JP2009182580A - Antenna device, monitoring device, manufacturing method of antenna device, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein, in order to detect objects located in a plurality of different detection regions by a conventional antenna device, a plurality of antennas having different radiation-reception patterns must be prepared and changed over according to an application, a plurality of antenna devices of the same type must be arranged and combined with one another, or the phases of the antennas of an array structure must be changed, thereby size is increased, and cost is increased because a processing time and control are complicated. <P>SOLUTION: This antenna device is provided with an array antenna 10 composed by arranging two array antenna elements 11 and 12 each composed by arranging a plurality of flat antenna elements 15 in a line in the same plane line-symmetrically in two lines in the same plane. By making the values of power supplied to the two-line array antenna elements 11 and 12 different from each other, targeted radiation and reception pattern of radio waves can be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an antenna device that radiates or receives radio waves, a monitoring device that uses the antenna device, a method for manufacturing the antenna device, and the like. For example, the present invention relates to a surrounding monitoring device that detects an object such as an object or a human body, an antenna device used for the surrounding monitoring device, and the like.

  Recently, in order to prevent automobile collisions, many automobiles are equipped with a monitoring device that detects other vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, guardrails, side walls and other obstacles around the vehicle and informs the driver. It has come to be.

  The monitoring device may be required to detect objects in the same direction in which the monitoring is performed and in a plurality of different areas. For example, in a monitoring device that monitors the front of an automobile, the relative speed with an oncoming vehicle increases during traveling, so detection of an object in a far field is required even if the width is narrow. In order to avoid collisions with surrounding obstacles, it is required to detect objects in a wide range even at a short distance.

  In order to be able to detect any object in a plurality of different areas as described above, conventionally, the radio wave radiation / reception pattern of the antenna device has been changed for each area to be detected.

  In order to change the radiation / reception pattern of the radio wave of the antenna device, there is a technique in which a plurality of antennas having different radiation / reception patterns are prepared and switched according to the application (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In FIG. 11, the schematic block diagram of the periphery monitoring apparatus for vehicles currently disclosed by the patent document 1 is shown.

  This perimeter monitoring apparatus includes a long-range radar 103 that detects an object far in front of the vehicle 102 and a short-range radar 105 that detects an object in a short angular range and a wider angle range than the beam of the long-range radar 103. And 106 are provided.

  The angle of the beam radiated from the antenna of the long-range radar 103 is narrow, for example, it extends to a range of a width of about several meters at several tens of meters, and a range within the first detection region 104 up to 100 meters or more is searched. Can be targeted.

  On the other hand, the range of the beam combined by the antenna of the short-range radar 105 and the antenna of the short-range radar 106 extends over a short angular range in front of the vehicle 102, and the range in the second detection area 107 is searched. It can be.

  The long-range radar 103 can detect a distant object that cannot be detected by the short-range radars 105 and 106, but cannot detect an object such as immediately before the host vehicle 102. The short-range radars 105 and 106 can detect a wide range of objects in the lateral direction including the diagonally front of the vehicle 102.

  The selection unit 108 selects driving of the long-range radar 103 and the short-range radars 105 and 106 based on the traveling environment and traveling state of the host vehicle 102. For example, when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed, the selection is made such that only the long-range radar 103 is driven without driving the short-range radars 105 and 106. Since the unselected radar apparatus is not driven, the power consumption can be reduced by controlling in this way.

  The perimeter monitoring device described in FIG. 11 above uses a plurality of antennas with different radiation / reception patterns to change the radiation / reception pattern of the radio waves of the antenna device. Some use the synthesized wave to change the radiation / reception pattern.

  In addition, there is an antenna that changes an emission / reception pattern by using an antenna having an array structure and changing a phase of each antenna by a phase shifter connected to each antenna and combining them.

  On the other hand, ERBA (Extended Range Backing Aid Systems) has been proposed by the United States as a standard for vehicle retreat, and a standard called MALSO (Maneuvering Aids for Low Speed Operation) has been established.

  FIG. 12A shows a detection area range defined by ERBA, and FIG. 12B shows a detection area range defined by MALSO.

  ERBA is a standard that assumes safety confirmation when going back to the roadway from a slightly larger site that can be seen often in the United States, etc., and as shown in FIG. It is defined that an object in the detection area 110 can be detected.

  MALSO is a standard for collision warnings when reversing at low speed, assuming garage entry, etc., as shown in FIG. MALSO front detection area 111 in a range extending 30 degrees with respect to the direction, and a MALSO rear detection area 112 in a range extending up to 1.0 m behind the vehicle 102 and 30 degrees from the rear corner of the vehicle 102 with respect to the traveling direction. It is stipulated that an object in each area can be detected.

  In addition, the ERBA and MALSO standards require that objects within these defined areas can be detected and objects outside these areas are not detected.

Therefore, when a monitoring device that can detect objects in both the ERBA detection area 110 and the MALSO rear detection area 112 is installed at the rear of the vehicle 102, only the objects in two different detection areas are detected. As described above, as described above, a plurality of antennas having different radiation / reception patterns are used, a plurality of one type of antenna device is arranged and a combined wave thereof is used, or an antenna having an array structure is used. It is necessary to change the radiation / reception pattern of the antenna device for each detection area by changing the phase of the antenna.
JP 2005-165752 A

  However, a configuration in which a plurality of antennas having different radio wave radiation / reception patterns are prepared and switched according to the application, a configuration in which a plurality of types of antenna devices are arranged and their combined waves are used, and a configuration in which the phase of an antenna having an array structure is changed However, in any of the conventional antenna devices, there is a problem that the size is increased, the processing time and control are complicated, and the cost is increased.

  In consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention has a radio wave radiation or reception pattern shape capable of detecting an object in a detection area having a required shape and size, and is small and inexpensive with a simple structure. An object is to provide an antenna device, a monitoring device, a method for manufacturing the antenna device, and the like that can be realized.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the first aspect of the present invention provides:
Two array antenna elements configured by arranging one or more planar antenna elements in a line in the same plane, and an array antenna configured by being substantially symmetrically arranged in two lines in the same plane,
In the antenna device, power supplied to at least two planar antenna elements facing each other is different between the two rows of array antenna elements.

The second aspect of the present invention provides
The array antenna element is composed of a plurality of the planar antenna elements,
In the antenna device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the power supplied to the planar antenna element constituting at least one of the two array antenna elements is the same.

The third aspect of the present invention
The array antenna element is composed of a plurality of the planar antenna elements,
In the antenna device according to the first aspect of the present invention, different electric powers are supplied to each of the planar antenna elements constituting at least one of the two array antenna elements.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is
It is divided into two branches in the middle, and each of the branched ends is provided with one power supply line that is further divided into a plurality of branches,
The two-row array antenna elements are connected to the one feeding line by connecting the plurality of branched antenna elements to the planar antenna elements.
In each of the two rows of array antenna elements, the power supplied to the plurality of planar antenna elements constituting the array antenna element is the same,
In the antenna device according to the second aspect of the present invention, an attenuator is provided on one side of the feeder line branched into two branches.

The fifth aspect of the present invention provides
It is divided into two branches in the middle, and each of the branched ends is provided with one power supply line that is further divided into a plurality of branches,
The two-row array antenna elements are connected to the one feeding line by connecting the plurality of branched antenna elements to the planar antenna elements.
In each of the two rows of array antenna elements, the power supplied to the plurality of planar antenna elements constituting the array antenna element is the same,
A switch for turning on and off the power supply to the array antenna element connected to the one side is provided on one side of the power supply line branched into two branches,
In the antenna device according to the second aspect of the present invention, attenuation of power on the one side is realized when the switch is on.

The sixth aspect of the present invention provides
When the switch is turned off, the terminal on the power supply side of the switch is the antenna device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, which is connected to an additional circuit for impedance matching.

The seventh aspect of the present invention
A predetermined target radiation pattern shape is formed by adjusting a use frequency, a distance between the array antenna elements of the two rows, and a ratio of power supplied to each of the array antenna elements of the two rows. 1 is an antenna device of the present invention.

In addition, the eighth aspect of the present invention
The array antenna element is the antenna device according to the first aspect of the present invention, which is formed on a flat substrate.

The ninth aspect of the present invention provides
The planar antenna element is an antenna device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, which is a patch antenna.

The tenth aspect of the present invention is
An antenna device having a radiation pattern area having a shape and a size that are combined with two radiation pattern areas having a shape and size necessary for detecting each detection area of two standards,
The antenna device is configured by arranging two array antenna elements in which one or more planar antenna elements are arranged in a line in the same plane, and being substantially symmetrical in two lines in the same plane. With an array antenna,
The power supplied to at least two planar antenna elements facing each other is different between the two rows of array antenna elements,
The two rows of array antenna elements have the same power supplied to the planar antenna elements constituting the array antenna elements,
By adjusting the frequency used, the spacing between the two rows of array antenna elements, the ratio of the power supplied to each of the two rows of array antenna elements, and the power value thereof, the radiation pattern of the synthesized shape and size An antenna device in which the area is realized.

The eleventh aspect of the present invention is
An antenna device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention as a transmitting antenna;
A receiving unit having the antenna device of the tenth aspect of the present invention as a receiving antenna for receiving a radio wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna and reflected by an object;
The monitoring apparatus includes a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of an object according to the intensity of the radio wave received by the reception antenna.

The twelfth aspect of the present invention is
The monitoring device is installed at the rear of the vehicle,
The detection areas of the two standards are the monitoring apparatus according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, which is a detection area defined by ERBA and a detection area defined on the vehicle rear side of MALSO.

The thirteenth aspect of the present invention is
There are two array antenna elements configured by arranging one or more planar antenna elements in a line in the same plane, and an array antenna configured by being substantially symmetrical in two lines in the same plane. A method of manufacturing an antenna device for generating a predetermined target radiation pattern shape, wherein power supplied to at least two planar antenna elements facing each other is different between the two rows of array antenna elements,
The method of manufacturing an antenna device having the target radiation pattern shape by adjusting a use frequency, a distance between the array antenna elements of the two rows, and a ratio of power supplied to each of the array antenna elements of the two rows. .

The fourteenth aspect of the present invention is
The area of the target radiation pattern shape is a combination of a radiation pattern area for detecting a detection area defined by ERBA and a radiation pattern area for detecting a detection area defined on the rear side of the MALSO vehicle. It is a manufacturing method of the antenna device of the 13th present invention which is a pattern field.

The fifteenth aspect of the present invention provides
It is a program for causing a computer to function as the determination unit that determines the presence or absence of an object according to the intensity of the radio wave received by the reception antenna in the monitoring device of the eleventh aspect of the present invention.

The 16th aspect of the present invention is
A recording medium on which a program according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention is recorded, and is a recording medium that can be processed by a computer.

  According to the present invention, an antenna device, a monitoring device, which has a radio wave radiation or reception pattern shape capable of detecting an object within a detection region of a required shape and size, and can be realized at low cost with a small and simple structure, In addition, a method for manufacturing an antenna device and the like can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of an antenna apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The antenna apparatus according to the first embodiment includes an array antenna 10 composed of array antenna elements 11 and 12 arranged in two rows on the same plane, a feed line 14 for supplying power to the array antenna 10, and a feed line. 14 is provided with an attenuator 13 inserted on top of 14.

  The array antenna elements 11 and 12 have the same configuration, and are each configured by a plurality of patch antennas 15 arranged in a row on the same substrate.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a plurality of patch antennas 15 constituting the array antenna 10 of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a top view of a plurality of patch antennas 15 formed on the same substrate. Here, each of the array antenna elements 11 and 12 has a configuration in which four square patch antennas 15 are arranged in a line at equal intervals.

  The patch antenna element 15 corresponds to an example of the planar antenna element of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, one feed line 14 is bifurcated, and further branched at the tip portions of the bifurcated bifurcation. The branched most advanced portions are array antenna elements 11 and 12. Are connected to each patch antenna 15. Electric power is supplied to each patch antenna 15 from the vicinity of the center where the most advanced portion of the feeder 14 is connected.

  In this configuration, when the attenuator 13 is not inserted into the feeder line 14, the same power is supplied to the array antenna elements 11 and 12. In the first embodiment, however, the array antenna element 12 is fed. Since the attenuator 13 is inserted on the line, the power supplied to the array antenna element 12 is lower than the power supplied to the array antenna element 11 by the amount of insertion loss due to the attenuator 13.

  When the attenuation amount of the attenuator 13 is changed, the ratio of the power values supplied to the array antenna elements 11 and 12 changes. That is, when the attenuation amount of the attenuator 13 is increased, the power value supplied to the array antenna element 12 becomes smaller than the power value supplied to the array antenna element 11.

  As the ratio of the power values supplied to the array antenna elements 11 and 12 changes, the shape of the radiation / reception pattern formed by the array antenna 10 also changes.

  The fact that the change in the ratio of the power values supplied to the array antenna elements 11 and 12 affects the shape of the radiation / reception pattern formed by the array antenna 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS. .

  FIG. 3 shows that the array antenna 10 is formed by changing the distance between the patch antennas 15 constituting the array antenna elements 11 and 12 and the ratio of the power value supplied to the array antenna elements 11 and 12 by simulation. The radiation / reception pattern is shown.

  In each of the array antenna elements 11 and 12 having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 in which four patch antennas 15 are arranged in a line at equal intervals, each center of the patch antenna 15 constituting each array antenna element 11 and 12 is arranged. And the distance between the centers of the patch antennas 15 constituting the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 (element distance dx), and the array antenna elements 11 and 12. FIG. 3 shows each radiation / reception pattern formed by the array antenna 10 when the ratio of the power values is changed.

  When element spacing dx = element spacing dy, and when these element spacings are 3 mm, 9.3 mm, and 12 mm, the attenuator 13 is not inserted (power supply value to array antenna element 11: array antenna element 12 Supply power value (hereinafter referred to as “supply power ratio”) = 1: 1), and attenuation amount of the attenuator 13 is 1.25 dB, 3 dB, 6 dB (supply power ratio = “1: 0.75”, “ 1: 0.5 ”,“ 1: 0.25 ”), the respective radiation / reception patterns are shown.

  Since 26 GHz was used as the operating frequency, the element spacings set here were 3 mm, 9.3 mm, and 12 mm, which are distances corresponding to 0.26 times, 0.81 times, and 1.04 times the wavelength λ, respectively. It is.

  FIG. 3 shows that the shape of the radiation / reception pattern formed by the array antenna 10 varies depending on the element spacing between the patch antennas 15. When the element spacing is set to 9.3 mm and 12 mm, the radiation / reception pattern formed by the array antenna 10 is changed in accordance with the change in the power supply ratio to the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12. It can be seen that the shape changes.

  That is, the shape of the radiation / reception pattern formed by the array antenna 10 can be changed by changing the distance between the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 and the attenuation amount of the attenuator 13.

  The monitoring device for monitoring the rear of the automobile has a detection area that includes both the ERBA detection area 110 and the MALSO rear detection area 112 shown in FIG. 12 and does not detect an object outside that area. If there is an antenna having a radiation / reception pattern, a single antenna can correspond to the detection areas of these two standards without installing and switching a plurality of antennas.

  FIG. 4 shows the range of the area obtained by combining the ERBA detection area 110 shown in FIG. 12A and the MALSO rear detection area 112 shown in FIG.

  If an object within the combined detection range 40 indicated by a bold line in FIG. 4 can be detected, both the object in the ERBA detection area 110 and the object in the MALSO rear detection area 112 can be detected. When the shape of the composite detection range 40 is compared with the shape of each radiation / reception pattern shown in FIG. 3, the radiation / reception pattern when the element spacing is 9.3 mm and the supply power ratio is 1: 0.5. It can be seen that the shape includes the shape of the composite detection range 40 and does not include the other ranges more than necessary.

  On the other hand, when the power value supplied to the antenna is changed, the reachable distance to the object to be detected changes, but the shape of the radiation / reception pattern of the antenna does not change. Therefore, in the array antenna 10 having the configuration as shown in FIG. 2, the element spacing is 9.3 mm, and the supply power value is maintained while maintaining the supply power ratio to the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 at 1: 0.5. By adjusting, it can be set as the detection area | region which includes the synthetic | combination detection range 40 and does not include the other range more than necessary.

  That is, in the array antenna 10 having the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the shape of the radiation / reception pattern formed when the element spacing is 9.3 mm and the supply power ratio is 1: 0.5 is the ERBA detection region 110. It can be said that this is an ideal radiation / reception pattern shape for detecting an object in both detection areas of the MALSO rear detection area 112.

  Thus, by setting the supply power ratio to 1: 0.5 and the element spacing to about 0.8 times (9.3 mm) of the operating frequency (26 GHz), the ERBA detection area 110 and the MALSO rear detection area 112 It is possible to obtain an ideal radiation / reception pattern shape for detecting an object in both detection areas.

  The ERBA detection area 110 and the MALSO rear detection area 112 correspond to an example of the detection areas of the two standards of the present invention. The shape of the radiation / reception pattern formed when the element spacing is 9.3 mm and the supply power ratio is 1: 0.5 shown in FIG. 3 is an example of the predetermined radiation pattern shape of the present invention. It hits. Moreover, the shape of the synthetic | combination detection range 40 shown in FIG. 4 is an example of the predetermined target radiation pattern shape of this invention.

  Therefore, in the array antenna 10 shown in FIG. 1, an attenuator having an attenuation of 3 dB is used as the attenuator 13 in order to set the power supply ratio to the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 to 1: 0.5. By configuring the distance between the centers of the patch antennas 15 of the antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 to be 9.3 mm, the antenna device satisfies both the ERBA detection area 110 and the MALSO rear detection area 112 standards. be able to.

  In this way, the standards of both the ERBA detection area 110 and the MALSO rear detection area 112 can be satisfied with a simple configuration that does not require switching control and the like, and thus a small and inexpensive antenna device can be realized.

  Therefore, by using the antenna device of the first embodiment, a monitoring device that satisfies both the ERBA and MALSO standards can be realized in a small size and at a low cost.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the power supplied to each patch antenna 15 constituting the array antenna element 11 is the same, and the power supplied to each patch antenna 15 constituting the array antenna element 12 is the same. However, the power value supplied to each patch antenna 15 in the same array antenna element may be different as long as the power value supplied to the opposing patch antenna 15 is different in each array antenna element.

  FIG. 5 shows an overall configuration diagram of an antenna device having another configuration according to the first embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is used for the same component as FIG.

  In the antenna device shown in FIG. 1, the attenuator 13 is inserted in the portion before the feed line 14 branches at the tip, whereas in the antenna device shown in FIG. 5, after the feed line 14 branches at the tip. The difference is that the attenuators 22 to 25 are inserted on the power supply line to which the power for each patch antenna 15 of the array antenna element 21 is supplied.

  Although the power value supplied between the patch antennas constituting the array antenna element 21 differs depending on the attenuation amount of the attenuators 22 to 25, an attenuator is inserted into any patch antenna 15 of the array antenna element 21. Therefore, electric power smaller than the electric power value supplied to the patch antenna 15 of the array antenna element 11 facing each other is supplied.

  Therefore, in the array antenna 20, smaller power is supplied to the array antenna element 21 than is supplied to the array antenna element 11.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, since the power value supplied to each patch antenna 15 constituting the array antenna element 21 can be changed and set, the attenuation shown in FIG. More types of radiation / reception patterns than the configuration can be formed.

  If the power supplied to each patch antenna 15 constituting the array antenna element 21 is smaller than the power supplied to the patch antenna 15 constituting the array antenna element 11 facing the patch antenna 15, the array antenna element The electric power supplied to each patch antenna 15 constituting 11 may not be the same.

  Further, in FIG. 5, for each patch antenna 15 constituting the array antenna element 21, the attenuators 22 to 25 are provided on all the supply lines 14 to which the respective power is supplied, but the array antenna element 21 is configured. The attenuator may be provided only on the supply line 14 supplied to some of the patch antennas 15. For example, in the configuration of the antenna device of FIG. 5, only the attenuator 22 may be left and the attenuators 23 to 25 may be deleted. In this case, the power supplied to the one set of patch antennas 15 out of the four sets of patch antennas 15 constituting the array antenna elements 11 and 12 is different, and the remaining three sets of patches facing each other. The same power is supplied to the antenna 15. As described above, it is only necessary that the power supplied to at least one set of patch antennas 15 among the plurality of sets of patch antennas 15 that constitute the two array antenna elements 11 and 21 is different.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 are configured as a plurality of patch antennas 15 arranged in two parallel rows as shown in FIG. Even if it is not a structure, the two array antenna elements should just be arrange | positioned substantially line symmetrically.

  In the present specification, “substantially line symmetric” is not limited to the case where the two array antenna elements are arranged in a strictly line symmetrical manner, but in a case where it is arranged to the extent that it can be said to be “axisymmetric” in a common sense. Is also included. That is, the two array antenna elements may be arranged so as to be substantially line symmetrical.

  FIGS. 6A and 6B are top views of other configuration examples of the two array antenna elements. Each of them is composed of a plurality of square patch antennas 15 as in FIG. 2, but their arrangement is different from that in FIG.

  In each of the two array antenna elements 26 and the array antenna elements 27 shown in FIG. 6A, the plurality of patch antennas 15 are not arranged in a straight line but are arranged in a zigzag manner. Even if it is configured by such an arrangement of the patch antennas 15, it is sufficient that the two array antenna elements 26 and the array antenna elements 27 are arranged so as to be substantially line symmetrical as shown in FIG. .

  The two array antenna elements 28 and the array antenna elements 29 shown in FIG. 6B are arranged so that the plurality of patch antennas 15 are sequentially shifted. Even if it is configured with such an arrangement of the patch antennas 15, it is sufficient that the two array antenna elements 28 and the array antenna elements 29 are arranged so as to be substantially line-symmetric as shown in FIG. 6B. The two array antenna elements may not be arranged in parallel.

  In the first embodiment, each array antenna element 11 and 12 has been described as an example of four patch antennas 15. However, the number of patch antennas 15 constituting each array antenna element 11 and 12 is as follows. As long as the numbers constituting the array antenna elements 11 and 12 are equal, the number may be one or more. As the number of patch antennas 15 constituting each array antenna element 11 and 12 increases, the angle of the tip of the projected portion of the formed radiation / reception pattern tends to decrease.

  In the first embodiment, each array antenna element 11 and 12 has been described as being configured by a plurality of square patch antennas 15. However, the array antenna elements 11 and 12 are configured by a plurality of patch antennas having a shape other than a square shape. Also good. Moreover, you may be comprised with several planar antennas other than a patch antenna.

  In the first embodiment, the plurality of patch antennas 15 constituting each of the array antenna elements 11 and 12 are formed on one substrate. However, the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 are arranged. Are arranged so as to be substantially line symmetric on the same plane, the patch antenna 15 constituting the array antenna element 11 and the patch antenna 15 constituting the array antenna element 12 are formed on different substrates. It may be.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 shows an overall configuration diagram of the antenna device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is used for the same component as FIG. Description of the same components as those in FIG. 1 is omitted.

  In the antenna device according to the second embodiment, a switch unit 16 is inserted on a feeder 14 that supplies power to the array antenna element 12 instead of the attenuator 13 of the antenna device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. It is characterized by this.

  When the switch unit 16 is turned ON, the power supplied to the array antenna element 12 is lower than the power supplied to the array antenna element 11 due to transmission loss of the switch unit 16 itself, and is the same as in the first embodiment. The shape of the radiation / reception pattern of the radio wave formed by the array antenna 10 is different from the case where the ratio of the power supplied to the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 is 1: 1.

  For example, the array antenna elements 11 and 12 are configured as shown in FIG. 2, the distance between the centers of the patch antennas 15 between the array antenna elements 11 and 12 is 9.3 mm, the operating frequency is 26 GHz, and the switch unit When a switch with an insertion loss of 3 dB is used as 16, when the switch unit 16 is turned on, the array antenna 10 causes the element spacing = 9.3 mm and the supply power ratio = 1: 0.5 shown in FIG. The radiation / reception pattern is formed.

  When the switch unit 16 is turned off, the array antenna element 12 is separated from the feeder line 14, so that the radiation / reception pattern formed by the array antenna 10 is switched to the shape of the characteristic pattern of the array antenna element 11 only.

  The shape of the radiation / reception pattern having the characteristics of only the array antenna element 11 is a shape approximate to a circle as in the case of dx = 3 mm in FIG.

  By using the antenna device of the second embodiment for a monitoring device for the rear part of the vehicle, for example, normally, the switch unit 16 is turned on to detect a detection region defined by ERBA and MALSO. When detecting objects outside these detection areas, the switch unit 16 can be turned off and detected.

  FIG. 8 shows an overall configuration diagram of an antenna device having another configuration of the second embodiment.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is used for the same component as FIG. Description of the same components as those in FIG. 1 is omitted.

  The antenna device shown in FIG. 8 uses a three-terminal switch unit 17 instead of the switch unit 16 of the antenna device shown in FIG. 7, and an additional circuit unit 18 is added between the terminal C of the switch unit 17 and GND. It is a thing. The additional circuit unit 18 is configured with 50Ω.

  In FIG. 8, L1 indicates the length of the feed line from the branch point A to the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 to the terminal B of the switch unit 5 in the feed line 14, and L2 indicates the switch unit. 17 indicates the length between the internal terminal B and the terminal C, and L3 indicates the length of the power supply line from the terminal C to the GND of the switch unit 17.

  When the internal terminal B and the terminal C of the switch unit 17 are connected, the power supplied from the feeder 14 to the array antenna element 12 flows to the additional circuit unit 18 through the internal terminal B and the terminal C of the switch unit 17 and impedance matching. Can take.

  Alternatively, the resistance 50Ω of the additional circuit unit 18 is removed, and the total length of the feed lines L1, L2, and L3 is set to (n * λ) / 4 (n is the wavelength λ of the signal supplied to the array antenna element 12). The odd number) makes it possible to make the impedance of the array antenna element 12 viewed from the branch point A of the feeder 14 infinite, and when the switch unit 17 separates the array antenna element 12, the impedance is adversely affected. The array antenna element 11 can be driven without receiving.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, the antenna device according to the first and second embodiments inserts the attenuator 13 or the switch unit 16 or 17 onto the feed line 14 to the array antenna element 12 to radiate radio waves. -The reception pattern can be easily changed, and it can be mounted on a vehicle or the like and used for a radar that changes the radiation / reception pattern according to the application.

  The place where the attenuator 13 and the switch sections 16 and 17 are inserted is the same on the feed line of the array antenna element 11 instead of on the feed line to the array antenna element 12.

  In the above example, the description has been given using the two-row antenna. However, the present invention can also be applied to an array antenna having a configuration of more than three rows. The detection range can be narrowed as the number of rows of antenna elements constituting the array antenna is increased.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a vehicle rear monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows a detection area of the vehicle rear monitoring apparatus according to the third embodiment.

  The configuration of the vehicle rear monitoring apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described below together with the operation thereof.

  The vehicle rear monitoring apparatus according to the third embodiment includes the antenna apparatus having the configuration described in the first or second embodiment as the transmission antenna 31 and the reception antenna 32, respectively. As these antenna devices, the distance between the centers of the patch antenna 15 of the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 shown in FIG. 1 is 9.3 mm, and the power supplied to the array antenna element 11 and the array antenna element 12 is A ratio of 1: 0.5 is used, and 26 GHz is used as the operating frequency.

  Furthermore, the vehicle rear monitoring device 30 according to the third embodiment includes a transmission unit 33, a reception unit 34, a determination unit 35, and a timing control unit 36.

  The transmission unit 33 transmits radio waves from the transmission antenna 31 based on the timing signal from the timing control unit 36. Further, based on the timing signal from the timing control unit 36, the reception unit 34 acquires a reception signal from the reception antenna 32 that has received the reflected radio wave transmitted from the transmission antenna 31.

  Then, based on the timing signal from the timing control unit 36, the determination unit 35 acquires the signal received by the reception unit 34, and determines the presence or absence of an object in the detection region based on the received signal. For example, the determination unit 35 compares the received signal strength received by the receiving unit 34 within a period determined by the timing signal from the timing control unit 36 with a predetermined reference reception strength and receives the reference reception signal. The presence / absence of an object in the detection area is determined depending on whether the level is higher than the strength.

  If the determination unit 35 determines that an object is present in the detection area, the determination unit 35 notifies the output unit 37 connected to the vehicle rear monitoring device 30 to that effect. The output unit 37 is a speaker or a monitor, for example, and notifies the user who is driving by voice or the like when the object is present in the detection area.

  The vehicle rear monitoring device 30 corresponds to an example of the monitoring device of the present invention, and a configuration in which the receiving antenna 32 and the receiving unit 34 are combined corresponds to an example of the receiving unit of the present invention.

  In FIG. 9, the transmission unit 33, the reception unit 34, the determination unit 35, and the timing control unit 36 are described as being divided into blocks, but for example, by executing one program by the CPU of the microcomputer, All functions may be processed. For example, if the detection sensitivity is read from the memory by processing with software, it is possible to flexibly cope with a change in detection sensitivity setting.

  The vehicle rear monitoring device 30 according to the third embodiment is attached to the rear portion of the vehicle 38, for example, in the rear bumper, as shown in FIG. Then, the presence or absence of an object or a human body in the object detection area 39 at the rear of the vehicle 38 as shown in FIG. 10 is detected.

  Since the vehicle rear monitoring device 30 according to the third embodiment uses the antenna device according to the first or second embodiment as described above as the transmission antenna 31 and the reception antenna 32, the vehicle detection region 39 shown in FIG. 10 is shown. The shape is the same as the reception / radiation pattern in FIG. 3 when the element spacing is 9.3 mm and the supply power ratio is 1: 0.5.

  The power value supplied to the transmission antenna 31 and the reception antenna 32 of the vehicle rear monitoring device 30 is such that the object detection area 39 includes the detection area of the composite detection range 40 shown in FIG. It is set not to include.

  Therefore, the vehicle rear monitoring device 30 detects only the object existing in the object detection area 39, that is, only the object existing in the ERBA detection area 110 or the MALSO rear detection area 112.

  The object detection area 39 corresponds to an example of a radiation pattern area having a shape and size obtained by synthesizing two radiation pattern areas of the present invention.

  In the above description, the antenna device of the first embodiment or the second embodiment is used for both the transmission antenna 31 and the reception antenna 32. However, the antenna device of the first embodiment or the second embodiment is used for only one of them. May be used, and another antenna may be used for the other. For example, the antenna device according to the first or second embodiment is used as the transmission antenna 31, and a wide directivity antenna having a radio wave reception area including the object detection area 39 is used as the reception antenna 32. Also good. Conversely, the antenna device according to the first or second embodiment is used as the receiving antenna 32, and a wide directivity antenna having a radio wave transmitting area including the object detection area 39 is used as the transmitting antenna 31. May be.

  In the above description, two antenna devices are used as the transmitting antenna 31 and the receiving antenna 32. However, one antenna device may be switched between transmission and reception.

  By using the vehicle rear monitoring device 30 according to the third embodiment, there is no need for complicated processing such as switching between a plurality of antennas, and only two types of transmission / reception using a fixed setting antenna, ERBA and MALSO. It can correspond to.

  The vehicle rear monitoring device 30 of the third embodiment uses the antenna device with the simple configuration of the first and second embodiments and does not require complicated control, so the monitoring device 30 itself is also small and inexpensive. it can.

  Further, the antenna device of the present invention is not limited to the distance measuring device but can be applied to various detection devices. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a detection device that does not measure a distance, that is, a detection device that detects the presence or absence of an object in a specific detection area, a detection device that detects entry into a specific area, and the like.

  The program of the present invention causes the computer to execute the function of the determination unit that determines the presence or absence of an object according to the intensity of the radio wave received by the reception antenna of the monitoring device of the present invention described above. Which is a program that operates in cooperation with a computer.

  The recording medium of the present invention causes the computer to execute the function of the determination unit that determines the presence or absence of an object according to the intensity of the radio wave received by the reception antenna of the monitoring device of the present invention. A recording medium in which a program for recording is recorded, is readable by a computer, and is a recording medium in which the read program is used in cooperation with the computer.

  Further, one usage form of the program of the present invention may be an aspect in which the program is recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM readable by a computer and operates in cooperation with the computer.

  Further, one use form of the program of the present invention may be an aspect in which the program is transmitted through a transmission medium such as the Internet or a transmission medium such as light / radio wave, read by a computer, and operates in cooperation with the computer. .

  The computer of the present invention described above is not limited to pure hardware such as a CPU, and may include firmware, an OS, and peripheral devices.

  As described above, the configuration of the present invention may be realized as software or hardware.

  The antenna device, the monitoring device, and the manufacturing method of the antenna device according to the present invention have a radio wave radiation or reception pattern shape capable of detecting an object in a detection area having a required shape and size, and are small and simple. It has an effect that can be realized at low cost with a simple structure, and is useful as a monitoring device for detecting an object such as an object or a human body, an antenna device used for its surroundings monitoring device, a method for manufacturing the antenna device, and the like.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The top view which shows the structural example of the several patch antenna which comprises the array antenna of the antenna apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention In the antenna device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the radiation / reception pattern of radio waves when the ratio between the distance between the patch antennas constituting the array antenna element and the power value supplied to each array antenna element is changed. Diagram showing shape The figure which shows the range of the area | region which synthesize | combined the ERBA detection area and the MALSO back detection area Overall configuration diagram of an antenna device of another configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention (A) Top view showing another configuration example of the two array antenna elements according to the first embodiment of the present invention, (b) Other configuration example of the two array antenna elements according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Top view shown Overall configuration diagram of antenna apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Overall configuration diagram of an antenna device of another configuration according to the second embodiment of the present invention Block configuration diagram of a vehicle rear monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention The figure which shows the detection area | region of the vehicle rear part monitoring apparatus of Embodiment 3 of this invention. Schematic configuration diagram of a conventional vehicle periphery monitoring device (A) The figure which showed the detection area range prescribed | regulated by ERBA, (b) The figure which showed the detection area range prescribed | regulated by MALSO

Explanation of symbols

10, 20 Array antenna 11, 12, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29 Array antenna element 13, 22, 23, 24, 25 Attenuator 14 Feed line 15 Patch antenna 16, 17 Switch part 18 Additional circuit part 30 Vehicle rear part monitoring Device 31 Transmission antenna 32 Reception antenna 33 Transmission unit 34 Reception unit 35 Judgment unit 36 Timing control unit 37 Output unit 38 Vehicle 39 Object detection area 40 Composite detection range 110 ERBA detection area 111 MALSO front detection area 112 MALSO rear detection area

Claims (16)

Two array antenna elements configured by arranging one or more planar antenna elements in a line in the same plane, and an array antenna configured by being substantially symmetrically arranged in two lines in the same plane,
An antenna device in which power supplied to at least two planar antenna elements facing each other is different between the two rows of array antenna elements. The array antenna element is composed of a plurality of the planar antenna elements,
The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the power supplied to the planar antenna elements constituting at least one array antenna element of the two rows of array antenna elements is the same. The array antenna element is composed of a plurality of the planar antenna elements,
The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein different electric powers are supplied to each of the planar antenna elements constituting at least one array antenna element of the two rows of array antenna elements. It is divided into two branches in the middle, and each of the branched ends is provided with one power supply line that is further divided into a plurality of branches,
The two-row array antenna elements are connected to the one feeding line by connecting the plurality of branched antenna elements to the planar antenna elements.
In each of the two rows of array antenna elements, the power supplied to the plurality of planar antenna elements constituting the array antenna element is the same,
The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein an attenuator is provided on one side of the power supply line branched into two branches. It is divided into two branches in the middle, and each of the branched ends is provided with one power supply line that is further divided into a plurality of branches,
The two-row array antenna elements are connected to the one feeding line by connecting the plurality of branched antenna elements to the planar antenna elements.
In each of the two rows of array antenna elements, the power supplied to the plurality of planar antenna elements constituting the array antenna element is the same,
A switch for turning on and off the power supply to the array antenna element connected to the one side is provided on one side of the power supply line branched into two branches,
The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein attenuation of the electric power on the one side is realized in an ON state of the switch.   The antenna device according to claim 5, wherein when the switch is turned off, a terminal on the power supply side of the switch is connected to an additional circuit for impedance matching.   A predetermined target radiation pattern shape is formed by adjusting a use frequency, an interval between the array antenna elements of the two rows, and a ratio of power supplied to each of the array antenna elements of the two rows. Item 2. The antenna device according to Item 1.   The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the array antenna element is formed on a flat substrate.   The antenna device according to claim 8, wherein the planar antenna element is a patch antenna. An antenna device having a radiation pattern area having a shape and a size that are combined with two radiation pattern areas having a shape and size necessary for detecting each detection area of two standards,
The antenna device is configured by arranging two array antenna elements in which one or more planar antenna elements are arranged in a line in the same plane, and being substantially symmetrical in two lines in the same plane. With an array antenna,
The power supplied to at least two planar antenna elements facing each other is different between the two rows of array antenna elements,
The two rows of array antenna elements have the same power supplied to the planar antenna elements constituting the array antenna elements,
By adjusting the frequency used, the spacing between the two rows of array antenna elements, the ratio of the power supplied to each of the two rows of array antenna elements, and the power value thereof, the radiation pattern of the synthesized shape and size An antenna device in which the area is realized. The antenna device according to claim 10 as a transmitting antenna;
A receiving unit having the antenna device according to claim 10 as a receiving antenna that receives a radio wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna and reflected by an object;
A monitoring device comprising: a determination unit configured to determine the presence or absence of an object according to the intensity of the radio wave received by the reception antenna. The monitoring device is installed at the rear of the vehicle,
The monitoring device according to claim 11, wherein the detection areas of the two standards are a detection area defined by ERBA and a detection area defined on the vehicle rear side of MALSO. There are two array antenna elements configured by arranging one or more planar antenna elements in a line in the same plane, and an array antenna configured by being substantially symmetrical in two lines in the same plane. A method of manufacturing an antenna device for generating a predetermined target radiation pattern shape, wherein power supplied to at least two planar antenna elements facing each other is different between the two rows of array antenna elements,
A method of manufacturing an antenna device having the target radiation pattern shape by adjusting a use frequency, an interval between the array antenna elements of the two rows, and a ratio of power supplied to each of the array antenna elements of the two rows.   The area of the target radiation pattern shape is a combination of a radiation pattern area for detecting a detection area defined by ERBA and a radiation pattern area for detecting a detection area defined on the rear side of the MALSO vehicle. The method for manufacturing an antenna device according to claim 13, wherein the antenna device is a pattern region.   The program for functioning a computer as said judgment part of the monitoring apparatus of Claim 11 which judges the presence or absence of a target object according to the intensity | strength of the said electromagnetic wave received with the said receiving antenna.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 15 is recorded, wherein the recording medium can be processed by a computer.

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