JP2002299943A - Phased array antenna device and radar device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a device small and inexpensive. SOLUTION: A plurality of antenna parts 2 are arranged, and a slave oscillator 5 is respectively subjected to signal connection with each of the antenna parts 2. The respective slave oscillators 5 are combined in one direction by one direction signal injection paths 7 in accordance with the arrangement of the antenna parts 2. The first slave oscillator 5K1 of the arrangement of the one direction combination is provided with a master oscillator 6. When the master oscillator 6 injects a master signal to the slave oscillator 5K1 , an injection synchronization phenomenon takes place in the respective slave oscillators 5 to bring about phase differences in oscillation operation among the respective slave oscillators 5. Beams caused by the antenna operation of the respective antenna parts 2 are subjected to frequency modulation by the injection synchronization phenomenon in such a manner that a master signal controlling means 8 periodically changes master signals. Also, phase differences change due to the oscillation operation among the respective slave oscillators 5 to make the directions of beams variable. Accordingly, a large and expensive phase shifter is not needed any more.

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 having a plurality of antennas arranged and a radar device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 schematically shows an example of a main configuration of a phased array antenna device. This figure 1
As shown in FIG. 2, the phased array antenna device 1
It has a plurality of antenna units 2 (2a, 2b,...), And these antenna units 2 are arranged in a line with an interval therebetween. Each antenna unit 2 has a corresponding phase shifter 3
(3a, 3b,...), And each phase shifter 3 is connected to a common demultiplexer / multiplexer 4.

For example, when a signal is supplied from the demultiplexer / combiner 4 to each antenna unit 2 via each phase shifter 3, a signal is transmitted from each antenna unit 2 based on the signal. A transmission beam is formed by a transmission signal output from each antenna unit 2. When each antenna unit 2 receives a signal (beam), the received signal is supplied from each antenna unit 2 to a common demultiplexer / combiner 4 through a corresponding phase shifter 3.

The phase shifter 3 changes the phase of the input signal supplied from the demultiplexer / multiplexer 4 at the time of transmission or the input signal applied from each antenna unit 2 at the time of reception, and changes the phase after the phase change. It has a configuration for outputting a signal. The phased array antenna device 1 is configured to be able to variably control the amount of change Δ 入 力 in the phase of the output signal with respect to the phase of the input signal in each phase shifter 3. By variably controlling the amount Δψ, the phase of the signal of each antenna unit 2 can be changed.

In the phased array antenna apparatus 1, since the beam direction is determined by the phase difference of the signal between the antenna units 2, the signal of each antenna unit 2 is controlled by the variable control of the phase change amount Δ 可 変 of the phase shifter 3. , And the phase difference of the signal between the antenna units 2 is variably controlled, so that the direction of the transmission or reception beam of the phased array antenna apparatus 1 can be controlled.

[0006]

However, the phase shifter 3 is large and expensive. For this reason, in the phased array antenna apparatus 1 having the above configuration, the large and expensive phase shifters 3 must be provided in large numbers in accordance with the number of the antenna sections 2, so that the apparatus becomes large and the apparatus becomes large. However, there is a problem that the price becomes high. In addition, since the phase shifter 3 has a large signal conduction loss, there is a problem that the power consumption of the phased array antenna device 1 is large. Due to these problems, the applications of the phased array antenna device 1 having the above configuration and the radar device equipped with the same are very limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a phased array antenna apparatus which can promote miniaturization and cost reduction and has high versatility and a radar apparatus using the same. Is to provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has the following structure to solve the above-mentioned problem. That is, the phased array antenna device of the first invention includes a plurality of antenna units arranged and arranged; a plurality of slave oscillators respectively connected to these antenna units in a signal connection; A one-way signal injection path for one-way coupling according to the above, and for sequentially injecting the oscillation frequency signal from the preceding slave oscillator to the next slave oscillator; and the first slave in the arrangement order of the one-way coupling of the slave oscillator. And a master oscillator for injecting a master signal into the oscillator. The oscillation frequency of each of the slave oscillators is arranged in the order of the one-way coupling by an injection locking phenomenon based on an injection operation of the master signal from the master oscillator to the slave oscillator. While sequentially synchronizing with the frequency of the master signal, adjacent to the one-way coupling arrangement Form a structure that causes a phase difference corresponding to the difference between the frequency of self-excited frequency and the master signal of the master signal receiving side of the slave oscillator oscillation operation between the slave oscillators matching,
Furthermore, while controlling the oscillation operation of the master oscillator and periodically changing the frequency of the master signal, the beam by the antenna operation of each antenna unit is frequency-modulated, and the phase difference of oscillation between the slave oscillators is reduced. The above-mentioned problem is solved by a configuration in which master signal control means for changing the direction of the beam by changing the direction is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phased array antenna apparatus having the configuration of the first aspect, wherein each of the slave oscillators has a slave self-excitation control for controlling the self-excitation frequency of the slave oscillator to a predetermined frequency. Means is provided, the master signal control means, a signal of a predetermined fundamental frequency, a frequency modulation signal whose frequency periodically changes, and a change width larger than the frequency change width of the frequency modulation signal. A scanning signal whose frequency changes with a longer cycle than the frequency modulation signal to generate a master signal by controlling the oscillation operation of the master oscillator, and the frequency of the master signal The frequency modulation of the beam is controlled by the modulation signal, and the scanning of the beam is controlled by the scanning signal. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phased array antenna apparatus having the configuration of the first aspect, wherein each slave oscillator is provided with slave self-excitation control means for controlling a self-excited oscillation operation of the slave oscillator. The master signal control means controls the oscillation operation of the master oscillator to generate a master signal obtained by combining a signal having a predetermined basic frequency and a frequency modulation signal whose frequency periodically changes. The slave self-excitation control means sets the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator to have a variation width larger than the frequency variation width of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal and a cycle longer than the frequency modulation signal. The frequency modulation of the beam is controlled by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal. It is characterized in that it has a configuration in which the beam scanning is controlled by a periodic change in the frequency.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phased array antenna apparatus having the configuration of the first aspect, wherein each slave oscillator is provided with slave self-excitation control means for controlling a self-oscillation operation of the slave oscillator. The master signal control means includes a signal having a predetermined basic frequency, a signal for frequency modulation whose frequency periodically changes, a change width larger than the frequency change width of the frequency modulation signal, and A master signal formed by synthesizing a scanning signal whose frequency changes with a longer cycle than the modulation signal to control the oscillation operation of the master oscillator,
The slave self-excitation control means is configured to change the self-excitation frequency of the slave oscillator substantially in accordance with a frequency change of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, and the beam is modulated by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal. Frequency modulation is controlled, beam scanning is controlled by the scanning signal, and a fluctuation in beam scanning caused by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal is suppressed by varying the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator. It is characterized by doing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phased array antenna apparatus having the configuration of the first aspect, wherein each slave oscillator is provided with slave self-excitation control means for controlling a self-oscillation operation of the slave oscillator. The master signal control means controls the oscillation operation of the master oscillator to generate a master signal obtained by combining a signal having a predetermined basic frequency and a frequency modulation signal whose frequency periodically changes. The slave self-excitation control means includes a frequency change substantially matching a frequency change of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, a frequency change having a width larger than the frequency change, and a long period. Is configured to vary the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator by a frequency change resulting from the synthesis, and the signal for frequency modulation of the master signal is used. The modulation of the frequency of the master oscillator is controlled, the scanning of the beam is controlled by the change of the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator on the large side, and the change of the master signal by the small change of the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator. It is characterized in that the beam scanning blur caused by the frequency modulation signal is suppressed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phased array antenna apparatus having the configuration of any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein an antenna unit is connected to the master oscillator by a signal, and the antenna unit is connected to the antenna unit. The arrangement is characterized by being arranged at the head of the array.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phased array antenna apparatus having the configuration of any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein each antenna section is configured by an antenna group formed by assembling a plurality of antennas. It is characterized by being.

A phased array antenna apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention comprises the configuration of any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein each antenna section has a dimension different from the dimension in which the beam is scanned. It is characterized by being constituted by a sub-antenna array composed of a plurality of antennas arranged and arranged.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phased array antenna apparatus having the configuration according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein each antenna unit is configured to transmit and receive a beam. On the signal path between the antenna unit and a slave or master oscillator connected to the antenna unit, a signal supply from the oscillator to the antenna unit and a reception signal of the antenna unit are different from the oscillator. A circulator for outputting a signal to be output to a setting output unit is provided, and a signal supplied from the oscillator to the antenna unit at a portion closer to the oscillator than the circulator is provided in the signal path. And a transmission signal extracting unit for detecting the transmission signal is provided.

A radar apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention includes the phased array antenna apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects as a transmitting antenna apparatus, and a receiving antenna apparatus. , A beam non-scanning type antenna device is provided.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar apparatus including the phased array antenna apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects as a transmitting antenna apparatus, and a receiving antenna apparatus. An antenna device having a configuration similar to that of the transmitting antenna device is provided, and beam scanning means for controlling scanning of the beams of the transmitting antenna device and the receiving antenna device in substantially the same direction. Are formed.

A radar apparatus according to a twelfth aspect is characterized in that the phased array antenna apparatus according to the ninth aspect is provided.

In the invention having the above configuration, the slave oscillators are unidirectionally coupled in accordance with the arrangement of the antenna units, and a master signal is injected from the master oscillator into the first slave oscillator in the arrangement of the unidirectional coupling. . By the injection operation of the master signal, by the synchronous injection phenomenon,
The oscillation frequency of each slave oscillator is synchronized with the frequency of the master signal, and the oscillation operation between the adjacent slave oscillators in the one-way coupling arrangement includes the self-excitation frequency of the master signal receiving slave oscillator and the master signal. A phase difference is generated according to the difference from the frequency.

According to the present invention, there is provided master signal control means for controlling the oscillation operation of the master oscillator to periodically change the frequency of the master signal, and the master signal control means controls the oscillation of the master signal. By performing the variable control of the frequency, the frequency modulation of the beam by the antenna operation of each antenna unit and the variable control of the beam direction can be performed.

Thus, according to the present invention, a phase difference can be generated between the signals of the antenna units without providing a large and expensive phase shifter as described above, and the beam direction is variably controlled. It is possible to do. As described above, since there is no need to provide a large and expensive phase shifter, the phased array antenna device and the radar device equipped with the phased array antenna device can be reduced in size and cost, and the phased array device can be promoted. Use of the array antenna device and the radar device can be expanded.

[0023]

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

Incidentally, an oscillator (a voltage controlled oscillator (VC)
O)) is oscillating at the self-excited frequency f _sl , and when a signal of the frequency f _ma satisfying the synchronization condition shown in the following equation 1 is injected into the oscillator, the oscillation of the oscillator is performed. The frequency is synchronized with the frequency f _ma of the injection signal,
Further, between the output signal of the oscillator and the injection signal, the frequency f _{ma of the} injection signal and the self-excitation frequency f
A phase difference Δφ corresponding to the difference from _sl is generated. Such a phenomenon caused by the injection of a signal into the oscillator is called an injection locking phenomenon.

[0025]

(Equation 1)

In the above equation 1, A _ma represents the voltage of the injection signal, _Asl represents the voltage of the output signal of the oscillator before signal injection, and Q is a constant (external quality factor) determined by the oscillator and its surrounding environment. Is represented.

Equation 2 below shows the phase difference Δφ between the injection signal and the output signal of the oscillator due to the injection locking phenomenon due to the signal injection into the oscillator, and the self-excitation frequency f _{sl of the} oscillator. , And the relationship with the frequency f _{ma of the} injection signal. Note that Δfd in Equation 2 is calculated by Equation 1
A voltage A _ma injection signal shown in, the voltage A _sl of signal injection output signal of a previous oscillator, a self-excited frequency f _sl of the oscillator,
It is a constant obtained from the external quality factor Q according to the following Equation 3.

[0028]

(Equation 2)

[0029]

(Equation 3)

The present inventor has focused on the above-described injection locking phenomenon of the oscillator, and has devised a phased array antenna apparatus and a radar apparatus including the same.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a phased array antenna apparatus according to a first embodiment having the specific configuration. The phased array antenna device 1 shown in the first embodiment has a beam frequency modulation function and a beam scanning function, and has a plurality of antenna units 2 (2
K ₁ , 2K ₂ , 2K ₃ ,. . . 2K _n ) and a plurality of slave oscillators 5 (5K ₁ , 5K ₂ , 5K ₃ ,... 5)
K _n ), the master oscillator 6 and the one-way signal injection path 7
, Master signal control means 8 and slave self-excitation control means 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the first embodiment, the plurality of antenna units 2 are arranged and arranged. Each of the slave oscillators 5 is formed of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having the same configuration, and has an output port, an input port, and a control port. Each of the antenna units 2 is connected to an output port of the slave oscillator 5 corresponding to each one of the antenna units 2 via a signal path 10. A signal having an oscillation frequency of 5 is provided. Each antenna unit 2 performs an antenna operation based on a signal supplied from the slave oscillator 5. Note that there are various types of configurations of the antenna unit 2, and in the first embodiment, the antenna unit 2 can adopt any of these multiple configurations, and the description thereof is omitted here. I do.

In the first embodiment, a signal detecting section 11 is provided in a signal path 10 between the antenna section 2 and the slave oscillator 5. The signal detector 11 is constituted by a signal distributor or a directional coupler. The plurality of slave oscillators 5 are connected to the signal path 10 and the signal detector 11 in one direction according to the arrangement of the antenna unit 2. They are connected by a signal injection passage 7. Each of the slave oscillators 5 outputs a signal (power) from the output port but not from the input port. Therefore, the coupling of the plurality of slave oscillators 5 through the one-way signal injection path 7 is one. It becomes directional coupling. That is, the one-way signal injection passage 7, for example, the slave oscillator 5K ₁ a signal of the oscillation frequency of the slave oscillator 5K ₁ and the antenna portion 2
Detected from the signal detection unit 11 of the signal path 10 between K _1, as referred to inject the detected signal to the input port of the next slave oscillator 5K _2, and from the front of the slave oscillator 5 to the next slave oscillator 5 oscillating The configuration is such that frequency signals are sequentially injected in the order in which the antenna units 2 are arranged. Note that the phase difference from the output of the slave oscillator to the output of the next slave oscillator is set to an integral multiple of 360 °.

The master oscillator 6 is also constituted by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) similar to the slave oscillator 5. The output port of the master oscillator 6 is connected to the input port of the first slave oscillator 5 in the arrangement order of the one-way coupling of the slave oscillator 5 (that is, the slave oscillator 5K _{1 in the} example shown in FIG. ₁ ). . As a result, the master oscillator 6 is configured to inject a signal having an oscillation frequency (hereinafter, a signal output from the master oscillator 6 is referred to as a master signal) into the _first slave oscillator 5 (5K ₁ ).

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a slave self-excitation control means 9 is commonly connected to the control port of each slave oscillator 5 by a signal. The same control voltage signal is applied from the means 9 to the control port of each slave oscillator 5. The control operation of the slave self excitation control means 9, each of the slave oscillator 5 becomes possible to perform self-excited oscillation operation with respectively the same self-excited frequency f _sl.

[0036] Note that each of the respective slave oscillator every 5 connects independently slave self excitation control means, by their slave self excitation control means, such self-excited frequency f _sl of each slave oscillator 5 is the same frequency The self-oscillation operation of each slave oscillator 5 may be controlled. However, in the first embodiment, from the viewpoint of reducing the size of the device and reducing the number of parts, the common slave self-oscillation operation is performed as described above. The self-excited oscillation operation of the plurality of slave oscillators 5 is controlled by the excitation control means 9.

[0037] Incidentally, for example, at time t ₀ shown in FIG. 2, all of the slave oscillator 5 and the master oscillator 6, the same frequency f _sl, is and, a same phase phi _0. From this state, at time t ₁ shown in FIG. 2, the oscillation frequency of the master oscillator 6 is changed from the master oscillator 6 has a frequency f _ma satisfying the synchronization condition (Equation 1), and, when the master signal of the phase is phi ₀ is injected at the beginning of the slave oscillator 5K ₁ of the one-way coupling arrangement, injection locking phenomenon described above occurs in the slave oscillator 5K ₁ of the head. The frequency f _{ma of the} master signal satisfies the formula f _ma = f _sl + δf, and the frequency difference δf is a small value. The oscillations of the master oscillator 6 and the slave oscillator 5 are controlled so that their amplitudes are equal.

Very small due to the injection locking phenomenon
After time δt (time t₂), The slave oscillator 5K₁
Oscillation operation is performed at the frequency f of the master signal._maSync to
And the master oscillator 6 and the slave oscillator 5K₁while
In the oscillation operation, the frequency f_maAnd above
Reeve oscillator 5K₁Self-excitation frequency f_slRank according to the difference
The phase difference Δφ is generated according to the equation (2). This allows
5K slave oscillator ₁Output from antenna to antenna unit 2
The signal that has the same frequency as the master signal
f_maAnd the phase φ of the master signal₀Than above
A phase shifted by a phase difference Δφ (φ₀+ Δφ)
Become. Note that here, the master oscillator 6
The master signal input to the oscillator 5 is sufficiently weak and synchronized
The amplitude of the slave oscillator 5 changes significantly due to the phenomenon
do not do.

The phase (φ₀+ Δφ) is one
Via the direction signal injection path 7, the next slave oscillator 5K₂
Is injected into. As a result, the slave oscillation
Tableware 5K₂The injection locking phenomenon occurs at time t₃At
Is the slave oscillator 5K ₂The oscillation operation of
Signal frequency f_maAnd the slave oscillator 5
K₁And slave oscillator 5K₂The above injection is used for the oscillation operation during
Signal frequency f_maAnd the above slave oscillator 5K₂Self-excited lap
Wave number f_slA phase difference Δφ corresponding to the difference is generated. This
And the slave oscillator 5K₂To antenna part 2
The output signal is the same frequency as the injection signal.
Number f_maAnd the slave oscillator 5K₁from
Phase of injection signal (φ₀+ Δφ) is the above phase difference Δφ
The shifted phase (in other words, the phase φ of the master signal
₀Phase (φ₀+ 2Δφ))
Signal.

Further, when this signal is detected, the one-way
Next slave oscillator 5K through signal injection path 7₃Injected into
Then, as described above, the time t
₄, The slave oscillator 5K₃From antenna
The signal output to the section 2 has a frequency equal to the injection signal.
Same frequency f as_maAnd the phase of the injection signal (φ ₀
+ 2Δφ) from the phase (in other words, the phase difference Δφ)
Then, the phase φ of the master signal₀Only 3Δφ
Out of phase (φ₀+ 3Δφ)).

Note that the frequency difference δf is represented by Δfd in Expression 3.
Takes a smaller value, but within this range the frequency difference δ
As f becomes larger, each slave oscillator 5 takes a longer time to synchronize with the previous oscillator due to the synchronization phenomenon based on the injected signal from the oscillator before the one-way coupling. After a period, a steady state is reached, and the phase distribution is the same as above.

As described above, by injecting the master signal from the master oscillator 6 to the slave oscillator 5,
Due to the injection locking phenomenon, each slave oscillator 5 sequentially synchronizes with the frequency f _{ma of the} master signal in the order of the one-way coupling. Thus, the frequency of the beam frequency of the signal output from the slave oscillator 5 to the antenna unit 2 is due to synchronization with the antenna operation the antenna section 2 to the frequency f _ma is the frequency f _ma. In addition, a phase difference Δφ occurs between the slave oscillators 5 due to the injection locking phenomenon,
The direction of the beam is determined by the phase difference Δφ.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a master signal control means 8 is connected to the control port of the master oscillator 6 by a signal. The master signal control means 8 has a configuration that controls the oscillation signal of the master oscillator 6 by controlling the voltage applied to the master oscillator 6 to control the master signal.
In the first embodiment, the frequency f
_It has a configuration in which _ma is changed periodically. For example, the master signal control means 8 uses a triangular wave output from a triangular wave generator (not shown) to change the frequency f _{ma of the} master signal to a predetermined basic frequency fc as shown in FIG. Is changed periodically with reference to.

With the periodic change of the frequency f _ma of the master signal by the control operation of the master signal control means 8, the frequency of the beam changes. Therefore, by controlling the frequency change of the master signal, the beam is frequency-modulated (FM-modulated).
Can be done.

Further, the periodic change in the frequency f _ma of the master signal, the master signal (injection signal) results difference between the frequency f _ma and self-excited frequency f _sl of each slave oscillator 5 changes of each slave The phase difference Δφ of the oscillation operation between the oscillators 5 changes, so that the direction of the beam can be changed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the master signal is a signal obtained by synthesizing a signal of the fundamental frequency fc and a signal of the frequency Fr (t) that changes periodically. The master oscillator 6 is controlled by the master signal control means 8. The self-excitation frequency f of each slave oscillator 5 is controlled by the control operation of the slave self-excitation control means 9.
_{The sl} is fixedly controlled to the same frequency as the fundamental frequency fc of the master signal as shown in FIG. In such a case, the beam is frequency-modulated as shown in FIG. 3A, and the direction of the beam is changed with the periodic change of the frequency f _ma of the master signal. Variable as shown in (c).

The following equation 4 shows the inclination θ of the beam with respect to a reference direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the antenna unit 2.
And the phase difference Δφ. Here, λ ₀ shown in Expression 4 is the wavelength of the beam (wavelength in free space), and d is the interval between the adjacent antenna units 2.

[0048]

(Equation 4)

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the times T1, T3,
At T5, since the frequency f _{ma of the} master signal is equal to the self-excitation frequency f _sl of each slave oscillator 5, the phase difference Δφ according to the difference between the frequencies f _ma and f _sl becomes zero. Thereby, the direction of the beam has no inclination, that is, a reference direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the antenna unit 2. Further, at time T2, since the frequency f _{ma of the} master signal is higher than the self-excited frequency f _sl ,
When the slave oscillator 5 is unidirectionally coupled from the left side to the right side in FIG. 3 by the phase difference Δφ according to the difference between the frequencies f _ma and f _sl , the beam direction is shifted to the right side in FIG. Lean. Conversely, at time T4, since the frequency f _{ma of the} master signal is lower than the self-excited frequency f _sl , the beam direction is determined by the phase difference Δφ according to the difference between the frequencies f _ma and f _sl . Tilt to the left as shown.

It is desirable that the variation of the beam direction as described above is symmetrical about the reference direction. In order to satisfy this demand, in the example shown in FIG.
The reference frequency fc of the master signal and the self-excitation frequency _fsl of each slave oscillator 5 are designed to be equal. In order to make the beam direction change symmetrical with respect to the reference direction as described above, the injection signal from the slave oscillator 5 before the one-way coupling arrangement to the next slave oscillator 5 is required. Is preferably an integral multiple of the wavelength of the master signal.

According to the first embodiment, as described above, the slave oscillators 5 are respectively connected to the plurality of antenna units 2 arranged and arranged, and the slave oscillators 5 are connected by the one-way signal injection path 7. While directional coupling,
The first slave oscillator 5 (5K
₁ ) A master oscillator 6 for injecting a master signal is provided, and a master signal control means 8 for periodically changing the master signal of the master oscillator 6 is provided. According to this configuration, the beam direction can be changed only by periodically changing the frequency of the master signal by the control operation of the master signal control means 8 without providing the phase shifter 3 as in the related art. Further, frequency modulation of the beam can be performed.

As described above, in the first embodiment,
Since there is no need to provide a large and expensive phase shifter 3, the phased array antenna device 1 can be significantly reduced in size and cost can be reduced.
From this, the use of the phased array antenna device 1 can be expanded.

Whether or not the antenna section 2 is connected to the master oscillator 6 by a signal is appropriately set.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the antenna unit 2 (2K ₀ ) is connected to the output port of the master oscillator 6 by signal, the antenna unit 2 (2K 2) connected to the master oscillator 6 by signal is connected.
K ₀ ) are arranged at the head of the array of the antenna unit 2. Also, of course, a signal output from the master oscillator 6 to the antenna unit 2 (2K ₀ ) is detected from the signal detection unit 11 and injected into the _first slave oscillator 5 (5K ₁ ) of the one-way coupling array. A direction signal injection passage 7 will be provided.

In the first embodiment, an example in which an oscillator having an input port and an output port is used as the slave oscillator 5 has been described. However, a one-port type oscillator may be used. In this case, the one-port type oscillator is provided with a circulator as an input / output port. As described above, a one-port type oscillator may be employed. However, when a transistor oscillator is used as in the first embodiment, excellent advantages such as low cost, low profile, low power consumption, and low phase noise are obtained. In addition to the features, there is an advantage that the input port can be easily provided.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the overlapping description of the common portions will be omitted.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the master signal control means 8
FIG. 4 shows the frequency f _ma of the master signal of the master oscillator 6.
(A) As shown in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In other words, in the second embodiment, the master signal of the master oscillator 6 is controlled by the oscillation control of the master oscillator 6 by the master signal control means 8.
A signal having a basic frequency fc set as shown in FIG. 4A, a frequency modulation signal having a periodically changing frequency Fm (t), and a change width ΔFs larger than the frequency change width ΔFm of the frequency modulation signal And a signal obtained by synthesizing a scanning signal having a frequency Fs (t) that changes with a longer cycle than the frequency modulation signal.

In the second embodiment, the beam scans mainly based on the frequency change (Fs (t)) of the scanning signal of the master signal. Further, the beam is frequency-modulated mainly based on a frequency change (Fm (t)) of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal. The direction of the beam also changes due to the frequency change of the frequency modulation signal,
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the frequency change width ΔFm of the frequency modulation signal is much smaller than the frequency change width ΔFs of the scanning signal. Therefore, the fluctuation of the beam direction caused by the frequency modulation signal can be suppressed to a very small value.

According to the second embodiment, there is provided a configuration for creating a master signal composed of the fundamental frequency signal, the frequency modulation signal, and the scanning signal. The frequency modulation of the beam can be controlled by the signal, and the beam scanning can be controlled by the scanning signal.

Therefore, in the second embodiment,
For example, when it is desired to change the state of the frequency modulation of the beam, the frequency modulation width ΔFm of the frequency modulation signal and the period of the frequency change are changed, thereby making it possible to perform the frequency modulation of the beam without greatly affecting the beam scanning. It can be variably controlled. When it is desired to change the beam scanning state, the frequency change width ΔFs of the scanning signal is used.
The beam scanning can be variably controlled without greatly affecting the frequency modulation of the beam by changing the period of the frequency change. Therefore, the provision of the configuration of the second embodiment makes it easy to control the frequency modulation of the beam and the scanning of the beam.

Hereinafter, a third embodiment will be described. In the description of the third embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in each of the above-described embodiments, and the overlapping description of the common portions will be omitted.

The characteristic feature of the third embodiment is that the master signal control means 8 controls the oscillating operation of the master oscillator 6 to change the frequency as shown in FIG. Is generated, and the slave self-excitation control means 9 changes the self-excitation frequency f _sl of each slave oscillator 5 as shown in FIG. 5B. That is. Other configurations are the same as those of the above embodiments.

That is, in the third embodiment, the master signal is controlled by the master signal control means 8 to control the oscillation of the master oscillator 6 and the signal of the fundamental frequency fc and the frequency Fm (t) that periodically changes. And a frequency modulation signal having the following.

Further, the self-excitation frequency f _sl of each slave oscillator 5 is controlled by the control operation of the slave self-excitation control means 9 so that the self-excitation frequency f _sl It changes with a variation width ΔFs larger than the frequency variation width ΔFm of the modulation signal and with a longer cycle than the frequency modulation signal.
Due to such a periodic change of the self-excited frequency f _sl of the slave oscillator 5, the difference between the self-excited frequency f _sl of each slave oscillator 5 and the frequency f _{ma of the} master signal changes. Changes the phase difference Δφ of the oscillation operation.

In the third embodiment, the beam is scanned mainly based on the change (Fs (t)) of the self-excitation frequency _fsl of the slave oscillator 5. The beam is frequency-modulated based on a frequency change (Fm (t)) of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal. The direction of the beam also changes due to the frequency change of the frequency modulation signal. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the frequency change of the frequency modulation signal is performed. Width ΔFm
, As compared to the frequency change width ΔFs of the self-excited frequency f _sl, since kept much smaller, can be suppressed very small variations in the orientation of the beam due to the frequency modulation signal.

According to the third embodiment, the frequency modulation of the beam can be controlled by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, and the self-excitation frequency f _sl of each slave oscillator 5 can be controlled.
Since the beam scanning can be controlled by the change in the frequency, the beam frequency modulation and the beam scanning can be easily controlled as in the second embodiment.

In the third embodiment, since the master signal does not include a signal component for scanning the beam, the change in the frequency of the beam does not include the change in frequency due to the scanning signal. For example, when the phased array antenna apparatus 1 shown in the third embodiment is incorporated in a radar apparatus, signal processing using the transmission signal and the reception signal of the phased array antenna apparatus 1 can be simplified. it can.

Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the description of the fourth embodiment, the same components as those in the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the common portions will not be repeated.

The characteristic feature of the fourth embodiment is that, as shown in the second and third embodiments, the master signal is composed of the signal of the fundamental frequency fc and at least the frequency modulation signal. In the case where the signal is composed of the signals, the configuration is such that a beam scanning blur caused by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal can be suppressed. Other configurations are the same as those of the above embodiments.

That is, in the fourth embodiment, the slave self-excitation control means 9 controls the self-excitation frequency f of each slave oscillator 5.
A configuration is provided in which _sl is changed so as to substantially match at least the frequency change of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal. The periodic change of the self-excited frequency f _sl of each of the slave oscillators 5 by the control operation of the slave self-excitation control means 9 causes the frequency change (Fm (t)) of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal and the slave oscillator 5 Self-excitation frequency f
The change in the difference from _sl is suppressed. Therefore, each slave oscillator 5 is controlled by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal.
The phase difference Δφ of the oscillating operation between
Thereby, the beam direction does not change, and it is possible to suppress the beam scanning blur caused by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal.

As a specific example, for example, by the control operation of the master signal control means 8, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the master signal is divided into the signal of the fundamental frequency fc and the signal of the frequency Fm (t). If the signal for frequency modulation and the signal for scanning at the frequency Fs (t) are combined, for example, the self-excitation of each slave oscillator 5 is performed by the control operation of the slave self-excitation control means 9. FIG. 6 shows the frequency f _sl
As shown in (b), the frequency change Fm of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal with reference to the fundamental frequency fc.
(T) is changed substantially.

In this case, the beam is frequency-modulated by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, and the beam is scanned by the scanning signal of the master signal as shown in FIG. The above slave oscillator 5
As described above, the fluctuation of the beam scanning caused by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal is suppressed by the frequency change of the self-excited frequency _fsl .

For example, by the control operation of the master signal control means 8, as shown in FIG. 7A, the master signal is converted into a signal of the fundamental frequency fc and a frequency modulation signal of the frequency Fm (t). If the signal is a composite signal, for example, the control operation of the slave self-excitation control means 9 causes the master signal to be frequency-modulated with reference to the fundamental frequency fc, as shown in FIG. A frequency change that substantially matches the frequency change Fm (t) of the signal, a frequency F that has a change width ΔFs larger than the frequency change width ΔFm, and that changes with a period longer than the frequency change.
The change in s (t) is combined with the change in frequency.
The self-excited frequency f _sl of each slave oscillator 5 is variably controlled.

In this case, the beam is frequency-modulated by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, and the self-excited frequency _fsl of the slave oscillator 5 changes on the large side (Fs
(T)), the beam is scanned as shown in FIG. 7 (c), and the frequency of the master signal is changed by a small change (Fm (t)) of the self-excitation frequency _fsl of the slave oscillator 5. The beam scanning blur caused by the modulation signal is suppressed as described above.

According to the fourth embodiment, excellent effects similar to those of the above embodiments can be obtained, and
Since a configuration is provided in which the self-excited frequency f _sl of each slave oscillator 5 is changed at least in accordance with the frequency change of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, the frequency change of the self-excited frequency f _sl of each slave oscillator 5 is performed. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an effect that it is possible to suppress the beam scanning blur caused by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal.

The fifth embodiment will be described below. In the description of the fifth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in each of the above embodiments, and the duplicated description of the common portions will be omitted.

What is characteristic in the fifth embodiment is that each antenna unit 2 is constituted by a plurality of antennas. Other configurations are the same as those of the above embodiments.

There are various configurations of the antenna section 2 formed by a plurality of antennas. For example, FIG.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, each antenna unit 2 has a configuration in which a plurality of antennas 15 are arranged and arranged along the arrangement direction of the antenna units 2 to form an antenna group. Are connected to the common slave oscillator 5 in parallel. With this configuration, the number of slave oscillators 5 to be installed can be reduced with respect to the required number of antennas 15.

In the example shown in FIG. 8B, each antenna section 2 is formed as a sub-antenna array in which a plurality of antennas (for example, chip antennas) 16 are arranged and connected in series. are doing. As described above, when each antenna unit 2 is configured by a sub-antenna array, for example, when the beam scanning is one-dimensional, the antennas 16 of the sub-antenna array are arranged and arranged on a different dimension from the beam scanning. . As a specific example, for example, when beam scanning is performed along the x plane in the xyz three-dimensional space, the plurality of antennas 16 of the sub-antenna array are arranged and arranged along the y plane or the z plane. I do.

As described above, by forming each antenna section 2 with a sub-antenna array, the directivity of the beam can be sharpened in the arrangement direction of the antennas 16 of the sub-antenna array.

When the antenna 16 has a λ / 2 patch type antenna structure, for example, the interval between the adjacent antennas 16 is λ / 2 (λ is the wavelength of the beam). In addition, it is desirable to arrange the plurality of antennas 16 in an array.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 8C, a plurality of antennas 17 are arranged and arranged in each antenna unit 2 in the same manner as the antenna 16 of the sub-antenna array shown in FIG. 8B. The difference from the antenna unit 2 shown in FIG. 8B is that the plurality of antennas 17 are signal-connected to the slave oscillator 5 in parallel. In such a case, similarly to the antenna unit 2 shown in FIG. 8B, it is possible to obtain an effect that the directivity of the beam can be sharpened in the arrangement direction of the sub-antenna array.

The form of the antenna section 2 composed of a plurality of antennas is not limited to the form of the antenna section 2 shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, but can take various forms. It is.

According to the fifth embodiment, by configuring each antenna unit 2 with a plurality of antennas,
The number of slave oscillators 5 required for the required number of antennas can be reduced, and the antenna gain can be increased.

Hereinafter, a sixth embodiment will be described. In the sixth embodiment, an example of a radar device including the phased array antenna device 1 shown in each of the above embodiments will be described.

The radar device shown in the sixth embodiment is F
This is an MCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) radar device having a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, the radar device 20 shown in FIG. 9A has the phased array antenna device 1 shown in any one of the first to fifth embodiments as a transmitting antenna device and a receiving antenna device. An antenna device 21, a mixing unit 22, a low-pass filter (LPF) 23,
An SP (Digital Signal Processor) unit 24 is provided.

In FIG. 9A, the master signal control means 8 constituting the phased array antenna device 1 is shown.
The illustration of the slave self-excitation control means 9 is omitted, and the form of one-way coupling of each slave oscillator 5 is shown in a simplified manner.

In the sixth embodiment, the receiving antenna device 21 is a beam non-scanning type antenna device in which the beam direction is fixed. There are various forms of the configuration of the beam non-scanning type antenna device. Here, any of the beam non-scanning type antenna devices may be adopted as the receiving antenna device 21. Here, detailed description of the receiving antenna device 21 is omitted.

The radar device 20 shown in the sixth embodiment
In the above, the phased array antenna device 1 is signal-connected to the mixing unit 22 via a transmission signal detection path 26, and the reception antenna device 21 is signal-connected to the mixing unit 22 via a reception signal supply path 27. ing. Therefore, the mixing unit 22 detects a master signal output from the master oscillator 6 of the phased array antenna device 1 and
6 is added. Further, a reception signal received by the reception antenna device 21 is also applied to the mixing section 22 via the reception signal supply path 27.

The mixing section 22 includes a transmission signal indicated by a solid line α in FIG. 9B added from the phased array antenna apparatus 1 and a reception antenna apparatus 21.
9B is mixed with a received signal as shown by a broken line β in FIG. 9B to generate and output a signal as shown in FIG. 9C. The signal output from the mixing unit 22 is applied to a DSP unit 24 via an LPF 23, where the DSP unit 24 performs predetermined signal processing, and
The distance R from 0 to the target and the moving speed V of the target relative to the radar device 20 are detected.

For example, when a beam radiated from the phased array antenna device 1 reaches a target located at a position separated by a distance R and is reflected, the reflected beam takes 2R / c seconds after the beam is radiated. Is received by the reception antenna device 21. Note that c is the speed of light.

A frequency difference and a phase difference corresponding to the time 2R / c are generated between the beam received by the receiving antenna device 21 and the beam radiated from the phased array antenna device 1. As a result, the mixed signal output from the mixing unit 22 is shown in FIG.
This is a signal having beat signals B1 and B2 as shown in FIG.

The DSP unit 24 uses the beat signals B1 and B2 to determine the distance R from the radar device 20 to the target and the relative moving speed V of the target with respect to the radar device 20, for example, It can be calculated in accordance with Equations (5) and (6).

[0094]

(Equation 5)

[0095]

(Equation 6)

Note that c shown in Expressions 5 and 6 is the speed of light, and f _ab is the peak value fa of the beat signal B1.
And has the sum of the peak value fb of the beat signal B2 represents a value obtained by dividing 2 ((fa + fb) / 2), 1 / f FM
Represents the frequency modulation period, and ΔFm represents the amplitude of the frequency modulation of the beam. F _dp is a Doppler frequency, and represents a value obtained by subtracting the peak value fa of the beat signal B1 from the peak value fb of the beat signal B2 by 2 ((fa−fb) / 2), fc represents the fundamental frequency of the beam.

As described above, the radar device 20 can detect the distance R to the target and the relative moving speed V of the target.

According to the sixth embodiment, the above-mentioned first to first embodiments are described.
Since the radar device 20 is configured by using the phased array antenna device 1 shown in any one of the fifth embodiment examples as a transmitting antenna device, as described above, the phased array antenna device 1 With downsizing and cost reduction, it is possible to promote downsizing and cost reduction of the radar device 20. A radar device equipped with a conventional phased array antenna device is large and
Although the use was limited due to the high price, the radar device 20 shown in the sixth embodiment is, as described above,
Since it is small and inexpensive, it can be used practically, for example, for in-vehicle use of ordinary cars, and the use of the radar device 20 can be expanded.

The seventh embodiment will be described below. FIG.
0 schematically shows the main components of the radar apparatus shown in the seventh embodiment. The radar apparatus 20 according to the seventh embodiment is the same as the phased array antenna apparatus 1 according to any one of the first to fifth embodiments.
Is provided as a transmitting antenna device, and a phased array antenna device 1 having a configuration similar to that of the transmitting antenna device is provided as a receiving antenna device, and is radiated from the transmitting antenna device. In addition to the transmitting beam, the receiving beam of the receiving antenna device is scanned in the same manner as the transmitting beam. The phased array antenna device 1
Has been described in each of the above embodiments, and a duplicate description thereof will be omitted here.

In the seventh embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, near the antenna sections 2 of the transmitting antenna apparatus, the antenna sections 2 'of the receiving antenna apparatuses corresponding one to one are provided. Are arranged. Mixing units 22 corresponding to the pairs of the transmitting antenna unit 2 and the receiving antenna unit 2 are provided. Each of the mixing sections 22 is connected to the corresponding signal path 10 on the signal input side of the transmission antenna section 2 via the transmission signal detection path 26, and the signal output side of the reception antenna section 2 ′. Are connected via a reception signal supply path 27 to the power supply. For this reason, each mixing unit 22 includes:
A transmission signal of the corresponding transmission antenna unit 2 and a reception signal received by the reception antenna unit 2 'are added, and each mixing unit 22 has a configuration for mixing the transmission signal and the reception signal. Have.

Each of the mixing units 22 is connected to a common signal synthesizing unit 28, and a mixing signal generated by each mixing unit 22 is applied to the signal synthesizing unit 28. The signal synthesizing unit 28 further synthesizes the added mixing signals, and outputs the mixed signals to the DSP unit 24 via the LPF 23. The DSP unit 24 performs a predetermined signal processing to detect the distance R to the target and the relative moving speed V of the target with respect to the radar device 20, as in the sixth embodiment.

In the seventh embodiment, in order to facilitate signal processing in the DSP unit 24, the transmission beam and the reception beam are scanned so that the directions of the transmission beam and the reception beam are substantially the same. Beam scanning means (not shown) is provided. For example, by sharing the master signal control means 8 and the slave self-excitation control means 9 of each of the antenna devices 1 for transmission and reception, a beam scanning unit is formed.

According to the seventh embodiment, not only the transmission beam but also the reception beam is scanned, so that signal processing using the transmission signal and the reception signal can be simplified.

Hereinafter, an eighth embodiment will be described. In the description of the eighth embodiment, the same components as those in the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the common portions will not be repeated.

In the eighth embodiment, an example of a phased array antenna device that performs both transmission and reception and an example of the configuration of a radar device equipped with the phased array antenna device will be described. In FIG.
The phased array antenna apparatus shown in the eighth embodiment is shown in a state where it is incorporated in a radar apparatus. The phased array antenna device 1 shown in the eighth embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the phased array antenna device 1 shown in the above-described first to fifth embodiments. 11 is provided with a mixing unit 22, a circulator 30, and a transmission signal extracting unit 31 as shown in FIG. Note that FIG.
In the figure, the illustration of the master signal control means 8 and the slave self-excitation control means 9 of the phased array antenna apparatus 1 is omitted.

The circulator 30 includes the antenna unit 2 and the slave oscillator 5 (or the master oscillator 6).
The signal path 10 is provided between the signal paths. Further, the transmission signal extracting unit 31 is connected to the signal path 1 on the slave oscillator 5 (master oscillator 6) side with respect to the circulator 30.
0 is provided. In addition, the transmission signal extracting unit 31 is connected to the signal path 10 and the one-way signal injection path 7.
It may be provided separately from the signal detection unit 11 between them, or may be configured so as to be shared.

Each of the circulators 30 is connected to a corresponding one of the mixing units 22 by signal. Each of these mixing sections 22 is signal-connected to the corresponding transmission signal extracting section 31 via a transmission signal supply path 26.

In the eighth embodiment, a transmission signal is supplied from the slave oscillator 5 (or the master oscillator 6) to the antenna unit 2 by each of the circulators 30, and a reception signal received by the antenna unit 2 is: The configuration is such that the signal is output to a mixing unit 22 which is an output unit having a setting different from that of the slave oscillator 5 (or the master oscillator 6).

Each of the mixing sections 22 has
The reception signal is supplied from the circulator 30 as described above, and the transmission signal detected by the transmission signal extracting unit 31 is added through the transmission signal detection path 26. Each of these mixing sections 22 mixes the added reception signal and transmission signal to form a common signal synthesis section 2.
8 is output. And, as in the seventh embodiment,
The signal synthesizing unit 28 synthesizes the mixing signals of the respective mixing units 22,
Output to the unit 24, the distance R to the target
Also, the relative movement speed V of the target is detected.

According to the eighth embodiment, since transmission and reception can be performed by one phased array antenna apparatus 1, only one antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving a beam is provided. As a result, the size of the radar device 20 can be further reduced.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can adopt various embodiments. For example, in the phased array antenna device 1 shown in each of the above embodiments, the fundamental frequency fc of the master signal is the same as the fundamental frequency of the self-excited frequency _fsl of the slave oscillator 5, but these frequencies are different. It may be. However, the fundamental frequency fc of the master signal is a frequency satisfying the synchronization condition.

[0112]

According to the phased array antenna apparatus of the present invention, a slave oscillator is connected to each of the plurality of antenna units arranged in a signal manner, and these slave oscillators are unidirectionally coupled according to the arrangement of the antenna units. A master oscillator for injecting a master signal into the first slave oscillator of the array, and a master signal control means for controlling the oscillation operation of the master oscillator and periodically changing the master signal are provided. Configuration.

Due to the periodic change of the master signal, the injection operation of the master signal from the master oscillator to the slave oscillator, and the injection locking phenomenon, the beam caused by the antenna operation of each antenna unit is frequency-modulated. In addition, the direction of the beam is changed.

As described above, the phased array antenna apparatus according to the present invention can provide not only the frequency modulation of the beam but also the periodic variable control of the master signal without providing a large and expensive phase shifter as in the prior art. Since the beam direction can be changed, the size and cost of the phased array antenna device can be significantly reduced.

Therefore, in the radar apparatus provided with the phased array antenna apparatus having the characteristic configuration according to the present invention, the size and the cost of the phased array antenna apparatus are reduced, and the radar apparatus is reduced in size. And cost reduction can be promoted. Due to this, the use of the radar device equipped with the phased array antenna device can be expanded.

By the control operation of the master signal control means, the master signal is converted into a signal of a predetermined fundamental frequency and
In a phased array antenna apparatus in which a signal for frequency modulation and a signal for scanning are combined to form a signal, the frequency modulation of the beam can be controlled by the signal for frequency modulation of the master signal. Further, beam scanning can be controlled by the scanning signal. Thus, the frequency modulation of the beam and the beam scanning can be controlled in a substantially independent state, and the control of the frequency modulation of the beam and the beam scanning becomes easy.

By the control operation of the master signal control means, the master signal is converted into a signal of a predetermined fundamental frequency and
A signal obtained by combining the frequency modulation signal and the frequency modulation signal.
A configuration in which the self-excitation frequency of each slave oscillator changes by a control operation of the slave self-excitation control means with a change width larger than the frequency change width of the frequency modulation signal and with a period longer than the frequency modulation signal. In the phased array antenna device, the frequency modulation of the beam can be controlled by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, and the beam scanning is performed by the frequency change of the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator. It becomes possible to control. Accordingly, similarly to the above, the frequency modulation of the beam and the beam scanning can be controlled in a substantially independent state, and the effect of facilitating the control of the frequency modulation of the beam and the beam scanning can be obtained. You can do it.

Further, since the scanning signal is not included in the master signal, the frequency modulation of the beam does not include the frequency change caused by the scanning signal.
In the radar device equipped with the phased array antenna device, it is possible to prevent complication of signal processing.

By the control operation of the master signal control means, the master signal is converted into a signal of a predetermined fundamental frequency,
At least a signal obtained by combining the frequency modulation signal and a change in the self-excitation frequency of each slave oscillator due to the control operation of the slave self-excitation control means is larger than the frequency change width of the frequency modulation signal. In the phased array antenna device having a configuration in which the change width is at least a frequency change having a cycle longer than the frequency modulation signal, the change in the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator In addition, it is possible to suppress blurring of beam scanning caused by the frequency modulation signal. In the radar apparatus having such a phased array antenna apparatus, as described above, since the blur of the beam scanning is suppressed, it is possible to easily perform signal processing using the transmission signal and the reception signal of the radar apparatus. Become.

In a phased array antenna device in which an antenna unit is also connected to the master oscillator by a signal, or in a phased array antenna device in which each antenna unit is configured by an antenna group formed by a plurality of antennas, for example, In addition, the number of oscillators required for the required number of antennas can be reduced, and the reduction in the number of oscillators can further promote downsizing and cost reduction of the phased array antenna device.

Each antenna unit is configured to transmit and receive a beam, and a circulator is provided on a signal path between each antenna unit and a slave or master oscillator connected to the antenna unit. In addition, in a phased array antenna device in which a transmission signal extraction unit is provided in a signal path portion on the oscillator side of the circulator, it is possible to perform both beam transmission and reception. For a radar device having an array antenna device, only one phased array antenna device needs to be mounted,
It is possible to further reduce the size and cost of the radar device.

Further, as described above, the phased array antenna apparatus is provided with the circulator and the transmission signal extracting section, and is provided with a configuration for separately detecting the transmission signal and the reception signal. Therefore, in the radar device equipped with the phased array antenna device, signal processing using the transmission signal and the reception signal is facilitated.

In a radar apparatus in which a phased array antenna apparatus having a specific configuration according to the present invention is provided as a transmitting antenna apparatus and a beam non-scanning type antenna apparatus is provided as a receiving antenna apparatus. Since a non-beam-scanning antenna device is provided as a receiving antenna device, the complexity of the device can be suppressed.

In the present invention, a phased array antenna device having a specific configuration is provided as a transmitting antenna device, and a beam scanning is performed as a receiving antenna device in the same manner as the beam scanning of the transmitting antenna device. In a radar device provided with an antenna device to be provided, since the directions of the transmission beam and the reception beam are always the same, the distance to the target, the relative moving speed of the target with respect to the radar device, and the like can be more accurately determined. It becomes possible to detect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an example of a phased array antenna device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a change in oscillation operation of a slave oscillator due to an injection locking phenomenon.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a change in the frequency of a master signal of a master oscillator shown in the first embodiment and a change in the direction of a beam caused by the frequency change.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a characteristic change in the frequency of a master signal and a change in the direction of a beam caused by the change in the frequency in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a characteristic change of a master signal, a periodic change of a self-excited frequency of each slave oscillator, and a change of a beam direction caused by the frequency change, which is characteristic in the third embodiment. FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a periodic change of a self-excited frequency of a slave oscillator for suppressing a beam scanning blur caused by a frequency modulation signal of a master signal together with a master signal.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the periodic change of the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator for suppressing the beam scanning blur caused by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal together with the master signal.

FIG. 8 is a model diagram showing a form example of an antenna unit including a plurality of antennas.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a radar device provided with a phased array antenna device having a characteristic configuration according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a radar device in which a transmission beam and a reception beam are scanned in the same manner.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a phased array antenna device that performs both transmission and reception, which is incorporated in a radar device.

FIG. 12 is a model diagram showing an example of a conventional phased array antenna device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 phased array antenna device 2 antenna unit 5 slave oscillator 6 master oscillator 7 one-way signal injection path 8 master signal control means 9 slave self-excitation control means 10 signal path 11 signal detection unit 15, 16, 17 antenna 20 radar device 21 reception Antenna device 30 circulator 31 transmission signal extraction unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuya Kawabata 2-26-10 Tenjin, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto Inside Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeji Nogi 1272-4 Tsuchida, Okayama-shi, Okayama Inventor Minoru Sanagi 1-27-2 Kitakata, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture F-term (reference) 5J021 AA05 AA06 CA06 DB03 EA04 FA17 FA24 FA32 FA34 GA02 HA04 HA05 5J070 AB17 AD10 AD20 AK40

Claims (12)

[Claims] A plurality of antenna units arranged in an array; a plurality of slave oscillators respectively connected to the respective antenna units; and a plurality of slave oscillators unidirectionally coupled in accordance with the arrangement of the antenna units. A one-way signal injection path for sequentially injecting an oscillation frequency signal from the preceding slave oscillator to the next slave oscillator; and a master for injecting a master signal into the first slave oscillator in the arrangement order of the one-way coupling of the slave oscillator. And an oscillator, wherein the oscillation frequency of each of the slave oscillators is sequentially synchronized with the frequency of the master signal in the order of the one-way coupling by an injection locking phenomenon based on an injection operation of the master signal from the master oscillator to the slave oscillator. And the oscillation operation between the adjacent slave oscillators in the one-way coupling arrangement. The master signal receiving side is configured to generate a phase difference according to a difference between the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator and the frequency of the master signal, and further controls the oscillation operation of the master oscillator to change the frequency of the master signal. Master signal control means for periodically changing the frequency of the beam by the antenna operation of each of the antenna units and changing the direction of the beam by changing the phase difference of oscillation between the slave oscillators is provided. A phased array antenna device characterized in that: 2. Each slave oscillator is provided with slave self-excitation control means for fixedly controlling the self-excitation frequency of the slave oscillator to a predetermined frequency, and the master signal control means comprises a master signal control means having a predetermined basic frequency. A signal, a frequency modulation signal whose frequency periodically changes, and a scan whose frequency changes with a change width larger than the frequency change width of the frequency modulation signal and with a longer cycle than the frequency modulation signal. A master signal composed by synthesizing the master signal and the oscillation signal of the master oscillator is created,
2. The phased array antenna device according to claim 1, wherein a frequency modulation of the beam is controlled by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, and beam scanning is controlled by the scanning signal. 3. Each of the slave oscillators is provided with slave self-excitation control means for controlling self-oscillation operation of the slave oscillator. The master signal control means includes a signal having a predetermined basic frequency and a signal having a predetermined frequency. A master signal formed by synthesizing with a periodically changing frequency modulation signal is generated by controlling the oscillation operation of the master oscillator, and the slave self-excitation control means sets the self-excitation frequency of the slave oscillator to The variation width is larger than the variation width of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, and the frequency is changed at a longer cycle than the frequency modulation signal. The frequency of the beam is changed by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal. The modulation is controlled, and the beam scanning is controlled by the periodic change of the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator. The phased array antenna device according to claim 1, wherein 4. Each of the slave oscillators is provided with slave self-excitation control means for controlling self-oscillation operation of the slave oscillator. A frequency-modulating signal that changes periodically and a scanning signal that changes in frequency with a change width larger than the frequency change width of the frequency-modulation signal and longer than the frequency-modulation signal are combined. The slave self-excitation control means sets the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator to substantially the frequency change of the frequency modulation signal of the master signal. The frequency modulation of the beam is controlled by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, and the beam is modulated by the scanning signal. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein scanning of a beam is controlled, and fluctuation of beam scanning caused by a frequency modulation signal of said master signal is suppressed by changing a self-excited frequency of said slave oscillator. Phased array antenna device. 5. Each of the slave oscillators is provided with slave self-excitation control means for controlling self-oscillation operation of the slave oscillator. The master signal control means includes a signal having a predetermined basic frequency and a signal having a predetermined frequency. A master signal formed by combining the periodically modulated frequency modulation signal is generated by controlling the oscillation operation of the master oscillator, and the slave self-exciting control means controls the frequency modulation signal of the master signal. A configuration in which the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator is varied by a frequency change obtained by synthesizing a frequency change substantially coincident with the frequency change and a frequency change having a larger width and a longer cycle than the frequency change. The frequency modulation of the beam is controlled by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal, and the frequency on the larger side of the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator is controlled. The beam scanning is controlled by the number change, and the fluctuation of the beam scanning caused by the frequency modulation signal of the master signal is suppressed by the small frequency change of the self-excited frequency of the slave oscillator. The phased array antenna device according to claim 1, wherein 6. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein an antenna unit is connected to the master oscillator by a signal, and the antenna unit is arranged at the head of the antenna unit array. Phased array antenna device. 7. The phased array antenna device according to claim 1, wherein each antenna unit is configured by an antenna group including a plurality of antennas. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each antenna section is constituted by a sub-antenna array including a plurality of antennas arranged in a different dimension from a dimension in which a beam is scanned. 7. The phased array antenna device according to any one of 6. 9. Each antenna section is configured to transmit and receive a beam, and a signal path between each antenna section and a slave or master oscillator connected to the antenna section by a signal is provided on each of the antenna sections. A circulator for performing signal supply from the oscillator to the antenna unit and signal output for outputting a reception signal of the antenna unit to an output unit different from the oscillator is provided, and the signal 9. The passage according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission signal extracting unit for detecting a signal supplied from the oscillator to the antenna unit, at a position closer to the oscillator than the circulator. The phased array antenna device according to any one of the above. 10. A phased array antenna device according to claim 1 is provided as a transmitting antenna device, and a non-beam scanning type antenna device is used as a receiving antenna device. A radar device characterized by being provided. 11. A phased array antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is provided as a transmitting antenna device, and the receiving antenna device is the same as the transmitting antenna device. An antenna device having a configuration is provided, and a beam scanning means for scanning and controlling the directions of the respective beams of the transmitting antenna device and the receiving antenna device in substantially the same direction is formed. Radar equipment. 12. A radar device provided with the phased array antenna device according to claim 9.