JP2009200723A - Wireless device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless device which stably transmits data even when an environment temperature varies. <P>SOLUTION: LO millimeter wave signals are modulated by the data signals of a transmission object modulated by low frequency signals for modulation strength monitoring, a part of the modulated LO millimeter wave signals is branched, and modulated data signals are demodulated from the branched modulated LO millimeter wave signals. Then, the low frequency signals for modulation strength monitoring are detected from the demodulated modulation data signals, a monitor voltage corresponding to the modulation strength of the low frequency signals for modulation strength monitoring is outputted, and a bias voltage applied to a modulator 31 is adjusted so as to keep the monitor voltage constant. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for compensating for temperature dependence in a wireless device.

In recent years, a radio communication system using millimeter waves has been developed to cope with an increase in capacity of radio communication. For example, a wireless communication system using a 60 GHz band and having a communication speed of 1.25 Gbps has already been developed (see Non-Patent Document 1). In the radio apparatus in the millimeter wave region, the simplest modulation intensity method (ASK method) is used because of performance limitations in device characteristics. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a block configuration of a conventional radio apparatus adopting a modulation intensity method. This radio apparatus 100 oscillates a local oscillation (LO) millimeter wave signal (hereinafter simply referred to as “LO millimeter wave signal”) by an LO millimeter wave signal oscillator 11, and the modulator 31 oscillates the LO millimeter wave signal. Is modulated with the data signal to be transmitted amplified by the data signal amplifier 33, amplified to a desired intensity by the LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32, and then released from the antenna 50 to the outside.
K. Ohata, 3 others, "Wireless 1.25Gb / s Transceiver Module at 60GHz-Band", ISSCC 2002, 2002, SESSION 17, p.236-237, p.488-489

  However, the device characteristics used as modulators and LO millimeter wave signal amplifiers are temperature-dependent, so that the degree of modulation of the modulators and the output from the LO millimeter wave signal amplifiers fluctuate when the operating environment changes. there were. More specifically, since the pass characteristic of the modulator depends on the applied bias voltage as shown in FIG. 6, the bias voltage applied to the modulator usually has a high modulation degree and high linearity. A voltage Va that realizes the modulation is determined. However, when the ambient temperature changes from Ta to Tb, the bias voltage dependency of the pass characteristic changes from a solid line to a broken curve, and therefore the bias voltage for obtaining the same pass characteristic changes to Vb. Therefore, when modulation is performed by continuously applying a constant bias voltage Va to the modulator, the nonlinearity of the modulation in the modulator increases, resulting in a problem that data transmission characteristics deteriorate.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless device that performs stable data transmission even when the environmental temperature fluctuates.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless device that modulates a locally oscillated millimeter-wave signal with a data signal to be transmitted. An oscillating means for oscillating a signal; a modulating means for modulating the oscillated local oscillation millimeter wave signal with the data signal modulated by the monitoring signal; and the modulated local oscillation millimeter wave signal at a desired intensity Amplifying means for amplifying the signal, branching means for branching a part of the amplified local oscillation millimeter wave signal, detecting the monitoring signal from the branched local oscillation millimeter wave signal, and modulating the modulated signal by the modulation means A first detector for outputting a first monitor voltage corresponding to the modulation intensity of the monitor signal, and a bias voltage applied to the modulator so as to keep the first monitor voltage constant. And bias voltage adjustment means, and summarized in that with.

  In the present invention, the local oscillation millimeter wave signal is modulated with the data signal modulated by the monitor signal, and a part of the modulated local oscillation millimeter wave signal is branched, and the branched local oscillation millimeter wave signal The monitor signal is detected from the output signal, the first monitor voltage corresponding to the modulation intensity of the monitor signal is output, and the bias voltage applied to the modulation means is adjusted so as to keep the first monitor voltage constant. Therefore, it is possible to keep the modulation intensity at the modulation means constant, and it is possible to provide a wireless device that performs stable data transmission even when the environmental temperature fluctuates.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radio apparatus for modulating a locally oscillated millimeter wave signal with a data signal to be transmitted, an oscillating means for oscillating the locally oscillated millimeter wave signal, and a monitor for monitoring a modulation intensity. Oscillating means for oscillating a signal, bias voltage generating means for outputting a bias voltage modulated by the monitoring signal, superimposing means for superimposing the outputted bias voltage on the data signal, and the oscillated local oscillation Modulating means for modulating the millimeter wave signal with the superimposed data signal, amplification means for amplifying the modulated local oscillation millimeter wave signal to a desired intensity, and a part of the amplified local oscillation millimeter wave signal Branching means for branching, and the monitoring signal is detected from the branched local oscillation millimeter wave signal, and the first signal corresponding to the modulation intensity of the monitoring signal modulated by the modulation means is detected. It has the a first detection means for outputting a monitor voltage, wherein the bias voltage generating means, and summarized in that for adjusting the bias voltage so as to maintain the first monitor voltage constant.

  In the present invention, the bias voltage modulated by the monitor signal is output, the output bias voltage is superimposed on the data signal, the oscillated local oscillation millimeter wave signal is modulated by the superimposed data signal, A part of the modulated local oscillation millimeter-wave signal is branched, a monitor signal is detected from the branched local oscillation millimeter-wave signal, and a first monitor voltage corresponding to the modulation intensity of the monitor signal is output. Since the bias voltage is adjusted to keep the first monitor voltage constant, it is possible to keep the modulation intensity at the modulation means constant, and stable data even when the environmental temperature fluctuates. A wireless device that performs transmission can be provided.

  The present invention according to claim 3 detects the millimeter wave signal intensity of the locally oscillated millimeter wave signal branched by the branch means, and the data signal modulated by the modulator means from the locally oscillated millimeter wave signal. A second detection means for detecting the second monitor voltage, a second monitor voltage corresponding to the detected millimeter wave signal intensity, and a separation means for separating and outputting the monitor signal demodulated from the detected data signal; Adjusting means for adjusting a bias voltage applied to the amplifying means so as to keep the second output of the separated monitor voltage constant, and the first detection means comprises the monitor output of the separated output. The gist is to output the first monitor voltage corresponding to the modulation intensity of the signal for use.

  In the present invention, the millimeter-wave signal intensity of the branched local oscillation millimeter-wave signal is detected, the data signal modulated by the modulation means is detected from the local oscillation millimeter-wave signal, and the detected millimeter-wave signal is detected. A bias voltage that separates and outputs the second monitor voltage corresponding to the intensity and the monitor signal demodulated from the detected data signal, and applies the amplified voltage to the amplifying means so as to keep the separated second monitor voltage constant. Therefore, it is possible to keep the millimeter wave signal intensity at the amplifying means constant, and it is possible to provide a wireless device that performs more stable data transmission even when the environmental temperature fluctuates.

  The present invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the frequency of the monitoring signal is lower than the frequency component of the data signal and is a frequency separable from the data signal by a filter. .

  In the present invention, since the frequency of the monitor signal is lower than the frequency component of the data signal and can be separated from the data signal by a filter, the monitor signal is opposed to the radio apparatus of the present invention. When the data signal is demodulated in the receiver provided, the monitor signal can be reliably separated, and the deterioration of the data transmission characteristics can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wireless device that performs stable data transmission even when the environmental temperature fluctuates.

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

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a block configuration of a radio apparatus according to the first embodiment. This radio apparatus 100 includes an LO millimeter wave signal oscillator 11, a monitoring low frequency signal oscillator 13, a modulator 31, an LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32, a data signal amplifier 33, a coupler 34, The configuration includes a detector 35 and a bias voltage adjustment circuit 36.

  The LO millimeter wave signal oscillator 11 oscillates a local oscillation (LO) millimeter wave signal (LO millimeter wave signal). The oscillated LO millimeter wave signal is input to the modulator 31. On the other hand, the monitoring low frequency signal oscillator 13 oscillates a modulation intensity monitoring low frequency signal for monitoring the modulation intensity in the modulator 31. The oscillated modulation intensity monitoring low frequency signal is input to the gain adjustment terminal of the data signal amplifier 33.

  Next, the data signal amplifier 33 inputs the modulation intensity monitor low-frequency signal through the gain adjustment terminal and the data signal to be transmitted, and modulates this data signal with the modulation intensity monitor low-frequency signal. Output modulated data signal. Subsequently, the modulator 31 inputs the modulated data signal output from the data signal amplifier 33 and also receives the LO millimeter wave signal, and the modulated LO millimeter wave signal obtained by modulating the LO millimeter wave signal with the modulated data signal. Output. The LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32 receives the modulated LO millimeter wave signal output from the modulator 31 and amplifies it to a desired intensity. Thereafter, a part of the modulated LO millimeter wave signal is branched by the coupler 34. The detector 35 demodulates the modulated data signal from the branched modulated LO millimeter wave signal, further detects a low frequency signal for modulation intensity monitoring from the demodulated modulated data signal, and detects the detected low modulation intensity monitor signal. A monitor voltage corresponding to the modulation intensity of the frequency signal is output. Finally, the bias voltage adjustment circuit 36 receives the monitor voltage output from the detector 35 and adjusts the bias voltage applied to the modulator 31 so as to keep this monitor voltage constant.

  The frequency of the modulation intensity monitoring low frequency signal is set to a frequency lower than the frequency component of the data signal to be transmitted and separable from the data signal by a filter such as a bias T. By setting the frequency in this way, a low-frequency signal for modulation intensity monitoring is used using a filter when demodulating a data signal in a receiver provided opposite to the wireless device operating as the transmitter shown in FIG. Components can be reliably separated, and deterioration of data transmission characteristics can be prevented.

  According to the present embodiment, a LO millimeter wave signal is modulated with a transmission target data signal modulated with a modulation intensity monitor low frequency signal, and a part of the modulated modulated LO millimeter wave signal is branched and branched. After demodulating the modulated data signal from the modulated LO millimeter wave signal, the modulation intensity monitor low frequency signal is detected from the demodulated modulated data signal, and the monitor voltage corresponding to the modulation intensity of the low frequency signal for modulation intensity monitoring And the bias voltage applied to the modulator 31 is adjusted so as to keep the monitor voltage constant, so that the modulation intensity at the modulator 31 can be kept constant, and the environmental temperature fluctuates. Even so, it is possible to provide the wireless device 100 that performs stable data transmission.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a block configuration of a radio apparatus according to the second embodiment. The radio apparatus 100 includes an LO millimeter wave signal oscillator 11, a monitoring low frequency signal oscillator 13, a modulator 31, an LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32, a coupler 34, a detector 35, a bias voltage, and the like. The configuration includes a generation circuit 37 and a bias T38.

  The LO millimeter wave signal oscillator 11 oscillates a local oscillation (LO) millimeter wave signal (LO millimeter wave signal). The oscillated LO millimeter wave signal is input to the modulator 31 as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, the monitoring low frequency signal oscillator 13 oscillates a modulation intensity monitoring low frequency signal for monitoring the modulation intensity in the modulator 31. The oscillated modulation intensity monitoring low frequency signal is input to the bias voltage generation circuit 37.

  Next, the bias voltage generation circuit 37 outputs a modulation bias voltage which is a bias voltage to be applied to the modulator 31 and is modulated by the input modulation intensity monitoring low frequency signal. Subsequently, the bias T 38 inputs a modulation bias voltage and a data signal to be transmitted, outputs a superimposed data signal obtained by superimposing the modulation bias voltage on the data signal, and applies it to the modulator 31. The modulator 31 receives the superimposed data signal and the LO millimeter wave signal, and outputs a modulated LO millimeter wave signal obtained by modulating the LO millimeter wave signal with the superimposed data signal. The LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32 receives the modulated LO millimeter wave signal output from the modulator 31 and amplifies it to a desired intensity. Thereafter, a part of the modulated LO millimeter wave signal is branched by the coupler 34. The detector 35 demodulates the superimposed data signal from the branched modulated LO millimeter wave signal, and further detects the low frequency signal for modulation intensity monitoring from the demodulated superimposed data signal, and detects the detected low modulation intensity monitor signal. A monitor voltage corresponding to the modulation intensity of the frequency signal is output. Finally, the bias voltage generation circuit 37 receives the monitor voltage output from the detector 35 and adjusts the bias voltage applied to the modulator 31 so as to keep the monitor voltage constant.

  As in the first embodiment, the frequency of the modulation intensity monitor low-frequency signal is lower than the frequency component of the data signal to be transmitted, and the data signal is filtered by a filter such as a bias T. It is set to a separable frequency. By setting the frequency in this way, a low-frequency signal for modulation intensity monitoring is used using a filter when demodulating a data signal in a receiver provided opposite to the wireless device operating as the transmitter shown in FIG. Components can be reliably separated, and deterioration of data transmission characteristics can be prevented.

  According to the present embodiment, the modulation bias voltage modulated by the modulation intensity monitoring low frequency signal is output, the output modulation bias voltage is superimposed on the data signal, and the oscillated local oscillation millimeter wave signal is superimposed. Then, a portion of the modulated modulated LO millimeter wave signal is branched, and a modulated intensity monitor low frequency signal is detected from the branched modulated LO millimeter wave signal. Since the monitor voltage corresponding to the modulation intensity of the frequency signal is output and the bias voltage applied to the modulator 31 is adjusted so as to keep this monitor voltage constant, the modulation intensity in the modulator 31 can be kept constant. Therefore, it is possible to provide the wireless device 100 that performs stable data transmission even when the environmental temperature fluctuates.

  According to the present embodiment, since no data signal amplifier is used, it is possible to provide radio apparatus 100 that performs data transmission with a simpler configuration than in the first embodiment. Moreover, since the input terminal of the modulator 31 can be reduced by one by not using the data signal amplifier, the configuration of the modulator 31 can be simplified.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a block configuration of a wireless device according to the third embodiment. The radio apparatus 100 includes an LO millimeter wave signal oscillator 11, a monitoring low frequency signal oscillator 13, a modulator 31, an LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32, a coupler 34, and a first detector 35a. And a second detector 35b, a bias voltage generation circuit 37, a first bias T38a, a second bias T38b, and an auto gain control circuit (hereinafter simply referred to as “AGC circuit”) 39. It is a configuration. The radio apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the radio apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment, except for three blocks surrounded by a broken line in FIG.

  When the gain of the LO millimeter-wave signal amplifier 32 varies with the environmental temperature, the millimeter-wave signal intensity output from the amplifier fluctuates, so even if the modulation intensity of the modulator 31 is constant, the detector 35 The output monitor voltage may fluctuate. Therefore, in this embodiment, in addition to keeping the modulation intensity of the modulator 31 described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment constant, it is output from the LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32. This is to explain that the millimeter wave signal intensity is also kept constant.

  The LO millimeter wave signal oscillator 11 oscillates a local oscillation (LO) millimeter wave signal (LO millimeter wave signal). The oscillated LO millimeter wave signal is input to the modulator 31 in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments. On the other hand, the monitoring low frequency signal oscillator 13 oscillates a modulation intensity monitoring low frequency signal for monitoring the modulation intensity in the modulator 31. Then, the oscillated low frequency signal for monitoring the modulation intensity is input to the bias voltage generation circuit 37 as in the second embodiment.

  Next, the bias voltage generation circuit 37 outputs a modulation bias voltage which is a bias voltage to be applied to the modulator 31 and is modulated by the input modulation intensity monitoring low frequency signal. Subsequently, the first bias T 38 a inputs a modulation bias voltage and a data signal to be transmitted, outputs a superimposed data signal in which the modulation bias voltage is superimposed on the data signal, and applies the signal to the modulator 31. The modulator 31 receives the superimposed data signal and the LO millimeter wave signal, and outputs a modulated LO millimeter wave signal obtained by modulating the LO millimeter wave signal with the superimposed data signal. The LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32 receives the modulated LO millimeter wave signal output from the modulator 31 and amplifies it to a desired intensity. Thereafter, a part of the modulated LO millimeter wave signal is branched by the coupler 34.

  Next, the first detector 35a detects the millimeter wave signal intensity of the branched modulated LO millimeter wave signal and also detects the superimposed data signal from the modulated LO millimeter wave signal. The second bias T38b receives the detected millimeter wave signal intensity and the superimposed data signal, outputs a millimeter wave signal intensity monitoring voltage corresponding to the millimeter wave signal intensity from the DC terminal, and outputs the superimposed data signal. The demodulated modulation intensity monitor low frequency signal is output from the RF terminal. Thereafter, the AGC circuit 39 receives the millimeter wave signal intensity monitoring voltage and adjusts the bias voltage applied to the LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32 so as to keep the millimeter wave signal intensity monitoring voltage constant. On the other hand, the second detector 35b receives the modulation intensity monitor low frequency signal output from the second bias T38b, and outputs a modulation intensity monitor voltage corresponding to the modulation intensity of the modulation intensity monitor low frequency signal. To do. Finally, the bias voltage generation circuit 37 receives the modulation intensity monitor voltage output from the second detector 35b, and adjusts the bias voltage applied to the modulator 31 so as to keep the modulation intensity monitor voltage constant. To do.

  Since the relationship between the gate voltage and the gain in the LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32 is proportional as shown in FIG. 4, by adjusting the bias voltage applied to the amplifier to be constant, It is possible to make the output millimeter wave signal intensity constant.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the frequency of the modulation intensity monitor low-frequency signal is lower than the frequency component of the data signal to be transmitted, and the data signal is filtered by a filter such as a bias T. It is set to a separable frequency. By setting the frequency in this way, a low-frequency signal for modulation intensity monitoring is used using a filter when demodulating a data signal in a receiver provided opposite to the wireless device operating as the transmitter shown in FIG. Components can be reliably separated, and deterioration of data transmission characteristics can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration and operation in which functions are further added to the configuration and operation described in the second embodiment have been described. However, the present embodiment is applied to the configuration described in the first embodiment. However, the same effect can be obtained.

  According to the present embodiment, the millimeter-wave signal intensity of the branched modulated LO millimeter-wave signal is detected, and the superimposed data signal is detected from the modulated LO millimeter-wave signal, according to the detected millimeter-wave signal intensity. Separates and outputs the millimeter-wave signal strength monitoring voltage and the modulation strength monitoring low-frequency signal demodulated from the detected superimposed data signal, and maintains the separated millimeter-wave signal strength monitoring voltage at a constant level. Since the bias voltage applied to the wave signal amplifier 32 is adjusted, the millimeter wave signal intensity in the LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 32 can be kept constant, and even when the ambient temperature fluctuates, it is more stable. A wireless device that performs data transmission can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the block configuration of the radio | wireless apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the block configuration of the radio | wireless apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the block configuration of the radio | wireless apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the gate voltage in a LO millimeter wave signal amplifier, and a gain. It is a block diagram which shows the block configuration of the conventional radio | wireless apparatus which employ | adopted the modulation intensity system. It is a graph which shows the bias voltage dependence of the passage characteristic of the modulator used with the conventional radio | wireless apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... LO millimeter wave signal oscillator 13 ... Monitor low frequency signal oscillator 31 ... Modulator 32 ... LO millimeter wave signal amplifier 33 ... Data signal amplifier 34 ... Coupler 35 ... Detector 35a ... 1st detector 35b 2nd detector 36 Bias voltage adjustment circuit 37 Bias voltage generation circuit 38 Bias T
38a: First bias T
38b ... second bias T
39 ... Auto gain control circuit (AGC circuit)
50 ... Antenna

Claims (4)

In a wireless device that modulates a local oscillation millimeter wave signal with a data signal to be transmitted,
Oscillating means for oscillating the local oscillation millimeter wave signal;
Oscillating means for oscillating a monitor signal for monitoring the modulation intensity;
Modulating means for modulating the oscillated local oscillation millimeter wave signal with the data signal modulated with the monitor signal;
Amplifying means for amplifying the modulated local oscillation millimeter wave signal to a desired intensity;
Branching means for branching a part of the amplified local oscillation millimeter wave signal;
First detection means for detecting the monitoring signal from the branched local oscillation millimeter wave signal and outputting a first monitor voltage according to the modulation intensity of the monitoring signal modulated by the modulation means;
Bias voltage adjusting means for adjusting a bias voltage applied to the modulating means so as to keep the first monitor voltage constant;
A wireless device comprising: In a wireless device that modulates a local oscillation millimeter wave signal with a data signal to be transmitted,
Oscillating means for oscillating the local oscillation millimeter wave signal;
Oscillating means for oscillating a monitor signal for monitoring the modulation intensity;
Bias voltage generating means for outputting a bias voltage modulated by the monitor signal;
Superimposing means for superimposing the output bias voltage on the data signal;
Modulating means for modulating the oscillated local oscillation millimeter-wave signal with the superimposed data signal;
Amplifying means for amplifying the modulated local oscillation millimeter wave signal to a desired intensity;
Branching means for branching a part of the amplified local oscillation millimeter wave signal;
First detection means for detecting the monitoring signal from the branched local oscillation millimeter wave signal and outputting a first monitor voltage according to the modulation intensity of the monitoring signal modulated by the modulation means; Have
The radio apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bias voltage generating means adjusts the bias voltage so as to keep the first monitor voltage constant. Second wave detecting means for detecting the millimeter wave signal intensity of the local oscillation millimeter wave signal branched by the branching means, and detecting the data signal modulated by the modulation means from the local oscillation millimeter wave signal;
Separation means for separating and outputting a second monitor voltage corresponding to the detected millimeter-wave signal intensity and the monitor signal demodulated from the detected data signal;
Adjusting means for adjusting a bias voltage applied to the amplifying means so as to keep the second monitor voltage that has been separated and output constant;
3. The radio apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first detection unit outputs the first monitor voltage according to a modulation intensity of the separated monitor signal.   The frequency of the monitor signal is a frequency lower than the frequency component of the data signal and is a frequency separable from the data signal by a filter. A wireless device according to 1.

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