JP2001284903A - Phase shifter rotating mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a phase shifter rotating mechanism, for which accuracy in the rotation of a motor is not severely required, in a simple configuration. SOLUTION: When a motor 21 is rotated and a shaft B is rotated, the teeth of a gear 28 can be moved forward in the fixed direction by an engage projection 26. At such a time, since a pin 17 is provided for holding the rotation angle of the gear 28, even when the rotation quantity of the motor 21 is not exact, the rotation angle of the gear 28 is stopped at a prescribed angle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an array antenna for setting a main beam direction by adjusting a phase difference between antenna elements, thereby setting a communication area and suppressing interference between base stations. Related to the phase shifter used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An array antenna 1 has a plurality of antenna elements 2 as shown in FIG. The beam direction θ can be set. In a conventional phase shifter, a manual lever and a scale plate are provided to change the phase of a signal supplied to each antenna element, and the phase is adjusted by manually moving the lever. However, in this configuration, it is complicated to move the lever by hand, and there is a problem that the phase cannot be set accurately.

In order to alleviate the above problems, there has been proposed a movable mechanism which generates a rotational motion by a motor, converts the rotational motion into a linear motion using a cam, and adjusts a phase difference (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-111,1992). -308006).

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned movable mechanism, the rotation of the motor must be accurately controlled so that the rotation of the motor stops at a predetermined angle. For this purpose, there is a problem that an expensive stepping motor is required. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize a phase shifter rotation mechanism that requires a simple configuration and that does not require strict rotation accuracy of a motor.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A phase shifter rotating mechanism according to the present invention rotates with the rotation of a motor and a gear connected to a rotation shaft of a rotary phase shifter, and engages with the gear teeth. By doing so, the gear is provided with a feed member for feeding the gear one by one, and a ratchet pawl for holding the rotation angle of the gear. According to the configuration, the motor is rotated,
By rotating the feed member, the gear teeth can be advanced in a certain direction. At this time, since the ratchet pawl for holding the rotation angle of the gear is provided, the rotation angle of the gear stops at a predetermined angle even if the rotation amount of the motor is not accurate.

The feed member rotates once,
The gear may be advanced by one tooth, or the gear may be advanced by a plurality of teeth during one rotation. Also,
If the detector is provided, the rotational position of the rotary phase shifter can be confirmed.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an array antenna incorporating a phase shifter. This array antenna includes a + 45-degree polarized antenna element 8a and-
This is a polarization diversity array antenna in which 45 ° polarized antenna elements 8b are arranged vertically. Antenna elements 8a, 8b
The three groups following the vertical line form one feed unit, and the five feed units form an array antenna. These power supply units are represented by reference numerals 2a to 2e. The array antenna includes phase shifters 3a and 3b with variable phase shift angles.

[0008] The feed signal to the array antenna is distributed by the distributor 5, and the + 45 ° fixed phase shifter 6a and-
It is supplied to a 45 ° fixed phase shifter 6b. Output signals from the fixed phase shifters 6a and 6b are distributed by distributors 7a and 7b, respectively, and one of the distributed signals is directly supplied to the power supply unit 2c. On the other hand, a phase difference is given by the phase shifters 3a and 3b, and the feed units 2a and 2b;
Power is supplied to d and 2e. The phase shifters 3a and 3b (indicated by 3 when collectively referred to) have the same structure, and are connected to each other by connecting rods (not shown) so that the rotations are linked.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the phase shifter 3. The phase shifter 3 is provided on a fixed ground plate (not shown) made of metal (copper, aluminum, or the like), and is rotationally coupled to an insulating substrate 17 in which an arc-shaped strip conductor 15 and a cylindrical center conductor 16 are fitted. A rotating rod 12 supporting a conductor 13;
An insulating film 14 made of an insulator such as polytetrafluoroethylene. An adhesive is applied to the insulating film 14.

In FIG. 2, the insulating film 14 is a disc-shaped sheet covering the entire strip conductor 15, but the insulating film 14 is formed into a shape matching the surface of the center conductor 16 and the surface of the strip conductor 15, respectively. An adhesive may be applied and attached, or an adhesive may be applied and attached to the surface of the rotary coupling conductor 13. The center hole C of the center conductor 16, the insulating film 14, and the rotating rod 12
a, 14a, and 12a are provided, and the center conductor 16,
In a state where the insulating film 14 and the rotary rod 12 are in contact with each other, an insertion protrusion 43a described later
It penetrates 14a and 12a. The rotating rod 12 is driven to rotate about the rotating hole 12a.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a phase shifter rotating mechanism including a phase shifter, and FIG. 4 is a plan view. The phase shifter rotation mechanism has four rotation axes A to D provided on the entire mounting plate 33 so as not to move up and down. The rotation shaft A is a rotation shaft of the electric motor 21 and has a gear 22 mounted thereon. The rotating shaft B is provided with a gear 23 meshing with the gear 22. Further, on the rotation shaft B, an engagement protrusion 26 as a feed member for feeding the gear 28 is formed. The rotating shaft B is provided with a rotating plate 31 having a scale. The rotation of the rotating plate 31 is magnetically or optically detected by the detector 32.

The rotating shaft C is connected to a press-contact member 4 described later, and has a semicircular gear 28 mounted thereon. Since a pin 27 as a ratchet pawl that moves elastically is inserted into the teeth of the gear 28, the gear 28 can rotate by one tooth by pushing the pin 27 away. The pin 27 is fixed to one end of an L-shaped bracket 25 rotatably attached to the rotation axis D. The other end of the metal fitting 25 is moved by an extension spring 24 by an arrow E in FIG.
Pulled in the direction. Therefore, the pin 27 is always
The gear 28 is urged in a direction to bite into the teeth.

Further, a rotating plate 29 is mounted on the rotating shaft C. The rotating plate 29 is provided with a plurality of holes 29a functioning as encoders. By detecting the position of the holes 29a by the detector 30, the rotation angle of the rotating shaft C can be detected. The phase shifter 3 includes a support plate 18 a for supporting a metal fixed ground plate 18, an insulating substrate 17, an insulating film 14 (not shown in FIG. 3), a rotating rod 12, and a pressure contact member 4 for pressing the rotating rod 12 ( And a support member 46 that receives the reaction force of the press contact member 4 and rotates integrally with the rotation axis C. The support member 46 and the press contact member 4 can rotate together without slipping. The reference numeral 16b on the bottom surface of the support plate 18a
Indicates a power supply end of the center conductor 16.

FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining the rotation operation of the phase shifter rotation mechanism. By rotating the electric motor 21 to rotate the rotating shaft B about one turn in the direction of arrow F as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the engagement protrusion 26 formed on the rotating shaft B
Moves the teeth of the gear 28 in the direction of arrow G. At this time,
As described above, the teeth 2 of the gear 28
Since the gear 7 is inserted, the gear 28 can rotate by one tooth in the direction of arrow G by pushing away the pin 27.

Further, as shown in FIG.
After about one rotation in the direction, the engagement protrusion 26 formed on the rotation axis B advances the teeth of the gear 28 in the direction of arrow I. Also at this time, as described above, the gear 28 can rotate by one tooth in the direction of the arrow I by pushing the pin 27 away. The engagement protrusion 26 may advance the tooth of the gear 28 by one tooth in the direction of arrow G or I, and even if the engagement protrusion 26 rotates further, the rotation angle is changed to the next tooth. Does not contribute to the rotation of the gear 28 unless the angle to advance Therefore, the rotation angle accuracy of the engagement protrusion 26, that is, the rotation axis B,
There is an advantage that strictness is not required as much as the case where the rotational motion is generated by the motor and is changed to the linear motion using the cam, as described in [Background Art].

FIG. 6 is a front view showing the press-contact member 4 which rotates together with the rotary rod 12 of the phase shifter 3 and presses the rotary rod 12 against the insulating substrate 17. The press-contact member 4 is mounted on a support member 46 and includes a support tube 44 and a press-contact body 43 that press the rotary rod 12 at a central portion, and a support tube 42 and a press-contact member 41 that press the rotary rod 12 at both ends. Support cylinder 42,
44, pressing members 41 and 43, and an insertion protrusion 43a to be described later.
Are all made of resin (phenol resin, polycarbonate resin, etc.).

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the supporting cylinder 44 (JJ in FIG. 6).
FIG. The pressure contact body 43 is inserted into the support cylinder 44 so as to be movable in the up-down direction. Inside the support cylinder 44,
A compression spring 45 is arranged, and this compression spring 45 pushes down the press contact body 43 downward. An insertion protrusion 43 is formed at the tip of the pressure contact body 43.
Is inserted into the hole 16 a of the center conductor 16 through the hole of the rotating rod 12 and the hole of the insulating film 14. The rotating rod 12 is pressed by the bottom surface 43 a of the pressure contact body 43, thereby realizing stable electrostatic coupling between the rotating coupling conductor 13 arranged in a layer on the lower surface of the rotating rod 12 and the center conductor 16. .

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the support cylinder 42 (KK of FIG. 6).
FIG. The press contact body 41 is inserted into the support cylinder 42 so as to be movable in the up-down direction. Inside the support cylinder 42,
A compression spring 45 is arranged, and the compression spring 45 pushes down the press contact body 41 in a downward direction. Therefore, the pressure contact body 4
1 can hold down the rotating rod 12 with the bottom surface 41a,
Rotary coupling conductor 13 arranged in layers below rotating bar 12
Then, stable electrostatic coupling with the arc-shaped strip conductor 15 can be achieved.

Since the pressure contact body 41 is fitted into a concave portion provided on the upper surface of the rotary rod 12, when the pressure contact body 41 rotates, the rotary rod 12 also rotates accordingly. With the structure of the rotating rod 12 and the pressing member 4 as described above, when the rotating shaft C rotates, the supporting member 46 and the pressing member 4
Rotates with it, causing the rotating rod 12 to rotate. In this case, as described above, the electrostatic coupling between the rotation coupling conductor 13 formed on the lower surface of the rotating rod 12, the center conductor 16 and the arc-shaped strip conductor 15 is maintained, so that an electrically stable transfer is achieved. Phase characteristics can be realized.

The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the gear 28
May be formed in plurality. FIG.
Is a plan view showing an example in which two engagement protrusions 26a and 26b are formed. When the rotation axis B is rotated about half a turn in the direction of arrow F as shown in FIG.
Moves the teeth of the gear 28 in the direction of arrow G by one. When the rotation shaft B is further rotated about half a turn, the engagement protrusion 26b advances the teeth of the gear 28 by one in the direction of arrow G. Therefore, the gear 28 advances by two teeth while the rotation shaft B makes one rotation.

Although two phase shifters 3 are used for a diversity array antenna, two phase shifters 3 are prepared. However, it is needless to say that only one phase shifter 3 is used for an array antenna without diversity.

[0022]

As described above, according to the phase shifter rotating mechanism of the present invention, the rotation angle of the phase shifter can be accurately set even if the rotation accuracy of the motor is low, so that it is inexpensive and simple. It can be configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an array antenna incorporating a phase shifter.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the phase shifter 3.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a phase shifter rotation mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a phase shifter rotation mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining a rotation driving operation of the phase shifter rotation mechanism.

6 is a front view showing a pressing member 4 for pressing the rotating rod 12 against an insulating substrate 17 while rotating together with the rotating rod 12 of the phase shifter 3. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view (a JJ cross-section in FIG. 6) of the support cylinder 44;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view (cross-section taken along the line KK in FIG. 6) of the support cylinder 42;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example in which two engagement protrusions 26a and 26b are formed on the rotation shaft B.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which a radio wave is emitted from the array antenna 1 in the main beam direction θ.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A, B, C, D rotation axes 1 Array antenna 2 Antenna element 3 Phase shifter 4 Pressure contact member 12 Rotating rod 14 Insulating film 15 Strip conductor 16 Center conductor 17 Insulating substrate 21 Electric motor 26, 26a, 26b Engagement projection 27 Pin Reference numeral 28 Gear 29 Rotating plate 29a Hole 30 Detector 41 Pressure contact body 42 Support cylinder 43 Pressure contact body 43a Insertion protrusion 44 Support cylinder 46 Support member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Takashi Koizumi, Inventor 1-3-12 Moto-Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo F-term in Shim Design Technology Co., Ltd. (Reference) 5J012 GA14 5J021 AA05 AA07 AA11 DB03 FA06 GA02 HA05

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A phase shifter rotating mechanism capable of setting a phase shift amount of a rotary phase shifter by rotation of a motor, comprising: a gear connected to a rotary shaft of the rotary phase shifter; It is characterized by comprising a feed member that rotates with rotation and engages the gear teeth to feed the gear one tooth at a time, and a ratchet pawl for maintaining the rotation angle of the gear. Phase shifter rotation mechanism. 2. The phase shifter rotating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the feed member rotates the gear by one rotation by one rotation. 3. The phase shifter rotating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the feed member feeds the gear by a plurality of teeth during one rotation. 4. The phase shifter rotating mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a detector for detecting a rotational position of the rotary phase shifter.