JP2012227722A - Antenna unit and antenna device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an antenna unit which can be downsized without deteriorating performance, and an antenna device equipped with the antenna unit.SOLUTION: An antenna unit is provided with an antennal layer, a reflection plate, a receiving module, and a transmitting module. The antenna layer is formed with an antenna element. The reflection plate is attached to the antenna layer so as to cover the antenna element. The receiving module performs receiving processing to a signal received by the antenna layer, and is disposed so as to be superimposed with the antenna layer, on an opposite surface to a surface on which the reflection plate is attached, of both surfaces of the antenna layer. The transmitting module carries out transmitting processing of a signal transmitted from the antenna layer, and is generally vertically connected to the receiving module to output a signal after the transmitting pressing to the antenna layer through the receiving module.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an antenna device for measuring a target angle and an antenna unit used in the antenna device.

  The antenna device includes a plurality of antenna units. Each antenna unit includes an antenna layer having an antenna element, a transmission module that performs transmission processing on a signal transmitted from the antenna element, and a reception module that performs reception processing on a signal received by the antenna element.

  The conventional antenna unit is a vertical composite unit type in which an antenna layer and a transmission / reception module are individually configured. When the antenna layer has a dipole antenna, a reflector (reflector) is attached to the antenna element so as to cover the dipole antenna. The transmission / reception module is a single circuit board on which the respective functions are formed. The transceiver module is normally arranged on the surface of the antenna layer opposite to the surface to which the reflector is attached, and is connected substantially perpendicularly to the antenna layer.

  However, in the configuration of the conventional antenna unit, the transmission module and the reception module are connected to the antenna layer substantially perpendicularly, and thus must be extended in the vertical direction of the antenna layer. This is because it is necessary to arrange the antenna elements at a certain interval with respect to the depth direction of the antenna layer according to the required specifications of the antenna elements, so that the dimension in the depth direction allowed for the transmission / reception module is fixed to some extent. This is because that. As a result, the antenna unit is downsized and the antenna device is downsized.

JP 2006-332840 A

  As described above, the antenna unit used in the conventional antenna device connects the transmission / reception module formed on one circuit board substantially perpendicularly to the antenna layer, and thus becomes longer in the vertical direction with respect to the antenna layer. The antenna unit and the antenna device are adversely affected.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an antenna unit that can be reduced in size without degrading performance and an antenna device including the antenna unit.

  According to the embodiment, the antenna unit includes an antenna layer, a reflector, a reception module, and a transmission module. An antenna element is formed in the antenna layer. The reflector is attached to the antenna layer so as to cover the antenna element. The receiving module performs a receiving process on a signal received by the antenna layer, and overlaps the antenna layer on a surface opposite to a surface to which the reflector is attached among both surfaces of the antenna layer. Are arranged as follows. The transmission module performs a transmission process of a signal transmitted from the antenna layer, and is connected to the antenna layer via the reception module after the transmission process by being connected substantially perpendicular to the reception module. The signal is output.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the antenna apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the systematic diagram of the antenna unit of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional antenna apparatus. It is a figure which shows the modification of the antenna apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the antenna unit of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the antenna apparatus of FIG.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment. The antenna device shown in FIG. 1 includes four antenna units 10-1 to 10-4. The antenna units 10-1 to 10-4 are arranged in the Y-axis direction in the drawing. In the present embodiment, a case where four antenna units are arranged in the Y-axis direction is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the antenna device, the antenna units may be arranged in the X-axis direction, or may be arranged in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Since the functions of the antenna units 10-1 to 10-4 are the same, the antenna unit 10-1 will be described below.

  The antenna unit 10-1 includes a reflector 11, an antenna layer 12, a reception module 13, and a transmission module 14.

  At least one antenna element is formed on the antenna layer 12. For example, a dipole antenna is used as the antenna element.

  The reflector 11 is attached to the antenna layer 12 so as to cover the antenna element.

  The receiving module 13 is formed by forming a member for receiving processing on a circuit board. The receiving module 13 is installed on both surfaces of the antenna layer 12 so as to be superimposed on the antenna layer 12 on the surface opposite to the surface to which the reflector 11 is attached. If necessary, a metal plate may be sandwiched between the receiving module 13 and the antenna layer 12 in order to ensure the grounding of the receiving module 13.

  The transmission module 14 is formed by forming a member that performs transmission processing on a circuit board. The transmission module 14 is connected substantially perpendicularly to the reception module 13 on the opposite surface of the reception module 13 opposite to the surface overlapping the antenna layer 12. At this time, the receiving module 13 and the transmitting module 14 are connected by a connector such as an SMA connector, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system diagram of the antenna unit 10-1 according to the present embodiment. Note that FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which two antenna elements are formed in the antenna layer 12, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  The antenna layer 12 includes antenna elements 121-1 and 121-2. The antenna layer 12 transmits a transmission signal by the antenna elements 121-1 and 121-2 or receives a reception signal by the antenna elements 121-1 and 121-2.

  The reception module 13 includes low-pass filters (LPF) 131-1 and 131-2, couplers (CUP) 132-1 and 132-2, circulators 133-1 and 133-2, and protectors (PRT) 134-1 and 134-2. , Low noise amplification units (LNA) 135-1, 135-2, distribution units 136-1, 136-2, first phase shift units 137-1, 137-2, second phase shift units 138-1, 138-2, a first combining unit 139, a second combining unit 1310, and connectors 1311-1 and 1311-2.

  The transmission signal supplied from the transmission module 14 is transmitted from the antenna elements 121-1 and 121-2 via the circulators 133-1 and 133-2, the CUPs 132-1 and 132-2, and the LPFs 131-1 and 131-2. The In addition, the reception signals received by the antenna elements 121-1 and 121-2 are transmitted to the PRT 134-1 through the LPFs 131-1 and 131-2, the CUPs 132-1 and 132-2, and the circulators 133-1 and 133-2. , 134-2. The PRTs 134-1 and 134-2 are for protecting the LNAs 135-1 and 135-2 so that a high-power signal is not suddenly input to the LNAs 135-1 and 135-2.

  The LNAs 135-1 and 135-2 amplify the signals supplied via the PRTs 134-1 and 134-2, and output the amplified signals to the distribution units 136-1 and 136-2. Distribution sections 136-1 and 136-2 distribute the signals from LNAs 135-1 and 135-2 into two, output one to the first phase shift sections 137-1 and 137-2, and the other to the first. 2 to the phase shifters 138-1 and 138-2.

  The first phase shifters 137-1 and 137-2 control the phase of the signals from the distributors 136-1 and 136-2, and output the signal after the phase control to the first combiner 139.

  Second phase shift sections 138-1 and 138-2 control the phase of signals from distribution sections 136-1 and 136-2, and output the signals after the phase control to second combining section 1310.

  The first combiner 139 combines the signals supplied from the first phase shifters 137-1 and 137-2 to thereby call the vertical direction of the antenna layer 12 (the elevation direction, hereinafter referred to as the EL direction). ΔEL signal which is a difference signal of) is generated and output to the subsequent stage.

  The second synthesizing unit 1310 synthesizes the signals supplied from the second phase shift units 138-1 and 138-2, so that the sum signal Σ signal and the lateral direction (azimuth direction, Hereinafter, a ΔAZ signal that is a difference signal of AZ direction) is generated and output to the subsequent stage.

  The transmission module 14 includes a buffer amplification unit (BFA) 141, a distribution unit 142, phase shift units 143-1 and 143-2, buffer amplification units 144-1 and 144-2, and a high power amplification unit (HPA) 145-1. 145-2, circulators 146-1 and 146-2, and connectors 147-1 and 147-2.

  The transmission module 14 is connected to the connectors 1311-1 and 1311-2 of the reception module 13 by connectors 147-1 and 147-2.

  The distribution unit 142 distributes the signal amplified by the buffer amplification unit 141, outputs one to the phase shift unit 143-1, and outputs the other to the phase shift unit 143-2. The phase shift units 143-1 and 143-2 control the phase of the signal from the distribution unit 142, respectively, and output the phase-controlled signal to the buffer amplification units 144-1 and 144-2. The high power amplifying units 145-1 and 145-2 amplify the signals amplified by the buffer amplifying units 144-1 and 144-2 with higher power, and circulators 146-1 and 146-2 and connectors. It outputs to the receiving module 14 as a transmission signal via 147-1 and 147-2.

  As described above, in the above embodiment, the reception module 13 and the transmission module 14 are formed on separate circuit boards. Then, the receiving module 13 is disposed so as to overlap the antenna layer 12, the transmitting module 14 is connected substantially perpendicularly to the receiving module 13, and a transmission signal is supplied to the antenna layer 12 through the receiving module 13. Yes.

  In the conventional antenna unit, as shown in FIG. 3, the transmission module and the reception module are formed on the same circuit board. In the antenna layer, it is necessary to arrange the antenna elements at a certain interval with respect to the Y-axis direction. For this reason, there are restrictions on the dimension of the transmission / reception module in the Y-axis direction, and a certain length is required in the Z-axis direction.

  On the other hand, in the antenna unit according to the present embodiment, the transmission module 14 and the reception module 13 are completely separated from each other, so that there is a margin in the dimension in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the depth in the Z-axis direction is reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the antenna unit.

  In the conventional antenna unit shown in FIG. 3, there is no problem as long as the transmission / reception module can be cooled by an air cooling system (such as a blower). It is necessary to adopt. When cooling by the liquid cooling method is required, it is necessary to install a cooling layer of the liquid cooling method on the back of the transmission / reception module. When it is necessary to cool the transmission module area, a cooling layer is provided on the back surface of the transmission / reception module even if it is not necessary to cool the reception module area, and the dimension in the X-axis direction becomes long. Thereby, there exists a problem which becomes a bad effect of size reduction of an antenna unit.

  On the other hand, in the antenna unit according to the present embodiment, even when a liquid cooling type cooling layer is used, the antenna unit can be downsized as the depth of the transmission module 14 in the Z-axis direction is reduced. .

  In the conventional antenna unit shown in FIG. 3, the transmission / reception module integrates the transmission module function and the reception module function. In general, the failure rate of the transmission module including the power system is higher than that of the reception module. In the conventional configuration, the transmission / reception module must be replaced even when only the transmission module fails.

  On the other hand, in the antenna unit according to the present embodiment, the transmission module 14 and the reception module 13 are configured to be completely separated, so that when the transmission module fails, only the transmission module needs to be replaced. . That is, the antenna unit according to the present embodiment also has an advantageous effect from the viewpoint of maintainability.

  Therefore, according to the antenna unit according to the present embodiment and the antenna device including the antenna unit, it is possible to reduce the size without degrading the performance.

  In the above embodiment, the transmission module 14 is a substrate having a spread in the YZ plane, and the case where the transmission module 14 is arranged along the substantially center line in the Y-axis direction in the reception module 13 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transmission module 14 can be similarly implemented even when the transmission module 14 is disposed outside the substantially center line in the Y-axis direction. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an antenna device including an antenna unit in which the transmission module 14 is located at a position shifted from a substantially center line in the Y-axis direction. At this time, the antenna units are arranged in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction. Further, the transmission modules of the antenna units adjacent in the X-axis direction are brought close to each other. By doing so, it becomes possible to share the cooling layer between both transmission modules, and further miniaturization of the antenna device is possible.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the antenna unit is a substrate in which the transmission module 14 extends in the XZ plane, and may be arranged along a substantially center line in the X-axis direction in the reception module 13. Further, the transmission module 14 may be disposed outside the substantially center line in the X-axis direction. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an antenna device including the antenna unit shown in FIG. In the antenna apparatus shown in FIG. 6, the transmission module 14-1 of the antenna unit 10-1 is disposed behind the Y-axis direction, and the transmission module 14-2 of the antenna unit 10-2 is disposed near the Y-axis direction. Then, the transmission module 14-3 of the antenna unit 10-3 is arranged from the back in the Y-axis direction, and the transmission module 14-4 of the antenna unit 10-4 is arranged from the front in the Y-axis direction. At this time, a cooling layer is disposed between the transmission module 14-1 and the transmission module 14-2 and between the transmission module 14-3 and the transmission module 14-4. In this way, by arranging the transmission modules of adjacent antenna units close to each other and disposing the cooling layer therebetween, it becomes possible to share the cooling layer between the transmission modules. That is, the antenna device can be further reduced in size.

  Although several embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

10-1 to 10-4 ... antenna unit 11 ... reflector 12 ... antenna layers 121-1, 121-2 ... antenna element 13 ... receiving modules 131-1, 131-2 ... LPF
132-1, 132-2 ... CUP
133-1, 133-2 ... circulators 134-1, 134-2 ... PRT
135-1, 135-2 ... LNA
136-1, 136-2 ... distributing units 137-1, 137-2 ... first phase shifting units 138-1, 138-2 ... second phase shifting unit 139 ... first combining unit 1310 ... second Combining units 1311-1, 1311-2 ... connectors 14, 14-1 to 14-4 ... transmission module 141 ... BFA
142 ... distributing section 143-1, 143-2 ... phase shifting section 144-1, 144-2 ... BFA
145-1, 145-2 ... HPA
146-1, 146-2 ... circulators 147-1, 147-2 ... connectors

Claims (3)

An antenna layer on which an antenna element is formed;
A reflector attached to the antenna layer so as to cover the antenna element;
The signal received by the antenna layer is subjected to reception processing, and is disposed on both surfaces of the antenna layer so as to overlap the antenna layer on the surface opposite to the surface to which the reflector is attached. A receiving module;
Transmits a signal transmitted from the antenna layer, and outputs the signal after the transmission process to the antenna layer via the receiving module by being connected substantially perpendicular to the receiving module. An antenna unit comprising: a transmission module that performs: An antenna layer on which an antenna element is formed;
A reflector attached to the antenna layer so as to cover the antenna element;
The signal received by the antenna layer is subjected to reception processing, and is disposed on both surfaces of the antenna layer so as to overlap the antenna layer on the surface opposite to the surface to which the reflector is attached. A receiving module;
Transmits a signal transmitted from the antenna layer, and outputs the signal after the transmission process to the antenna layer via the receiving module by being connected substantially perpendicular to the receiving module. An antenna device comprising a plurality of antenna units each including a transmission module. The transmission modules of the plurality of antenna units are connected to the reception module so as to approach the transmission modules of adjacent antenna units,
The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein a cooling layer is shared between the transmitting modules that are close to each other.

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