JP2005337864A - High-frequency transceiver, radar device equipped therewith, radar device-mounted vehicle mounted therewith, and radar device-mounted small vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To satisfactorily prevent a pulse-modulated high-frequency signal for transmission from being outputted to a reception system owing to internal reflection, etc. with respect to a high-frequency transceiver of a pulse modulation method. <P>SOLUTION: This high-frequency transceiver is equipped with a high-frequency oscillator 1, a branching unit 2, a modulator 3, a circulator 4, a transmit-receive antenna 5, and a mixer 6. The transceiver is equipped with a variable attenuator 7 connected to an output end of the mixer 6 for outputting an intermediate frequency signal attenuated according to an attenuation amount control signal. Since the variable attenuator 7 attenuates high-frequency signals of high intensity such as an intermediate frequency signal including noises caused by the high-frequency signal for transmission getting mixed in the mixer 6 so as not to saturate high-gain amplifiers 11a and 11b connected to a subsequent stage of the mixer 6 while hardly causing new noises, an S/N (signal to noise) ratio is increased to enhance reception performance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a high-frequency transmitter / receiver suitable for a millimeter-wave radar module, a millimeter-wave wireless communication device, etc., particularly suitable for a non-radiative dielectric line (NRD guide), and for modulated transmission. A high-frequency transmitter / receiver having a variable attenuator or a variable gain amplifier that can suppress that the high-frequency signal is output to a receiving system due to internal reflection or the like and saturates an amplifier connected to a subsequent stage, and The present invention relates to a radar apparatus that performs the same, a vehicle equipped with the radar apparatus, and a small ship equipped with the radar apparatus.

  Conventionally, for example, a pulse modulation method disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed as a method of a high-frequency transceiver that is expected to be applied to a millimeter-wave radar module, a millimeter-wave wireless communication device, or the like.

  However, in the pulse modulation method, a part of the pulse-modulated millimeter-wave signal for transmission is output as an unnecessary signal to the receiving system due to internal reflection of the high-frequency transceiver, and this amplifies the intermediate frequency signal in the high-frequency transceiver There is a problem that reception performance is adversely affected due to saturation of an amplifier to be used. Note that when the amplifier is saturated, specifically, since the signal input at the amplifier is strong, the output is saturated when the signal is amplified (the level of such an input signal is reduced to the minimum saturation input level). This phenomenon may continue even after a signal with such a strong signal is input, so that this phenomenon may continue due to the aftermath. There is a problem in that it may not be possible to perform normal reception.

  The present inventor has already proposed a solution to this problem (see Patent Document 2). Examples of the configuration are shown in plan views in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively. The basic configuration of the non-radiative dielectric line used in these configuration examples is as shown in a partially broken perspective view in FIG. 5, and at an interval a that is half or less of the wavelength of the high-frequency signal. The dielectric line 43 is sandwiched between the parallel plate conductors 41 and 42 arranged.

  The high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the example shown in FIG. 6 is an example in which a transmission antenna and a reception antenna are integrated, and parallel plates arranged at intervals of 1/2 or less of the wavelength of a millimeter wave signal that is a high-frequency signal. Between the conductors 51 (one is not shown), it is attached to the first dielectric line 53, and the high frequency signal output from the high frequency diode is frequency-modulated and propagated through the first dielectric line 53 as a millimeter wave signal. A pulse modulator (not shown) interposed between the millimeter wave signal oscillating unit 52 and the first dielectric line 53 to pulse the millimeter wave signal and output it from the first dielectric line 53 as a millimeter wave signal for transmission. (Not shown) and a part of a millimeter-wave signal for transmission that is arranged close to the first dielectric line 53 so that one end side is electromagnetically coupled, or one end is joined to the first dielectric line 53 Second dielectric wire that propagates to the mixer 59 side 58 and a first connection portion 54a and a second connection portion, which are arranged at predetermined intervals on the peripheral portion of the ferrite plate arranged in parallel to the parallel plate conductor 51, and are used as input / output ends of millimeter wave signals, respectively. A circulator 54 having a 54b and a third connecting portion 54c and outputting a millimeter wave signal inputted from one connecting portion from another connecting portion adjacent in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction within the plane of the ferrite plate. The circulator 54 is connected to the output terminal of the millimeter wave signal of the first dielectric line 53, and the circulator 54 is connected to the second connection part 54b of the circulator 54 to propagate the millimeter wave signal. And is connected to the third dielectric line 55 having the transmitting / receiving antenna 56 at the front end and the third connecting part 54c of the circulator 54, and is received by the transmitting / receiving antenna 56 and propagates through the third dielectric line 55. The second connection 54b through the second connection 54b. The fourth dielectric line 57 for propagating the reception wave output from c to the mixer 59, the middle of the second dielectric line 58, and the middle of the fourth dielectric line 57 are brought close to each other so as to be electromagnetically coupled. Or a mixer 59 that mixes or joins a part of a millimeter wave signal for transmission and a received wave to generate an intermediate frequency signal. In this example, a switching control unit (not shown) that opens the output terminal when the pulse-modulated millimeter-wave signal for transmission is output from the pulse modulator is provided at the output terminal of the mixer 59. This prevents unnecessary signals from being output to the receiving system after the mixer 59 almost simultaneously with the input of the pulsed signal for starting the pulsed operation of the pulse modulator to the pulse modulator. Can do.

  The high-frequency transmitter / receiver in the example shown in FIG. 7 is an example in which a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna are independent from each other, and parallel plate conductors arranged at intervals of 1/2 or less of the wavelength of a millimeter-wave signal that is a high-frequency signal. Between 61 (one is not shown), it is attached to the first dielectric line 63, and the high frequency signal output from the high frequency diode is frequency-modulated and propagated through the first dielectric line 63 as a millimeter wave signal. A pulse modulator (shown in the figure) interposed between the millimeter wave signal oscillating unit 62 and the first dielectric line 63 to pulse the millimeter wave signal and output it from the first dielectric line 63 as a millimeter wave signal for transmission. And one end of the first dielectric line 63 is disposed close to the first dielectric line 63 so as to be electromagnetically coupled, or one end is joined to the first dielectric line 63, and a part of the millimeter-wave signal for transmission is transmitted. Second dielectric line 6 propagating to the mixer 71 side 8 and a first connection part 64a and a second connection part which are arranged at predetermined intervals on the periphery of the ferrite plate arranged in parallel to the parallel plate conductor 61 and are used as input / output ends of millimeter wave signals, respectively. A circulator 64 having a 64b and a third connecting portion 64c and outputting a millimeter wave signal inputted from one connecting portion from another connecting portion adjacent in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction in the plane of the ferrite plate; A millimeter wave for transmission is connected to a circulator 64 having a first connection portion 64a connected to the output end of the millimeter wave signal of the first dielectric line 63 and a second connection portion 64b of the circulator 64. Propagates the received wave received by the receiving antenna 70 which propagates the signal and has the third dielectric line 65 having the transmitting antenna 66 at the tip, the receiving antenna 70 at the tip, and the mixer 71 at the other end. A fourth dielectric line 69 to be made, and a circular A fifth dielectric line 67 connected to the third connection part 64c of 64 and attenuating the millimeter-wave signal received and mixed by the transmission antenna 66 at its tip, and a second dielectric The intermediate frequency signal is formed by adjoining or joining the middle of the line 68 and the middle of the fourth dielectric line 69 so as to be electromagnetically coupled, and mixing a part of the millimeter wave signal for transmission and the received wave. A high-frequency transmitter / receiver. In this example, the output end of the mixer 71 is provided with a switching control unit (not shown) that opens the output end when a pulse-modulated millimeter-wave signal for transmission is output from the pulse modulator. Thus, almost simultaneously with the input of the pulsed signal for starting the pulsed operation of the pulse modulator to the pulse modulator, the unnecessary signal mixed directly from the transmitting antenna 66 to the receiving antenna 70 is placed after the mixer 71. Can be prevented from being output to the receiving system.

  Next, FIG. 8 is a block circuit diagram showing the configuration of each part when the high-frequency transmitter / receiver shown in FIG. 6 is used as a millimeter wave radar.

  In FIG. 8, reference numeral 111 denotes a VCO having a Gunn diode and a varactor diode, which operates by inputting a signal to the IN-2 terminal for inputting a modulation signal. The output signal of the VCO 111 is pulse modulated by the pulse modulator 112 by inputting the pulsed signal input to the IN-1 terminal to the pulse modulator 112. The pulse modulator 112 is interposed in the middle of the first dielectric line 53 in FIG. 6, and is a switch (RF switch) whose configuration is shown in a perspective view in FIG.

  In the configuration of the pulse modulator shown in FIG. 9, a choke-type bias supply line 90 is formed on one main surface of the wiring board 88, and is solder-mounted between connection electrodes 81 and 81 formed in the middle thereof. This is a switch provided with a beam lead type PIN diode or a Schottky barrier diode 80. Such a switch is installed between the end face of the first dielectric line 53 so that the PIN applied voltage or the Schottky barrier diode 80 is in the horizontal direction. used.

  113 is a circulator that transmits a millimeter wave signal to the antenna 114 side during transmission and a reception wave is transmitted to the mixer 115 side during reception, 114 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving millimeter wave signals, and the antenna 114 is the circulator 113 For example, a horn antenna or the like connected to a metal waveguide or a dielectric waveguide filled with a dielectric to the metal waveguide. Reference numeral 115 denotes a mixer that outputs an intermediate frequency signal for detecting a distance to the target and the like by mixing the millimeter wave signal output from the VCO 111 and the reception signal received by the antenna 114.

  Reference numeral 116 denotes a switch as a switch for blocking or passing the intermediate frequency signal output from the mixer 115. Reference numeral 119 denotes a controller that controls the opening / closing (on-off) timing of the switch 116. The switch 116 and the control unit 119 constitute a switching control unit.

  The control unit 119 receives a pulsed signal of the IN-1 terminal so as to be interlocked with the pulse modulator 112, and the transmission millimeter wave signal pulse-modulated by the pulse modulator 112 is converted into a non-radiative dielectric line. Before being input to the amplifier 118 after being reflected at the connecting portion with the dielectric waveguide or leaking from the circulator 113 and being output as an unnecessary signal through the mixer 115, the switch 116 blocks it. Control the opening and closing timing.

  Reference numeral 117 denotes a capacitor for AC coupling between the switch 116 and the amplifier 118.

With the above configuration, the pulse-modulated millimeter-wave signal for transmission can be blocked so that it does not leak into the mixer 115 and leak to the receiving system at the subsequent stage, so that the detection accuracy of the millimeter-wave radar system can be improved.
JP 2000-258525 A JP 2002-328161 A

  However, even in the configuration proposed in Patent Document 2, as a result of repeated studies by the present inventors to further improve the performance of the high-frequency transmitter / receiver, the following problems have been found that further improvement is desired.

  That is, in the above-described example, the switch 116 generates noise when opening and closing, and the noise is mixed into the intermediate frequency signal. Due to the noise, the signal to be received before and after the switch 116 is opened and closed. May become difficult to identify.

  Generally, an analog switch such as a CMOS is used for the switch 116 because it is necessary to perform a switch operation at a high speed in accordance with a control signal. However, due to its characteristics, these switches 116 generate a slight amount of switching noise during switch operation, and are amplified by the amplifier 118 at the subsequent stage, and are adversely affected by being mixed into other surrounding circuit systems as unnecessary signals. was there.

  The present invention has been devised in order to solve the above-described problems that are desired to be improved. The purpose of the present invention is to output a pulse-modulated high-frequency signal for transmission to a receiving system by internal reflection or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-frequency transmitter / receiver that can suppress the above-mentioned noise with little new noise.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a high-performance radar device equipped with the high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention that can quickly and reliably detect an object to be detected, a radar device-equipped vehicle equipped with the radar device, and a radar device. It is to provide an onboard small vessel.

  A first high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention includes a high-frequency oscillator that generates a high-frequency signal, and a branching device that is connected to the high-frequency oscillator and branches the high-frequency signal and outputs it to one output end and the other output end. A modulator connected to the one output end and modulating a high-frequency signal branched to the one output end and outputting a transmission high-frequency signal; a first terminal around the magnetic body; A circulator in which the output of the modulator is input to the first terminal, and a high-frequency signal input from one terminal in this order is output from an adjacent next terminal. The transmitting / receiving antenna connected to the second terminal of the circulator and the other output terminal connected between the other output terminal of the branching device and the third terminal of the circulator are branched. High frequency signal A mixer that mixes the high-frequency signal received by the transmitting / receiving antenna and outputs an intermediate frequency signal, and a variable that is connected to the output terminal of the mixer and attenuates and outputs the intermediate frequency signal according to an attenuation control signal And an attenuator.

  A second high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention includes a high-frequency oscillator that generates a high-frequency signal, and a branching device that is connected to the high-frequency oscillator and branches the high-frequency signal and outputs it to one output end and the other output end. And a modulator connected to the one output end for modulating a high-frequency signal branched to the one output end and outputting a high-frequency signal for transmission, and one end connected to the output end of the modulator. An isolator that passes the high-frequency signal for transmission from the one end side to the other end side, a transmitting antenna connected to the isolator, a receiving antenna connected to the other output end side of the branching device, and the branch The intermediate frequency signal is output by mixing the high-frequency signal branched between the other output end and the high-frequency signal received by the receiving antenna, connected between the other output end of the receiver and the receiving antenna. And mixers that, connected to the output end of the mixer, is characterized in that it comprises a variable attenuator for outputting attenuates the intermediate-frequency signal in response to the attenuation control signal.

  The third high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention is attached to the first dielectric line between the flat conductors arranged in parallel at intervals of 1/2 or less of the wavelength of the high-frequency signal, and is output from the high-frequency diode. A high-frequency signal oscillating unit that modulates the frequency of the high-frequency signal and propagates the first dielectric line, and is interposed in the middle of the first dielectric line, and pulsates the high-frequency signal as the transmission high-frequency signal. A modulator that outputs the signal from one dielectric line, and one end side of the modulator that is electromagnetically coupled to the first dielectric line, or one end joined to the first dielectric line, A second dielectric line for propagating a part of the high-frequency signal to the mixer side, and a peripheral portion of a ferrite plate arranged in parallel to the flat conductor, are arranged at predetermined intervals, and each input / output end of the high-frequency signal Tosa The first connection portion, the second connection portion, and the third connection portion are adjacent to each other in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction within the plane of the ferrite plate. A circulator for outputting from another connecting portion, wherein the first connecting portion is connected to an output end of the high-frequency signal of the first dielectric line, and the second connecting portion of the circulator A third dielectric line that propagates the high-frequency signal and has a transmission / reception antenna at a distal end thereof, and is connected to the third connection portion of the circulator, and is received by the transmission / reception antenna to receive the third A fourth dielectric line that propagates through the dielectric line and propagates the received wave output from the third connection portion to the mixer, the middle of the second dielectric line, and the middle of the fourth dielectric line And In a high-frequency transmitter / receiver provided with a mixer that is close to or joined so as to be magnetically coupled and generates an intermediate frequency signal by mixing a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission and the received wave. A variable attenuator for attenuating and outputting the intermediate frequency signal in accordance with an attenuation control signal is provided at the output end.

  The fourth high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention is attached to the first dielectric line between the flat conductors arranged in parallel at intervals of 1/2 or less of the wavelength of the high-frequency signal, and is output from the high-frequency diode. A high-frequency signal oscillating unit that modulates the frequency of the high-frequency signal and propagates the first dielectric line, and is interposed in the middle of the first dielectric line, and pulsates the high-frequency signal as the transmission high-frequency signal. A modulator that outputs the signal from one dielectric line, and one end side of the modulator that is electromagnetically coupled to the first dielectric line, or one end joined to the first dielectric line, A second dielectric line for propagating a part of the high-frequency signal to the mixer side, and a peripheral portion of a ferrite plate arranged in parallel to the flat conductor, are arranged at predetermined intervals, and each input / output end of the high-frequency signal Tosa The first connection portion, the second connection portion, and the third connection portion are adjacent to each other in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction within the plane of the ferrite plate. A circulator for outputting from another connecting portion, wherein the first connecting portion is connected to an output end of the high-frequency signal of the first dielectric line, and the second connecting portion of the circulator The transmission high-frequency signal is propagated and a third dielectric line having a transmission antenna at the tip, a reception antenna at the tip, and a mixer at the other end are received by the reception antenna. Connected to the fourth dielectric line for propagating the received wave and the third connection part of the circulator, the high frequency signal mixed in by the transmitting antenna is propagated and provided at the tip part. The fifth dielectric line for attenuating the received high-frequency signal at the non-reflective termination, and the proximity of the second dielectric line and the fourth dielectric line are electromagnetically coupled to each other. A high-frequency transmitter / receiver provided with a mixer that mixes a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission and the received wave to generate an intermediate-frequency signal. A variable attenuator for attenuating and outputting the intermediate frequency signal in accordance with a control signal is provided.

  The first, second, third, or fourth high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention is characterized in that, in each of the above-described configurations, a variable gain amplifier configured by connecting an amplifier to the variable attenuator is provided. To do.

  In the first, second, third, or fourth high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention, the modulator uses a semiconductor element made of a material containing a group III-V compound semiconductor. It is characterized by this.

  The radar apparatus according to the present invention also includes a high-frequency transmitter / receiver according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, and distance information to a detection target by processing the intermediate frequency signal output from the high-frequency transmitter / receiver. And a distance information detector for detecting.

  A vehicle equipped with a radar device according to the present invention includes the radar device according to the present invention, and is characterized in that the radar device is used for detection of a detection target.

  Further, a ship equipped with a radar device according to the present invention includes the radar device according to the present invention, and the radar device is used for detection of a detection object.

  According to the first high-frequency transceiver of the present invention, a high-frequency oscillator that generates a high-frequency signal and the high-frequency signal connected to the high-frequency oscillator are branched and output to one output end and the other output end. A branching device, a modulator connected to the one output end, modulating a high-frequency signal branched to the one output end, and outputting a high-frequency signal for transmission; a first terminal around the magnetic body; A circulator having a second terminal and a third terminal and outputting a high-frequency signal inputted from one terminal in this order from an adjacent next terminal, wherein the output of the modulator is inputted to the first terminal A transmitting / receiving antenna connected to the second terminal of the circulator, and the other output terminal connected between the other output terminal of the branching device and the third terminal of the circulator. Branched high lap A mixer that mixes a signal and a high-frequency signal received by the transmitting / receiving antenna to output an intermediate frequency signal, and outputs the intermediate frequency signal attenuated according to an attenuation control signal connected to an output terminal of the mixer Since a high-frequency signal with high strength leaks from the first terminal of the circulator to the third terminal, etc., the mixer attenuates the amplifier connected to the subsequent stage. When an intermediate frequency signal that is too strong to be output is output, the variable attenuator attenuates this intermediate frequency signal, and an amplifier such as a low-noise amplifier connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator is saturated and can be received. The variable attenuator is a receiver when it operates so that it is not lost or destroyed, and the mixer does not output such an intermediate frequency signal that is too strong. Since the attenuation can be reduced so that a weak high frequency signal can be received according to the strength of the high frequency signal to be received, the amplifier connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator has a large maximum gain. As a result, the S / N (signal-to-noise) ratio can be increased, and a high-frequency transmitter / receiver that can improve reception performance is obtained. In addition, the variable attenuator is capable of attenuating the intermediate frequency signal smoothly in time so that noise due to transient fluctuations is not mixed into the output intermediate frequency signal, as compared with the switch. It becomes a high frequency transmitter-receiver which can suppress that the high frequency signal for transmission is output to a receiving system by internal reflection etc., hardly mixing new noise.

  According to the second high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention, the high-frequency oscillator that generates a high-frequency signal and the high-frequency signal connected to the high-frequency oscillator are branched to one output end and the other output end. An output branching device, a modulator connected to the one output end, modulating a high-frequency signal branched to the one output end and outputting a transmission high-frequency signal, and one end at the output end of the modulator Is connected to the isolator that passes the high-frequency signal for transmission from one end side to the other end side, the transmitting antenna connected to the isolator, and the receiving antenna connected to the other output end side of the branching device And a high-frequency signal branched between the other output end connected between the other output end of the branching device and the receiving antenna and a high-frequency signal received by the receiving antenna, A mixer for outputting a signal, and a variable attenuator connected to the output end of the mixer for attenuating and outputting the intermediate frequency signal in accordance with an attenuation control signal. The high frequency transmitter / receiver used also has an intermediate frequency that is so strong that a strong high frequency signal enters the mixer due to leakage from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna, etc., and the mixer saturates the amplifier connected to the subsequent stage. When outputting a signal, the variable attenuator attenuates this intermediate frequency signal, so that an amplifier such as a low noise amplifier connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator is not saturated and cannot be received or destroyed. When the mixer does not output an intermediate frequency signal that is too strong, the variable attenuator responds to the strength of the received high frequency signal. Therefore, it is possible to operate so as to reduce the attenuation amount so that even a weak high frequency signal can be received. Therefore, by giving a large maximum gain to the amplifier connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator, S / N ( The signal-to-noise ratio can be increased, and the high-frequency transceiver can be improved in reception performance. In addition, the variable attenuator is capable of attenuating the intermediate frequency signal smoothly in time so that noise due to transient fluctuations is not mixed into the output intermediate frequency signal, as compared with the switch. It becomes a high frequency transmitter-receiver which can suppress that the high frequency signal for transmission is output to a receiving system by internal reflection etc., hardly mixing new noise.

  According to the third high frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention, with the above configuration, the variable attenuator that attenuates and outputs the intermediate frequency signal according to the attenuation control signal is provided at the output end of the mixer. A strong high-frequency signal enters the mixer, for example, by leaking from the first terminal of the circulator to the third terminal, and outputs an intermediate-frequency signal that is too strong to saturate the amplifier connected to the subsequent stage. Sometimes, the variable attenuator operates so that the intermediate frequency signal is attenuated so that an amplifier such as a low noise amplifier connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator is not saturated and cannot be received or destroyed. When the mixer does not output such an intermediate frequency signal that is too strong, the variable attenuator also receives a weak high frequency signal according to the strength of the received high frequency signal. Therefore, it is possible to increase the S / N (signal-to-noise) ratio by giving a large maximum gain to the amplifier connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator. And a high frequency transmitter / receiver capable of improving reception performance. In addition, the variable attenuator is capable of attenuating the intermediate frequency signal smoothly in time so that noise due to transient fluctuations is not mixed into the output intermediate frequency signal, as compared with the switch. It becomes a high frequency transmitter-receiver which can suppress that the high frequency signal for transmission is output to a receiving system by internal reflection etc., hardly mixing new noise. In addition, non-radiative dielectric lines connecting each component can transmit high-frequency signals such as millimeter-wave signals with low loss, so that high-frequency signals with high strength can be transmitted and input to the mixer. A high-frequency transmitter / receiver capable of further increasing the S / N (signal-to-noise) ratio and improving reception performance because a wide-band amplifier for amplifying a high-frequency signal such as a millimeter-wave signal is not required Become.

  According to the fourth high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention, the intermediate frequency signal is attenuated at the output end of the mixer according to the attenuation control signal by the above configuration, similarly to the third high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention. Since a variable attenuator for output is provided, even in a high-frequency transceiver using a separate antenna for transmission and reception, a strong high-frequency signal is incident on the mixer due to leakage from the transmission antenna to the reception antenna, etc. A low attenuator that is connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator when the variable attenuator attenuates this intermediate frequency signal when outputting an intermediate frequency signal that is too strong to saturate the amplifier connected to the When the amplifier does not saturate and cannot be received or destroyed, and the mixer does not output such an intermediate frequency signal that is too strong The variable attenuator can be operated so that the amount of attenuation becomes small so that a weak high-frequency signal can be received according to the strength of the received high-frequency signal. Therefore, the variable attenuator is connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator. By giving a large maximum gain to the amplifier, the S / N (signal-to-noise) ratio can be increased, and a high-frequency transmitter / receiver capable of improving reception performance is obtained. In addition, the variable attenuator is capable of attenuating the intermediate frequency signal smoothly in time so that noise due to transient fluctuations is not mixed into the output intermediate frequency signal, as compared with the switch. It becomes a high frequency transmitter-receiver which can suppress that the high frequency signal for transmission is output to a receiving system by internal reflection etc., hardly mixing new noise. In addition, non-radiative dielectric lines connecting each component can transmit high-frequency signals such as millimeter-wave signals with low loss, so that high-frequency signals with high strength can be transmitted and input to the mixer. A high-frequency transmitter / receiver capable of further increasing the S / N (signal-to-noise) ratio and improving reception performance because a wide-band amplifier for amplifying a high-frequency signal such as a millimeter-wave signal is not required Become.

  According to the first, second, third, or fourth high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention as described above, the amount of attenuation when the modulator outputs the high-frequency signal for transmission by the variable attenuator using the attenuation control signal. The variable attenuator attenuates the intermediate frequency signal with respect to a part of the high frequency signal for transmission as an unnecessary signal leaked and output from the circulator or the transmission antenna and the reception antenna. When the intensity of a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission as such an unnecessary signal exceeds the maximum intensity of the high-frequency signal to be received, the intermediate of the high-frequency signal to be received with the maximum intensity When a frequency signal is amplified, the maximum gain that does not saturate the amplifier connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator can be set in the amplifier. Since, it is possible to increase the width of the maximum value from the minimum value of the intensity of the received RF signal, the reception performance can be operated as a very high frequency transceiver.

  According to the first, second, third, or fourth high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention, when a variable gain amplifier configured by connecting an amplifier to a variable attenuator is provided, the variable attenuator is usually The wiring between the amplifier connected to the subsequent stage can be shortened to the minimum necessary, and the load on the amplifier depends on the frequency due to multiple reflection of the intermediate frequency signal between the variable attenuator and the amplifier. Because it can suppress adverse effects such as fluctuation and fluctuation of the gain of the amplifier, high frequency transmission / reception in which the frequency characteristic of the intermediate frequency signal amplified and output by the variable gain amplifier is suppressed from fluctuation due to the fluctuation of the gain It becomes a vessel.

  According to the first, second, third or fourth high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention, when a semiconductor element made of a material containing a III-V group compound semiconductor is used for the modulator, III-V A semiconductor element made of a material containing a group compound semiconductor has a high carrier mobility and a short lifetime, and therefore, when a modulation current is passed through the semiconductor element in a modulator, the modulation current is quickly changed from a transient state to a steady state. Therefore, the pulsed transmission high-frequency signal corresponding to the modulation current can be quickly converged to the steady state, and after the pulsed transmission high-frequency signal is output, Even if the switch is closed (on), the intermediate frequency signal corresponding to the high frequency signal for transmission mixed with unnecessary signals generated immediately after the rise of the pulse is input to the subsequent stage of the mixer. No longer be a force, a high frequency transceiver can be an intermediate frequency signal is reduced it becomes time can not be transmitted and received by being blocked.

  Further, according to the radar apparatus of the present invention, any one of the first to fourth high-frequency transceivers of the present invention, and the distance to the detection object by processing the intermediate frequency signal output from the high-frequency transceiver. Since it has a distance information detector that detects information, the reception performance of the high-frequency transmitter / receiver is high, so that it is possible to detect a detection object quickly and reliably, and also to detect a detection object at a short distance or far away It becomes a radar device that can.

  Further, according to the vehicle equipped with the radar device of the present invention, since the radar device of the present invention is provided and this radar device is used for detection of the detection target object, the other radar device is the detection target object quickly and reliably. Therefore, the vehicle equipped with the radar device can perform appropriate control of the vehicle and appropriate warning to the driver without causing the vehicle to make a sudden behavior.

  Further, according to the ship equipped with the radar device of the present invention, since the radar device of the present invention is provided, and this radar device is used for detection of the detection target, the radar device is another small size that is the detection target quickly and reliably. In order to detect a ship, it is a small ship equipped with a radar device that can perform appropriate control of a small ship and an appropriate warning to a pilot without causing a rapid behavior in the small ship.

  The first to fourth high-frequency transceivers according to the present invention, a radar device using them, a radar device-equipped vehicle equipped with the same, and a radar device-equipped small vessel will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram schematically showing an example of an embodiment of the first and third high-frequency transceivers of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an example of an embodiment of the second and fourth high-frequency transceivers. It is a block circuit diagram showing typically. FIG. 3 shows signal waveforms of the pulse modulation signal of the modulator, the transmission millimeter wave signal at the modulator output end, and the intermediate frequency signal at the amplifier input end, and variable attenuation in the third and fourth high-frequency transceivers of the present invention. It is the diagram which showed typically the set value of the attenuation | damping amount of a device, the relative timing of these each signal, and a set value. FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram schematically showing an example of an embodiment of a radar apparatus according to the present invention.

  1, 2 and 4, 1 is a high-frequency oscillator, 2 is a branching device, 3 is a modulator, 4 is a circulator, 5 is a transmitting / receiving antenna, 6 is a mixer, 7 is a variable attenuator, 8 is an isolator, 9 is A transmitting antenna, 10 is a receiving antenna, 11a and 11b are amplifiers, and 100 is a distance information detector.

  The schematic configuration of an example of the third high-frequency transmitter / receiver according to the present invention is the same as that of the high-frequency transmitter / receiver shown in the plan view of FIG. The schematic configuration of one example is the same as that of the high-frequency transceiver shown in the plan view of FIG. 6 and 7, 51 and 61 are parallel plate conductors, 52 and 62 are high-frequency signal oscillators, 53 and 63 are first dielectric lines, 54 and 64 are circulators, and 55 and 65 are third dielectrics. Body line, 56 is a transmission / reception antenna, 57 and 69 are fourth dielectric lines, 58 and 68 are second dielectric lines, 59 and 71 are mixers, 67 is a fifth dielectric line, 66 is a transmission antenna, Reference numeral 70 denotes a receiving antenna.

  First, the first and second high-frequency transceivers of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  An example of an embodiment of the first high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is a high-frequency oscillator 1 for generating a high-frequency signal, and the high-frequency signal connected to the high-frequency oscillator 1 is branched to output one of them. A branching device 2 that outputs to the end 2b and the other output end 2c; a modulator 3 that is connected to the one output end 2b and that modulates a part of the high-frequency signal and outputs it as a high-frequency signal for transmission; A modulator 3 having a first terminal 4a, a second terminal 4b, and a third terminal 4c around the body, and outputting a high-frequency signal input from one terminal in this order from an adjacent next terminal. The circulator 4 having the first terminal 4a connected to the output terminal of the circulator 4 and the high-frequency signal for transmission connected to the second terminal 4b of the circulator 4 are transmitted and reflected back by the detection object. Sending and receiving high-frequency signals A high-frequency signal output to the other output terminal 2 c connected between the antenna 5, the other output terminal 2 c of the branching device 2 and the third terminal 4 c of the circulator 4, and a high-frequency signal received by the transmission / reception antenna 5. And a variable attenuator 7 connected to the output end of the mixer 6 for attenuating and outputting the intermediate frequency signal in accordance with the attenuation amount control signal. It is the composition which is.

  An example of the second high-frequency transmitter / receiver according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2 is a high-frequency oscillator 1 that generates a high-frequency signal, and the high-frequency signal connected to the high-frequency oscillator 1 is branched. A branching device 2 that outputs to the output terminal 2b and the other output terminal 2c, and a modulator 3 that is connected to one output terminal 2b and that modulates a part of the high-frequency signal and outputs it as a high-frequency signal for transmission. The one end 8a is connected to the output end of the modulator 3, the isolator 8 that passes the high-frequency signal for transmission from the one end 8a side to the other end 8b side, and the other end 8b of the isolator 8 A transmission antenna 9 for transmitting a high-frequency signal for transmission, a reception antenna 10 connected to the other output end 2c side of the branching device 2, and a connection between the other output end 2c of the branching device 2 and the reception antenna 10 are connected. The other output end 2c The mixer 6 that mixes the high-frequency signal output to the high-frequency signal and the high-frequency signal received by the receiving antenna 10 and outputs an intermediate frequency signal, and the intermediate according to the attenuation control signal connected to the output terminal of the mixer 6 And a variable attenuator 7 for attenuating and outputting the frequency signal.

  In addition to the above configuration, in these examples, amplifiers 11a and 11b are further connected to the output end of the variable attenuator 7, and the intermediate frequency signal output to the output end of the mixer 6 is temporarily changed to the variable attenuator. 7 and then amplified and output with a predetermined gain by the amplifiers 11a and 11b. The amplifier 11a is an amplifier that first amplifies the intermediate frequency signal output from the variable attenuator 7, and a low noise amplifier (low noise amplifier) may be used for this. The amplifier 11b is an amplifier that amplifies the intermediate frequency signal amplified by the amplifier 11a next, and a power amplifier (power amplifier) may be used for this. The amplifiers 11a and 11b may be configured in a plurality of stages in order to increase the gain.

  In these configurations, the variable attenuator 7 has a maximum attenuation amount of, for example, 50 to 60 dB at least when a transmission high-frequency signal is transmitted, and in other time zones, according to the strength of the received high-frequency signal. It is preferable that the amount of attenuation be such that the intensity of the high-frequency signal is attenuated so that the amplification of the amplifiers 11a and 11b is not saturated when the high-frequency signal is amplified by the amplifiers 11a and 11b. Thus, by setting the attenuation amount of the variable attenuator 7 by the attenuation amount control signal, the variable attenuator 7 appropriately applies intermediate frequency signals of various strengths by the amplifiers 11a and 11b according to the strength of the received high frequency signal. So that the intermediate frequency signal is strongly attenuated or weakly attenuated and input to the amplifiers 11a and 11b.

  When the variable attenuator 7 has a weak intermediate frequency signal and can be amplified appropriately even if it is input to the amplifiers 11a and 11b without being attenuated, the attenuation amount is set to 0 (zero). Alternatively, the input intermediate frequency signal may be output as it is without operating the variable attenuator 7. The maximum attenuation here is the maximum value within the variable range of the attenuation of the variable attenuator 7 in the operation of the high-frequency transmitter / receiver, and is particularly the maximum value that can be set in the variable attenuator 7. It does not have to be, and may be a value that can attenuate the intermediate frequency signal to such an extent that the amplifiers 11a and 11b are not saturated, but it is desirable that the attenuation amount be as large as possible. When the attenuation amount of the variable attenuator 7 is set in this way, the variable attenuator 7 attenuates the intermediate frequency signal with respect to a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission as an unnecessary signal leaked from the mixer 6 and output. In the case where the intensity of a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission as the unnecessary signal exceeds the maximum intensity of the high-frequency signal to be received, the intermediate frequency for the high-frequency signal to be received with the maximum intensity. When a signal is amplified, the maximum gain that does not saturate the amplifiers 11a and 11b connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator 7 can be set in the amplifiers 11a and 11b, so that the intensity of the received high-frequency signal is minimized. The range from the value to the maximum value can be increased. In addition, if the attenuation amount is set as large as possible as the maximum attenuation amount of the variable attenuator 7, a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission is unnecessary from the first terminal 4a to the third terminal 4c of the circulator 4. Since the variable attenuator 7 operates so that the intermediate frequency signal with respect to a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission as such an unnecessary signal is almost cut off and not output to the subsequent stage of the reception system, even if it leaks as an unnecessary signal. Only high-frequency signals that should be received can be received, and reception performance can be improved.

  In order to operate the variable attenuator 7 in this way, specifically, a wiring for inputting an attenuation amount control signal for controlling the attenuation amount is connected to the variable attenuator 7, and the attenuation is connected to the variable attenuator 7. A quantity control signal may be input. As the variable attenuator 7, specifically, for example, a semiconductor integrated circuit element made of silicon (Si) may be used.

  The first and second high-frequency transmitter / receiver embodiments of the present invention shown in the block circuit diagrams in FIGS. 1 and 2 have the above-described configuration, so that a high-frequency signal having a strong intensity is the first of the circulator 4. Leaks from the terminal 4a to the third terminal 4c, or leaks from the transmitting antenna 9 to the receiving antenna 10, and enters the mixer 6, and the mixer 6 saturates the amplifiers 11a and 11b connected to the subsequent stage. When an intermediate frequency signal that is too strong is output, the variable attenuator 7 attenuates the intermediate frequency signal, and the amplifiers 11a and 11b such as low noise amplifiers connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator 7 are saturated. When the mixer 6 does not output an intermediate frequency signal that is too strong, the variable attenuator 7 receives the signal. Since the attenuation can be reduced so that a weak high frequency signal can be received according to the strength of the high frequency signal to be received, the amplifiers 11a and 11b connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator 7 can be used. By giving a large maximum gain, the S / N (signal to noise) ratio can be increased, and the reception performance can be increased. In addition, the variable attenuator 7 can modulate the intermediate frequency signal more smoothly than the switch 116 because the intermediate frequency signal can be attenuated smoothly in time so that noise due to transient fluctuations is not mixed into the output intermediate frequency signal. There is also an advantage that the high-frequency signal for transmission can be suppressed from being output to the receiving system due to internal reflection or the like with almost no new noise mixed therein.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments of the first and second high-frequency transceivers of the present invention, it is preferable to configure as follows.

  The variable attenuator 7 may be integrated with an amplifier 11a connected to the output end of the variable attenuator 7 in a single container, for example, and configured as a variable gain amplifier. In addition, a variable gain amplifier in which another variable attenuator and an amplifier 11b connected to the output end of the variable gain amplifier are integrated in one container is formed. You may connect to the output terminal of a variable gain amplifier. In this case, the wiring between the variable attenuator 7 and the amplifiers 11a and 11b to be integrated as a variable gain amplifier can be shortened, and the intermediate between the variable attenuator and the amplifiers 11a and 11b. Since the load on the amplifier fluctuates depending on the frequency due to the multiple reflection of the frequency signal and the gain of the amplifier fluctuates, the adverse effect that the gain of the amplifier fluctuates can be suppressed. It is possible to suppress the frequency characteristic from fluctuating due to the fluctuation of the gain.

  The modulator 3 may be a semiconductor element made of a material containing a III-V group compound semiconductor as a main component. In addition to gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium / phosphorus (InP) and indium / antimony (InSb), materials containing III-V compound semiconductors include indium (In) or aluminum (Al) in gallium arsenide (GaAs). Indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), gallium arsenide aluminum (GaAlAs), indium arsenide gallium aluminum (InGaAlAs), indium arsenide aluminum gallium (InAlGaAs), indium arsenide (InAs), aluminum arsenide (AlAs) ) And indium aluminum arsenide (InAlAs) mixed crystal or multilayer superlattice (MQW) may be used. As a semiconductor element made of any of these materials, a diode, a bipolar transistor, a field effect transistor (FET), a microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC), or the like may be used. In this case, since a semiconductor element made of a material containing such a III-V group compound semiconductor has a high carrier mobility and a short lifetime, when the modulator 3 supplies a modulation current to the semiconductor element, In addition, since the modulation current of the modulator 3 can be quickly converged from the transient state to the steady state, the pulsed transmission high-frequency signal corresponding to the modulation current can also be quickly converged to the steady state. Even if the attenuation amount of the variable attenuator 7 is reduced at an early timing after the converted transmission high-frequency signal is output, an intermediate frequency signal in which an unnecessary signal generated immediately after the rise of the pulse is mixed with the transmission high-frequency signal is generated. It is not output to the subsequent stage of the mixer 6, and the time when the intermediate frequency signal cannot be transmitted / received due to the large attenuation of the intermediate frequency signal can be shortened. .

  If high speed is not particularly required for the operation of the modulator 3, silicon (Si), silicon-germanium (SiGe) mixed crystal or the like may be used in addition to the III-V group compound semiconductor.

  Next, the third and fourth high-frequency transceivers of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The overall configuration and the configuration of the high-frequency signal transmission unit in the third high-frequency transceiver of the present invention are the same as those shown in the block circuit diagram of FIG. 1 and the plan view of FIG. 6, respectively. The overall configuration of the high-frequency transceiver and the configuration of the high-frequency signal transmission unit are the same as those shown in the block circuit diagram of FIG. 2 and the plan view of FIG. The basic configuration of the non-radiative dielectric line as the dielectric line used in these configurations is the same as that shown in the partially broken perspective view of FIG. In the following description, when there are components corresponding to the components shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numerals in FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown in parentheses. .

  As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 1, an example of an embodiment of the third high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention is between flat conductors 51 arranged in parallel at intervals of 1/2 or less of the wavelength of a high-frequency signal. A high frequency signal oscillating section 52 (1) attached to the first dielectric line 53 and frequency-modulating a high frequency signal output from the high frequency diode and propagating through the first dielectric line 53; and a first dielectric A modulator (3) that intervenes in the middle of the line 53, pulsates the high-frequency signal and outputs it as a high-frequency signal for transmission from the first dielectric line 53, and one end side of the first dielectric line 53 is electromagnetically coupled. A second dielectric line 58 that is disposed close to each other or joined at one end to the first dielectric line 53 to propagate a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission to the mixer 59 (6) side, and a flat conductor 51 at a predetermined interval on the periphery of the ferrite plate arranged in parallel with 51 A first connection portion 54a, a second connection portion 54b, and a third connection portion 54c, which are arranged and are used as input / output ends of a high-frequency signal, respectively, receive a high-frequency signal input from one connection portion. A circulator 54 (4) that outputs from another connecting part adjacent in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction in the plane of the ferrite plate, and the first connecting part is provided at the output end of the high-frequency signal of the first dielectric line 53. A circulator 54 (4) to which 54a is connected and a third dielectric connected to the second connection portion 54b of this circulator 54 (4) to propagate a high-frequency signal and have a transmitting / receiving antenna 56 (5) at the tip. It is connected to the body line 55 and the third connection part 54c of the circulator 54 (4), is received by the transmitting / receiving antenna 56 (5), propagates through the third dielectric line 55, and is output from the third connection part 54c. To propagate the received wave to mixer 59 (6) 4 dielectric lines 57, the second dielectric line 58, and the fourth dielectric line 57 are brought close to each other or joined so as to be electromagnetically coupled, and a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission And a mixer 59 (6) that generates an intermediate frequency signal by mixing the received wave and the received wave, and outputs an attenuated intermediate frequency signal to the output end of the mixer 59 (25) according to the attenuation control signal. A variable attenuator (7) is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 2, an example of the embodiment of the fourth high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention is a flat conductor 61 arranged in parallel with an interval of 1/2 or less of the wavelength of the high-frequency signal. A high-frequency signal oscillating unit 61 (1) attached to the first dielectric line 63 and frequency-modulating a high-frequency signal output from the high-frequency diode and propagating through the first dielectric line 63, and a first A modulator (3) interposed in the middle of the dielectric line 63 to pulse the high frequency signal and output it from the first dielectric line 63 as a high frequency signal for transmission, and one end side of the first dielectric line 63 is electromagnetically coupled A second dielectric line 68 that is disposed close to each other or joined at one end to the first dielectric line 63 to propagate a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission to the mixer 71 (6) side, and a flat plate Predetermined spacing at the periphery of the ferrite plate arranged parallel to the conductor 61 And a first connection portion 64a, a second connection portion 64b, and a third connection portion 64c, each of which is an input / output end of a high-frequency signal, and a high-frequency signal input from one connection portion Is output from another connecting portion adjacent in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction in the plane of the ferrite plate, and the first connecting portion 64a is provided at the output end of the high frequency signal of the first dielectric line 63. A circulator 64 to be connected; a third dielectric line 65 connected to the second connection portion 64b of the circulator 64, for propagating a transmission high-frequency signal and having a transmission antenna 66 (9) at the tip portion; A receiving antenna 70 (10) on the other end and a mixer 71 (6) on the other end, a fourth dielectric line 69 for propagating the received wave received by the receiving antenna 70 (10), and a circulator 64 3 is connected to the connection section 64c of A fifth dielectric line 67 for propagating the high-frequency signal mixed by reception at the channel 66 (9) and attenuating the high-frequency signal mixed by reception at the non-reflective termination 67a provided at the tip, and a second dielectric The middle of the line 68 and the middle of the fourth dielectric line 69 are made close to each other or joined so as to be electromagnetically coupled, and a part of the high frequency signal for transmission and the received wave are mixed to generate an intermediate frequency signal. A mixer 71 (6) is provided, and a variable attenuator (7) for attenuating and outputting the intermediate frequency signal according to the attenuation control signal is provided at the output end of the mixer 71 (6).

  In these examples, the variable attenuator (7) that attenuates the intermediate frequency signal generated at the output ends of the mixers 59 and 71 (6) by an appropriate amount and outputs it is output to the variable attenuator (7). An amplifier (amplifier for amplifying an intermediate frequency signal output through the variable attenuator (7) after connecting the wiring for inputting the attenuation control signal for controlling the attenuation amount and following the variable attenuator (7). 11a, 11b) are provided.

  In these configurations, the detailed configuration of the variable attenuator (7) is the same as that of the first and second high-frequency transceivers of the present invention, and the variable attenuator (7) is the modulator (3). When the transmission high-frequency signal pulsed is output, the attenuation is increased shortly before the transmission high-frequency signal rises, and when the transmission high-frequency signal stabilizes after the rise, the maximum, for example, 50 to 60 dB It is good to operate so that the amount of attenuation becomes. Further, it is preferable to reduce the attenuation amount from the time when the high-frequency signal for transmission falls, and to change the attenuation amount so as to gradually decrease, for example, as shown by a diagram in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing signal states of the transmission high-frequency signal and the intermediate frequency signal at the same timing as an example of changes in the set value of the attenuation set in the variable attenuator (7). In this figure, each diagram shows, in order from the top, the pulse modulation signal input to the modulator 3, the transmission high-frequency signal output from the modulator 3, the set value of the attenuation amount of the attenuator (7), and the amplifier 11a. The input intermediate frequency signal is shown, the horizontal axis is time, and the vertical axis is the magnitude of the set value of the intensity or attenuation of each signal. When this high-frequency transmitter / receiver is used in a radar apparatus, the horizontal axis corresponds to the distance to the object to be detected.

  Here, when such third and fourth high-frequency transmitter / receivers of the present invention are used in a radar apparatus as will be described later, immediately after transmitting a high-frequency signal for transmission, a detection object at a close range is used. Receiving a reflected high-intensity high-frequency signal, and receiving a weak-intensity high-frequency signal that is gradually reflected by a far-off detection object as the next transmission high-frequency signal is transmitted. It becomes. Therefore, if the high-frequency transmitter / receiver can receive a wide range of high-frequency signals from the weakest strength to the strongest strength, it is possible to configure a radar apparatus that can detect over a wide range of distances from close to far. In order to do this, the high-frequency transmitter / receiver itself generates as much noise as possible within the high-frequency signal or the intermediate frequency signal before amplification corresponding to the high-frequency signal, and the amplifier 11a, The maximum gain of 11b is made as large as possible and leaks from the first connection 54a of the circulator 54 (4) to the third connection 54c to the high-frequency signal having a strong intensity from a close distance, or to the third connection 54c. These strong high-frequency signals prevent the intermediate-frequency signal for a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission leaking from 66 (9) to the receiving antenna 70 (10) from saturating the amplifiers 11a and 11b. Should be greatly attenuated. At that time, when a high-frequency signal for transmission is output from the modulator (3), an intermediate frequency signal irrelevant to radar detection is output. Therefore, a variable attenuator is used in order to substantially block this intermediate frequency signal. The attenuation of (7) is maximized in this time zone, and then, in other cases, the attenuation is reduced according to the distance to the object to be detected, and when receiving a received wave from a distance, the attenuation is reduced to 0. (Zero) can be used. Further, at this time, as shown in the diagram of FIG. 3, the change in the set value of attenuation may be such that the slope of the set value changes smoothly or changes in several steps. However, it is preferable to avoid a steep change as much as possible because it is possible to prevent noise associated with the operation of the variable attenuator (7) from being mixed into the intermediate frequency signal passing through the variable attenuator (7). . In order to operate the variable attenuator (7) by setting the attenuation amount in this way, for example, a programmable attenuator is used as the variable attenuator (7), and the set value of the attenuation amount is previously stored in a memory or the like. The stored setting value may be input to the programmable attenuator in synchronization with the operation of the modulator (3).

  In addition, about the setting of the attenuation amount with respect to the variable attenuator (7), although the example of the 3rd and 4th high frequency transmitter / receiver of this invention was illustrated in detail here, the 1st and 2nd high frequency transmitter / receiver of this invention was illustrated. What is necessary is just to carry out similarly about.

  The example of the embodiment of the third high-frequency transceiver of the present invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 1 and the example of the embodiment of the fourth high-frequency transceiver of the present invention shown in FIGS. Therefore, the mixer 59, 71 (6) leaks from the first connection portion 54a (4a) of the circulator 54 (4) to the third connection portion 54c (4c) or the transmission antenna 66 (9). When an intermediate frequency output for a high frequency signal that is too strong due to leakage to the receiving antenna 70 (10) is output, the variable attenuator (7) attenuates this intermediate frequency signal by an appropriate amount, The amplifiers 11a and 11b such as low noise amplifiers and power amplifiers connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator (7) operate so as not to be saturated and cannot be received or destroyed, and such strength is ensured. Too high frequency signal is mixer 59 , 71 (6), the variable attenuator (7) reduces the attenuation so that a weak high-frequency signal can be received according to the intensity of the received high-frequency signal (received wave). Therefore, it is possible to increase the S / N (signal to noise) ratio by giving a larger maximum gain to the amplifiers 11a and 11b connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator (7). The reception performance can be increased. In addition, the variable attenuator (7) can attenuate the intermediate frequency signal smoothly in time so that noise due to transient fluctuations is not mixed into the intermediate frequency signal to be output, compared to the switch 116. It is possible to suppress the pulse-modulated high-frequency signal for transmission from being output to the receiving system due to internal reflection or the like with almost no new noise mixed therein. In addition, since the non-radiative dielectric line connecting each component transmits a millimeter-wave signal, which is a high-frequency signal, with low loss, it is possible to transmit a millimeter-wave signal with high strength when using a millimeter-wave signal. In addition, since a broadband amplifier that amplifies the millimeter wave signal input to the mixer is not required, the S / N (signal to noise) ratio can be further increased, and the reception performance can be increased.

  In addition, when the modulator (3) is transmitting a high-frequency signal for transmission, the amount of attenuation of the variable attenuator (7) is increased when an unnecessary high-frequency signal that is too strong is received. You may make it interrupt | block the intermediate frequency signal by an unnecessary high frequency signal. For example, this may be done when it is desired to cut off the output of an intermediate frequency signal due to an unnecessary high frequency signal transmitted from another high frequency transmitter / receiver that is not intended for transmission / reception. Specifically, in order to do this, the detection current of the mixer (6) is monitored, and when the detection current exceeds a predetermined value, an attenuation control signal for increasing the attenuation is supplied to the variable attenuator (7). Just input.

  Also in the third and fourth high-frequency transmitter / receivers of the present invention, the variable attenuator 7 and the amplifier 11a are variable in which a programmable attenuator and a low noise amplifier as described above are integrated instead of providing them independently. A gain amplifier may be used. The modulator 3 may be a semiconductor element made of a material containing a III-V group compound semiconductor as a main component. The material containing a III-V compound semiconductor is the same as described above. If it does in this way, there exists an effect similar to the case of the 1st and 2nd high frequency transmitter-receiver of the said invention.

  The other components of the third and fourth high-frequency transceivers of the present invention are as described in detail below.

  The high-frequency signal oscillating unit 52 (1) is, for example, a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) equipped with a Gunn diode and a varactor diode, and a millimeter-wave signal which is a high-frequency signal when a signal is input to the modulation signal input terminal. Operates as an oscillator. By inputting the output signal of the VCO of the high-frequency signal oscillating unit 52 and the pulse modulation signal to the modulator (3), the modulator (3) performs pulse modulation, and a pulsed high-frequency signal for transmission is output. The

  The modulator (3) is interposed in the middle of the first dielectric lines 53 and 63 in FIGS. 6 and 7, and is an RF switch configured similarly to that shown in FIG. 9, for example. . The configuration is such that a choke-type bias supply line 90 is formed on one main surface of the substrate 88, and a beam lead type or flip chip type solder-mounted between connection electrodes 81, 81 formed in the middle. The switch is provided with a Schottky barrier diode or a PIN diode 80, and the PIN diode 80 is placed between the end faces of the first dielectric lines 53 and 63 so that the bias voltage is applied in a direction crossing the line direction. It was installed in.

  A circulator 54 (4) transmits a high-frequency signal to the transmission / reception antenna 56 (5) side during transmission and transmits a reception wave to the mixer 59 (6) side during reception. Reference numeral 56 (5) denotes a high-frequency signal transmitting / receiving antenna. For example, the circulator 54 (4) is a horn antenna connected via a metal waveguide or a dielectric waveguide filled with a dielectric to the metal waveguide. Etc. Also, the mixer 59 (6) mixes the high-frequency signal output from the VCO of the high-frequency signal oscillating unit 52 (1) and the received signal (received wave) received by the transmission / reception antenna 56 (5), thereby detecting the object. An intermediate frequency signal for detecting the distance to the object is output.

  Next, in the high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention described above, each component may be configured as follows in detail in addition to the above.

The first to fifth dielectric lines 53, 58, 55, 57, 63, 68, 65, 69, and 67, which are constituent elements of the non-radiative dielectric line, are made of resin such as ethylene tetrafluoride and polystyrene. Or ceramics such as cordierite (2MgO · 2Al ₂ O ₃ · 5SiO ₂ ) ceramics, alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ) ceramics, and glass ceramics having a low relative dielectric constant are preferable, and these have low loss in the millimeter wave band. . The first to fifth dielectric lines 53, 58, 55, 57, 63, 68, 65, 69, and 67 are basically rectangular in shape, but rounded at the corners of the rectangle. It is possible to use various cross-sectional shapes used for millimeter wave signal transmission.

The magnetic material or ferrite plate of the circulators 54 and 64 (4) may be made of zinc, nickel, iron oxide (Zn _a Ni _b Fe) for ferrite, for example, high-frequency signals and millimeter-wave signals. _c O _x) are preferred. Further, the shape of the magnetic body or ferrite plate of the circulators 54 and 64 (4) is usually a disc shape, but the planar shape may be a regular polygonal shape. In that case, when the number of dielectric lines to be connected is n (n is an integer of 3 or more), the planar shape is preferably a regular m-square (m is an integer greater than n of 3 or more).

  The parallel plate conductors 51 and 61 are made of Cu, Al, Fe, Ag, Au, Pt, SUS (stainless steel), brass (Cu-Zn) in terms of high electrical conductivity and good workability. A conductor plate such as an alloy is preferred. Or what formed these conductor layers on the surface of the insulating board which consists of ceramics, resin, etc. may be used.

  In addition, the substrate 88 is made of aluminum (Al), gold (Au), copper (Cu), etc. on one main surface of a plate-like substrate made of tetrafluoroethylene, polystyrene, glass ceramics, glass epoxy resin, epoxy resin or the like. A choke-type bias supply line 90 formed of a strip conductor or the like made of is used.

  In addition to non-radiative dielectric lines, high-frequency transmission lines that connect circuit elements and transmit high-frequency signals include waveguides, dielectric waveguides, strip lines, microstrip lines, and coplanar lines. A high-frequency transmission line such as a slot line or a coaxial line may be selected and used according to the frequency band to be used or the application. In addition to the millimeter wave band, the frequency band to be used is effective even in the microwave band or lower frequency band.

  Further, a duplexer, a switch, a hybrid circuit, or the like can be used instead of the circulator 4 to which the transmission / reception antenna 5 is connected.

  In the above example of the high-frequency transceiver of the present invention, the variable attenuator 7 is connected to the output end of the mixer 6 and the amplifiers 11a and 11b are connected to the subsequent stage of the variable attenuator 7. Alternatively, an amplifier 11a may be connected between the output terminal of the variable attenuator 7 and the variable attenuator 7, and an amplifier 11b may be connected downstream of the variable attenuator 7. In this case, a gain characteristic that does not saturate the amplifier 11a may be set in the amplifier 11a. In this way, a weak intermediate frequency signal is amplified before noise is mixed at the output end of the mixer 6. Therefore, it is possible to improve the reception sensitivity for high-frequency signals with low strength.

  Next, a radar apparatus using the high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention, a radar apparatus-equipped vehicle equipped with the radar apparatus, and a radar apparatus-equipped small ship will be described.

  An example of an embodiment of the radar apparatus of the present invention shown in a block circuit diagram in FIG. 4 is one of the first to fourth high-frequency transceivers of the present invention (first high-frequency transceiver in this example), The distance information detector 100 detects the distance information to the object to be detected by processing the intermediate frequency signal output from the high frequency transmitter / receiver.

  In the above configuration, the distance information detector 100 performs signal processing on the detected intermediate frequency signal and outputs distance information including the distance and direction from the radar apparatus to the detection target. For example, the distance information detector 100 includes an arithmetic circuit including a differentiation circuit, an integration circuit, a square circuit, and the like that calculate an intermediate frequency signal as position information, a determination circuit that determines an output of the arithmetic circuit, and these arithmetic circuits. And a computer that operates the discriminating circuit and the high-frequency transceiver according to a series of sequences. A circuit in which an operational amplifier (op amp), a comparator, or the like is combined may be used for the arithmetic circuit and the discrimination circuit. Further, a switch, an amplifier, a filter, or the like may be used as necessary. Also, in the process of these calculations and discrimination, analog signals are converted into digital signals at once, these calculations and discrimination are processed with digital signals, and digital signals are converted into analog signals as needed. And a DA converter may be used. At this time, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP) that performs fast Fourier transform (FFT) or the like may be used as the arithmetic circuit that calculates the digital signal after A / D conversion.

  According to an example of the embodiment of the radar apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, the first high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention is used as a high-frequency transmitter / receiver that is a constituent element, and its reception performance is high, so that it can be quickly and reliably performed. It is possible to detect a detection object at a short distance and also to detect a detection object at a short distance or a distance. Needless to say, the radar apparatus of the present invention can constitute a radar apparatus having the same effect even if the second to fourth high-frequency transceivers of the present invention are used. In addition to the radar device, the high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention is, for example, a so-called physical medium that is a physical layer (physical layer) of a wireless device used in, for example, a wireless LAN. -Configuration as a de-pendant (PMD) device, consisting of this PMD device and its higher-layer physical media attachment (PMA) device, media access controller (MAC) device, and other devices As a wireless device.

  A vehicle equipped with a radar apparatus according to the present invention includes the radar apparatus according to the present invention, and the radar apparatus is used for detecting a detection target.

  Since the radar device-equipped vehicle of the present invention has such a configuration, the behavior of the vehicle can be controlled based on the distance information detected by the radar device, For example, the detection of obstacles on the road or other vehicles can be warned by sound, light or vibration. However, in the vehicle equipped with the radar device of the present invention, Since the radar apparatus detects other vehicles and the like quickly and reliably, it is possible to perform appropriate control of the vehicle and appropriate warning to the driver without causing the vehicle to make a sudden behavior.

  The radar device-equipped vehicle of the present invention is not limited to a vehicle for transporting passengers and cargo such as trains, trains, and automobiles, but also bicycles, motorbikes, amusement park vehicles, golf courses, etc. It can also be used for carts and the like.

  A small ship equipped with a radar apparatus according to the present invention includes the radar apparatus according to the present invention, and the radar apparatus is used to detect a detection target.

  Since the small ship equipped with the radar apparatus of the present invention has such a configuration, the behavior of the small ship is controlled based on the distance information detected by the radar apparatus in the small ship as in the conventional vehicle equipped with the radar apparatus. Or the operator is warned by sound, light or vibration that an obstacle such as a reef, another ship or other small ship has been detected. In a ship, the radar device quickly and reliably detects obstacles such as reefs, other ships or other small ships that are detection objects. Proper control and appropriate warning to the operator can be provided.

  The small-sized ship equipped with the radar device of the present invention is specifically a ship that can be operated without a license for a small ship or a license, and is a boat with a total tonnage of less than 20 tons. Motorcycles, small bass boats with outboard motors, inflatable boats (rubber boats) with outboard motors, fishing boats, recreational fishing boats, work boats, houseboats, towing boats, sports boats, fishing boats, yachts, open-sea yachts, cruisers or gross tonnage 20 It can be used for pleasure boats of tons or more.

  Thus, according to the present invention, a high-frequency transmitter / receiver with high reception performance capable of appropriately blocking an intermediate frequency signal including noise and appropriately outputting an intermediate frequency signal effective for detecting distance information or the like. , And a high-performance radar device that can detect a detection object quickly and reliably, a radar device-equipped vehicle equipped with the high-performance radar device, and a radar device-equipped small vessel it can.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the example of the said embodiment, It does not interfere in various ways within the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. For example, in the above example of the high-frequency transceiver, the variable attenuator, the amplifier, or the variable gain amplifier may be provided in a shielded casing. As a case with such a shield, for example, in the third and fourth high-frequency transceivers, a flat conductor constituting a non-radiative dielectric line is configured on the inner surfaces of the two cases, What is necessary is just to use what made the inner side of the housing | casing which combined them hollowed with the metal wall. By doing so, it becomes difficult for external noise to be mixed into the intermediate frequency signal before amplification, so that a high-frequency transmitter / receiver capable of improving the reception sensitivity can be obtained.

It is a block circuit diagram showing typically an example of an embodiment of the 1st and 3rd high frequency transceiver of the present invention. It is a block circuit diagram showing typically an example of an embodiment of the 2nd and 4th high frequency transceiver of the present invention. In each of the third and fourth high-frequency transmitter / receivers of the present invention, the pulse modulation signal of the modulator, the signal waveform of the transmission high-frequency signal at the modulator output end, and the intermediate frequency signal at the amplifier input end, and the attenuation amount of the variable attenuator are set. It is the diagram which showed typically the relative timing of a value, each of these signals, and a setting value. It is a block circuit diagram showing typically an example of an embodiment of a radar device of the present invention. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows the fundamental structure of a nonradiative dielectric track | line. It is a top view of the high frequency transmitter-receiver which has a transmission / reception antenna. It is a top view of the high frequency transmitter-receiver which has a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the structure of each part when the conventional high frequency transmitter-receiver is used as a millimeter wave radar. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the pulse modulator of a high frequency transmitter / receiver.

Explanation of symbols

1: High-frequency oscillator (high-frequency signal oscillator)
2: Branching device 3: Modulator 4: Circulator 5: Transmission / reception antenna 6: Mixer 7: Variable attenuator 8: Isolator 9: Transmission antenna
10: Receive antenna
11a, 11b: Amplifier
51, 61: Parallel plate conductor
52, 62: High-frequency signal oscillator
53, 63: First dielectric line
54, 64: Circulator
55, 65: Third dielectric line
56: Transmit / receive antenna
57, 69: Fourth dielectric line
58, 68: Second dielectric line
59, 71: Mixer
67: Fifth dielectric line
66: Transmitting antenna
70: Receive antenna
100: Distance information detector

Claims (9)

A high-frequency oscillator that generates a high-frequency signal; a branching device that is connected to the high-frequency oscillator and branches the high-frequency signal and outputs the branched signal to one output end and the other output end; and the one output end A modulator that modulates the high-frequency signal branched to the one output terminal and outputs a high-frequency signal for transmission; and a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal around the magnetic body, A high-frequency signal input from one terminal in this order is output from the next adjacent terminal, and the output of the modulator is connected to the first terminal and the circulator connected to the second terminal. A transmission / reception antenna, a high-frequency signal branched to the other output end connected between the other output end of the branching device and the third terminal of the circulator, and a high-frequency signal received by the transmission / reception antenna Trust And a variable attenuator connected to the output terminal of the mixer for attenuating and outputting the intermediate frequency signal in accordance with an attenuation control signal. A high-frequency transceiver characterized. A high-frequency oscillator that generates a high-frequency signal; a branching device that is connected to the high-frequency oscillator and branches the high-frequency signal and outputs the branched signal to one output end and the other output end; and the one output end A modulator that modulates the high-frequency signal branched to the one output end and outputs a high-frequency signal for transmission; and one end connected to the output end of the modulator; An isolator for passing a high-frequency signal; a transmission antenna connected to the isolator; a reception antenna connected to the other output end of the branch; the other output end of the branch; and the reception antenna A mixer that is connected between the high-frequency signal branched to the other output end and the high-frequency signal received by the receiving antenna to output an intermediate frequency signal, and is connected to the output end of the mixer. And, a high-frequency transceiver, characterized by comprising a variable attenuator for outputting attenuates the intermediate-frequency signal in response to the attenuation control signal. Between the flat conductors arranged in parallel at intervals equal to or less than a half of the wavelength of the high frequency signal, the first dielectric line is attached, and the high frequency signal output from the high frequency diode is frequency-modulated and the first A high-frequency signal oscillating unit for propagating a dielectric line, a modulator interposed in the middle of the first dielectric line, and pulsing the high-frequency signal to output from the first dielectric line as a high-frequency signal for transmission; The first dielectric line is disposed close to one end side so as to be electromagnetically coupled, or one end is joined to the first dielectric line, and a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission is propagated to the mixer side. A second dielectric line and a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion arranged at predetermined intervals on a peripheral portion of a ferrite plate arranged in parallel to the flat conductor and each serving as an input / output end of the high-frequency signal; Connection of A circulator that outputs the high-frequency signal input from one connection portion from another connection portion that is adjacent clockwise or counterclockwise within the plane of the ferrite plate, A circulator having the first connection portion connected to the output end of the high-frequency signal of the first dielectric line, and connected to the second connection portion of the circulator to propagate the high-frequency signal and to the tip portion A third dielectric line having a transmission / reception antenna, and the third connection part of the circulator, received by the transmission / reception antenna, propagated through the third dielectric line, and output from the third connection part The fourth dielectric line for propagating the received wave to the mixer, the middle of the second dielectric line, and the middle of the fourth dielectric line so as to be electromagnetically coupled, or In a high frequency transmitter / receiver provided with a mixer that mixes a part of the high frequency signal for transmission and the received wave to generate an intermediate frequency signal, an attenuation control signal is provided at the output end of the mixer. A high frequency transmitter / receiver comprising a variable attenuator that attenuates and outputs the intermediate frequency signal accordingly. Between the flat conductors arranged in parallel at intervals equal to or less than a half of the wavelength of the high frequency signal, the first dielectric line is attached, and the high frequency signal output from the high frequency diode is frequency-modulated and the first A high-frequency signal oscillating unit for propagating a dielectric line, a modulator interposed in the middle of the first dielectric line, and pulsing the high-frequency signal to output from the first dielectric line as a high-frequency signal for transmission; The first dielectric line is disposed close to one end side so as to be electromagnetically coupled, or one end is joined to the first dielectric line, and a part of the high-frequency signal for transmission is propagated to the mixer side. A second dielectric line and a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion arranged at predetermined intervals on a peripheral portion of a ferrite plate arranged in parallel to the flat conductor and each serving as an input / output end of the high-frequency signal; Connection of A circulator that outputs the high-frequency signal input from one connection portion from another connection portion that is adjacent clockwise or counterclockwise within the plane of the ferrite plate, A circulator to which the first connection portion is connected to an output end of the high-frequency signal of the first dielectric line; and a tip connected to the second connection portion of the circulator to propagate the transmission high-frequency signal. A third dielectric line having a transmission antenna at a part thereof; a reception antenna at a tip part; a mixer at the other end part; a fourth dielectric line for propagating a reception wave received by the reception antenna; Connected to the third connection part of the circulator, propagates the high frequency signal received and mixed by the transmitting antenna, and mixes the reception by the non-reflective terminal provided at the tip. The fifth dielectric line for attenuating the frequency signal, the middle of the second dielectric line, and the middle of the fourth dielectric line are brought close to each other or joined so as to be electromagnetically coupled. In a high frequency transmitter / receiver provided with a mixer that mixes a part of a trusted high frequency signal and the received wave to generate an intermediate frequency signal, the intermediate frequency signal is supplied to an output terminal of the mixer according to an attenuation control signal. A high frequency transceiver comprising a variable attenuator that attenuates and outputs. The high-frequency transceiver according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a variable gain amplifier configured by connecting an amplifier to the variable attenuator. 6. The high-frequency transmitter / receiver according to claim 1, wherein a semiconductor element made of a material containing a III-V group compound semiconductor is used for the modulator. A high-frequency transmitter / receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and a distance information detector for processing the intermediate frequency signal output from the high-frequency transmitter / receiver to detect distance information to a detection target. A radar apparatus comprising: A radar device-equipped vehicle comprising the radar device according to claim 7, wherein the radar device is used for detection of an object to be detected. 8. A small ship equipped with a radar apparatus, comprising the radar apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the radar apparatus is used for detection of a detection object.

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