JP2004108938A - Radar target wave simulator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate angle simulation/proofreading of a radar target wave. <P>SOLUTION: The radar 4 to be tested is arranged at a receiving point X. Phase/amplitude equalizing control means (17, 18, 19, 20) for equalizing a phase/amplitude of a received electric wave through the radar 4 to be tested arranged at the receiving point X; and angle detection means (21, 22, 23, 24) for detecting a coming angle of a single space radiation wave received through the radar 4 to be tested are provided. Therefore, the proofreading of the device can be carried out without carrying out a replacement operation of the radar 4 to be tested. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement of a radar / target wave simulator having an angle simulator.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In order to test the characteristics of a test radar, a radar / target wave simulator that simulates a reflected signal from a target and transmits the test radar disposed at a reception point is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-15324 (page 4-6, FIG. 1)
[0004]
Therefore, a conventional radar / target wave simulator for supplying a simulated radar / target wave to a test radar and simulating the angle is configured as shown in FIG.
[0005]
That is, in order to test the reception angle characteristic of the test radar (not shown), a transmission signal a serving as a reference of the simulated radar / target wave to be emitted is generated by the transmission signal generation unit 11, and is transmitted by the signal distribution unit 12. It is distributed to two systems. The distributed transmission signals a1 and a2 are input to the variable phase shifters 131 and 132 of the phase control unit 13, respectively.
[0006]
The phase control unit 13 controls the respective phase shift amounts of the variable phase shifters 131 and 132 according to the phase control data, and the phase-controlled transmission signals b1 and b2 are transmitted to the variable attenuators 141 and 132 of the power control unit 14. 142 respectively.
[0007]
Since the power control unit 14 controls each attenuation amount of the variable attenuators 141 and 142 according to the power control data, the transmission signals c1 and c2 whose attenuation has been controlled here are transmitted by the transmission antenna 151 and the transmission antenna 151 of the transmission antenna unit 15. 152 respectively.
[0008]
The transmitting antennas 151 and 152 are configured so as to have the same characteristics, are installed and arranged so as to be at the same distance from the receiving point X where the test radar is arranged, and are provided with the supplied transmission signals c1 and c2. Is radiated toward the receiving point X as a simulated radar target wave.
[0009]
Therefore, the reception antenna unit 16 is arranged at the reception point X, and the reception antenna unit 16 sandwiches the reception point X at an equal distance from the reception antenna 161 arranged toward the intermediate point between the transmission antennas 151 and 152. , And a pair of receiving antennas 162 and 163 having the same characteristics and arranged on a straight line passing through the receiving point X parallel to the straight line connecting the transmitting antennas 151 and 152.
[0010]
The central receiving antenna 161 receives the radiation waves separately transmitted from the transmitting antennas 151 and 152, respectively, and supplies the radiation waves to the phase / amplitude measurement unit 17 via the connection point 161a of the connector 16a.
[0011]
The phase / amplitude measuring unit 17 measures the phases and amplitudes of the transmission radio waves individually radiated from the transmission antennas 151 and 152 by switching, and supplies each measurement result to the phase / amplitude equivalent calculation unit 18. The phase / amplitude equivalent calculation unit 18 calculates the phase equivalent data and the amplitude equivalent data from the supplied measurement results so that the phases and amplitudes of the transmission radio waves from the transmission antennas 151 and 152 are equivalent at the reception point X. Then, they are supplied to the phase equivalent control unit 19 and the amplitude equivalent control unit 20 via the changeover switch 18a.
[0012]
The phase equivalent control unit 19 generates phase control data for controlling the variable phase shifters 131 and 132 based on the phase equivalent data, stores the generated phase control data in the memory 191, and supplies the phase control data to the phase control unit 13.
[0013]
The amplitude equivalent control unit 20 generates power control data for controlling the variable attenuators 141 and 142 based on the amplitude equivalent data, stores the power control data in the memory 201, and supplies the power control data to the power control unit 14.
[0014]
As described above, the phase / amplitude equivalent calculation unit 18 calculates the phase equivalent data and the amplitude equivalent data of the radio waves received from the transmission antennas 151 and 152 at the reception point X, and calculates the phase equivalent control unit 19 and the amplitude equivalent control unit 20. At the reception point X, the phases and amplitudes of the transmission radio waves radiated from the transmission antennas 151 and 152 are equivalent.
[0015]
Next, the pair of reception antennas 162 and 163 receive the single spatial radiation waves transmitted simultaneously from the transmission antennas 151 and 152 and supply the single space radiation waves to the phase measurement unit 21 via the connection points 162a and 162b of the connector 16a.
[0016]
The phase measuring unit 21 measures the phases of the signals received by the receiving antennas 162 and 163, and supplies the signals to a radio wave arrival angle calculation unit 22 that calculates the radio wave arrival angle based on the so-called interferometer principle.
[0017]
The radio wave arrival angle calculation unit 22 supplies the radio wave arrival angle (hereinafter referred to as observation angle data) obtained by the calculation to the angle error detection unit 23.
[0018]
The angle error detection unit 23 compares the designated angle data input for the reception angle observation at the reception point X with the observation angle data of the actually received radio wave, and calculates the observation angle for the designated angle data from the difference. Detect angle error with data.
[0019]
The angle error detected by the angle error detection unit 23 is supplied as a correction value to the angle error correction unit 24 via the changeover switch 23a, and is stored in the memory 241.
[0020]
In this manner, the angle error correction unit 24 that stores the angle error at a certain designated angle as the correction value in the memory 241 corrects the corresponding angle error for the other plurality of pieces of angle data based on the stored angle error. The value is calculated in advance, stored in the internal memory 241, and when input angle data is designated, a correction value corresponding to the designated angle data is read to correct the input angle data.
[0021]
Therefore, the input designated angle data in which the angle error has been corrected is supplied to the angle / power conversion unit 25 for each angle designation operation by the operator, where it is converted into the corresponding power control data. After being added to the power control data from the power control unit 20, the power control data is supplied to the power control unit 14.
[0022]
As described above, the conventional radar / target wave simulating apparatus includes the phase / amplitude equalization based on the radio wave received by the receiving antenna 161 and the angular error caused by the pair of receiving antennas 151 and 152 based on the principle of the interferometer. As a result of the correction, a simulated radar target wave appropriately corresponding to the designated angle is emitted toward the reception point X.
[0023]
After the radar / target wave simulator is calibrated to form a simulated radar / target wave appropriately corresponding to the designated angle, the array is replaced with the receiving antenna unit 16 as shown in FIG. The test radar 3 provided with the antenna 31a is installed at the reception point X.
[0024]
The test radar 3 includes a radar antenna unit 31 having an array antenna 31a, an antenna pointing control unit 32 for controlling antenna pointing in the radar antenna unit 31, and a radar control unit 33 for controlling transmission and reception of radar. .
[0025]
Then, a simulated radar / target wave based on the input designated angle data is appropriately emitted from the transmitting antenna unit 15 toward the receiving point X, and the angle simulating function is activated.
[0026]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional radar / target wave simulator, calibration operations such as phase / amplitude equalization and angle error correction are performed prior to the operation of the angle simulation operation on the test radar. And the correction of the angle error depend on the frequency characteristics and temperature characteristics of the components during the calibration operation.
[0027]
Therefore, even if the calibration operation based on the phase / amplitude equalization and the correction of the angle error is once performed, the signal transmission characteristics in the device change due to the aging of the electronic components and the difference in the ambient temperature during operation. In addition, the phase difference is caused by the difference between the path length of the receiving system of the test radar replaced with the receiving point X and the receiving system path length at the time of the previous calibration. It is inevitable that the deviation of the correction value of the angle error / equalization or the angle error will occur.
Therefore, the accuracy of the angle simulation of the radiated radar / target wave may be reduced due to aging, ambient temperature, or the difference in the path length of the receiving system between when the test radar is actually placed and when calibration is performed. However, when the required specifications cannot be satisfied, the operation of the angle simulation for the test radar is temporarily suspended, the receiving antenna is newly arranged at the reception point X, and the calibration is performed again. It was inevitable.
[0028]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a radar / target wave simulation device that can appropriately perform calibration work without lowering the operation efficiency of angle simulation in the device.
[0029]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a test radar, which has a radar antenna unit and a radar control unit, and a plurality of transmission antennas are installed equidistant from a reception point where the test radar is arranged, While controlling the transmission power ratio between the plurality of transmission antennas in accordance with the designated angle data, a radar / target wave simulator that radiates a simulated radar / target wave composed of a single spatial radiation wave toward the test radar is provided. A signal distribution unit that distributes a transmission signal serving as a reference of the simulated radar / target wave and supplies the transmission signal to the plurality of transmission antennas, and controls phase of each of the transmission signals distributed and supplied by the signal distribution unit to phase control data. And a power control unit that controls each power of the transmission signal distributed and supplied by the signal distribution unit based on power control data. Receiving the transmission radio waves radiated from each of the plurality of transmission antennas, detecting the phase and amplitude thereof via the test radar, and controlling the phase so that the phases and amplitudes of the respective reception radio waves become equivalent. Phase / amplitude equivalent control means capable of controlling a power control unit and a power control unit; an angle / power conversion unit that converts the designated angle data into the power control data and supplies the power control data to the power control unit; Angle control means for detecting an arrival angle of a single spatial radiation wave received via the test radar when power control is performed, and the arrival angle data and the designated angle data detected by the angle detection means. And an angle correction means for correcting the power control data based on the angle error obtained by the angle error detection means. And butterflies.
[0030]
As described above, the radar / target wave simulator of the present invention arranges the test radar at the reception point and sets the phase / amplitude of the received radio wave to be equalized via the test radar arranged at the reception point. / Amplitude equivalent control means and angle detection means for detecting the angle of arrival of a single spatial radiation wave also received via the test radar, facilitating calibration of the apparatus without replacing the test radar Can be done.
[0031]
Therefore, the angle simulation operation as the radar / target wave simulation device can be continuously operated without interruption for a particularly long time, so that the efficiency of the device can be improved.
[0032]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a radar / target wave simulator according to the present invention in detail with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. Note that the same components as those of the conventional configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.
[0033]
1 and 2 show an embodiment of a radar / target wave simulator according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a configuration during calibration, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration during operation.
[0034]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the test radar 4 includes a radar antenna unit 41, an antenna pointing control unit 42, and a radar control unit 43. It is arranged so that the array antenna 411 is located.
[0035]
On the other hand, in order to test the characteristics of the test radar 4, a plurality of (two) transmitting antennas 151 and 152 radiating a simulated radar target wave which is a simulated reflected signal are equidistant from the receiving point X. It is installed in the position where it was.
[0036]
Therefore, similarly to the conventional case, the transmission signal a serving as the reference of the simulated radar / target wave generated by the transmission signal generation unit 11 is divided into two systems by the signal distribution unit 12, and the divided transmission signals a1, a2 Are respectively input to the variable phase shifters 131 and 132 of the phase control unit 13 and control the respective phase shift amounts of the variable phase shifters 131 and 132 according to the phase control data. b1 and b2 are supplied to the variable attenuators 141 and 142 of the power control unit 14, respectively.
[0037]
Since the power control unit 14 controls the respective attenuation amounts of the variable attenuators 141 and 142 according to the power control data, the transmission signals c1 and c2 subjected to the attenuation control have the same characteristics as those of the transmission antenna unit 15. Are supplied to the transmission antennas 151 and 152, respectively.
[0038]
Therefore, the simulated radar target waves are radiated from the transmitting antennas 151 and 152 toward the receiving antenna unit 16 of the test radar 4 arranged at the receiving point X.
[0039]
The receiving array antenna 411 of the receiving antenna unit 16 for receiving the simulated radar / target wave receives a signal from the antenna pointing control unit 42 and outputs a pattern corresponding to the antenna pattern of the receiving antenna 161 shown in FIG. And a pattern corresponding to each antenna pattern in each of the receiving antennas 162 and 163 shown in FIG. The selection switching signal, that is, the antenna pattern control signal is supplied to the antenna pointing control unit 42 via the switch 42a.
[0040]
Therefore, first, the radar antenna unit 41 that has received the antenna pattern control signal via the array antenna 411 having a pattern corresponding to the reception antenna 161 transmits the radiation waves separately transmitted from the transmission antennas 151 and 152 respectively. The received signal is supplied to the phase / amplitude measurement unit 17 via the switch 41a and the connection point 17a of the connector 41b. At this time, between the radar antenna unit 41 and the radar control unit 43, and between the antenna pointing control unit 42 and the radar control unit 43, the switch 41c, 43a is controlled by the calibration / operation switching signal to be in the OFF state. And is shut off.
[0041]
The phase / amplitude measurement unit 17 measures the phases and amplitudes of the transmission radio waves separately radiated from the transmission antennas 151 and 152 by switching, and supplies each measurement result to the phase / amplitude equivalent calculation unit 18. The amplitude equivalent calculation unit 18 calculates phase equivalent data and amplitude equivalent data from the supplied measurement results so that the phases and amplitudes of the transmission radio waves from the transmission antennas 151 and 152 are equivalent at the reception point X. Are supplied to the phase equivalent control unit 19 and the amplitude equivalent control unit 20 via the changeover switch 18a.
[0042]
The phase equivalent control unit 19 and the amplitude equivalent control unit 20 generate phase control data and power control data based on the phase equivalent data and the amplitude equivalent data, respectively, and store them in the memories 191 and 201, as in the related art. , And to the phase control unit 13 and the power control unit 14, respectively.
[0043]
As a result, the phases and amplitudes of the transmission radio waves radiated from the transmission antennas 151 and 152 are controlled to be equivalent at the reception point X.
[0044]
Next, the radar antenna unit 41 forms two patterns corresponding to the respective antenna patterns of the conventional reception antennas 162 and 163 under the control of the antenna pointing control unit 42 based on the antenna pattern control signal, and forms the transmission antenna 151. , 152 are simultaneously supplied to the phase measurement unit 21 via the switch 41a switched by the antenna pattern control signal and the connection point 21a of the connector 41b.
[0045]
Therefore, the phase measuring unit 21 measures the phase of each of the received signals according to the two patterns formed by the array antenna 411, calculates the angle of arrival of the radio wave based on the principle of the interferometer and calculates the radio wave It is supplied to the angle calculator 22.
[0046]
The radio wave arrival angle calculation unit 22 supplies the radio wave arrival angle (hereinafter, referred to as observation angle data) obtained by the calculation to the angle error detection unit 23, so that the angle error detection unit 23 performs the reception angle observation at the reception point X. The specified angle data θ input for the measurement is compared with the observed angle data θx obtained from the actually observed received radio wave, and the angle difference θz between the specified angle data θ and the observed angle data is detected from the difference. I do. The angle error θz detected by the angle error detection unit 23 is supplied as a correction value to the angle error correction unit 24 via the changeover switch 23a, and is stored in the memory 241.
[0047]
In this way, the angle error correction unit 24 that stores the angle error θz at a certain designated angle in the memory 241 as a correction value, based on the stored angle error θz, similarly to the related art, A corresponding angle error correction value is calculated in advance and stored in the internal memory 241, and when input angle data is specified, a correction value corresponding to the specified angle data is read to correct the input angle data.
[0048]
The input designated angle data in which the angle error has been corrected is supplied to the angle / power conversion unit 25 and converted into corresponding power control data, and further added to the power control data from the amplitude equivalent control unit 20 in the adder 26. The above is supplied to the power control unit 14.
[0049]
As described above, according to the radar / target wave simulator of the present embodiment, phase / amplitude equalization and angular error based on the principle of the interferometer are performed by pattern formation in array antenna 411 based on the antenna pattern control signal. The correction is performed, and the simulated radar target wave appropriately corresponding to the designated angle can be radiated toward the reception point X.
[0050]
As described above, the radar / target wave simulating apparatus after the calibration is performed so that the simulated radar / target wave appropriately corresponding to the designated angle is emitted toward the receiving point X, as shown in FIG. By controlling the calibration / operation switching signal, the switch 42a is turned off and the switches 41c and 43a are turned on, so that the radar control unit 43 is connected to the radar pointing control unit 42 and the radar antenna unit 41, The operation as the test radar 4 can be continued without any trouble.
[0051]
That is, a simulated radar / target wave based on the input designated angle data θ is radiated from the transmitting antenna unit 15 toward the receiving point X to the test radar 4, and the angle simulating function for the test radar 4 operates. .
[0052]
As described above, the radar / target wave simulator of this embodiment has the test radar 4 arranged at the receiving point X, and the phase of the received radio wave via the test radar 4 arranged at the receiving point X. Phase / amplitude equalization control means for equalizing the amplitude / amplitude and angle detection means for detecting the arrival angle of the single space radiation wave also received via the test radar. Calibration as an apparatus can be performed without replacement.
[0053]
Further, in the radar / target wave simulating apparatus according to this embodiment, the reception signal at the radar antenna section 41 of the test radar 4 is transmitted to the radar control section via the changeover switch 41c and to the angle detection via the switch 41a. Means and the phase / amplitude equivalent control means, so that it is possible to perform an appropriate calibration operation in a short time in accordance with a change in the ambient environment temperature without performing a replacement operation as in the related art. it can.
[0054]
This means that the angle simulation operation as a radar / target wave simulation device can be continuously operated without interruption for a particularly long time. it can.
[0055]
In the above description, the case where the transmission system in the transmission antenna unit 15 has a two-dimensional configuration has been described.
[0056]
In the above description, the designated angle data is corrected based on the angle error θz. However, the conversion characteristic of the angle / power conversion unit 25 may be corrected based on the angle error θz.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to calibrate the apparatus without replacing the test radar 4 and perform efficient and accurate angle simulation operation in the test radar. It is possible, and the effect obtained in practical use is great.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a radar / target wave simulation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention at the time of calibration.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram at the time of operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional radar / target wave simulator having an angle simulation function, at the time of calibration.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram during operation of the device shown in FIG. 3;
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 11 transmission signal generation unit 12 signal distribution unit 13 phase control unit 14 power control unit 15 transmission antenna units 151 and 152 transmission antenna 17 phase / amplitude measurement unit 18 phase / amplitude equivalent operation unit 19 phase equivalent control unit 20 amplitude equivalent control unit 21 Phase measurement unit 22 Radio wave arrival angle calculation unit 23 Angle error detection unit 24 Angle error correction unit 241 Memory 25 Angle / power conversion unit 26 Adder 4 Test radar 41 Radar antenna unit 41a Switch 41b Connector 41c Switch 42 Radar pointing control Unit 42a switch 43 radar control unit 43a switch

Claims (2)

The test radar has a radar antenna unit and a radar control unit, a plurality of transmission antennas are installed equidistant from a reception point where the test radar is arranged, and a transmission power ratio between the plurality of transmission antennas is determined. While controlling according to the specified angle data, in a radar / target wave simulation device that radiates a simulated radar / target wave composed of a single spatial radiation wave toward the test radar,
A signal distribution unit that distributes a reference transmission signal of the simulated radar / target wave and supplies the transmission signal to the plurality of transmission antennas,
A phase control unit that controls each phase of the transmission signal distributed and supplied by the signal distribution unit based on phase control data;
A power control unit that controls the power of each of the transmission signals distributed and supplied by the signal distribution unit based on power control data,
Receiving the transmission radio waves radiated from each of the plurality of transmission antennas, detecting the phase and amplitude thereof through the test radar, and controlling the phase control unit and the phase control unit so that the phases and amplitudes of the respective reception radio waves are equivalent. Phase / amplitude equivalent control means capable of controlling the power control unit;
An angle / power conversion unit that converts the designated angle data into the power control data and supplies the power control data to the power control unit;
When power control based on the specified angle data, angle detection means for detecting the arrival angle of a single spatial radiation wave received via the test radar,
Angle error detection means for calculating an angle error by comparing the arrival angle data detected by the angle detection means and the specified angle data,
An angle correcting means for correcting the power control data based on the angle error obtained by the angle error detecting means. The radar antenna of the test radar is configured to be able to supply a received radio wave to the radar control unit or the angle detection unit and the phase / amplitude equivalent control unit via a changeover switch. A radar / target wave simulator as described in the above.

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