JP2003348004A - Apparatus and system for radio communication - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable stable reception by transmitting/receiving radio signals in cooperation with other radio communication apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This radio communication apparatus is provided with an antenna array 2 having a plurality of first antennas 1, a phase shift circuit 3, a reception circuit 4, a control circuit 5, a second antenna 6 and radio device 7 for other apparatus. The stable reception is enabled for the reason that a phase and an amplitude of the antenna array 2 are set by using control signals in other radio communication apparatus since the control signal of the antenna array 2 is transmitted to other radio communication apparatus via the second antenna 6 and on the contrary, the control signal of the antenna array 2 in other radio communication apparatus is received via the second antenna 6. In addition, if representative radio communication apparatus is determined, a radio communication apparatus except it can control the antenna array 2 by using a control signal from the representative radio communication apparatus, thus, processing of individual radio communication apparatus is simplified. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a radio communication device having a plurality of antennas and a radio communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional wireless communication apparatus for mobile communication uses a single terminal or an antenna on a mobile device to reduce the effect of fading which is a problem when receiving a moving image broadcast such as a television. To perform diversity and to construct smart antennas. However, in the former, although the configuration is relatively simple, there is a problem that the S / N ratio is deteriorated because the antenna gain cannot be sufficiently obtained, and it is difficult to maintain high reception quality with simple diversity. . The latter is a method of directing a beam in the direction of an incoming wave by electrically scanning a beam using an antenna array fed by a phase difference.However, it takes time to perform signal processing on control for calculating a phase shift value of the antenna array. And the direction of the arriving wave can change significantly in a relatively short time, so it is actually difficult to keep up with the change, and this method also keeps the reception quality high. There is a problem that is difficult.

On the other hand, by connecting wireless communication devices via an ad hoc network and combining received signals with each other,
A method of improving the reception level has been proposed (see JP-A-2001-189971). If this method is used, it becomes possible to add the received signals of each terminal,
The reception level can be improved.

[0004]

However, according to the conventional method disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, when terminals using high-gain antennas form an ad hoc network, the following capability of each terminal is insufficient. When the receiving capability of each terminal is originally insufficient, such as when the terminal cannot follow the target, it is highly likely that the intended purpose of diversity reception cannot be achieved.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to perform wireless signal reception in cooperation with another wireless communication apparatus, thereby enabling stable reception. A communication device and a wireless communication system are provided.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an antenna array comprising a plurality of first antennas for receiving a radio signal from a first radio apparatus; A phase shifter that sets a phase and an amplitude of one antenna, a control unit that generates a control signal for controlling the phase shifter, and a second unit that transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from a second wireless device. An antenna, and a transmitting / receiving unit for another device that controls the transmission of the control signal from the second antenna while demodulating a wireless signal from the second wireless device received by the second antenna. Prepare.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a radio communication apparatus and a radio communication system according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention. 1 includes an antenna array 2 having a plurality of first antennas 1, a phase shift circuit 3, a receiving circuit 4, a control circuit 5, a second antenna 6, and a wireless device for another device. 7 is provided.

[0009] The antenna array 2 is for receiving signals from a base station such as broadcasting and communication. Phase shift circuit 3
Sets the phase and amplitude of each of the plurality of first antennas 1 constituting the antenna array 2. The receiving circuit 4 combines and demodulates the signals received by the antenna array 2.
The control circuit 5 generates a control signal for controlling the phase shift circuit 3.

The second antenna 6 is for communicating with another wireless communication device, and receives a control signal sent from another wireless communication device or transmits a control signal of the control circuit 5 to another wireless communication device. To the wireless communication device.

Here, the other wireless communication device may be either a wireless terminal or a base station. For communication with another wireless communication device, an ad hoc network is established between the other device wireless device 7 and a wireless device in another wireless communication device, and communication is performed via the network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG. The phase shift circuit 3 includes a phase shift unit 11 and an amplitude changing unit 12 provided for each first antenna 1, and a combining unit 13.

The receiving circuit 4 has a receiving section 14 for demodulating a signal received by the antenna array 2 and an evaluating section 15 for evaluating the demodulated signal. The other device wireless device 7 includes: a receiving circuit 16 that performs demodulation processing of a signal received by the second antenna 6; a transmission circuit 17 that performs modulation processing of a signal transmitted from the second antenna 6; And a shared circuit 18 to be shared.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a wireless communication system in which a wireless communication device having the same configuration as that of FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle. Each vehicle 21 in FIG. 3 includes a broadcast smart antenna 22 corresponding to the antenna array 2 in FIG. 1 and an ad hoc antenna 23 corresponding to the second antenna 6 in FIG.

Of the plurality of vehicles 21, one vehicle 24
(Hereinafter referred to as a representative vehicle) optimizes the control signal of the control circuit 5, and the optimized control signal (specifically, the weighting coefficient of each first antenna 1 in the antenna array 2)
Is transmitted to another vehicle 21 via the ad hoc antenna 23. Since the representative vehicle 24 can change the beam direction of the smart antenna 22 to an arbitrary direction to some extent, the process of optimizing the control signal with a high degree of freedom and high accuracy becomes possible.

Further, since the representative vehicle 24 also performs signal processing necessary for optimizing the control signal, there is no need to perform signal processing in another vehicle 21, thereby saving overall processing time.
If the vehicles 21 belonging to the ad hoc network are sequentially set as the representative vehicles 24, the optimization processing can be made uniform.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the control signal of the antenna array 2 is transmitted to another wireless communication device via the second antenna 6, and conversely, the other wireless communication device transmits the control signal. Since the control signal of the antenna array 2 can be received via the second antenna 6, the phase and amplitude of the antenna array 2 can be set using the control signal of another wireless communication device, so that stable reception can be achieved. Will be possible.

If a typical wireless communication device is determined, the other wireless communication devices can control the antenna array 2 using a control signal from the typical wireless communication device. Processing in the communication device can be simplified.

(Second Embodiment) In a second embodiment, a signal received by the antenna array 2 is transmitted to another wireless communication device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention. The wireless communication device of FIG. 4 has a signal path L1 for transmitting a reception signal from the receiving circuit 4 to the wireless device 7 for another device in addition to the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG. In addition to the configuration of FIG.
And a signal path L3 transmitted from the wireless device 7 to the receiving unit 14 in the receiving circuit 4 from the wireless device 7 for another device.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a wireless communication system in which a wireless communication device having the same configuration as that of FIG. The representative vehicle 24 receives a signal received by another vehicle 21 via the ad hoc antenna 23, and optimizes a control signal of the broadcast smart antenna 22 in consideration of the signals received by all the vehicles 21. . Therefore, the control signal can be optimized with higher accuracy than in the first embodiment. The representative vehicle 24 performs a process specialized in optimizing the control signal, and can receive a broadcast by a received signal from another vehicle 21 even if the representative vehicle 24 does not itself receive the broadcast.

As described above, in the second embodiment, a signal received by another wireless communication device is received via the second antenna 6, so that the control signal of the antenna array 2 is optimized with higher accuracy. Can be

(Third Embodiment) In a third embodiment, the beam control direction of the broadcast smart antenna 22 is shifted for each wireless communication device.

The block configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system in which the wireless communication device according to the third embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 21. The illustrated three vehicles 21, 24
In each case, the beam control directions of the broadcast smart antenna 22 are shifted from each other. Each of the vehicles 21 and 24 scans the beam direction within the assigned beam control direction and receives a radio signal.

Which vehicle 21 scans in what range of beam control direction may be determined in advance,
The representative vehicle 24 may decide.

In the third embodiment, when a radio signal from a base station or a broadcasting station is received, scanning of an incoming wave is performed by each of the vehicles 21 and 24, so that the arrival direction of the radio signal is determined. Can be performed at high speed.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the fourth embodiment, the beam direction of each wireless communication device is shifted from the optimum beam direction to a different direction.

Since the block configuration of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 4, the description is omitted. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system in which the wireless communication device according to the fourth embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 21. The illustrated three vehicles 21, 24
In this example, the beam direction of the broadcast smart antenna 22 is shifted from the optimum beam direction by different offset amounts.

As described above, in order to shift the beam direction of the broadcast smart antenna 22 from the optimum direction by a different offset amount for each of the vehicles 21 and 24, when the beam directions of the vehicles 21 and 24 are totaled, a wide range is obtained. Wireless signals from the range can be received. Since a radio signal received by any vehicle can be transmitted to another vehicle via the ad-hoc antenna 23, stable reception can be continuously performed even when the beam direction of an incoming wave changes rapidly.

(Fifth Embodiment) In a fifth embodiment, an antenna direction estimating circuit is provided in a radio communication apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The wireless communication apparatus of FIG. 9 has an antenna array 2 in addition to the configuration of FIG.
The antenna direction estimating circuit 25 for estimating the direction of the antenna is provided. The antenna direction estimating circuit 25 is realized by a car navigation system in the case of a vehicle. Although a detailed description of a method for a car navigation system is omitted, it is assumed that an on-vehicle antenna is fixed to a moving object such as a car and the direction of the antenna is determined one-to-one with respect to the traveling direction of the car. The traveling direction of the vehicle can be obtained with high accuracy based on the time change of the position information by the signal from the vehicle and the road information on the map.

On the other hand, in a portable terminal, the antenna direction can be estimated by using a practical electronic compass or the like. By integrally mounting the antenna array 2 and the electronic compass on the same surface of the mobile terminal, the direction in which the antenna array 2 faces can be clarified.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of FIG. The wireless communication apparatus in FIG. 10 includes a gyro 26 for estimating the antenna direction in addition to the configuration in FIG.
The gyro 26 estimates the antenna direction using the angular velocity sensor.

As described above, in the fifth embodiment, in addition to the control signal of the antenna array 2, the antenna direction obtained by the antenna direction estimating circuit 25 is transmitted to another wireless communication apparatus, so that the antenna array 2 Of the control signal can be further improved.

(Sixth Embodiment) In a sixth embodiment, an incoming wave estimating circuit is provided in addition to the antenna direction estimating circuit.

FIG. 11 shows a sixth embodiment of the radio communication apparatus according to the present invention.
It is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an embodiment. FIG.
The wireless communication device includes an antenna direction estimating circuit 25, a receiving circuit array 31 connected to the antenna array 2, an incoming wave estimating circuit 32 for estimating the direction of the incoming wave received by the antenna array 2, Clock 3 that measures the reception time
3 and a wireless device 7 for other devices that transmits and receives wireless signals via the second antenna 6. Arrival wave estimation circuit 3
The clock 2 and the clock 33 are connected to the wireless device 7 for another device.

The receiving circuit array 31 includes the antenna array 2
Has a receiving circuit for each of the first antennas 1. The signals received by these receiving circuits are transmitted to the other device radio 7.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG. Each receiving circuit 34 in the receiving circuit array 31
It is connected to the direction-of-arrival estimation circuit 32 and the transmission circuit 17 in the other device radio 7.

The radio device 7 for the other device receives the signal received by the antenna array 2, the antenna direction estimated by the antenna direction estimation circuit 25, the arrival wave direction estimated by the arrival wave estimation circuit 32, and the clock 33. The measured arrival time of the incoming wave is transmitted to another wireless communication device via the second antenna 6. The reason why the reception time is transmitted is that it is necessary to synchronize the reception signal in each wireless communication device on the time axis.

The reason why the antenna direction estimating circuit 25 is provided in addition to the incoming wave estimating circuit 32 is that antenna direction data is required to estimate the direction of an incoming wave. In addition, the MU generally used for estimating the arrival wave
The SIC algorithm may be used.

When receiving a reception signal from another wireless communication apparatus, an estimated antenna direction, an arrival wave direction, and reception time information, the apparatus searches for a reception signal received by the own apparatus at the same time based on the reception time information. Then, the direction of the incoming wave is estimated by combining the received signals at the same time with each other.

The clock 33 does not need to measure the actual time, but may be a radio signal including time information transmitted from a GPS satellite or time information transmitted from the Communications Research Laboratory of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. May be received to detect the time.

As described above, in the sixth embodiment, since the control signal for the antenna array 2 is generated in consideration of the direction of arrival of the received signal in another wireless communication device, more stable reception is possible. Become.

(Seventh Embodiment) In a seventh embodiment, the antenna array 2 is replaced with a single first antenna 1.

FIG. 13 shows a seventh embodiment of the radio communication apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the embodiment of FIG.
3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG. 13 is different from that of FIG. 11 in that the antenna array 2 is replaced with a single first antenna 1 and the receiving circuit array 31
Is replaced by a single receiving circuit 34.

The other device radio 7 transmits the signal received by the first antenna 1 via the second antenna 6. Conversely, the direction of arrival of the received signal is estimated using both the signals received from the other radios and received by the plurality of other radios and the signals received by the first antenna 1. .

With the configuration as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, it is possible to cope with an incoming wave of a low frequency. As the frequency decreases, the size of the antenna alone increases, and it becomes physically difficult to configure the antenna array 2.
For example, in the frequency band of a television, an antenna having a length of at least about 1 m is required, and a highly accurate antenna
, It is necessary to arrange the individual antennas at a distance of 1 m or more.

In the present embodiment, since the antenna array 2 is configured by combining with another radio device located at a distant position, it is possible to estimate an incoming wave even in a low frequency band in a small radio device.

[0050]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, since a control signal for setting the phase and amplitude of the first antenna is transmitted from the second antenna, another control signal which has received this control signal is transmitted. The wireless communication device can accurately set the phase and amplitude of the antenna array in the wireless communication device using the received control signal. Thus, a plurality of wireless communication devices can cooperate with each other to perform stable reception.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a wireless communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a wireless communication system in which a wireless communication device having a configuration similar to that of FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG. 4;

6 shows a wireless communication device having the same configuration as that of FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a wireless communication system mounted on a wireless communication system 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system in which a wireless communication device according to a third embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 21;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a wireless communication system in which a wireless communication device according to a fourth embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 21.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sixth embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG. 13;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 First antenna 2 Antenna array 3 Phase shift circuit 4 Receiver circuit 5 Control circuit 6 Second antenna 7 Radio for other devices 11 Phase shift section 12 Amplitude changing unit 13 Synthesizing unit 14 Receiver 15 Evaluation section 16 Receiver circuit 17 Transmission circuit 18 Shared circuit 21 Vehicle 22 Broadcasting Smart Antenna 23 Ad hoc antennas 24 representative vehicles 25 Antenna direction estimation circuit 26 Gyro 31 Receiver circuit array 32 Arrival direction estimation circuit 33 clock

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Hiroki Shoki             No. 1 Komukai Toshiba-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Toshiba R & D Center (72) Inventor Yasushi Murakami             No. 1 Komukai Toshiba-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Toshiba R & D Center (72) Inventor Noriaki Odate             No. 1 Komukai Toshiba-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Toshiba R & D Center (72) Inventor Akihiro Tsujimura             No. 1 Komukai Toshiba-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Toshiba R & D Center (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Inoue             No. 1 Komukai Toshiba-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Toshiba R & D Center (72) Inventor Takayoshi Ito             No. 1 Komukai Toshiba-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Toshiba R & D Center F term (reference) 5J021 AA05 DB02 DB03 EA04 FA06                       FA12 FA26 FA32 HA05 HA10                 5K059 AA12 BB01 CC04 DD32 EE02                 5K067 AA01 BB02 BB03 BB21 CC06                       CC24 DD11 DD41 DD51 EE02                       FF02 KK03

Claims (10)

[Claims] An antenna array comprising a plurality of first antennas for receiving a radio signal from a first radio apparatus, a phase shifter for setting a phase and an amplitude of the plurality of first antennas, A control unit that generates a control signal for controlling the phaser; a second antenna that transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from a second wireless device; and the second wireless device that is received by the second antenna A wireless communication device, comprising: a transmission / reception unit for another device that demodulates a wireless signal from the device and controls transmission of the control signal from the second antenna. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first signal is received by said antenna array.
A receiving unit that performs a demodulation process of a wireless signal from the wireless device, wherein the transmitting / receiving unit for another device performs control of transmitting a signal received by the receiving unit from the second antenna. Item 2. The wireless communication device according to item 1. 3. An antenna direction estimating unit for estimating a direction of the first antenna, wherein the transmitting / receiving unit for another device transmits information on an estimated direction of the first antenna from the second antenna. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device performs control to perform the control. 4. A plurality of wireless communication devices each comprising the first antenna, the antenna array, the phase shifter, the second antenna, and the control unit, and forming an ad hoc network, At least one representative wireless communication device among the wireless communication devices has an arrival direction estimating unit that estimates an arrival direction of a wireless signal, and the representative wireless communication device transmits a wireless signal including the estimated arrival direction to the second one. 2 and the wireless communication devices other than the representative wireless communication device are respectively
A radio signal including the estimated direction of arrival is received by the second antenna, and a phase and an amplitude of the first antenna are set by the phase shifter based on the received signal. Communications system. 5. The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of wireless communication devices shares the estimated arrival direction and a signal received by each wireless communication device. 6. The controller in each of the plurality of wireless communication devices is configured to control a corresponding one of the phase shifters so that a beam variable direction of the antenna array in each of the plurality of wireless communication devices is shifted for each of the antenna arrays. The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein: 7. The plurality of radio communication apparatuses so that the beam variable directions of the antenna array in the plurality of radio communication apparatuses have different offset amounts from the arrival directions of the radio signals estimated by the arrival direction estimation unit. The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein each of the control units in the wireless communication device controls a corresponding one of the phase shifters. 8. An antenna array comprising a plurality of first antennas for receiving a radio signal from a first radio apparatus, a receiving unit for performing a demodulation process of a reception signal at each of the plurality of first antennas, A second antenna for transmitting / receiving a radio signal to / from a second wireless device; an antenna direction estimating unit for estimating a direction of the first antenna; and an arrival for estimating a direction of arrival of a received signal at the receiving unit. A direction estimation unit, a reception time information output unit that outputs reception time information of a reception signal at the reception unit, an output of the reception unit, a direction of the first antenna estimated by the antenna direction estimation unit, An arrival direction estimated by an arrival direction estimation unit and reception time information output from the reception time information output unit are transmitted from the second antenna, and demodulation of a reception signal at the second antenna is performed. Radio communication apparatus comprising: the other device for transmitting and receiving unit for performing management, the. 9. A wireless communication system comprising: a first antenna for receiving a wireless signal from a first wireless device; a receiving unit for performing demodulation processing of a signal received by the first antenna; and a second wireless device. A second antenna for transmitting and receiving a radio signal; an antenna direction estimating unit for estimating a direction of the first antenna; an antenna direction estimating unit for estimating an optimal beam direction of the first antenna; An arrival direction estimation unit that estimates an arrival direction of a reception signal at an antenna, a reception time information output unit that outputs reception time information of a reception signal at the reception unit, an output of the reception unit, and an antenna direction estimation unit. While transmitting the estimated direction of the first antenna, the arrival direction estimated by the arrival direction estimation unit, and the reception time information output from the reception time information output unit from the second antenna, A transmission / reception unit for another device that performs a demodulation process of a reception signal at the second antenna. 10. The direction-of-arrival estimating unit, based on a signal received by the second antenna and demodulated by the transmitting / receiving unit for another device and a signal received by the first antenna,
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a direction of arrival of a received signal at the first antenna is estimated.