JP2003023375A - Radio receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continue the communication of a radio receiver even when a fault or the like occurs in a cooling means. SOLUTION: A radio receiver 100 is provided with a band filter 10 for extracting the signal of a prescribed frequency band from an input signal, a cooling means 40 for cooling the band filter 10, a heat insulating container 30 for housing the band filter 10 and insulating heat from the outside, a transmitting means 50 for transmitting the input signal, a first switching part 70 for selecting the band filter 10 or transmitting means 50 to supply the input signal, and a second switching part 75 which is connected to the band filter 10 or the transmitting means 50, for selecting the output of the signal from the band filter 10 or that of the transmitting means 50.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio communication device for extracting a signal in a predetermined frequency band from an input signal with low noise.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, by cooling a band filter for extracting a signal of a predetermined frequency band from an input signal,
There is a high-sensitivity wireless receiver that extracts a signal in a predetermined frequency band with low noise.

[0003]

However, when the bandpass filter is no longer cooled due to a failure of the cooling means or the like, the input signal deteriorates or is isolated in the bandpass filter. Therefore, the wireless receiver cannot continue communication.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a radio receiver capable of solving the above problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in independent claims of the invention. The dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.

[0005]

That is, a radio receiver according to a first aspect of the present invention is a band filter for band-limiting and outputting an input signal, and a signal connected to the band filter and output from the band filter. An amplifying section for amplifying the input signal, a heat shield container for accommodating a bandpass filter and insulating it from the outside, a transmission means for transmitting an input signal, and a first switching for switching between supplying the input signal to the bandpass filter or the transmission means. A switching unit and a second switching unit that is connected to the bandpass filter or the transmission unit and switches which of the signal from the bandpass filter or the transmission unit is output is provided.

A radio receiver according to a second aspect of the present invention is
A band filter for band-limiting and outputting an input signal, a transmission unit for transmitting the input signal, a first switching unit for switching between supplying the input signal to the band filter or the transmission unit, and amplifying the received signal. And the output section,
A heat-shielding container that houses the bandpass filter and insulates it from the outside, a cooling unit that cools the bandpass filter, an input signal whose band is limited by the bandpass filter, or an input signal transmitted by the transmission unit is output to the amplification unit. Second to switch or
And a switching unit.

The radio receiver controls the temperature detecting section for detecting the temperature inside the heat shield container, and controls the switching between the first switching section and the second switching section based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting section. May be provided.

The control unit switches the first switching unit so that the first switching unit supplies an input signal to the transmission means when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined reference temperature, Moreover, the second switching unit may switch the second switching unit so as to output the signal from the transmission means.

The cooling means may cool the bandpass filter to a predetermined temperature, and the bandpass filter may be made of a material exhibiting a superconducting state at the predetermined temperature.

The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also serve as the invention.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and the features described in the embodiments Not all combinations are essential to the solution of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a radio receiver 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The wireless receiver 100 of this embodiment
Is a base station radio receiver used in, for example, mobile communication or satellite communication. The wireless receiver 100 has an input terminal 110.
The first switching unit 70, the bandpass filter 10, the heat blocking container 30, the cooling unit 40, the transmission unit 50, the second switching unit 75, and the output terminal 115. The wireless receiver 100 also includes an amplification unit 20.

The input terminal 110 transmits an input signal received from an antenna (not shown) to the first switching section 70.
The first switching unit 70 switches whether the input signal received from the input terminal 110 is supplied to the bandpass filter 10 or the transmission unit 50 described later. First switching unit 70
Has, for example, a coaxial relay and a pin diode as constituent elements. The first switching unit 70 outputs the input signal to the bandpass filter 1
When supplying 0, the connection is switched to the first terminal 70a. On the other hand, the first switching unit 70 switches the connection to the second terminal 70b when supplying the input signal to the transmission means 50.

The bandpass filter 10 extracts a signal in a predetermined frequency band from the input signal supplied from the first switching section 70. The bandpass filter 10 is, for example, a superconducting filter having a superconducting material as a constituent element. The superconducting material is preferably a high temperature superconducting material so that the superconducting material can be kept in a superconducting state. High temperature superconducting material
For example, Bi-based, Ti-based, Pb-based, and Y-based copper oxides. High temperature superconducting filter (HTSF: High Te)
parameter Superconductinn
g Filter) is, for example, a thin film HTSF having a microstrip structure or a thick film HTSF having a cavity resonator structure.
Is.

The heat shield container 30 accommodates the band filter 10 and insulates it from the outside. The heat shield container 30 preferably has a structure that blocks heat from the outside by vacuum heat insulation, for example. The heat shield container 30 is, for example, a Dewar bottle.

The amplification section 20 amplifies the signal in the predetermined frequency band extracted by the bandpass filter 10. Electric power for operating the amplification unit 20 is supplied from an external power source through the amplification unit power supply terminal 22. In addition, the amplification unit 20 is preferably housed in the heat shield container 30 to reduce noise. In this case, the amplification unit 20 uses the cryogenic amplifier (CLNA: C
Ryogenic Low Noise Amplif
ier) is preferred.

The cooling means 40 uses the cooling member 45 to cool the bandpass filter 10 to a temperature at which the bandpass filter 10 exhibits a superconducting state. Electric power for operating the cooling means 40 is supplied from the outside through the cooling means power supply terminal 42. The cooling means 40 here is, for example, a cryogenic refrigerator. The cryogenic refrigerator is a refrigerator that maintains a cryogenic temperature of several tens of K by utilizing a heat exchange cycle by compression / expansion of helium gas or the like. The cryogenic refrigerator may be, for example, a refrigerator that adopts a small Stirling type pulse refrigeration system. In addition, the amplification unit 20 is a heat shield container 30.
The cooling means 40 further cools the amplifying section 20 when stored in the. The cooling means 40 is the bandpass filter 1
0 and the amplification unit 20 may be cooled to different temperatures.

The transmission means 50 transmits the input signal supplied from the first switching section 70. The transmission means 50 has, for example, a coaxial cable or an optical cable that transmits a high frequency signal as a component.

The second switching section 75 is electrically connected to the bandpass filter 10 or the transmission means 50. For example, the second switching unit 75 is electrically connected to the bandpass filter 10 via the amplification unit 20. The second switching unit 75 is electrically or optically connected to the transmission unit 50, for example. The second switching unit 75 switches which of the signal from the bandpass filter 10 or the transmission means 50 is output. The second switching unit 75 has, for example, a coaxial relay or a pin diode as a constituent element. The second switching unit 75, when outputting the signal extracted from the bandpass filter 10, has a third terminal 75.
Switch the connection to a. On the other hand, when the second switching unit 75 outputs the signal transmitted from the transmission means 50,
The connection is switched to the terminal 75b. The output terminal 115 is
The signal received from the second switching unit 75 is output to the outside. Note that at least one of the first switching unit 70 and the second switching unit 75 may be housed in the heat shield container 30.

Next, the operation of the radio receiver 100 of this embodiment will be described. The first switching unit 70 has the input terminal 11
The connection is switched to the first terminal 70a so that the input signal received from 0 is supplied to the bandpass filter 10. The bandpass filter 10 extracts a signal in a predetermined frequency band from the input signal. The amplification unit 20 amplifies the signal in the predetermined frequency band received from the bandpass filter 10. The second switching unit 75 outputs the signal received from the amplification unit 20 to the output terminal 115.
Output to.

Here, the failure of the cooling means 40 and the heat shield container 3
In some cases, the cooling means 40 cannot maintain the bandpass filter 10 housed in the heat blocking container 30 in a superconducting state due to damage to the band 0. In this case, the first switching unit 70 switches the connection to the second terminal 70b based on, for example, an instruction from the operator of the wireless receiver 100. Further, the second switching unit 7
5 switches the connection to the fourth terminal 75b. As a result, the transmission means 50 transmits the input signal received from the first switching unit 70 to the second switching unit 75. The second switching section 75 outputs the signal transmitted by the transmission means 50 to the output terminal 115.

As described above, the radio receiver 100 can continue the communication by using the transmitting means 50 as a backup path even if the cooling means 40 fails.

FIG. 2 shows a radio receiver 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the wireless receiver 200 further includes a control unit 60 and a temperature detection unit 80. In other respects, the present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. Therefore, the difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment will be described below. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment will be given to the members that have already been described in the first embodiment.

The temperature detector 80 detects the temperature inside the heat shield container 30. The temperature detection unit 80 is arranged inside the heat shield container 30, for example. The control unit 60 includes the temperature detection unit 8
0 based on the temperature detected by the first switching unit 70 and the second
The switching of the switching unit 75 is controlled. For example, the control unit 60
When the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 80 exceeds a predetermined reference temperature, the first switching unit 70 sets the second switching unit 70 to the second switching unit 70 so that the input signal is supplied to the transmission unit 60. Switch to the terminal 70b. Further, the control unit 60 causes the second switching unit 75 to output the signal from the transmission means 50 to the second switching unit 75.
The switching unit of is switched to the fourth terminal 75b. Here, the above-mentioned predetermined reference temperature is preferably determined based on, for example, the temperature at which the superconducting material forming the bandpass filter 10 maintains the superconducting state. If the reference temperature is set in this way, the wireless receiver 200 can automatically continue communication even if a failure or the like of the cooling means 40 occurs.

FIG. 3 shows a radio receiver 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the wireless receiver 300 is the second switching unit 75 in the second embodiment.
Instead of the above, a second switching unit 175 is provided. In other respects, the present embodiment is similar to the second embodiment.
Therefore, the difference between the present embodiment and the second embodiment will be described below. In the following description, the members already described in the second embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as those used in the second embodiment.

The second switching unit 175 includes the bandpass filter 10
Alternatively, it is electrically connected to the transmission means 50. The second switching unit 175 switches which of the signal from the bandpass filter 10 or the transmission means 50 is output to the amplifier 20. The second switching unit 175 switches the connection to the fifth terminal 175a so as to output the received signal to the amplification unit 20 when the bandpass filter 10 is operating in the superconducting state.

On the other hand, when the bandpass filter does not operate properly due to a failure of the cooling means 40, the second switching section 175 switches the connection to the sixth terminal 175b so that the transmission means 50 outputs a signal. This avoids degradation or isolation of the input signal in bandpass filter 10. Therefore, the wireless receiver 300 includes the cooling means 4
Even if a failure such as 0 occurs, communication can be continued.

In addition to the transmitting means 50, the wireless receiver 3
00 may include general purpose bandpass filters and amplifiers that function without cooling. This general-purpose bandpass filter
For example, it is a dielectric filter having a dielectric material as a constituent element. The frequency band of the signal extracted by the general-purpose band filter is preferably substantially the same as the frequency band extracted by the band filter 10.

FIG. 4 shows a radio receiver 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the wireless receiver 400 includes a plurality of input terminals 110, a plurality of first switching units 70, a plurality of bandpass filters 10, a plurality of heat blocking containers 30, and a plurality of cooling means 40. , Multiple cooling members 4
5, a plurality of output terminals 115, a plurality of amplifiers 20,
And a plurality of temperature detectors 85. In other respects, the present embodiment is similar to the second embodiment. Therefore, the difference between the present embodiment and the second embodiment will be described below. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment will be given to the members that have already been described in the second embodiment. In addition, in the present example, the wireless receiver 400 includes two input terminals 110, two first switching units 70, two bandpass filters 10, two heat blocking containers 30, and two cooling means 40. The description will be given assuming that the two output terminals 115, the amplification unit 20, and the two temperature detection units 85 are provided.

The control unit 80 controls the first switching units 70 and the second switching units 70 based on the temperatures detected by the temperature detecting units 85.
The switching of the switching unit 75 is controlled. For example, the control unit 8
When the temperature detected by any one of the temperature detecting units 85 exceeds a predetermined reference temperature, 0 corresponds to the first switching unit 70.
Switches the first switching unit 70 to the second terminal 70b so that the input signal is supplied to the transmission means 50. In addition, the control unit 80 causes the corresponding second switching unit 75 to output the signal from the transmission unit 60 when the temperature detected by any of the temperature detection units 85 exceeds a predetermined reference temperature. The corresponding second switching unit is switched to the fourth terminal 75b.
Here, the above-mentioned predetermined reference temperature is, for example, the bandpass filter 1
It is preferable that the superconducting material forming 0 be determined based on the temperature at which the superconducting state is maintained.

The above-mentioned predetermined reference temperature may be set for each band filter based on the temperature at which the superconducting material forming each band filter 10 maintains the superconducting state. If the reference temperature is set in this way, the wireless receiver 400 can automatically continue communication even if a failure or the like of the cooling means 40 occurs.
Further, the circuit scale can be reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of transmission means 50 are provided respectively corresponding to a plurality of bandpass filters 10.

FIG. 5 shows a radio receiver 500 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the wireless receiver 500 includes a plurality of transmission means 50. In addition, the wireless receiver 500 includes a plurality of heat blocking containers 30, and in each of the heat blocking containers 30, a plurality of bandpass filters corresponding to the plurality of transmission means 50, a plurality of amplifying units 20,
And a plurality of temperature detectors 85. The wireless receiver 500 is electrically connected to the transmission means 50 or the bandpass filters 10 corresponding to the transmission means 50, and the plurality of first switching units 70 provided corresponding to the respective bandpass filters 10. And a plurality of second switching units 75 electrically connected to the transmission unit 50 or the amplification unit 20 corresponding to the transmission unit 50 and provided corresponding to the respective amplification units 20. In other respects, this embodiment is the second
It is similar to the embodiment. Therefore, the difference between the present embodiment and the second embodiment will be described below. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment will be given to the members that have already been described in the second embodiment.

The control unit 80 controls the first switching units 70 and the second switching units 70 based on the temperatures detected by the temperature detecting units 85.
The switching of the switching unit 75 is controlled. For example, the control unit 8
When the temperature detected by any one of the temperature detecting units 85 exceeds a predetermined reference temperature, 0 corresponds to the first switching unit 70.
Switches the first switching unit 70 to the second terminal 70b so that the input signal is supplied to the transmission means 50. In addition, the control unit 80 causes the corresponding second switching unit 75 to output the signal from the transmission unit 50 when the temperature detected by any of the temperature detection units 85 exceeds a predetermined reference temperature. The corresponding second switching unit is switched to the fourth terminal 75b.
Here, the above-mentioned predetermined reference temperature is, for example, the bandpass filter 1
It is preferable that the superconducting material forming 0 be determined based on the temperature at which the superconducting state is maintained.

The above-mentioned predetermined reference temperature may be set for each band filter based on the temperature at which the superconducting material forming each band filter 10 maintains the superconducting state. By setting the reference temperature in this way, the wireless receiver 500 can automatically continue communication even if a failure or the like of the cooling means 40 occurs.
Further, the circuit scale can be reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of transmission means 50 are provided respectively corresponding to a plurality of bandpass filters 10.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0036]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the communication of the wireless receiver can be continued even if the cooling means fails.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a wireless receiver 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Showing

FIG. 2 is a wireless receiver 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Showing

FIG. 3 is a wireless receiver 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
Showing

FIG. 4 is a wireless receiver 400 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Showing

FIG. 5 is a wireless receiver 500 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
Showing

[Explanation of symbols]

10 band filter 20 Amplifier 30 heat insulation container 40 Cooling means 45 Cooling member 50 Transmission means 60 control 70 First switching unit 75 Second switching unit 80 Temperature detector 100, 200, 300 wireless receiver 110 input terminals 115 output terminals

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takashi Uchida             3-14-20 Higashi-Nakano Stock Market, Nakano-ku, Tokyo             Inside Hitachi Kokusai Electric (72) Inventor Yoichi Okubo             3-14-20 Higashi-Nakano Stock Market, Nakano-ku, Tokyo             Inside Hitachi Kokusai Electric F term (reference) 5K016 AA05 CB11 CB15 DA02 EA05                 5K021 CC03 CC07 CC14 DD02 FF11                 5K061 AA05 BB12 CC08 CC25 CC45                       CD08 HH01 JJ24                 5K062 AB15 AD03 AD04 BA01 BC01                       BE09 BF08

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A band filter for band-limiting and outputting an input signal; an amplification unit connected to the band filter for amplifying a signal output from the band filter; A heat blocking container, a cooling unit for cooling the bandpass filter, a transmission unit for transmitting the input signal, and a first switching unit for switching between supplying the input signal to the bandpass filter or the transmission unit. And a second switching unit that is connected to the bandpass filter or the transmission unit and switches which of the signal from the bandpass filter or the transmission unit is output. 2. A band filter for band-limiting and outputting an input signal, a transmission means for transmitting the input signal, and a first switch for switching between supplying the input signal to the band filter or the transmission means. A switching unit, an amplification unit that amplifies and outputs a received signal, a heat blocking container that houses the band filter and insulates the band filter from the outside, a cooling unit that cools the band filter, and the band filter limits the band. A radio receiver comprising: a second switching unit that switches which of the input signal and the input signal transmitted by the transmission unit is output to the amplification unit. 3. A temperature detection unit that detects the temperature inside the heat shield container, and controls switching between the first switching unit and the second switching unit based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit. The radio receiver according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a control unit. 4. The control unit controls the first switching unit to supply the input signal to the transmission unit when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined reference temperature. The wireless receiver according to claim 3, wherein the first switching unit is switched, and the second switching unit switches the second switching unit so as to output the signal from the transmission unit. 5. The cooling means cools the bandpass filter to a predetermined temperature, and the bandpass filter is made of a material exhibiting a superconducting state at the predetermined temperature. 4. The wireless receiver according to any one of 4.