to the number of array antennas.

Embodiment 6 FIG. FIG. 6 shows a functional block diagram of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
Numerals 12 to 12 are exactly the same as the above-mentioned conventional apparatus. Reference numeral 24 denotes a digital optical switch constituted by a switch matrix, which connects the array antenna 1, the receiving system 6, and the transmitting system 9 to each other, and controls the array antenna 1, the receiving system 6, and the transmitting system 9 by a control signal from the outside. Data can be exchanged in both directions.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing details of a digital optical switch constituted by a switch matrix. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 25 denotes a 1-input 2M-output switch. Can be connected. Reference numeral 26 denotes an N-input / one-output switch, which can be connected to any one of the ports 1 to N by an external control signal. The switch matrix has N 1 inputs 2
An output port of the M output switch 25 and input ports of 2M N-input 1-output switches are connected to each other,
Arbitrary ports can be connected by an external control signal.

In the integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming composed of a plurality of array antennas 1 configured as described above, a digital optical switch is used to connect the array antenna with the receiving system and the transmitting system. , So that data can be transmitted and received in both directions, so that M (N
The beam forming process can be performed in the receiving system and the transmitting system of <M), and the array antenna can be flexibly selected according to the situation without requiring a hardware scale proportional to the number of array antennas.

[0030]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in an integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming composed of a plurality of array antennas, hardware which is proportional to the number of array antennas as in the conventional apparatus is used. It is possible to control multiple array antennas flexibly and in an integrated manner without requiring a large amount, and it is possible to increase the distance between each array antenna by interfacing with an intermediate frequency signal with less attenuation compared to the RF signal. ,
The degree of freedom in arrangement can be increased.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming comprising a plurality of array antennas. A plurality of array antennas can be integrated and flexibly controlled without requiring an amount, and the amount of wiring hardware can be reduced by using an optical fiber or the like as compared with the first invention.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in an integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming composed of a plurality of array antennas, hardware which is proportional to the number of array antennas as in a conventional device is provided. A plurality of array antennas can be flexibly and integrally controlled without requiring an amount, and the hardware of the array antenna portion can be reduced in size by interfacing with RF signals.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in an integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming composed of a plurality of array antennas, the amount of hardware proportional to the number of array antennas is reduced as in the conventional apparatus. It is not necessary, and a plurality of array antennas can be integrated and flexibly controlled, and the amount of wiring hardware can be reduced by using an optical fiber or the like as compared with the third invention.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming comprising a plurality of array antennas. It is possible to control multiple array antennas flexibly and in an integrated manner without requiring a large amount.By interfacing with digital signals, the distance between the array antennas can be increased because the signal attenuation is small, and Can be increased.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an integrated RF sensor system for forming a multi-beam by digital beam forming comprising a plurality of array antennas. A plurality of array antennas can be integrated and flexibly controlled without requiring an amount, and the amount of wiring hardware can be reduced as compared with the fifth invention by using an optical fiber or the like. Furthermore, since it is a digital signal, the dynamic range can be widened as compared with the second and fourth inventions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing Embodiment 1 of an integrated RF sensor system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing Embodiment 2 of the integrated RF sensor system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the integrated RF sensor system according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the integrated RF sensor system according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the integrated RF sensor system according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a sixth embodiment of the integrated RF sensor system according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a switch matrix.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional integrated RF sensor system.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 array antenna, 2 antenna group, 3 reception frequency converter group, 4 transmission frequency converter group, 5 frequency variable local oscillation signal generator, 6 reception system, 7 A / D converter group, 8
Reception beamformer, 9 transmission system, 10 D / A converter, 11 transmission beamformer, 12 controller, 13 common IF network, 14 common IF switch, 15
E / O converter, 16 O / E converter, 17 common IF optical network, 18 common IF optical switch, 19 broadband RF network, 20 wideband RF switch, 21
Broadband RF Optical Network, 22 Broadband RF Optical Switch, 23 Digital Switch, 24 Digital Optical Switch, 251 Input 2M Output Switch, 26 N Input 1 Output Switch.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An M (M <N) receiving system and a transmitting system are provided for N (N is an integer of 2 or more) array antennas, and the receiving system and the transmitting system are shared with the array antenna. An integrated RF having a common IF switch composed of a switch matrix connected by an interface (IF) network and capable of changing the connection relationship between the array antenna and a reception system and a transmission system by an external control signal
Sensor system. 2. An N array antenna (N is an integer of 2 or more) includes M (M <N) reception systems and transmission systems, and the reception system and transmission system are shared with the array antenna. Interface (IF) connected by optical network,
An integrated RF sensor system including a common IF optical switch capable of changing a connection relationship between an array antenna, a reception system, and a transmission system by an external control signal. 3. N (M is an integer of 2 or more) array antennas, M (M <N) reception systems and transmission systems are provided, and the array antenna, reception systems, and transmission systems are provided in a wide band. An integrated RF sensor system including a broadband RF switch that is connected via an RF network and that can change the connection relationship between an array antenna, a receiving system, and a transmitting system according to an external control signal. 4. An M (M <N) receiving system and a transmitting system are provided for N (N is an integer of 2 or more) array antennas, and the array antenna, the receiving system, and the transmitting system are provided in a wide band. An integrated RF sensor system including a broadband RF switch that can be connected by an RF optical network and that can change the connection relationship between an array antenna, a receiving system, and a transmitting system by an external control signal. 5. An apparatus comprising M (M <N) receive beamformers and transmit beamformers for N (N is an integer of 2 or more) array antennas, wherein the array antenna and the receive beamformer are provided. RF sensor system with a digital switch connecting the transmitter and the transmit beamformer. 6. An N array antenna (where N is an integer of 2 or more) includes M (M <N) receive beamformers and transmit beamformers, and the array antenna and the receive beamformer are provided. Integrated RF sensor system with a digital optical switch connecting the transmitter and the transmit beamformer.