JP2002246826A - Array antenna controller and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize space-time signal processing to a reception signal outputted from an ESPAR antenna with a simple circuit constitution. SOLUTION: A time domain signal processing part 4 executes time domain signal processing to a reception signal x(k) received by an exciting element A0 of an array antenna system 100 being an ESPAR antenna so that the direction of a main beam can be faced to the direction of a substantially desired wave based on the reception signal x(k), and outputs a processed signal y(k). An evaluation value calculating part 5 calculates an evaluation value by using a prescribed evaluation standard based on the inputted processed signal y(k), and outputs an evaluation value signal indicating an evaluation value. A space domain signal processing part 6 executes space domain signal processing in order to obtain an evaluation value signal being a substantially desired value based on the inputted evaluation value signal, and generates impressed voltage signals corresponding to the reactance values of variable reactance elements 12-1 to 12-6, and outputs those signals to the variable reactance elements 12-1 to 12-6 so that the evaluation value signal being the desired value can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an excitation element for transmitting and receiving a radio signal, a plurality of non-excitation elements provided at a predetermined distance from the excitation element, and a plurality of non-excitation elements connected respectively. Electronically controlled director array antenna device (Electronically S) that comprises a plurality of variable reactance elements and changes the directional characteristic of each variable reactance element to change the directional characteristics of the array antenna.
teerable Passive Array Radiator (ESPAR) Antenna; ) And the like for a control device for an array antenna device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ESPAR antenna (hereinafter referred to as a first ESPAR antenna) will be described.
It is called the conventional example. ) Is described in, for example, prior art document 1 “T. Ohira et al.,“ Electronically steerable p.
assivearray radiator antennas for low-cost analog
adaptive beamforming, "2000 IEEE International Conf
erence on Phased Array System & Technology pp. 101
-104, Dana point, California, May 21-25, 2000 "and Japanese Patent Application No. 11-194487. The ESPAR antenna is provided with an excitation element through which a radio signal is transmitted and received, at least one non-excitation element that is provided at a predetermined distance from the excitation element, and through which no radio signal is transmitted and received, and is connected to the non-excitation element. An array antenna including a variable reactance element is provided, and the directivity characteristics of the array antenna can be changed by changing the reactance value of the variable reactance element.

In addition, in a conventional adaptive array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements (hereinafter, referred to as a second conventional example), spatial domain signal processing realized by adaptive beam forming and equalization are performed. It has been known that spatio-temporal signal processing (hereinafter, referred to as spatio-temporal signal processing) in which time-domain signal processing by a transmitter is combined is effective as a measure against multipath fading which is a problem in high-speed wireless communication.

[0004]

The first prior art ESPAR antenna is composed of only a single excitation element as compared with the second prior art adaptive array antenna.
This is very advantageous in terms of economy. On the other hand, in the second conventional example, it is necessary to provide a hardware circuit for performing spatio-temporal signal processing for each of a plurality of antenna elements, and there is a problem that the circuit configuration is complicated and expensive.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, to have a simpler circuit configuration than the second conventional example, and to perform spatio-temporal signal processing on a signal received by an ESPAR antenna. An object of the present invention is to provide an array antenna control device capable of performing the above-described operations.

[0006]

An array antenna control apparatus according to the present invention comprises an excitation element for transmitting and receiving a radio signal, and a plurality of non-excitation elements provided at a predetermined distance from the excitation element. A plurality of variable reactance elements respectively connected to the plurality of non-exciting elements, the array antenna control device for changing the directional characteristics of the array antenna by changing the reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements, A first processing step of performing a time-domain signal processing on the reception signal based on the reception signal received by the excitation element so that the direction of the main beam is substantially directed to a desired wave, and outputting a processed signal;
Processing means, and calculating means for calculating an evaluation value using a predetermined evaluation criterion based on the processing signal output from the first processing means, and outputting an evaluation value signal indicating the evaluation value,
Based on the evaluation value signal output from the arithmetic means, by performing signal processing of the spatial domain to obtain substantially the desired value evaluation value signal, the desired value evaluation value signal was obtained, A second processing unit that generates a signal corresponding to the reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements and outputs the signal to each of the variable reactance elements.

[0007] In the above array antenna control device,
The second processing means preferably executes the signal processing in the spatial domain using a genetic algorithm or a simple search method for a difference vector. Further, in the array antenna control device, the first processing means preferably executes signal processing in the time domain using a linear equalizer based on a CM algorithm, an RLS algorithm, or an LMS algorithm. I do.

According to a method of controlling an array antenna according to the present invention, there are provided an excitation element for transmitting and receiving a radio signal, a plurality of non-excitation elements provided at a predetermined distance from the excitation element, and a plurality of non-excitation elements. A plurality of variable reactance elements respectively connected to the element, in the method of controlling the array antenna to change the directional characteristics of the array antenna by changing the reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements, received by the excitation element Performing signal processing in the time domain on the received signal so that the direction of the main beam is substantially directed to the direction of a desired wave based on the received signal, and outputting a processed signal; Calculating an evaluation value using a predetermined evaluation criterion, and outputting an evaluation value signal indicating the evaluation value; Then, by performing signal processing in the spatial domain so as to substantially obtain an evaluation value signal of a desired value, the evaluation value signal of the desired value is obtained, which corresponds to the reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements. Generating a signal and outputting the signal to each of the variable reactance elements.

[0009] In the above method of controlling an array antenna,
The step of executing the signal processing in the spatial domain preferably performs the signal processing in the spatial domain using a genetic algorithm or a simple search method of a difference vector. In the method of controlling an array antenna, the step of performing the signal processing in the time domain is preferably a CM algorithm, an RLS algorithm, or an LMS algorithm.
It is characterized in that signal processing in the time domain is executed using a linear equalizer based on an algorithm.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device for an array antenna device 100 called an ESPAR antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this control device is that the array antenna device 100
, A time domain signal processing unit 4 and an evaluation value calculation unit 5
And a spatial domain signal processing unit 6.

In FIG. 1, the control device of this array antenna includes one excitation element A0 and six non-excitation elements A1.
A to A6 and a control device for the array antenna device 100 including the ESPAR antenna according to the related art including the ground conductor 11. In the array antenna device 100, one excitation element A0 and six non-excitation elements A1
As shown in FIG. 1, the non-exciting elements A1 to A6 are arranged at equal intervals on a circle having a radius d around the exciting element A0. Here, one end of each of the non-excitation elements A1 to A6 is connected to each of the variable reactance elements 1
Grounded via 2-1 to 12-6. The non-excited elements A1 to A6 are, as shown in FIG.
The grounding conductor 11 of each of the non-excited elements A1 to A6 is supported so as to be electrically insulated from the grounding conductor 11 formed of a conductor plate having a sufficiently large width with respect to the length of 0 to A6.
The other ends on the side are grounded via variable reactance elements 12-1 to 12-6, respectively. Each of the variable reactance elements 12 is, for example, a variable capacitance diode. Each of the elements A0 to A6 is, for example, a monopole antenna element having a length of 1/4 wavelength. The radius d is a quarter wavelength. Here, one wavelength is the wavelength of a radio signal to be transmitted and received.

Excitation element A0 of array antenna device 100
Is amplified by the low-noise amplifier 1 and then down-converted by the down-converter 2 to, for example, an intermediate frequency signal, and further converted into a digital received signal x (k) by the A / D converter 3. The signal is A / D converted and input to the time domain signal processing unit 4. Next, the time-domain signal processing unit 4 performs time-based processing on the received signal x (k) based on the input received signal x (k) such that the direction of the main beam is substantially directed to the direction of the desired wave. The signal processing of the region is executed, and the processed signal y (k) is output to the evaluation value calculation unit 5 and the demodulator 7. The specific processing in the time domain in the time domain signal processing unit 4 is, as described later in detail, a time domain signal processing unit 4-1 including a transversal filter circuit 20 and a CMA processing controller 21 as shown in FIG.
According to the first embodiment, or a transversal filter circuit 2 as shown in FIG.
0 and the processing according to the second embodiment executed by the time domain signal processing unit 4-2 including the LMS processing controller 21a. On the other hand, the demodulator 7 performs demodulation processing corresponding to the modulation method on the transmission side on the input processing signal y (k), and outputs the demodulated signal after demodulation to an external device.

Next, the evaluation value calculation section 5 is constituted by an MPU such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) having a temporary storage memory, and based on an input processing signal y (k), a predetermined evaluation criterion. And outputs an evaluation value signal indicating the evaluation value to the spatial domain signal processing unit 6. Further, the spatial domain signal processing unit 6 is configured by an MPU such as a DSP having a temporary storage memory, and generates a substantially desired evaluation value signal based on the input evaluation value signal. By performing the signal processing, the evaluation value signal of the desired value was obtained,
An applied voltage signal corresponding to the reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements 12-1 to 12-6 is generated and output to each of the variable reactance elements 12-1 to 12-6. Here, when each of the variable reactance elements 12-1 to 12-6 is constituted by a variable capacitance diode, the applied voltage signal is an applied bias voltage. That is, by changing the applied bias voltage and changing the reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements 12-1 to 12-6, control can be performed so as to obtain a desired directivity pattern. Here, the specific processing of the spatial domain in the spatial domain signal processing unit 6 will be described with reference to FIG.
The spatial domain signal processing using the genetic algorithm (GA) shown in FIG. 6 (first embodiment) or the spatial domain signal processing using the simple difference vector search method shown in FIG.
Embodiment) and the like. The above evaluation value is
It is a function value of the evaluation function, and the desired value may be a minimum value as in the first and second embodiments, or a maximum value depending on the evaluation function. Good.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the time domain signal processing unit 4, the evaluation value calculation unit 5, and the spatial domain signal processing unit 6
Is provided so that the received signal received by the array antenna apparatus 100 is obtained such that the direction of the main beam is substantially directed to the direction of the desired wave and the evaluation value signal of a substantially desired value is obtained. In addition, it is possible to execute spatio-temporal signal processing combining time-domain signal processing and spatial-domain signal processing. The circuit configuration of the present embodiment includes one excitation element A0
Since it is composed of only one system of receiving circuit, it can be simplified as compared with the second conventional example, and is effective in reducing the influence of multipath fading which is a problem in high-speed wireless communication.

The array antenna apparatus 100 is a reversible circuit. When used as a transmission antenna, a radio signal is supplied only to the excitation element A0. Is received by the excitation element A0 as a reception signal.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of a time domain signal processing section 4-1 and an evaluation value calculation section 5-1 which are a first embodiment of the time domain signal processing section 4 of FIG. FIG.

In FIG. 3, a time domain signal processing section 4-1
Is a transversal filter circuit 2 which is a linear equalizer
0 and a CMA processing controller 21. Received signal x (k) output from A / D converter 3
Is input to the transversal filter 20, where it is output to the CMA processing controller 21, and is also output to the adder 15 via the multiplier 14-1. The received signal x (k) is, for example, A plurality of (M-1) delay circuits 13-1 to 13- having a delay time of 1/4 to 1/2 of one symbol and cascade-connected to each other.
The signal is output to the multiplier 14-M and the CMA processing controller 21 via (M-1). The received signal output from the delay circuit 13-1 is output to the CMA processing controller 21 and output to the adder 15 via the multiplier 14-2. The delay circuit 13-m (m = 2, 3,...,
The received signal output from M-1) is output to the CMA processing controller 21 and the multiplier 14- (m +
It is output to the adder 15 via 1). Here, the weight coefficient w _{k, m} (m = 1, 2,..., M) of each multiplier 14-m
Is calculated by a CMA processing controller 21 described later and set in each multiplier 14-m. Each multiplier 14-m multiplies an input signal by a weight coefficient w _{k, m} and outputs the result to an adder 15. I do. Further, the adder 15 adds the plurality of M input signals and outputs a signal of the addition result as a processing signal y (k) to the CMA processing controller 21 and the evaluation value calculation unit 5-1.

The CMA processing controller 21 calculates the processing signal y (k) from the adder 15 and the signals from the delay circuits 13-1 to 13- (M-1) as described below. Using a known constant modulus algorithm (hereinafter, referred to as CMA or CM algorithm), the signal from the adder 15 becomes a signal of a constant value, that is, the direction of the main beam is substantially equal to that of the desired wave. By performing signal processing in the time domain on the received signal x (k) so as to face the direction, the weight coefficient w _{k, m} (m = 1, 2,..., M) of each multiplier 14-m Is calculated and output. Here, the delay circuits 13-1 to 13- (M-1)
The received signal vector X (k) at time k input to the CMA processing controller 21 from is obtained by the following equation.

[Number 1] _{X (k) = [x 1} (k) x 2 (k) ... x
_M-1 (k)] ^T

Here, the subscript T represents transposition of a matrix. The weight coefficient vector W (k) by which the received signal vector X (k) is multiplied is represented by the following equation.

W (k) = [w _{k, 1} w _{k, 2} ... W
_{k, M-1} ] ^T

At this time, the processing signal y from the adder 15
(K) is represented by the following equation.

Y (k) = W (k) ^T X (k)

The CMA processing controller 21 according to the present embodiment updates the weight coefficient vector W (k) by using the following update equation relating to the CM algorithm.

[0023]

## EQU4 ## W (k + 1) ← W (k) -μ [4 · X (k) y
^{* (K) (| y (} k) | 2 -σ 2)]

Here, σ is a predetermined constant,
In the present embodiment, it is set to 1. The subscript * represents a complex conjugate. Further, μ is a predetermined step size, and is preferably set to 0.01 in the present embodiment.

Next, the configuration and operation of the evaluation value calculator 5-1 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. 3, the evaluation value calculation unit 5-1 includes an absolute value calculator 22, a subtractor 23, a constant signal generator 24, and a time integrator 25. The processing signal y (k) output from the adder 15 is input to the absolute value calculator 21 of the evaluation value calculator 5-1. The absolute value calculator 21 calculates the absolute value of the processing signal y (k). , And outputs a signal indicating the calculation result to the subtractor 23. Next, the subtracter 23 subtracts a constant signal having a predetermined constant value generated by the constant signal generator 24 from the signal from the absolute value calculator 22, and outputs a signal indicating the value of the subtraction result to the time integrator 25. Output to Further, the time integrator 25 time-integrates the input signal at predetermined time intervals, and outputs an evaluation value signal, which is a signal after the time integration and indicates an error from the constant signal, to the spatial domain signal processing unit 6. Output to

FIG. 4 shows spatial domain signal processing using a genetic algorithm (GA) executed by the spatial domain signal processing section 6-1 which is a first embodiment of the spatial domain signal processing section 6 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, in step S1, a plurality of Np sets of applied voltage vectors V of the first generation are set.
V _{1 to} VV _Np are generated using a known uniform random number generation method. Here, Np represents the set number of the applied voltage vectors VV included in the population, and the applied voltage vector VV is represented by the following equation.

[0028]

VV = [v ₁ , v ₂ ,..., V ₆ ]

[0029] Then, in step S2, after setting the initial value 10 ¹⁰ as the minimum evaluation value before evaluation, variable reactance element to generate the applied voltage signal corresponding to the applied voltage vector of the current population in step S3 1
2-1 to 12 to 6 and operate the time domain signal processing unit 4-1 and the evaluation value calculation unit 5-1 to obtain an evaluation value signal indicating the evaluation value from the evaluation value calculation unit 5-1. Then, the performance of each applied voltage vector is evaluated. The evaluation threshold epsilon ₁ absolute value of a predetermined difference between the minimum evaluation values before and after evaluation in In step S4 _(e.g., 10 ^-3.) Or less whether it is determined, step when the NO While proceeding to S5, if YES, proceed to step S9.

The evaluation values of the applied voltage vectors evaluated in step S5 are sorted in ascending order, and higher Npa
After selecting (<Np) sets of applied voltage vectors, in step S6 the first half (element located in the first half of each vector) and the second half (located in the second half of each vector) of each pair of two applied voltage vectors Crossover is performed by exchanging Then, after performing mutation by exchanging the first element (for example, three) with each pair of two applied voltage vectors randomly selected by the random number generated by the uniform random number method in step S7, In step S8, similarly to the processing in step S3, an applied voltage signal corresponding to each applied voltage vector of the current population is generated, and the variable reactance element 12
-1 to 12 to 6 and the time domain signal processing unit 4
-1 and the evaluation value calculation unit 5-1 are operated to obtain an evaluation value signal indicating the evaluation value from the evaluation value calculation unit 5-1.
After evaluating the performance of each applied voltage vector, step S4
It returns to the judgment step of. If “YES” here, the applied voltage vector having the smallest evaluation value is selected from the population of the applied voltage vectors after the evaluation in step S9, and the applied voltage signal is generated to generate the variable reactance element 12−.
The signal is output to 1 to 12-6 to operate the array antenna control device, and the spatial domain signal processing ends.

In the spatial domain signal processing performed as described above, signal processing in the spatial domain is performed based on the input evaluation value signal so as to obtain an evaluation value signal of a substantially desired value. Generates an applied voltage signal corresponding to the reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements 12-1 to 12-6 from which the evaluation value signal of the desired value is obtained, and outputs the applied voltage signal to each of the variable reactance elements 12-1 to 12-6. are doing.

<Second Embodiment> Next, time domain signal processing and spatial domain signal processing according to a second embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the time domain signal processing section 4-2 and the evaluation value calculation section 5-2 which are the second embodiment of the time domain signal processing section 4 of FIG. 5, the same reference numerals are given to the same processing units as those in FIG.

In FIG. 5, a time domain signal processing section 4-2
Is a transversal filter circuit 20, an LMS processing controller 21a, a learning sequence signal generator 26
It is comprised including. The received signal x (k) output from the A / D converter 3 is input to the transversal filter 20 having the same configuration as in FIG. 3, and the delay circuits 13-1 to 13-in the transversal filter circuit 20 are used.
The signal output from the input / output terminal of (M-1) is, as in the first embodiment of FIG.
output to a. The processing signal y (k) output from the adder 15 of the transversal filter circuit 20 is L
It is output to the MS processing controller 21a and the subtractor 27 in the evaluation value calculation unit 5-2. The learning sequence signal generator 26 repeatedly generates a learning sequence signal r (k) having the same signal pattern as the learning sequence signal generated on the transmitter side in the learning process before the communication of the digital data wireless communication. And outputs the result to the LMS processing controller 21 a and the subtracter 27.

The evaluation value calculator 5-2 includes a subtractor 27.
, An absolute square calculator 28, and a time integrator 29. The subtracter 27 subtracts the processing signal y (k) output from the adder 15 of the transversal filter circuit 20 from the learning sequence signal r (k) generated by the learning sequence signal generator 26, The signal is output to the absolute square calculator 28. Next, the absolute square value calculator 28 calculates the square value of the absolute value of the input signal, and outputs a signal having the calculated value to the time integrator 29. Further, the time integrator 29 time-integrates the input signal at predetermined time intervals, and after the time integration, the processed signal y (k) and the learning sequence signal r
An evaluation value signal indicating an error between the two values is output to the spatial domain signal processing unit 6.

As described below, the LMS processing controller 21a processes the processed signal y (k) from the adder 15, the signals from the delay circuits 13-1 to 13- (M-1),
Based on the learning sequence signal, a known LMS (least mean square error) algorithm is used to minimize the output of the absolute square calculator 28 of the evaluation value calculator 5-2, in other words, The received signal x (k) is set such that the root mean square error between the processed signal y (k) and the learning sequence signal is minimized, that is, the direction of the main beam is substantially directed to the direction of the desired wave. By performing signal processing in the time domain on the weight coefficient w of each multiplier 14-m.
_{k, m} (m = 1, 2,..., M) are calculated and output. Here, the LMS processing controller 21a according to the present embodiment
Updates the weight coefficient vector W (k) by using the following update equation related to the LMS algorithm.

[0037]

W (k + 1) ← W (k) + μ · X (k) · e ^* (k) where

[Mathematical formula-see original document] e (k) = r (k) -y (k)

Here, μ is a predetermined step size, and is preferably set to 0.01 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the spatial domain signal processor 6 shown in FIG.
The spatial domain signal processing unit 6-2 according to the second embodiment
Performed spatial domain using simple search method of difference vector
It is a flowchart which shows area signal processing. The steps in FIG.
In the initialization process in step S11, a predetermined initial value
Kuturu VV₀= [V₁₀, V₂₀, ..., v₆₀]
And the initial value VV of the applied voltage vector before the evaluation.₂Evaluation of
Value 10⁵After setting to, the applied voltage vector before evaluation
VV₂To the initial value vector VV₀Is set. Then
In step S12, the applied voltage vector VV₂And each difference
Minute vector ΔVV₁Or ΔVV₂ ⁶(Where the subscript
The character is 2⁶It is. ) And the sum vector (2⁶Leave the street)
And generates a corresponding applied voltage signal to
Output to the capacitance elements 12-1 to 12-6, and
Operating the area signal processing unit 5-2 and the evaluation value calculation unit 5-2.
To obtain the evaluation value of the evaluation value signal from the evaluation value calculation unit 5.
Then, the performance of each applied voltage vector is evaluated. here
And the difference vector ΔVV ₁Or ΔVV₂ ⁶Is a book
The symbols in the embodiment are two symbols of 0 and α.
And all combinations of 6 6-digit binary numbers that exist
And is expressed by the following equation.

[0040]

(Equation 8)

[0041] Then, search the difference vector DerutaVV _best corresponding to the applied voltage vector having the minimum evaluation value in step S13, VV ₂ + ΔVV _best in applied voltage vector VV ₁ after evaluation in step S14
Is set. Then, output to the variable reactance element 12-1 to 12-6 to generate the applied voltage signal corresponding to the applied voltage vector VV ₁ in step S15,
The performance of each applied voltage vector is evaluated by operating the time domain signal processing unit 5-2 and the evaluation value calculation unit 5-2 to obtain the evaluation value of the evaluation value signal from the evaluation value calculation unit 5.
Further, in step S16, the applied voltage vector V ₁
The absolute value of the difference between the evaluation value of V ₂ is determined whether a predetermined threshold epsilon _{2 (e.g.} 10 ^-3). If NO, the current applied voltage vector VV ₁ at step S17 after the applied voltage vector VV ₂ before evaluation, the step S
Returning to step 12, the above processing is repeated. On the other hand, step S
When at 16 is YES, operates a control device of the array antenna to output to the variable reactance element 12-1 to 12-6 to generate the applied voltage signal corresponding to the applied voltage vector VV ₁ in step S18 The spatial domain signal processing ends.

In the array antenna control device configured as described above, the array antenna control device 100, which is an ESPAR antenna capable of realizing spatio-temporal signal processing at low cost, and an equalizer (transversal filter circuit 20)
And by controlling both in conjunction, only one excitation element A0 is required, so only one circuit is required after that, and the cost of the conventionally expensive spatiotemporal signal processing device is reduced. That is, the circuit configuration can be simplified and the circuit can be manufactured at low cost. In the prior art,
There is no spatio-temporal signal processing device using ESPAR antenna,
The spatial domain signal processing unit 6 that performs directivity control of the ESPAR antenna obtains information of the evaluation value signal from the time domain signal processing unit 4 and the evaluation value calculation unit 5, and performs directivity control of the ESPAR antenna based on the information. I have.

Therefore, according to the array antenna control apparatus according to the present embodiment, spatio-temporal signal processing is, as its name implies, signal processing in the spatial domain by controlling the directivity of the antenna and time-domain signal processing by the equalizer and the like. This signal processing is a combination of the above signal processing, and is effective in reducing the influence of multipath fading which is a problem in high-speed wireless communication.

<Modification> In the above embodiment, the number of the non-exciting elements A1 to A6 is six. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an arbitrary plural number may be used.

In the second embodiment, the LMS algorithm is used in the time domain signal processing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the RL using the following update formula is used.
The S algorithm may be used.

[0046]

## EQU9 ## W (k + 1) ← W (k) + ka (k + 1) [r
^{(K + 1) -W T (} k) X (k + 1)]

## EQU10 ## ka (k + 1) ← P (k) .X (k + 1).
[1 + X ^T (k + 1) P (k) X (k + 1)] ⁻¹

P (k + 1) ← [I−k (k + 1) X ^T (k
+1)] P (k)

Here, I is a unit matrix of (M−1) × (M−1), and matrix P (k) is (M−1) × (M−1)
The initial value P (0) is represented by the following equation.

[0048]

## EQU12 ## P (0) = 100000 · I

In the first embodiment, the CM algorithm is used in the time domain signal processing, and the genetic algorithm is used in the spatial domain signal processing. In the second embodiment or its modified example,
LMS algorithm or RL in time domain signal processing
In the spatial domain signal processing, a simple search method for a difference vector is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a CM algorithm may be used in time domain signal processing, and a simple search method for a difference vector may be used in spatial domain signal processing. Alternatively, the LMS algorithm or RLS algorithm may be used in time domain signal processing and a genetic algorithm may be used in spatial domain signal processing.

[0050]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in a control device and a control method for an array antenna device called an ESPAR antenna, a time-domain signal processing for executing a time-domain signal processing on a received signal is provided. It is characterized by comprising a processing unit, an evaluation value calculation unit that calculates an evaluation value based on the processing signal, and a spatial domain signal processing unit that executes signal processing of a spatial domain based on the evaluation value. Since the array antenna device has only one excitation element, only one circuit is required after that, and the spatio-temporal signal processing device, which was conventionally expensive, can be reduced in price. That is, the circuit configuration is simplified,
It can be manufactured at low cost. In the related art, there is no spatiotemporal signal processing device using an ESPAR antenna. here,
As the name implies, spatio-temporal signal processing is signal processing that combines signal processing in the spatial domain by directivity control of an antenna and signal processing in the time domain by an equalizer or the like. It has a unique effect that it is effective in reducing the effects of path fading.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device for an array antenna device 100 called an ESPAR antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between an excitation element A0 and non-excitation elements A1 and A4 and a ground conductor plate 11 in the array antenna control device 100 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a time domain signal processing unit 4-1 and an evaluation value calculation unit 5 according to a first embodiment of the time domain signal processing unit 4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of -1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing spatial domain signal processing using a genetic algorithm (GA), which is executed by a spatial domain signal processing section 6-1 which is the first embodiment of the spatial domain signal processing section 6 of FIG. It is.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a time domain signal processing unit 4-2 and an evaluation value calculation unit 5 according to a second embodiment of the time domain signal processing unit 4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of -2.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a spatial domain signal processing using a simple search method of a difference vector, which is executed by a spatial domain signal processing section 6-2 which is a second embodiment of the spatial domain signal processing section 6 of FIG. It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Low noise amplifier, 2 ... Down converter, 3 ... A / D converter, 4,4-1, 4-2 ... Time domain signal processing part, 5,5-1, 5-2 ... Evaluation value calculation part 6 spatial domain signal processing unit 7 demodulator 8 coaxial cable 11 ground conductor 12-1 to 12-6 variable reactance element 13-1 to 13- (M-1) delay circuit 14-1 to 14-M: Multiplier, 15: Adder, 20: Transversal filter circuit, 21: CMA processing controller, 21a: LMS processing controller, 22: Absolute value calculator, 23: Subtractor, 24: Constant Signal generator, 25: time integrator, 26: learning sequence signal generator, 27: subtractor, 28: absolute square value calculator, 29: time integrator. 100: Array antenna device, A0: Exciting element, A1 to A6: Non-exciting element

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Ohira 2-2-2 Kodaidai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto F-term in ATR Environmental Adaptive Communication Research Laboratories (reference) 5J021 AA06 AA08 CA06 DB02 DB03 EA04 FA14 FA15 FA16 FA17 FA20 FA26 FA29 FA30 FA32 GA02 HA05 HA10

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An excitation element for transmitting and receiving a radio signal, a plurality of non-excitation elements provided at a predetermined distance from the excitation element, and a plurality of variable elements respectively connected to the plurality of non-excitation elements. An array antenna control device comprising a reactance element and changing a directional characteristic of the array antenna by changing a reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements, based on a reception signal received by the excitation element,
A first processing unit for performing a time-domain signal processing on the received signal so as to output a processed signal so that a main beam direction is substantially directed to a desired wave direction; and A calculating means for calculating an evaluation value using a predetermined evaluation criterion based on the output processing signal, and outputting an evaluation value signal indicating the evaluation value; based on the evaluation value signal output from the calculating means By performing signal processing in the spatial domain so as to substantially obtain an evaluation value signal of a desired value, a signal corresponding to the reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements, in which the evaluation value signal of the desired value is obtained, A second processing means for generating and outputting the variable reactance element to each of the variable reactance elements. 2. The array antenna control device according to claim 1, wherein said second processing means executes signal processing in a spatial domain using a genetic algorithm or a simple search method for a difference vector. . 3. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first processing means executes signal processing in a time domain using a linear equalizer based on a CM algorithm, an RLS algorithm, or an LMS algorithm. Array antenna control device. 4. An excitation element for transmitting and receiving a radio signal, a plurality of non-excitation elements provided at a predetermined distance from the excitation element, and a plurality of variable elements respectively connected to the plurality of non-excitation elements. A method for controlling an array antenna that includes a reactance element and that changes a directional characteristic of the array antenna by changing a reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements, based on a reception signal received by the excitation element,
Performing time-domain signal processing on the received signal so that the direction of the main beam is substantially in the direction of the desired wave, and outputting a processed signal; based on the processed signal, a predetermined evaluation criterion Calculating an evaluation value by using and outputting an evaluation value signal indicating the evaluation value; based on the evaluation value signal, performing signal processing in a spatial domain so as to obtain an evaluation value signal of a substantially desired value. Executing the method, generating a signal corresponding to the reactance value of each of the variable reactance elements, from which the evaluation value signal of the desired value is obtained, and outputting the signal to each of the variable reactance elements. Array antenna control method. 5. The array according to claim 4, wherein the step of executing the signal processing of the spatial domain executes the signal processing of the spatial domain using a genetic algorithm or a simple search method of a difference vector. Antenna control device. 6. The step of executing the signal processing in the time domain includes a CM algorithm, an RLS algorithm, or an LLS algorithm.
The signal processing in the time domain is performed using a linear equalizer based on the MS algorithm.
An array antenna control device according to any one of the preceding claims.