JP2006211180A - Mixer, high frequency transceiver using the same, radar device, vehicle mounting the same, and small ship mounting the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mixer improving an output. <P>SOLUTION: The middle parts P<SB>11</SB>, P<SB>21</SB>of two high frequency transmission lines 1, 2 are electromagnetically coupled, and boards 3, 4 including a high frequency detection element are arranged at the ends of the high frequency transmission lines 1, 2 concerning a balanced mixer. In the mixer, a phase difference δ is set to be equal to π/2 when the phase difference between a high frequency signal to be made incident to one high frequency detection element P<SB>12</SB>and a high frequency signal to be made incident to the other high frequency detection element P<SB>22</SB>is defined as δ, concerning a line length difference D between a line length to the middle part P<SB>11</SB>from one high frequency detection element P<SB>12</SB>in the high frequency transmission lines 1, 2 and a line difference to the middle part P<SB>21</SB>from the other high frequency detection element P<SB>22</SB>. Even when the phase is changed in the middle parts P<SB>11</SB>, P<SB>21</SB>, the high frequency signals are made incident to both the high frequency detection elements P<SB>12</SB>, P<SB>22</SB>by the same phase. Consequently, a higher harmonic component between the two high frequency signals to be made incident is minimized, so as to suppress the higher harmonic component as an unnecessary noise in the balanced mixer. Thus, reception sensitivity is increased. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mixer that is incorporated in an integrated circuit, a radar module, or the like and mixes a high-frequency signal, and a high-frequency transceiver using the mixer.

  The present invention also relates to a radar device including the high-frequency transmitter / receiver, a radar device-equipped vehicle including the radar device, and a radar device-equipped small vessel.

  Conventionally, a technique related to a mixer using a nonradiative dielectric waveguide (hereinafter also referred to as an NRD guide) has been proposed. For example, the technique disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 is known as the main one.

  A mixer disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a partially broken perspective view showing a basic configuration of a non-radiative dielectric line, FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a conventional mixer using a non-radiative dielectric line, (a) is a plan view, (b) ) Is a perspective view of part B of (a) showing a high-frequency detection part which is a component of the mixer, and FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a basic structure of a wiring board constituting the mixer. In FIG. 10, the flat conductor is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the basic configuration of the NRD guide constituting the mixer is that a dielectric line 53 having a rectangular cross section is provided between the flat conductors 51 and 52 arranged in parallel with a predetermined interval a. Are arranged such that a ≦ λ / 2 with respect to the wavelength λ of the high-frequency signal. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the intrusion of noise from the outside into the dielectric line 53 and to radiate the high-frequency signal to the outside, and to propagate the high-frequency signal through the dielectric line 53 with almost no loss. The wavelength λ is the wavelength of the high frequency signal in the air (free space) at the operating frequency.

  In the example of the conventional mixer shown in FIG. 10, reference numeral 60 denotes a dielectric line made of tetrafluoroethylene, polystyrene, or the like that propagates a high-frequency signal (electromagnetic wave). A predetermined gap is formed on one end surface of the dielectric line 60. Opened, another dielectric line 61 made of tetrafluoroethylene, polystyrene, or the like is disposed, and a dielectric sheet 62 made of alumina ceramics or the like having a dielectric constant different from that of the dielectric lines 60, 61 is disposed. As shown in FIG. 4, a choke type bias supply line 63 made of Cu foil or the like is formed behind the dielectric sheet 62 by a printing method or the like. A wiring board 65 constituting a high-frequency detection unit on which a Schottky Barrier Diode (hereinafter also referred to as SBD) 64, which is a high-frequency detection element, is mounted. Further, another dielectric line 66 made of tetrafluoroethylene, polystyrene, or the like is disposed behind the wiring board 65 to constitute one high-frequency detector. Similarly, another high-frequency detection unit includes dielectric lines 70 and 71, a dielectric sheet 72, an SBD 74, a wiring board 75, and a dielectric line 76. The wiring board 75 has the same structure as the choke-type bias supply line 65. A pattern is formed. Then, the directional coupling unit 67 is configured so that the middles of the two dielectric lines 60 and the dielectric line 70 each having the high frequency detection unit are arranged close to each other so as to be electromagnetically coupled, and 3 dB coupling is performed at this portion. The mixer is configured.

  According to this mixer, a bias voltage is applied to the SBD 64 and SBD 74 connected to the wiring board 65 and the wiring board 75, respectively, and the high frequency signal 60a incident on the dielectric line 60 and the high frequency signal 70a incident on the dielectric line 70 are applied. Are coupled to the high-frequency signals 60b and 60c or the high-frequency signals 70b and 70c by the directional coupling unit 67, the signals 60b and 70c are detected by the SBD 64, and the signals 60c and 70b are detected by the SBD 74. The detected output is mixed (mixed) by the electromagnetically coupled part of the dielectric line 60 and the dielectric line 70, in this example, the directional coupling part 67, and taken out as a mixer output from the output terminal. It is.

  In such a non-radiative dielectric line type mixer, the dielectric lines 60 and 70 are bent so that only a part of the middle of the dielectric lines 60 and 70 is close to the directional coupling portion 67. It is important to appropriately design the distance between the dielectric lines 60 and 70, the bend curvature, and the length from the high frequency detection part to the closest part. For example, in Non-Patent Document 1, a tetrafluoroethylene dielectric line having a height of 4.0 mm, a width of 3.5 mm, and a relative dielectric constant of 2.04 is used, and a bend has a radius of curvature of 30 mm between the dielectric lines. An example of a directional coupler and a mixer using the directional coupler having a distance of 2.6 mm between the closest points is disclosed.

  Non-Patent Document 2 discloses an example in which the bend of one of the dielectric lines is eliminated in the directional coupling unit, thereby reducing the loss of the high-frequency signal in the 3 dB coupling unit.

  Note that these conventional mixers are all referred to as a balanced type, and other examples of the balanced mixer are disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2.

  Moreover, the example of the conventional high frequency transmitter / receiver is disclosed by patent document 3 and patent document 4, for example.

An example of a conventional radar device and a vehicle equipped with the radar device is disclosed in Patent Document 5, for example.
Tsutomu Yoneyama, “Millimeter Wave Integrated Circuits Using Nonradiative Dielectric Lines”, IEICE Transactions CI, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, March 1990, Vol. J73-CI, No. 3 , P.87-94 Futoshi Kuroki et al., “NRD Guide Digital Transceivers for Millimeter Wave LAN System”, ICC Transactions on Communications (IEICE TRANS. COMMUN.), VOL.E79-B, No. 12, December 1996, p. 1759-1764 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-075125 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-101313 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-0777576 JP 2000-258525 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-035768

  However, in the conventional mixer as described above, the phase of the high-frequency signal in the SBDs 64 and 74 that are high-frequency detection elements needs to be π / 2. Since one of the two dielectric lines 60 and 70 changes in phase by about π / 2 with respect to the other, the line lengths from the directional coupling portions 67 of the dielectric line 60 and the dielectric line 70 are made equal. However, the output of the phase of the high-frequency signal may be changed at the directional coupling part 67 in the middle of the two dielectric lines 60 and 70. The phase of the high frequency signal does not become π / 2 in the two SBDs 64 and 74 even if the line lengths from the middle of the lines 60 and 70 to the SBDs 64 and 74 provided at the ends of the dielectric lines 60 and 70 are equal. And strong enough Mixer output there is a problem that there may not be obtained.

  In addition, since the line lengths from the nearest part of the dielectric line 60 and the dielectric line 70 to the respective wiring boards 65 and 75 are the same, in this case, the wiring board 65 and the wiring board 75 are buffered to each other. In order to avoid this, there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the overall size of the mixer because it requires a space for the arrangement of the constituent members, and restrictions on the arrangement of the SBDs 64, 74, the dielectric lines 60, 70, etc. There was a problem that was large.

  In that case, when attempting to reduce the size of the bend provided in one or both of the dielectric lines 60 and 70 by reducing the curvature, the transmission loss of the high-frequency signal at the bend increases. There was a problem of becoming.

  On the other hand, the mixer is miniaturized so that good transmission and reception can be performed even for a device using the mixer, for example, an in-vehicle millimeter wave radar module, while the installation space of the device is limited. Therefore, further downsizing is desired.

  The present invention has been completed in view of the circumstances in the prior art as described above, and an object of the present invention is to improve the mixer output as well as to reduce the size and to increase the freedom of layout of the components. It is to provide a high-performance mixer capable of increasing the size.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a high-performance high-frequency transceiver capable of improving reception performance by improving mixer output.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a radar apparatus equipped with the high-performance high-frequency transmitter / receiver, a vehicle equipped with the radar apparatus equipped with the radar apparatus, and a small ship equipped with the radar apparatus.

  In the mixer of the present invention, the midway of each of the two high-frequency transmission lines is close or joined so as to be electromagnetically coupled, and the respective high-frequency signals propagated through the two high-frequency transmission lines are mixed to obtain an intermediate frequency. A mixer for generating a signal, wherein each of the two high-frequency transmission lines includes a high-frequency detection element connected to one of the high-frequency transmission lines or one end of the high-frequency transmission line. A line length difference between one of the two high-frequency transmission lines from the high-frequency detection element to the midway and a line length from the other high-frequency detection element to the midway. When the phase difference between the high-frequency signal incident on the high-frequency detection element and the high-frequency signal incident on the other high-frequency detection element is δ, the phase difference δ is set to be δ = π / 2. And it is characterized in Rukoto.

  Further, the mixer of the present invention may be arranged so that the middle of each of the two dielectric lines arranged between the flat conductors arranged in parallel at intervals of half or less of the wavelength of the high frequency signal is electromagnetically coupled. Or a mixer that mixes each high frequency signal propagated through the two dielectric lines to generate an intermediate frequency signal, wherein each of the two dielectric lines is in the middle of the dielectric line A high-frequency wave that has a detection action on the high-frequency signal in the middle of a choke-type bias supply line that is inserted or installed at one end and is formed by alternately forming a wide line and a narrow line on a substrate. A high-frequency detection unit in which a detection element is connected via a connection conductor; a line length from one high-frequency detection unit to the middle of the two dielectric lines; and from the other high-frequency detection unit Halfway The phase difference δ when the phase difference between the high-frequency signal incident on the one high-frequency detection element and the high-frequency signal incident on the other high-frequency detection element is δ. Is set to satisfy δ = π / 2.

  A first high-frequency transmitter / receiver according to the present invention includes a high-frequency oscillator that generates a high-frequency signal, and the high-frequency signal connected to the high-frequency oscillator is branched and output to one output terminal as a transmission high-frequency signal. A branching device that outputs a local signal at the output terminal, and a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal around the magnetic body, and the adjacent high-frequency signal input from one terminal in this order A circulator in which the first terminal is connected to the one output terminal of the branching device, a transmission / reception antenna connected to the second terminal of the circulator, and the other of the branching device. The local signal output to the other output terminal connected between the output terminal of the circulator and the third terminal of the circulator is mixed with the high-frequency signal received by the transmitting / receiving antenna. It has and a mixer for outputting the intermediate frequency signal, said mixer is characterized in that it is one of the mixer of the present invention of the above structure.

  A second high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention includes a high-frequency oscillator that generates a high-frequency signal, and the high-frequency signal connected to the high-frequency oscillator is branched and output to one output terminal as a transmission high-frequency signal. A branching device that outputs a local signal to the output end, an isolator that has an input end connected to the one output end of the branching device and that outputs the high-frequency signal for transmission on the output end side, and the output end of the isolator A transmitting antenna for transmitting the transmission high-frequency signal, a receiving antenna connected to the other output end side of the branching device, and the receiving antenna and the other output end of the branching device. A mixer connected between the local signal output to the other output end and a high frequency signal received by the receiving antenna to output an intermediate frequency signal; Ri, the mixer is characterized in that it is one of the mixer of the present invention of the above structure.

  Further, the radar apparatus of the present invention processes either the first or second high frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention and the distance information to the 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.

  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 for detection of an object to be detected.

  According to the mixer of the present invention, the middle of each of the two high-frequency transmission lines is brought close together or joined so as to be electromagnetically coupled, and the respective high-frequency signals propagated through the two high-frequency transmission lines are mixed. A mixer for generating an intermediate frequency signal, wherein each of the two high-frequency transmission lines is connected to the middle or one end of the high-frequency transmission line and has a detection effect on the high-frequency signal. A line length from one high-frequency detector to the middle of the two high-frequency transmission lines, and a line length difference from the other high-frequency detector to the middle, The phase difference δ is set so that δ = π / 2, where δ is the phase difference between the high-frequency signal incident on one high-frequency detection element and the high-frequency signal incident on the other high-frequency detection element. Therefore, each high-frequency signal incident on the two high-frequency detection elements is mixed with a phase difference of exactly π / 2, so that the harmonics between the two high-frequency signals incident on the balanced mixer are mixed. Since the harmonic component as unnecessary noise can be suppressed by minimizing the wave component, the mixer can improve the reception sensitivity.

  Further, according to the mixer of the present invention, the two dielectric lines arranged between the flat conductors arranged in parallel at intervals of 1/2 or less of the wavelength of the high frequency signal are close to each other so as to be electromagnetically coupled. Or a mixer that mixes the high frequency signals propagated through the two dielectric lines to generate an intermediate frequency signal, wherein each of the two dielectric lines The high-frequency signal is detected in the middle of a choke-type bias supply line that is inserted in the middle or installed at one end and formed by alternately forming a wide line and a narrow line on the substrate. A high-frequency detection unit in which a certain high-frequency detection element is connected via a connection conductor; a line length from one high-frequency detection unit to the middle of the two dielectric lines; and the other high-frequency detection unit Before When the line length difference from the halfway line length is δ, the phase difference between the high-frequency signal incident on the one high-frequency detection element and the high-frequency signal incident on the other high-frequency detection element is a phase difference. Since δ is set to be δ = π / 2, each high-frequency signal incident on the two high-frequency detection elements is mixed with a phase difference of exactly π / 2. Since the harmonic component between the two high frequency signals incident on the type mixer can be minimized and the harmonic component as unnecessary noise can be suppressed, the mixer can improve the reception sensitivity.

  According to the first high-frequency transmitter / receiver 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 is branched and output to one output terminal as a high-frequency signal for transmission, A branching device that outputs a local signal at the other output terminal, and a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal around the magnetic body, and adjacent high-frequency signals input from one terminal in this order A circulator connected to the first terminal at the one output end of the branching device, a transmission / reception antenna connected to the second terminal of the circulator, The local signal connected between the other output end and the third terminal of the circulator and output to the other output end and the high-frequency signal received by the transmitting / receiving antenna A mixer that outputs an intermediate frequency signal, and since the mixer is one of the mixers according to the present invention having the above-described configurations, the reception performance of the mixer can be improved. It becomes a high frequency transmitter-receiver which can improve.

  According to the second high-frequency transmitter / receiver 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 is branched and output to one output terminal as a high-frequency signal for transmission, A branching device that outputs a local signal to the other output terminal, an isolator that has an input terminal connected to the one output terminal of the branching device, and that outputs the transmission high-frequency signal to the output terminal side, and the isolator of the isolator A transmission antenna connected to an output end for transmitting the high-frequency signal for transmission; a reception antenna connected to the other output end of the branching device; and the other output end of the receiving antenna and the branching device And a mixer that mixes a local signal output to the other output end and a high-frequency signal received by the receiving antenna and outputs an intermediate frequency signal. Since the mixer is a mixer according to any one of the above-described configurations of the present invention, the reception performance of the mixer can be improved even in a high-frequency transmitter / receiver that uses a separate antenna for transmission and reception. It becomes a high frequency transmitter-receiver which can improve performance.

  According to the radar apparatus of the present invention, either the first or second high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention, and the distance information to the detection object by processing the intermediate frequency signal output from the high-frequency transmitter / receiver. Since the reception performance of the high-frequency transmitter / receiver is high, it is possible to detect a detection object quickly and reliably, and also to detect a detection object at a short distance or a distant place. It becomes a radar device that can.

  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 object, the radar device can quickly and reliably detect other vehicles or obstacles. A vehicle equipped with a radar device that can detect an object and the like, for example, without causing the vehicle to take a sudden action to avoid them, and to perform appropriate control of the vehicle and appropriate warning to the driver It becomes.

  According to the small ship equipped with the radar apparatus of the present invention, since the radar apparatus of the present invention is provided and this radar apparatus is used for detection of the detection object, the other small ship where the radar apparatus is a detection object quickly and reliably. A radar that can detect obstacles and so on, for example, can appropriately control a small ship and give an appropriate warning to a driver without causing the small ship to take a sudden action to avoid them. It becomes a device-equipped small ship.

  Hereinafter, the mixer of the present invention, a high-frequency transmitter / receiver using the mixer, a radar device, a vehicle equipped with the radar device, and a small ship equipped with the radar device will be described in detail.

  First, a mixer using a non-radiative dielectric line as an example of an embodiment of the mixer of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows a first example and a second example of an embodiment of the mixer of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view of the first example, and (b) is a second example. It is a top view. FIG. 12 schematically shows an example of a conventional mixer. (A) is a plan view of an example for comparison with FIG. 1 (a), and (b) is a comparison with FIG. 1 (b). It is a top view of the example for doing. In the constituent elements of these examples, the configuration of the non-radiative dielectric line is the same as that shown in FIG. 9, and the configuration of the substrate of the high-frequency detection unit is the same as that shown in FIG. Further, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12, the flat conductor is omitted. FIGS. 2 and 3 are a schematic block circuit diagram and a plan view, respectively, showing an example of an embodiment of the first high-frequency transceiver of the present invention. FIGS. 4 and 5 are a schematic block circuit diagram and a plan view, respectively, showing an example of an embodiment of the second high-frequency transceiver according to the present invention. FIGS. 6 and 7 are block circuit diagrams schematically showing other examples of the first and second high-frequency transceivers according to the present invention, respectively. FIG. 8 is a block circuit diagram schematically showing an example of an embodiment of the radar apparatus of the present invention.

Both the first and second examples of the embodiment of the mixer of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are arranged in parallel at intervals equal to or less than half the wavelength of the high-frequency signal. The dielectric lines 1, 1 ′ or the dielectric lines are arranged close to each other or joined so as to be electromagnetically coupled to each other between the dielectric lines 1, 1 ′ and the dielectric lines 2, 2 ′ disposed between the flat conductors. 2 and 2 ′ are mixed with each other to generate an intermediate frequency signal. The dielectric lines 1, 1 ′ and the dielectric lines 2, 2 ′ are connected to the dielectric lines 1, 1 ′ and In the middle of a choke-type bias supply line 63 formed by alternately forming a wide line 63b and a narrow line 63a on a substrate 3, 3 'installed at one end of each of the dielectric lines 2, 2'. A high-frequency detection element that detects a high-frequency signal at an interrupted location. The SBD64 is through the connection conductor has a high-frequency detection unit connected. In the mixer according to the present invention, the high frequency detection element provided at one end of the dielectric line 1, 1 ′ from where the dielectric line 1, 1 ′ is electromagnetically coupled (P ₁₁ , P ₁₁ ′). The line length up to SBD 64 (P ₁₂ , P ₁₂ ′) and the dielectric lines 2, 2 ′ electromagnetically coupled to the dielectric lines 1, 1 ′ (P ₂₁ , The line length difference D from the line length from P ₂₁ ′) to the SBD 64 (P ₂₂ , P ₂₂ ′) provided at one end of the dielectric lines 2, 2 ′ is defined as SBD 64 (P ₁₂ , P ₁₂ ′). The phase difference δ is set to be δ = π / 2 where δ is the phase difference between the incident high frequency signal and the high frequency signal incident on the SBD 64 (P ₂₂ , P ₂₂ ′). .

In the first example shown in FIG. 1A, two dielectric lines 1 are provided in a normal configuration in which bends are provided in both of the two dielectric lines 1 and 2 and electromagnetically coupled at the bend portions. , 2 in the conventional mixer shown by the broken line in the figure with respect to the line length from the substrates 3 and 4 of the high-frequency detection part 2 to P ₁₁ and P ₂₂ where they are electromagnetically coupled in the middle. When the long line length difference D is δ, the phase difference between the high frequency signal incident on the SBD 64 (P ₁₂ , P ₁₂ ′) and the high frequency signal incident on the SBD 64 (P ₂₂ , P ₂₂ ′) The dielectric line 2 on the substrate 4 side is shortened from what was set so that δ is δ = π / 2, and the phase of the high-frequency signal propagating through the line length difference D to the dielectric line 1 is An example is shown in which it is set to be faster by 2π. In this case, the phase difference δ may be δ = π / 2 ± 2nπ (where n is a natural number).

Further, in the second example shown in FIG. 1B, the line length from the substrate 3 ′ of the high frequency detection unit to the middle P11 ′ of the dielectric line 1 ′ is shortened to P ₁₁ ′, _'the line length difference D between the line length up _{to, SBD64 (P 12, P 12} ' from the 'substrate 4 of the high-frequency detection unit of the' P ₂₁ where electromagnetically coupling middle dielectric waveguide 2 is incident on) the high-frequency When the phase difference between the signal and the high-frequency signal incident on the SBD 64 (P ₂₂ , P ₂₂ ′) is δ, the phase difference δ is set to be δ = π / 2. The phase of the high-frequency signal propagating through the dielectric line 1 ′ is set to be 2π earlier than that of the dielectric line 1 ′, and the middle part of the dielectric line 2 ′ that is electromagnetically coupled is linear. . In this case, the phase difference δ may be δ = π / 2 ± 2nπ (where n is a natural number).

In each of the above configurations, the dielectric lines 1, 1 ′, 2, 2 ′ are made of tetrafluoroethylene, polystyrene, cordierite (2MgO · 2Al ₂ O ₃ · 5SiO ₂ ) ceramics, glass ceramics, or the like. Substrates 3, 3 ′, 4, 4 ′ of the high-frequency detector are the same as the basic configuration shown in FIG. 11 and are made of tetrafluoroethylene, polystyrene, glass ceramics, glass epoxy resin, epoxy resin, etc. A choke-type bias supply line 63 made of a strip conductor such as aluminum (Al), gold (Au), copper (Cu) or the like is formed on the surface.

SBD 64 (P ₁₂ , P ₁₂ ′, P ₂₂ , P ₂₂ ′) is an electrode pad or the like in which a conductor bump is connected to one end of a choke-type bias supply line 63 on the substrates 3, 3 ′, 4, 4 ′, respectively. They are connected via a connecting conductor and are arranged so that a bias current flows in substantially the same direction as the electric field direction of the LSM mode electromagnetic wave of the high-frequency signal.

In these mixers according to the present invention, the high-frequency signals incident on the dielectric lines 1, 1 ', 2, 2' are respectively provided on one end of the dielectric lines 1, 1 ', 2, 2'. While being detected at (P ₁₂ , P ₁₂ ′, P ₂₂ , P ₂₂ ′), the detected outputs are mixed (mixed) and taken out from the output terminal as a mixer output P _MIX that is an intermediate frequency signal.

According to the mixer of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the SBD 64 provided at the ends of the dielectric lines 1 and 2 (dielectric lines 1 ′ and 2 ′) has the above configuration. When the high-frequency signals incident on (P ₁₂ , P ₁₂ ′, P ₂₂ , P ₂₂ ′) are electromagnetically coupled halfway, the phase is exactly π even if the phase changes at P ₂₁ , P ₂₁ ′. Since it is mixed by being input at / 2, the harmonic component between two high-frequency signals incident on the balanced mixer can be minimized, and the harmonic component as unnecessary noise can be suppressed. Can be improved.

  Further, according to the mixer of the present invention, when the phase difference δ is δ = π / 2 ± 2nπ (where n is a natural number), the harmonics between the two high-frequency signals incident on the balanced mixer are similarly obtained. Since the harmonic component as the unnecessary noise can be suppressed by minimizing the wave component, the relative arrangement of the adjacent SBDs 64 can be changed in the propagation direction of the high-frequency signal without changing the mixing characteristics. This increases the degree of freedom of arrangement of the constituent members. As a result, when one of the two adjacent sets of SBDs and bias circuits is arranged away from the other so that the two SBDs 64 or their bias circuits do not buffer, not only the horizontal direction in the figure but also the vertical direction Since the two SBDs 64 or the bias circuit thereof can be arranged so as not to be buffered, the arrangement can be devised so as to avoid useless space, and the necessary area as a whole can be reduced. This can be reduced, and further miniaturization can be achieved, and it is advantageous for miniaturization of an apparatus using this mixer. The example shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the case where n = 1. In this case, the size is not too large in the vertical direction in the figure, and the most efficient arrangement can be achieved, which is most advantageous for downsizing.

  Further, according to the mixer of the present invention, when at least one of the dielectric lines 1 and 2 (dielectric lines 1 ′ and 2 ′) has a straight middle portion, the dielectric lines 1 and 2 (dielectric material) Even if only one of the lines 1 ′ and 2 ′) is provided with a bend, the SBD 64 bias circuit of the two dielectric lines 1 and 2 (dielectric lines 1 ′ and 2 ′) is not buffered. When one of the two adjacent sets of SBD and bias circuit is retracted and arranged farther than the other, it can be arranged not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction in the figure. When arranging one SBD 64 or its bias circuit so as not to be buffered, an area necessary for arranging the constituent members can be reduced so that a useless space is not left and right, and further miniaturization can be achieved. I can do this Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously reduce the size of the apparatus using the mixer and the loss of the directional coupling portion.

  In the first and second examples of the embodiment of the mixer of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the dielectric lines 1, 1 ', 2, 2' are non-radiative dielectric. Although an example using a body line has been shown, as the dielectric lines 1, 1 ', 2, 2', strip lines, microstrip lines, coplanar lines, grounded coplanar lines, slot lines, coaxial lines, waveguides It can also be applied to other high-frequency transmission lines such as dielectric waveguides.

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

  An example of the first high-frequency transmitter / receiver according to the present invention shown in the block circuit diagram and the plan view in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, respectively, is connected to the high-frequency oscillator 11 that generates a high-frequency signal. The high-frequency signal is branched and output to one output end 12b as a transmission high-frequency signal RF and to the other output end 12c as a local signal LO, and around a ferrite plate 27 as a magnetic body. One output terminal of the branching device 12 has a first terminal 27a, a second terminal 27b, and a third terminal 27c, and outputs a high-frequency signal input from one terminal in this order from an adjacent next terminal. A circulator 14 having a first terminal 14a connected to 12b, a transmitting / receiving antenna 15 connected to a second terminal 14b of the circulator 14, the other output terminal 12c of the branching device 12, and a third terminal of the circulator 14 14c and A mixer 16 connected between the local signal LO output to the other output terminal 12c and the high-frequency signal received by the transmission / reception antenna 15 to output an intermediate-frequency signal. It is the structure made into the mixer of this invention of the example shown to Fig.1 (a).

  With this configuration, a high-frequency transceiver corresponding to an FMCW radar device can be obtained. Note that the first terminal 14a, the second terminal 14b, and the third terminal 14c shown in FIG. 2 correspond to the first terminal 27a, the second terminal 27b, and the third terminal 27c, respectively, in FIG. ing. In FIG. 3, the branching device 12 is configured at a position where the first dielectric line 22 and the third dielectric line 24 are close to each other so as to be electromagnetically coupled. A non-reflection terminator 24a is connected to the end of the third dielectric line 24 on the high frequency oscillator 11 side. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 21 denotes a lower flat conductor.

  Further, with respect to the above configuration, as shown in the block circuit diagram similar to FIG. 2 in FIG. 6, it is connected between one output terminal 12b of the branching device 12 and the first terminal 14a of the circulator 14. An FM pulse type radar apparatus including a modulator 13 that modulates a high-frequency signal output from one output terminal 12b of the branching device 12 and outputs the modulated high-frequency signal to the first terminal 14a of the circulator 14 as a transmission high-frequency signal RF. It is good also as a high frequency transmitter-receiver corresponding to.

  According to the first embodiment of the first high frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention shown in the block circuit diagram and the plan view in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, the mixer of the present invention is used because of the above configuration. Therefore, the reception performance of the mixer can be improved, so that it becomes a high-performance high-frequency transceiver capable of improving the reception performance.

  Note that the other example of the embodiment of the first high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention shown in FIG. 6 has the same effect as the example shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 6, a high-frequency signal output from one output terminal 12b of the branching device 12 connected between one output terminal 12b of the branching device 12 and the first terminal 14a of the circulator 14 is modulated. Thus, a modulator 13 for outputting to the first terminal 14a of the circulator 14 as a high-frequency signal for transmission is provided. In this case, the frequency modulation (FM modulation) transmission high-frequency signal RF is further pulse-modulated by the modulator 13, so that when the high-frequency transmitter / receiver is used as a radar device, detection is performed compared to the case of only FM modulation. Since the distance to the target portion and the speed of the detection target object can be obtained uniquely and accurately, there is an advantage that, for example, even if there are a plurality of detection target objects, each of them can be easily detected.

  Next, an example of the second high frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention shown in the block circuit diagram and the plan view in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, respectively, is a high frequency oscillator 11 for generating a high frequency signal, A branching device 12 that branches the connected high-frequency signal, outputs it as a transmission high-frequency signal RF to one output end 12b, and outputs it as a local signal LO to the other output end 12c, and one output of this branching device 12 An isolator 18 having an input end 18a connected to the end 12b and outputting a high frequency signal RF for transmission on the output end 18b side, and a transmitting antenna for transmitting a high frequency signal RF for transmission connected to the output end 18b of the isolator 18 19, the receiving antenna 20 connected to the other output terminal 12c side of the branching device 12, and the output to the other output terminal 12c connected between the receiving antenna 20 and the other output terminal 12c of the branching device 12 Local signal LO and reception Mixing the high frequency signal received by antenna 20 and provided with a mixer 16 which outputs an intermediate frequency signal, a mixer and the configuration of the present invention in the example shown the mixer 16 in FIG. 1 (b).

  With this configuration, a high-frequency transceiver corresponding to an FMCW radar device can be obtained. In FIG. 5, the branching device 12 is configured where the first dielectric line 32 and the fourth dielectric line 35 are brought close to each other so as to be electromagnetically coupled. The isolator 18 has a first terminal 37a, a second terminal 37b, and a third terminal 37c around a ferrite plate 37 serving as a magnetic body, and adjacent high-frequency signals input from one terminal in this order. The other end of the fifth dielectric line 36 having one end connected to the non-reflection terminator 36a is connected to the third terminal 37c of the circulator that outputs from the next terminal. The first terminal 37a and the second terminal 37b correspond to the input end 18a and the output end 18b of the isolator 18, respectively. A non-reflection terminator 35a is connected to the end of the fourth dielectric line 35 on the high frequency oscillator 11 side. In FIG. 5, 31 is a lower flat conductor.

  Further, with respect to the above configuration, a branching device connected between one output end 12b of the branching device 12 and an input end 18a of the isolator 18 as shown in a block circuit diagram similar to FIG. 4 in FIG. The high-frequency signal corresponding to the FM pulse type radar apparatus is provided with a modulator 13 that modulates a high-frequency signal output from one of the output terminals 12b and outputs it to the input terminal 18a of the isolator 18 as a transmission high-frequency signal RF. It may be a transceiver.

  According to the second embodiment of the second high frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention shown in the block circuit diagram and the plan view in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, respectively, because of the above configuration, the high frequency using the separate antenna for transmitting and receiving Also in the transceiver, the reception performance of the mixer can be improved by using the mixer of the present invention, so that it becomes a high-performance high-frequency transceiver capable of improving the reception performance.

  Note that the other example of the embodiment of the second high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 has the same function and effect as the example shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 7, a high frequency signal output from one output end 12b of the branching device 12 connected between one output end 12b of the branching device 12 and the input end 18a of the isolator 18 is modulated. It is assumed that a modulator 13 that outputs to the input terminal 18a of the isolator 18 as a transmission high-frequency signal RF is provided. In this case, the frequency modulation (FM modulation) transmission high-frequency signal RF is further pulse-modulated by the modulator 13, so that when the high-frequency transmitter / receiver is used as a radar device, detection is performed compared to the case of only FM modulation. Since the distance to the target portion and the speed of the detection target object can be obtained uniquely and accurately, there is an advantage that, for example, even if there are a plurality of detection target objects, each of them can be easily detected.

  In the first and second high-frequency transceivers of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a semiconductor integrated circuit element such as a CMOS that cuts off the intermediate frequency signal at an appropriate timing is provided at the output end of the mixer 16. A switch 17 comprising: In this case, the mixer output that contains noise and does not need to be received is cut off, so that the reception performance can be improved.

  Next, a radar apparatus according to the present invention, a vehicle equipped with the radar apparatus and a small ship equipped with the radar apparatus will be described.

  The radar apparatus of the present invention shown in a block circuit diagram in FIG. 8 includes either the first or second (first in this example) high-frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention and the intermediate signal output from the high-frequency transmitter / receiver. The distance information detector 100 detects the distance information to the detection target object by processing the frequency signal. Since the radar apparatus of the present invention has such a configuration, the reception performance of the high-frequency transmitter / receiver using the mixer 16 of the present invention is high, so that it is possible to detect a detection target quickly and reliably and at a distance. The radar apparatus can detect a detection object.

  Such a radar apparatus of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle or a small ship, detects other vehicles, small ships, or obstacles as detection objects, and avoids a collision with them. Can be used. If the radar apparatus of the present invention is used for such a purpose, the radar apparatus is less prone to erroneous detection, and other vehicles, small ships or obstacles can be detected quickly and reliably. Collision with them can be safely avoided without causing rapid behavior. In addition, because the transmission output of the high-frequency signal used for detection is stable, the transmission output can be increased within a range that does not exceed the predetermined maximum output, so the frequency used by the radar device while detecting stably It is possible to make it difficult to cause a communication failure or the like with respect to other communication in the vicinity using a frequency close to the.

  Vehicles that can be used with the radar device of the present invention are vehicles such as trains, trains, automobiles, vehicles for transporting passengers and cargo, bicycles, motorbikes, amusement park vehicles, golf courses, etc. There are carts. In addition, as a small vessel that can be used with the radar device of the present invention mounted, a rowing boat that can be operated without a license or license of a small vessel and has a gross tonnage of less than 20 tons , Dinghy, water motorcycle, small bass boat with outboard motor, inflatable boat (rubber boat) with outboard motor, fishing boat, recreational fishing boat, work boat, houseboat, towing boat, sports boat, fishing boat, yacht, ocean yacht, There are cruisers or pleasure boats with a gross tonnage of 20 tons or more.

  Thus, according to the mixer of the present invention, it is possible to provide a high-performance mixer capable of improving the mixer output, reducing the size, and increasing the degree of freedom of the layout of the components. .

  Moreover, according to the high frequency transmitter / receiver of the present invention using such a mixer of the present invention, it is possible to provide a high performance high frequency transmitter / receiver capable of improving the reception performance by improving the mixer output.

  Furthermore, it is possible to provide a radar apparatus including the high-performance high-frequency transmitter / receiver, a radar apparatus-equipped vehicle including the radar apparatus, and a radar apparatus-equipped small ship.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, the substrates 3, 3 ', 4, 4' may be made of an elastic material. In that case, the substrates 3, 3 ', 4, 4' can be fixed so that an appropriate pressure is applied to one end of the dielectric lines 1, 1 'or the dielectric lines 2, 2'. It can be made stable.

  At that time, the board 3, 3 ', 4, 4' is provided with a pin for insertion into the main surface of the parallel plate conductor whose side faces are in contact with each other, and the board 3, 3 ', 4, 4' is mounted. It may be. In this case, the substrates 3, 3 ', 4, 4' can be easily and securely fixed to the parallel plate conductors by simply inserting pins into holes formed at corresponding positions on the main surface of the flat plate conductors. Thus, the mountability of the substrates 3, 3 ′, 4, 4 ′ is improved.

The 1st and 2nd example of embodiment of the mixer of this invention is shown typically, (a) is a top view of a 1st example, (b) is a top view of a 2nd example. is there. It is a typical block circuit diagram which shows an example of embodiment of the 1st high frequency transmitter-receiver of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the high frequency transceiver shown in FIG. 2. It is a typical block circuit diagram which shows an example of embodiment of the 2nd high frequency transmitter-receiver of this invention. It is a typical top view of the high frequency transmitter-receiver shown in FIG. It is a typical block circuit diagram which shows the other example of embodiment of the 1st high frequency transmitter-receiver of this invention. It is a typical block circuit diagram which shows the other example of embodiment of the 2nd high frequency transmitter-receiver of this invention. It is a typical block circuit diagram which shows an example of embodiment of the radar apparatus of this invention. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows the basic composition of a non-radioactive dielectric track | line. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional mixer using an NRD guide, (a) is a top view, (b) is a perspective view of the B section of (a) which shows the high frequency detection part which is a component of a mixer. It is a top view which shows the basic composition of the wiring board which comprises a mixer. An example of a conventional mixer is schematically shown. (A) is a plan view of an example for comparison with FIG. 1 (a), and (b) is an example for comparison with FIG. 1 (b). It is a top view.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1 ', 2, 2': Dielectric line 3, 3 ', 4, 4': Substrate
11: High frequency oscillator
12: Turnout
12a: Input terminal
12b: One output terminal
12c: The other output terminal
13: Modulator
14: Circulator
14a: First terminal
14b: Second terminal
14c: Third terminal
15: Transmit / receive antenna
16: Mixer
17: Switch
18: Isolator
18a: Input terminal
18b: Output terminal
19: Transmitting antenna
20: Receive antenna
21, 31: Flat conductor (lower side)
22, 32: First dielectric line
23, 33: Second dielectric line
24, 34: Third dielectric line
24a: Non-reflective terminator
25, 35: Fourth dielectric line
35a: Non-reflective terminator
36: Fifth dielectric line
36a: Non-reflective terminator
27, 37: Ferrite plate
63: Choke-type bias supply line
63a: Narrow track
63b: Wide track
64 (P ₁₂ , P ₁₂ ′, P ₂₂ , P ₂₂ ′): Schottky barrier diode (SBD)
P ₁₁ , P ₁₁ ′, P ₂₁ , P ₂₁ ′: In the middle of electromagnetic coupling

Claims (7)

A mixer that generates an intermediate frequency signal by mixing or joining each of the two high-frequency transmission lines so as to be electromagnetically coupled, and mixing the high-frequency signals propagated through the two high-frequency transmission lines. Each of the two high-frequency transmission lines includes a high-frequency detection element that detects a high-frequency signal and is connected to the middle or one end of the high-frequency transmission line. The difference in line length between the line length from one high-frequency detection element to the middle of one of the high-frequency transmission lines and the line length from the other high-frequency detection element to the middle is incident on the one high-frequency detection element. The phase difference δ is set to be δ = π / 2, where δ is the phase difference between the high-frequency signal to be transmitted and the high-frequency signal incident on the other high-frequency detection element. Kisa. The two dielectric lines are placed close to each other or joined so as to be electromagnetically coupled to each other between the two dielectric lines arranged between the flat conductors arranged in parallel at intervals of half or less of the wavelength of the high frequency signal. A mixer that mixes each high-frequency signal that has propagated through a body line to generate an intermediate frequency signal, wherein each of the two dielectric lines is inserted in the middle of the dielectric line or installed at one end In the middle of the choke-type bias supply line formed by alternately forming a wide line and a narrow line on the substrate, a high-frequency detection element having a detection action for the high-frequency signal is connected to a connecting conductor. A line length between one of the two dielectric lines from the high-frequency detection unit to the midway and a line length from the other high-frequency detection unit to the midway Long difference The phase difference δ is set to be δ = π / 2, where δ is the phase difference between the high-frequency signal incident on the one high-frequency detection element and the high-frequency signal incident on the other high-frequency detection element. A mixer characterized by that. A high-frequency oscillator that generates a high-frequency signal, and a branching device connected to the high-frequency oscillator, branching the high-frequency signal and outputting it as a high-frequency signal for transmission to one output terminal, and outputting it as a local signal to the other output terminal; The branching device has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal around the magnetic body, and outputs a high-frequency signal input from one terminal in this order from an adjacent next terminal. A circulator having the first terminal connected to one output end; a transmission / reception antenna connected to the second terminal of the circulator; the other output end of the branching device; and the third output of the circulator. A mixer that is connected to a terminal and that mixes the local signal output to the other output end and the high-frequency signal received by the transmission / reception antenna to output an intermediate frequency signal; Bei to have, a high-frequency transceiver, wherein the mixer is a mixer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4. A high-frequency oscillator that generates a high-frequency signal, and a branching device connected to the high-frequency oscillator, branching the high-frequency signal and outputting it as a high-frequency signal for transmission to one output terminal, and outputting it as a local signal to the other output terminal; An isolator having an input end connected to the one output end of the branching device and outputting the high frequency signal for transmission on the output end side; and a high frequency signal for transmission connected to the output end of the isolator. A transmitting antenna for transmitting, a receiving antenna connected to the other output end of the branching device, and the other output end connected between the receiving antenna and the other output end of the branching device And a mixer for mixing the high frequency signal received by the receiving antenna and outputting an intermediate frequency signal, wherein the mixer is claimed in claims 1 to 4. RF transceiver which is a mixer of any one. A high-frequency transmitter / receiver according to claim 3 or 4, 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 characteristic radar device. A radar device-equipped vehicle comprising the radar device according to claim 5, wherein the radar device is used for detection of an object to be detected. 6. A small ship equipped with a radar apparatus, comprising the radar apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the radar apparatus is used for detection of an object to be detected.

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