JP2001217728A - Phased array antenna device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an antenna device having a cooling structure capable of cooling plural transmitting/receiving modules uniformly as mush as possible. SOLUTION: This device has a structure provided with plural antenna elements 21, a first refrigerant passage 81 formed among plural transmitting/ receiving modules 11 which are arranged in matrix shape or the like behind respective antenna elements 21 corresponding to the antenna elements 21, and a second refrigerant passage 82 formed among the plural transmitting/receiving modules 11 and communicated to the first refrigerant passage 81. A refrigerant is supplied or discharge from the behind of the plural transmitting/receiving modules 11 through the first refrigerant passage 81 and the second refrigerant passage 82 by a refrigerant forced-flowing device or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a phased array antenna device (hereinafter, "antenna device"), and more particularly to an antenna device characterized by a cooling structure of a transmitting / receiving module.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional air-cooled antenna device, in which 2 is an antenna element group composed of a plurality of antenna elements 21, and 1 is disposed behind the corresponding antenna elements. Transmitting / receiving module group including a plurality of transmitting / receiving modules 11, 3 is a housing for housing the transmitting / receiving module group 1, 4 is a transmitting / receiving module 11 and an antenna element 2.
1 is a power supply connector, 5 is a first refrigerant port that functions as an air inlet, and 6 is a second refrigerant port that functions as an air outlet.

During operation of the antenna device, a blower (not shown) provided inside or outside the housing 3 is operated to constantly introduce cooling air from the first refrigerant port 5 into the housing 3. Then, the flow is made to flow in a direction orthogonal to each transmitting / receiving module 11, and thus each transmitting / receiving module 11 is cooled in series and then discharged from the second refrigerant port 6.

In the above cooling structure, the cooling air is supplied to the casing 3
The temperature gradually rises due to the heat released from the transmitting / receiving module 11 while moving inside, and the cooling function is reduced. As a result, the transmitting / receiving module 1 located near the second refrigerant port 6
1 had a problem that it was not cooled sufficiently. In other words, a temperature gradient occurs between the transmission / reception module 11 located near each of the first refrigerant port 5 and the second refrigerant port 6 of the housing 3, and this temperature gradient degrades the signal transmission / reception performance of the antenna device. become.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna device having a cooling structure capable of cooling a plurality of transmitting / receiving modules as uniformly as possible in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. Things.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an antenna apparatus comprising: (1) a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of transmission / reception modules arranged behind the antenna elements, the plurality of antenna elements, and A first refrigerant flow path formed between a plurality of transmission / reception modules, including a second refrigerant flow path formed between the plurality of transmission / reception modules and communicating with the first refrigerant flow path; The coolant is supplied or discharged from behind through the first coolant channel and the second coolant channel. (2) In the above (1), a housing having a first refrigerant port functioning as an inlet or an outlet of a refrigerant and a second refrigerant port functioning as an outlet or an inlet of a refrigerant, and accommodating a plurality of transmitting / receiving modules is provided. Things. (3) In the above (2), the first refrigerant port is provided at a plurality of positions on the back surface of the housing, and the second refrigerant port is provided on each of the upper and lower surfaces or both side surfaces communicating with the first refrigerant flow path of the housing. It is a thing. (4) In the above (2), a refrigerant forcibly sending air or liquid refrigerant as a refrigerant from the first refrigerant port to the second refrigerant port, or from the second refrigerant port to the first refrigerant port. It also has a forced flow device. (5) In the above (2), the housing is divided into a plurality of compartments accommodating a plurality of transmitting / receiving modules by the partition wall, each compartment has a first refrigerant port, and an opening in the first refrigerant passage. Having a third refrigerant port. (6) In the above (5), a refrigerant flow control device is provided for each compartment.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view including a partially cutaway view of the antenna device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a module group including a plurality of transmission / reception modules (hereinafter, referred to as modules) 11, 2 denotes an antenna element group including a plurality of antenna elements 21 electrically connected to each module 11, and 3 denotes a module. Group 1
And 8 is a coolant channel.

[0008] The housing 3 is composed of a front wall 31, a rear wall 32, a top wall 33, a bottom wall 34, a side wall 35 and a side wall 36.
It is a cube having a surface. The plurality of antenna elements 21 forming the antenna element group 1 are arranged outside the front wall 31 and are usually covered with a radome (not shown). The plurality of modules 11 are arranged in a matrix to form a module group 1, and they are
5 and one row (ro) in the matrix for each stage of a multi-stage breathable shelf (not shown) secured to side wall 36.
It is arranged so that a small group of a plurality of modules 11 constituting w) is mounted.

Between the module group 1 and the antenna element group 2,
A space through which the refrigerant can flow is provided between the modules 11 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction and the up-down direction in the module 1 group, and the refrigerant flow path 8 exists between the module group 1 and the antenna element group 2. Refrigerant channel 81 having a space as a flow path, and modules 1 adjacent to each other
A second refrigerant flow path 8 having a space existing between the two as a flow path
It consists of two. The second refrigerant flow path 82 is a set of a plurality of partial flows, each of which is in parallel with each other, and all of which are in communication with the first refrigerant flow path 81.

1 to 2, reference numeral 4 denotes a power supply connecting body for connecting the module 11 and the antenna element 21, 5 denotes a first refrigerant port provided on the rear wall 32 of the housing 3, and 6 denotes a housing 3 A second refrigerant port 7 provided on the upper surface wall 33 and communicating with the first refrigerant channel 81 is a power supply installed on the inner surface of the rear wall 32 of the housing 3. Each of the antenna elements 21 and the corresponding module 11 are electrically connected to each other by the power supply connector 4 that penetrates the front wall 31 and traverses the first coolant channel 81.

Next, an operation state of the first embodiment will be described. With a blower (not shown) as one mode of the forced refrigerant flow device provided inside or outside the housing 3,
Cooling air is taken into the housing 3 from the plurality of first refrigerant ports 5. The taken-in cooling air flows in the direction of the arrow, that is, first flows in parallel in the second refrigerant flow path 82 between the modules 11 and in the direction from the back of each module 11 to the head, and then the first refrigerant flow. They merge in the path 81 and finally rise in the first refrigerant flow path 81 and are discharged from the second refrigerant port 6. Thus, all the modules 11 are cooled by the low-temperature cooling air which is not affected by the heat generated by the other modules 11. Therefore, those modules 11
The cooling efficiency in each case is very good, and all the modules 11 are cooled substantially uniformly.

As described above, in the antenna device according to the first embodiment, even if a plurality of modules 11 are arranged in a matrix of multiple rows and multiple columns, each module 11 is substantially uniformly and effectively. Cooled. Therefore, the transmission and reception performance of the antenna device is extremely good, and there is a remarkable effect that the module 11 and the antenna element 21 can be mounted in a complicated and high-density manner.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view including a partially cutaway view of the antenna device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. FIG.
4 to 4 respectively correspond to FIGS. 1 and 2 described above, and the second embodiment has substantially the same structure as the first embodiment, except that both the upper surface wall 33 and the lower surface wall 34 of the housing 3 are provided. First refrigerant channel 8
The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in having second refrigerant ports 61 and 62 connected to each other (see FIG. 4).

Therefore, in the second embodiment, the cooling air taken in from the plurality of first refrigerant ports 5 flows in the direction of the arrow, that is, flows first in the second refrigerant flow path 82 in parallel, and In the refrigerant channel 81, finally, the upper and lower parts are divided at about the middle height of the housing 3, one of which rises in the first refrigerant channel 81 and passes through the second refrigerant port 61, and the other is the first. It descends in the refrigerant channel 81 and from the second refrigerant port 62,
Each is discharged.

In the second embodiment, the cooling air whose temperature has risen by cooling the module group 1 is discharged from the upper and lower second refrigerant ports 61 and 62, so that the discharge efficiency is good. Since the inside of the housing 3 can be maintained at a lower temperature than in the case of 1, the cooling effect of the entire module group 1 is increased by that much.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 5 is a sectional view of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that second refrigerant ports 61 and 62 are provided at two places on the side wall 35 and the side wall 36 of the housing 3 respectively. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the cooling air taken in from the plurality of first refrigerant ports 5 flows in the direction of the arrow, that is, first flows in parallel in the second refrigerant flow path 82, and then flows in the first refrigerant flow path 82. At 81, the two merge at the end, and are finally divided into right and left around the approximate center of the housing 3, and one is discharged from the second refrigerant port 61 and the other is discharged from the second refrigerant port 62, respectively.

In the third embodiment, the cooling air whose temperature has risen by cooling the module group 1 is discharged from the two left and right second refrigerant ports 61 and 62, so that the cooling air is discharged in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Since the discharge efficiency is good and the inside of the housing 3 can be maintained at a lower temperature than in the first embodiment, the cooling effect of the entire module group 1 is increased accordingly.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 6 is a sectional view of Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is different from the third embodiment in that the inside of the housing 3 is partitioned by the partition wall 37 into a plurality of compartments that accommodate a part of the module group 1. Each compartment has a first refrigerant port 5 provided on the back surface 32 of the housing 3 and a third refrigerant port 371 provided on the partition wall 37. The third refrigerant port 371 communicates with the first refrigerant flow path 81. Therefore, Embodiment 4
In, the cooling air taken in from each first refrigerant port 5 flows in parallel through the second refrigerant flow path 82 in each compartment, enters the first refrigerant flow path 81 from the third refrigerant port 371, It is divided into right and left around the center of the body 3 and one is the second refrigerant port 6
1 and the other is discharged from the second refrigerant port 62, respectively. Note that a shielding plate or a blower may be provided at the third refrigerant port 371 for the purpose of adjusting the flow rate.

In the fourth embodiment, the inside of the housing 3 is divided into a plurality of compartments by the partition walls 37, and the intake and discharge of the refrigerant are performed in each compartment, so that the cooling of the module 11 between the compartments is performed. The difference in degree becomes smaller. Therefore, Embodiment 4 can be effectively applied to an antenna device having a large-sized housing 3 accommodating a plurality of modules 11.

Embodiment 5 FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of Embodiment 5 of the present invention, and shows a case 3, a module 11, and an antenna element 2 of the antenna device shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
1, the power supply connector 4, the first refrigerant port 5, the second refrigerant port 6, the power supply 7, etc., and the description of the partition wall 37 and the third refrigerant port 371 shown in FIG. Only the concept is shown conceptually.

In FIG. 7, the refrigerant flow path 8 comprises a first refrigerant flow path 81 and a second refrigerant flow path 82.
Is composed of nine portions of the first supporting refrigerant channels 811 to 819 and their merging channels 8110. On the other hand, the second refrigerant flow path 82 is composed of nine portions of the second support refrigerant flow paths 821 to 829, and the second refrigerant flow path 821 is further divided from the eight portions of the sub second refrigerant flow paths 8211 to 8218. Become. Other sub second refrigerant channels similarly include eight sub second refrigerant channels. Eight portions of the sub-support second refrigerant channels 8211 to 8218 join the support first refrigerant channel 811, and 8 of other sub-support second refrigerant channels, for example, 8251 to 8258 (not numbered in FIG. 7). The portion joins the first supporting refrigerant flow path 815. Further, nine portions of the first supporting refrigerant flow paths 811 to 819 are combined with a combined flow path 8110.
To join. In the fifth embodiment, each sub first refrigerant flow path 8
Each of the refrigerant flow controllers 11 to 819 has the refrigerant flow control device 9 slightly before merging with the merging channel 8110. In addition, a total of 72
Sub-support second refrigerant flow paths 8211 to 8218, 8221 to
Each of 8228... 8291 to 8298 corresponds to the second refrigerant flow path 82 between the modules 11 in FIGS. 1 to 6, and the first supporting refrigerant flow paths 811 to 819 and their combined flow paths 8110 This corresponds to the refrigerant channel 81.

The interior of the housing of the antenna device according to the fifth embodiment is divided into nine compartments by partition walls as in the case of the fourth embodiment, and each compartment includes eight sub-units existing between the modules. There is a support second refrigerant flow path (for example, sub support second refrigerant flow paths 8251 to 8258) and one support first refrigerant flow path (for example, support first refrigerant flow path 815), and has a refrigerant flow control device 9. . Therefore, by operating the respective refrigerant flow rate adjusting devices 9 so that the refrigerant flow rate in each of the compartments becomes constant, or by adjusting the refrigerant flow rate so that the temperature in each of the compartments becomes constant, the fourth embodiment is performed.
In this case, the module can be more uniformly cooled.

In the fifth embodiment, an example is shown in which the casing is divided into nine compartments by partition walls, and each compartment includes a module group in one row or column in the matrix. The body may be partitioned into any number of compartments, and one compartment may be partitioned to include more than one row or column of modules.

Embodiment 6 FIG. Embodiment 6 of the present invention
Corresponding to any one of Embodiments 1 to 5 described above,
However, instead of the blower used in the first to fifth embodiments, a blower that allows cooling air to be taken in from the second coolant port 6 of the housing 3 and discharged from the first coolant port 5 is used. . In the first to fifth embodiments, the first refrigerant flow path 81 functions as a junction of the second refrigerant flow path 82. However, in the sixth embodiment, the first refrigerant flow path 81
Functions as a distribution path that distributes the refrigerant to the plurality of second refrigerant channels 82. That is, in the sixth embodiment, the direction in which the refrigerant flows is reverse to that in the first to fifth embodiments. However, even if the module 11 is uniformly cooled, the type of the blower, the installation method, There is an advantage that installation locations can be diversified.

Embodiment 7 Embodiment 7 corresponds to any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, except that a blower is replaced with a liquid refrigerant supply device having a circulation pump capable of flowing liquid refrigerant into the housing 3. The liquid refrigerant is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a coolant such as a fluorine-based inert liquid and water. When the above-described electric insulating oil is used as the liquid refrigerant, there is no short-circuit problem even if the electric insulating oil comes into direct contact with the module 11, the antenna element 21, the power supply connector 4, the power supply 7, and the like. Like the air, the air may be directly supplied from the first refrigerant port 5 into the housing 3 and discharged from the second refrigerant port 6. Alternatively, as in the case of the sixth embodiment, the supply may be performed directly from the second refrigerant port 6 into the housing 3 and discharged from the first refrigerant port 5.
In those cases, the connection between the first refrigerant port 5 or the second refrigerant port 6 and the liquid refrigerant supply device is formed in a liquid-tight structure so that the outer wall of the housing 3 is not contaminated with the electric insulating oil. You.

When water or various weak or strong conductive liquids are used as the liquid refrigerant, if they are supplied directly into the housing 3, there is a risk of short-circuiting. It is preferable that a cooling duct or a cooling panel is installed in the coolant channel 81 so that the liquid coolant flows inside the cooling duct or the cooling panel.

In each of the above embodiments, the forced-flow refrigerant device such as a blower or the like may be of a type that sends out a refrigerant, or may be of a type that sucks in a refrigerant. They may be installed directly in the first refrigerant port 5 or the second refrigerant port 6, or may be installed in a duct extending from these refrigerant ports to the outside.

[0028]

As described above, the antenna device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of antenna elements,
A plurality of modules arranged behind the antenna elements corresponding to the respective antenna elements, a first refrigerant flow path formed between the plurality of antenna elements and the plurality of modules, formed between the plurality of modules. A second refrigerant flow path communicating with the first refrigerant flow path is provided, and a refrigerant is supplied or discharged from behind the plurality of modules through the first refrigerant flow path and the second refrigerant flow path. Therefore, all the modules are cooled by a low-temperature refrigerant, such as air, which is not affected by the heat generated by the other modules, so that the cooling efficiency is good, and all the modules are cooled substantially uniformly. Therefore, the object of the present invention can be achieved.

Further, in the above invention (1), a housing having a first refrigerant port functioning as a refrigerant inlet or outlet and a second refrigerant port functioning as a refrigerant outlet or inlet and accommodating a plurality of modules. And a forced refrigerant flow that forcibly sends air or liquid refrigerant as a refrigerant from the first refrigerant port toward the second refrigerant port, or from the second refrigerant port toward the first refrigerant port. The provision of the device has a remarkable effect that the cooling effect is improved because the refrigerant is effectively flowed between the modules, so that the module and the antenna element can be mounted in a complicated and high-density manner. In this case, when a liquid is used as the refrigerant, the cooling power is further improved. When the first refrigerant port and the second refrigerant port respectively function as an inlet or an outlet of a refrigerant,
There is an advantage that the types, installation methods, and installation locations of the refrigerant forced-flow device can be diversified.

Further, the first refrigerant port is provided at a plurality of locations on the back surface of the housing, and the second refrigerant port is provided on each of the upper and lower surfaces or both side surfaces communicating with the first refrigerant flow path of the housing. The cooling medium whose temperature has risen by cooling is discharged from the upper and lower or both sides of the two second refrigerant ports, so that the discharging efficiency is good, and the inside of the housing can be kept at a lower temperature, so that the cooling effect of the entire module group is correspondingly reduced. Get higher.

Further, the casing is divided into a plurality of compartments accommodating a plurality of modules by partition walls, each compartment having a first refrigerant port and a third refrigerant port opening to the first refrigerant flow path. With this configuration, the intake and discharge of the refrigerant are performed in each of the compartments, so that there is substantially no difference in the degree of cooling of the plurality of modules between the compartments. Therefore, such an embodiment can be effectively applied to an antenna device having a large-sized housing accommodating a plurality of modules.

Further, by providing a refrigerant flow control device for each compartment, a plurality of modules can be more reliably and uniformly cooled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view including a partially cutaway view of a phased array antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view including a partially cutaway view of a phased array antenna device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a phased array antenna device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a phased array antenna device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a phased array antenna device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a conventional phased array antenna cooling structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 module group, 11 modules, 2 antenna element groups, 21 antenna elements, 3 housings, 37 partition walls, 4 power supply connector, 5 first refrigerant port, 6 second refrigerant port, 7 power supply, 81 first refrigerant flow path , 82 second refrigerant flow path, 9 refrigerant flow rate control device.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5J021 AA05 AA06 FA24 FA26 HA05 JA08 5J070 AD10 AK32 AK33 AL01 5K060 AA22 JJ21

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of transmission / reception modules disposed behind the antenna elements corresponding to the antenna elements, and a first refrigerant flow formed between the plurality of antenna elements and the plurality of transmission / reception modules. And a second refrigerant passage formed between the plurality of transmission / reception modules and communicating with the first refrigerant passage. The first refrigerant passage and the second refrigerant supply the refrigerant from behind the plurality of transmission / reception modules. A phased array antenna device characterized by supplying or discharging through a flow path. 2. A housing having a first refrigerant port functioning as an inlet or outlet of a refrigerant and a second refrigerant port functioning as an outlet or an inlet of the refrigerant, and having a housing for accommodating a plurality of transmitting / receiving modules. The phased array antenna device according to claim 1. 3. A plurality of first refrigerant ports are provided on a rear surface of the housing, and second refrigerant ports are provided on upper and lower surfaces or both side surfaces communicating with the first refrigerant flow path of the housing. The phased array antenna device according to claim 2, wherein 4. A refrigerant forced-flow device that forcibly sends air or liquid refrigerant as a refrigerant from a first refrigerant port to a second refrigerant port or from the second refrigerant port to the first refrigerant port. 3. The phased array antenna device according to claim 2, comprising: 5. The casing is divided into a plurality of compartments accommodating a plurality of transmission / reception modules by a partition wall, each compartment having a first refrigerant port, and a third refrigerant opening to the first refrigerant flow path. 3. The phased array antenna device according to claim 2, further comprising a mouth. 6. The phased array antenna device according to claim 5, wherein a refrigerant flow control device is provided for each of the compartments.