JP2013042348A - Phase shifter and phase adjusting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a phase shifter and a phase adjusting method, capable of easily adjusting a phase of a signal transmitted or received by an antenna element.SOLUTION: A phase shifter 2 includes: first and second output side conductors 31 and 32; an input side conductor 33; a moving conductor 23; an actuator 22 for rotating the moving conductor 23; coaxial connectors 201 to 205; and first to fifth phase adjusting portions 41 to 45 provided between the first and second output side conductors 31 and 32 and the coaxial connectors 201 to 205, and for adjusting a phase of a signal. The first to fifth phase adjusting portions 41 to 45 have: a first joint 411 on the first and second output side conductors 31 and 32 side; a second joint 412 on the coaxial connectors 201 to 205 side; and first to third connection paths 414 to 415 which are divided at least one place, and connecting the first joint 411 and the second joint 412 so as to have different path length, by connecting the divided place.

Description

  The present invention relates to a phase shifter capable of adjusting the phase of a signal output to an antenna element or a signal input from the antenna element, and a phase adjustment method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a base station for a mobile phone, there is an array antenna that can change the angle of the main beam with respect to the vertical direction by adjusting the feeding phase of a plurality of antenna elements with a phase shifter (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2) ).

  Further, in a communication system compliant with the IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunication 2000) standard established by the International Telecommunications Union, an antenna element is operated by remotely operating an actuator of a phase shifter in order to change a communication area according to communication traffic. The angle of the main beam is changed by adjusting the phase difference between them. In such a communication system, it is required to adjust the phase difference between the antenna elements with high accuracy.

  The phase control device described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that a phase difference between an input signal and an output signal of a phase shifter is detected, and a computer controls an actuator of the phase shifter based on the detected phase difference. Yes.

JP 2010-141833 A JP 2001-284902 A

  However, even if the phase difference between the input signal and the output signal of the phase shifter is adjusted with high accuracy, if the length of the cable connected to each antenna element is not as designed, An error occurs in the phase difference. In addition, the phase difference error can also be caused by cable routing and cable characteristic variations. Furthermore, in the case of a shared antenna that uses a common antenna for transmission and reception at different frequencies, an error occurs in the phase difference due to variations in characteristics of the duplexer arranged between the phase shifter and the antenna element. There is a case.

  If an error in the phase difference between antenna elements is found after the antenna is installed, it may be possible to eliminate the error by temporarily disconnecting one or more cables from the connector, shortening the cable length, and reconnecting them. However, this work requires a lot of labor. In addition, a new phase difference error may occur due to this operation.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a phase shifter and a phase adjustment method capable of easily adjusting the phase of a signal transmitted or received by an antenna element.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a first fixed conductor, a second fixed conductor that is spaced apart from the first fixed conductor, and the first fixed conductor. A movable conductor that electrically couples the second fixed conductor; and the movable conductor is moved along an extending direction of at least one of the first fixed conductor and the second fixed conductor; An actuator that changes a signal transmission path length between the fixed conductor and the second fixed conductor; an input / output unit that outputs a signal to or from the antenna element; and the first fixed conductor And a phase adjustment unit that adjusts the phase of the signal, and the phase adjustment unit includes a first node on the first fixed conductor side, and a phase adjustment unit on the input / output unit side. The second node and each is divided at at least one point Wherein by connecting the shed positions, it provides a phase shifter having a plurality of connection paths that can connect the second node and the first node to each other at different path lengths.

  Further, the phase adjustment unit may be configured such that a difference between a path length of a connection path having the shortest path length and a path length of a connection path having the longest path length among the plurality of connection paths is a frequency band of the transmission signal. It is good that it is 5 to 20% of the wavelength of the center frequency.

  The plurality of connection paths may include at least three connection paths.

  In addition, the first fixed conductor is formed in an arc shape, the second fixed conductor is formed on the arc center side of the first fixed conductor, and the movable conductor is in a circumferential direction of the first fixed conductor. The first fixed conductor, the second fixed conductor, the first node, the second node, and the plurality of connection paths are conductive patterns formed on a common substrate. It is good to be.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention uses the phase shifter described above, and a signal supplied to the second fixed conductor and a signal radiated from the antenna element via the phase adjustment unit. A phase adjustment method is provided in which any one of the plurality of connection paths is selected based on the phase difference of the plurality of connection paths, and the divided portions of the selected connection paths are connected.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily adjust the phase of a signal transmitted or received by an antenna element.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the antenna apparatus using the phase shifter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the internal structural example of a phase shifter. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a 1st phase adjustment part. It is the graph which verified the influence which the phase error of the several antenna element in an array antenna has on the vertical plane directivity. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the antenna device which can perform transmission and reception.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an antenna device using the phase shifter according to the present embodiment.

  The antenna device 100 includes an array antenna 10 having first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105, and first to fifth cables 111 to 115 connected to the first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105, respectively. The phase shifter 2, the control unit 12 that controls the phase shifter 2, the filter circuit 13 provided between the feeding point 14 and the phase shifter 2, and the filter circuit 13 and the phase shifter 2 are connected. And a sixth cable 116.

  The array antenna 10 is installed at a high place such as the top of a radio tower or near the roof of a building. The array antenna 10 changes the radiation angle of the main beam from, for example, an elevation angle of 1 ° to a depression angle of 10 ° by adjusting the phase of radio waves radiated from the first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105 by the phase shifter 2. To do.

  The first to fifth cables 111 to 115 are coaxial cables in which a shielded wire grounded on the outer peripheral side of the central conductor is disposed, and one ends thereof are connected to the first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105, respectively. The other end is connected to the phase shifter 2. A filter circuit or the like may be interposed between the first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105 and the phase shifter 2.

  The phase shifter 2 distributes the input signal input from the feeding point 14 via the filter circuit 13 to the first to fifth cables 111 to 115 and adjusts the phase of the distributed signal. The configuration of the phase shifter 2 will be described later.

  The control unit 12 receives a command from a host control device, for example, by communication, and controls the phase shifter 2 in accordance with this command. More specifically, the control unit 12 acquires command information related to the angle of the main beam of the array antenna 10 from the host control device, and the directivity within the vertical plane of the array antenna 10 is adapted to the command information. As described above, the actuator 22 of the phase shifter 2 described later is driven and controlled via the wire harness 120.

(Configuration of phase shifter)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the phase shifter 2.

  The phase shifter 2 includes a substrate 21, an actuator 22, and a movable conductor 23 inside a metal case 20 having conductivity. The case 20 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is electrically grounded.

  The side wall 20a of the case 20 is connected to the coaxial connector 201 connected to the first cable 111 (see FIG. 1), the coaxial connector 202 connected to the second cable 112, and the third cable 113. The coaxial connector 203 is fixed. Further, the coaxial connector 204 connected to the fourth cable 114, the coaxial connector 205 connected to the fifth cable 115, and the sixth cable 116 are connected to the side wall 20b of the case 20 facing the side wall 20a. The coaxial connector 206 is fixed. The coaxial connectors 201 to 205 are an example of the input / output unit of the present invention. In the present embodiment, signal outputs from the phase shifter 2 to the first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105 are the coaxial connectors 201 to 205. Is done by.

  The connection terminals (not shown) of the coaxial connectors 201 to 206 are connected to the electrodes 211 to 216 formed on the surface 21a of the substrate 21, respectively.

  A multi-core connector 207 connected to the wire harness 120 is fixed to the side wall 20c between the side walls 20a and 20b. The coaxial connectors 201 to 206 and the multi-core connector 207 are inserted and fixed through through holes formed in the side walls 20a, 20b, and 20c.

  The substrate 21 is made of a flat insulator and is fixed to the case 20. An actuator 22 is disposed on the back surface 21 b side of the substrate 21.

  The actuator 22 is, for example, a stepping motor, and rotates the rotating shaft 220 by a driving current supplied from the control unit 12 via the wire harness 120, the multicore connector 207, and the internal wiring 221 connected to the multicore connector 207. Generate torque to be generated. The rotating shaft 220 penetrates the substrate 21 from the back surface 21b side to the front surface 21a side.

  On the surface 21 a side of the substrate 21, the phase shift unit 3 and first to fifth phase adjustment units 41 to 45 are formed.

  The phase-shifting portion 3 shares a central point with the first output-side conductor 31 formed in an arc shape and the first output-side conductor 31, and is formed inside the first output-side conductor 31. Output side conductor 32, input side conductor 33 formed on the arc center side of second output side conductor 32, and movable conductor 23. The first output side conductor 31 and the second output side conductor 32 are examples of the first fixed conductor of the present invention. The input side conductor 33 is an example of a second fixed conductor of the present invention.

  The movable conductor 23 is made of a conductive metal such as copper or aluminum, and is formed of a column portion 23a and a connection portion 23b formed at one end of the column portion 23a and connected to the rotation shaft 220 of the actuator 22 so as not to be relatively rotatable. An arc-shaped first arc portion 23c formed at one end of the column portion 23a and a second arc portion 23d formed between the first arc portion 23c and the connecting portion 23b are integrally provided. The movable conductor 23 rotates about the rotation shaft 220 as the rotation shaft 220 of the actuator 22 rotates.

  The first arc portion 23 c faces the first output-side conductor 31, and the second arc portion 23 d faces the second output-side conductor 32. An insulator 231 is fixed to a surface of the first arc portion 23c facing the first output-side conductor 31. An insulator 232 is fixed to the surface of the second arcuate portion 23d that faces the second output-side conductor 32.

  The connecting portion 23 b is formed in a circular shape centered on the rotation shaft 220 and faces the input-side conductor 33. An insulator 233 is fixed to the surface of the coupling portion 23b facing the input side conductor 33. The insulator 231, the insulator 232, and the insulator 233 are made of, for example, insulating resin, and are fixed to the movable conductor 23 by, for example, adhesion.

  The curvature and the radial width of the first arc portion 23 c are formed to be equivalent to the first output-side conductor 31. Further, the curvature and the radial width of the second arc portion 23 d are formed to be equal to those of the second output-side conductor 32. The circumferential length of the first arc portion 23 c is shorter than the circumferential length of the first output-side conductor 31. Further, the circumferential length of the second arc portion 23 d is shorter than the circumferential length of the second output-side conductor 32.

The first output-side conductor 31 and the second output-side conductor 32 are formed in an arc shape with the rotation axis 220 as the center. The outer radius r ₃₂ of the second output side conductor 32 is formed smaller than the inner radius r _{31 of} the first output side conductor 31. The first output-side conductor 31 and the second output-side conductor 32 are conductor patterns made of metal foil (for example, copper foil) formed on the surface 21 a of the substrate 21.

  The input-side conductor 33 is an annular conductor pattern formed in the peripheral portion of the through hole through which the rotation shaft 220 is inserted in the surface 21 a of the substrate 21, and is connected to the first output-side conductor 31 and the second output-side conductor 32. They are spaced apart from each other. Further, the input side conductor 33 is connected to the electrode 216 by a wiring pattern 560.

  The movable conductor 23 electrically couples the input-side conductor 33 with the first output-side conductor 31 and the second output-side conductor 32. More specifically, the connecting portion 23b of the movable conductor 23 is capacitively coupled to the input-side conductor 33, the first arc portion 23c is capacitively coupled to the first output-side conductor 31, and the second arc portion 23d is the second arc portion 23d. The output side conductor 32 is capacitively coupled. Thereby, the transmission signal supplied to the sixth coaxial connector 206 is distributed to the first output side conductor 31 and the second output side conductor 32 via the wiring pattern 560, the input side conductor 33, and the movable conductor 23. The

  When the rotating shaft 220 of the actuator 22 rotates, the movable conductor 23 is driven to rotate, the first arc portion 23c extends along the extending direction of the first output-side conductor 31, and the second arc portion 23d is the second arc portion. The output side conductor 32 moves along the extending direction.

  As for the 1st output side conductor 31, the one end part 31a and the other end part 31b of the extending | stretching direction (circumferential direction) serve as an output part. Further, the second output-side conductor 32 has an output portion at one end 32a and the other end 32b in the extending direction (circumferential direction).

  When the movable conductor 23 rotates in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 2 (clockwise direction), the path length from the input-side conductor 33 to the one end portion 31a of the first output-side conductor 31 is changed from the input-side conductor 33 to the other end. The path length from the input side conductor 33 to the one end 32a of the second output side conductor 32 is longer than the path length from the input side conductor 33 to the other end 32b. Become. On the other hand, when the movable conductor 23 rotates in the direction of the arrow B shown in FIG. 2 (counterclockwise direction), the path length from the input-side conductor 33 to the one end 31a of the first output-side conductor 31 becomes the input-side conductor 33. The path length from the input side conductor 33 to the one end part 32a of the second output side conductor 32 is shorter than the path length from the input side conductor 33 to the other end part 31b. Shorter than.

  As described above, the actuator 22 rotates and moves the movable conductor 23 along the extending direction of the first output-side conductor 31 and the second output-side conductor 32, whereby the first output-side conductor 31 and the second output-side conductor 31. The signal transmission path length between the output part of the output side conductor 32 and the input side conductor 33 is changed. That is, when the movable conductor 23 rotates about the rotation shaft 220, the one end 31 a and the other end 31 b that are the output portions of the first output-side conductor 31 and the output portion of the second output-side conductor 32. The path length from the input-side conductor 33 at one end 32a and the other end 32b changes, and the phase at each output changes accordingly.

  One end 31 a of the first output-side conductor 31 is connected to the electrode 211 via the wiring pattern 511, the first phase adjustment unit 41, and the wiring pattern 512, and the other end 31 b is connected to the wiring pattern 541, the fourth pattern. The phase adjusting unit 44 and the wiring pattern 542 are connected to the electrode 214. One end 32a of the second output-side conductor 32 is connected to the electrode 212 through the wiring pattern 521, the second phase adjustment unit 42, and the wiring pattern 522, and the other end 32b is connected to the wiring pattern 551, the fifth. The phase adjustment unit 45 and the wiring pattern 552 are connected to the electrode 215.

  The input-side conductor 33 is connected to the electrode 213 via the wiring pattern 531, the third phase adjustment unit 43, and the wiring pattern 532.

  When the movable conductor 23 rotates, the phases at the output portions of the first output-side conductor 31 and the second output-side conductor 32 change, so that the first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105 of the array antenna 10 are radiated. The phase of the radio wave changes.

  The controller 12 controls the directivity of the array antenna 10 by adjusting the phase of the radio waves radiated from the first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105 by driving the actuator 22.

  However, the phase difference in the coaxial connectors 201 to 205 of the phase shifter 2 remains as it is due to the error in the cable length of the first to fifth cables 111 to 115, the difference in characteristics, the difference in the laying path, or the like. May not appear as a phase difference of radio waves radiated from the antenna elements 101 to 105. That is, the phase difference of the desired radio wave cannot be obtained due to an error in the signal transmission path between the phase shifter 2 and the array antenna 10, and as a result, the vertical plane directivity of the array antenna 10 is deteriorated. There is. In the present embodiment, this phase difference error is improved by adjusting the phase using the first to fourth phase adjustment units 41 to 44. 2 shows an example in which the coaxial cable is connected to the substrate 21 using the coaxial connectors 201 to 206. However, the first to fifth cables 111 to 115 are directly soldered to the substrate 21. You may connect.

(Configuration of phase adjuster)
Since the first to fifth phase adjustment units 41 to 45 have a common configuration, the first phase adjustment unit 41 will be described as an example.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the first phase adjustment unit 41. The first phase adjustment unit 41 may connect the first node 411 on the first output-side conductor 31 side, the second node 412 on the coaxial connector 201 side, and the first node 411 and the second node 412. The first to third connection paths 413 to 415 are possible.

  The first node 411 is a branch point of the first to third connection paths 413 to 415 provided at the end of the wiring pattern 511. The second node 412 is a connection point of the first to third connection paths 413 to 415 provided at the end of the wiring pattern 512.

  The first connection path 413 is divided between the electrode 413a and the electrode 413b, a wiring pattern 413c that connects the electrode 413a and the first node 411, and a wiring pattern 413d that connects the electrode 413b and the second node 412 have.

  The second connection path 414 is divided between the electrode 414a and the electrode 414b, a wiring pattern 414c that connects the electrode 414a and the first node 411, and a wiring pattern 414d that connects the electrode 414b and the second node 412 have.

  The third connection path 415 is divided between the electrode 415a and the electrode 415b, a wiring pattern 415c that connects the electrode 415a and the first node 411, and a wiring pattern 415d that connects the electrode 415b and the second node 412 have.

  The electrodes 413a and 413b, the electrodes 414a and 414b, and the electrodes 415a and 415b are arranged close to each other, and can be connected (short-circuited) by soldering, for example. These electrodes may be connected to each other by, for example, a short pin, or may be connected or insulated by turning on or off a dip switch.

The path length of the first connection path 413 in the case of connecting the electrode 413a and the electrode 413b and the path length _{L 1,} the path length the path length of the second connection path 414 in the case of connecting the electrode 414a and the electrode 414b _{L 2} and, when the path length of the third connection path 415 in the case of connecting the electrode 415a and the electrode 415b and the path length _{L 3,} the path length _{L 1} is longer than the path length _{L 2,} shorter than the path length _{L 3} (Route length L ₂ <route length L ₁ <route length L ₃ ).

The path length difference between the path length L ₂ and the path length L ₃ depends on the frequency of the transmission signal radiated from the array antenna 10 and the distance and configuration of the transmission path between the phase shifter 2 and the array antenna 10. It can be set corresponding to the amount of phase difference error that can occur. Specifically, the path length difference between the path length L ₂ and the path length L ₃ is 5 to 20% (5% or more and 20% or less) of the wavelength at the center frequency of the frequency band of the transmission signal radiated from the array antenna 10. ) Is desirable. More preferably, the path length difference between the path length L ₂ and the path length L ₃ is 10 to 15% (10% or more and 15% or less) of the wavelength at the center frequency of the frequency band of the transmission signal radiated from the array antenna 10. It is good to be. If the path length difference is within such a range, the phase error of the first antenna element 101 caused by the error of the signal transmission path between the phase shifter 2 and the array antenna 10 can be corrected appropriately. it can.

The path length L ₁ may be a value near the center between the path length L ₂ and the path length L ₃ . If the electrode 413a and the electrode 413b are connected in a normal time when there is no phase difference error of the radiated radio wave in the array antenna 10, the phase of the radio wave radiated from the first antenna element 101 is changed to the + side and −. It is possible to adjust to either side.

That is, when connected to the first node 411 by the second connection path 414 connects the electrode 414a and the electrode 414b and the second node 412, since the path length than at the normal time becomes shorter, the path length _{L 1} and the path You can advance the phase in accordance with the difference between the length L _2. Further, by connecting the third connection path 415 connects the electrode 415a and the electrode 415b and the first node 411 and second node 412, since the normal path length is longer than the time, the path length _{L 1} and the path it can delay the phase in accordance with the length L ₃ and the difference.

  The electrodes 413a, 413b, 414a, 414b, 415a, 415b and the wiring patterns 413c, 413d, 414c, 414d, 415c, 415d are conductor patterns formed on the surface 21a of the substrate 21.

  Similarly, the phase error of the second antenna element 102 is caused by the second phase adjustment unit 42, and the phase error of the third antenna element 103 is caused by the third phase adjustment unit 43. The phase error can be individually adjusted by the fourth phase adjustment unit 44, and the phase error of the fifth antenna element 105 can be individually adjusted by the fifth phase adjustment unit 45.

(Phase adjustment method)
Next, a method for adjusting the phase of the antenna device 100 using the phase shifter 2 will be described. This phase adjustment is performed, for example, when the array antenna 10 is installed and the antenna device 100 is constructed.

  The phase is adjusted sequentially for each of the first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105. For example, when the phase of the first antenna element 101 is adjusted, for example, the second to fifth elements are used so that radio waves are not radiated from the other antenna elements (second to fifth antenna elements 102 to 105). In the phase adjustment units 42 to 45, the connection between the first and second output-side conductors 31 and 32 or the input-side conductor 33 side and the second to fifth antenna elements 102 to 105 side is cut off.

  Further, the movable conductor 23 is localized to a neutral position (a position where the path lengths from the input-side conductor 33 to the one end 31a and the other end 31b of the first output-side conductor 31 are equal), and the first phase adjustment unit 41 is positioned. The electrode 413a and the electrode 413b are connected, and the first node 411 and the second node 412 are connected by the first connection path 413.

  Then, the phase difference between the signal input to the phase shifter 2 and the radio wave radiated from the first antenna element 101 is detected. If this phase difference is within a specified range, the first connection path 413 is selected for the first phase adjusting unit 41, and the electrodes 413a and 413b of the first connection path 413 are connected.

  If the detected phase difference is outside the specified range and the phase of the radiated radio wave is ahead of the specified range, the third connection path 415 is selected to connect the electrode 415a and the electrode 415b. . In addition, when the phase of the radiated radio wave is behind the specified range, the second connection path 414 is selected and the electrode 414a and the electrode 414b are connected.

  Thus, based on the phase difference between the signal input to the phase shifter 2 (the signal supplied to the input-side conductor 33) and the radio wave signal radiated from the first antenna element 101, One of the three connection paths 413 to 415 is selected, and the selected connection path is divided (between the electrodes 413a and 413b, between the electrodes 414a and 414b, or between the electrodes 415a and 415a). Any one of the electrodes 415b) is connected.

  Such phase adjustment is sequentially performed for the second to fifth antenna elements 102 to 105.

(Relationship between phase error and vertical plane directivity)
FIG. 4 is a graph in which the influence of the phase errors of the first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105 on the vertical antenna directivity in the array antenna 10 is verified. FIG. 4A shows a case where the phase error is ± 5%. , (B) show cases where the phase error is ± 12%.

  4 (a) and 4 (b), the solid line indicates the center frequency of the frequency band, the broken line indicates the upper limit frequency of the frequency band, and the alternate long and short dash line indicates the vertical plane directivity of the upper limit frequency of the frequency band. The horizontal axis indicates the horizontal direction as 90 °, the elevation angle on the right side of 90 °, and the depression angle on the left side of 90 °. The vertical axis shows the electric field strength at an angle away from the peak angle as a decibel value, with the peak of the electric field strength of the emitted radio wave being zero. A thick line shown in FIG. 4 indicates a target index, and indicates a target value for suppressing the electric field strength below this level.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when the phase error is ± 5%, the electric field strength reaches a peak near 85 °, which is slightly lower than 90 ° (horizontal direction), and the electric field strength gradually increases as the angle decreases. On the other hand, in the range exceeding 90 °, an ideal characteristic in which the electric field intensity is suppressed below the target index is shown.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the phase error is ± 12%, the electric field intensity has a peak around 85 ° as in the graph of FIG. The electric field strength fluctuates greatly. In addition, in a range exceeding 90 °, the electric field strength partially exceeds the target index. If the electric field strength exceeds the target index within this range, interference occurs, which is not preferable.

  Thus, the graph of FIG. 4 shows that ideal vertical surface directivity can be obtained by suppressing the phase error.

(Operation and effect of the embodiment)
According to the embodiment described above, the following operations and effects can be obtained.

(1) Since the phase shifter 2 can adjust the phase difference without performing operations such as removing the first to fifth cables 111 to 115 from the phase shifter 2, the first to fifth cables It becomes possible to easily adjust the phase of the signal transmitted from the antenna elements 101 to 105.

(2) Phase adjustment units (first to fifth phase adjustment units 41 to 45) are provided corresponding to the respective antenna elements (first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105) of the array antenna 10. Therefore, the phase can be adjusted independently for each antenna element. That is, when an error in the phase of the radiated radio wave is to be corrected by the rotation of the movable conductor 23, the phase of only one antenna element cannot be changed, and the phases of the other antenna elements are also changed. However, according to the present embodiment, the phase can be adjusted for each antenna element based on the phase difference between the signal input to the phase shifter 2 and the radio wave signal radiated from each antenna element. The phase adjustment operation can be easily and reliably performed.

(3) Since the phase adjustment unit (first to fifth phase adjustment units 41 to 45) has three connection paths (first to third connection paths 413 to 415), phase advance and delay Corresponding to any of these errors, the error can be reduced.

(4) The first to fifth phase adjustment units 41 to 45, the first and second output side conductors 31 and 32 of the phase shift unit 3, and the input side conductor 33 are conductors on the surface 21a of the common substrate 21. Since it is a pattern, these are simultaneously formed by etching the substrate 21. Thereby, the increase in the work man-hour at the time of manufacture and the raise of cost can be suppressed. Moreover, it can also contribute to size reduction and weight reduction of the phase shifter 2.

(5) the path length difference between the path length L ₂ and the path length L _3, if 5 to 20% of the wavelength at the center frequency of the frequency band of the transmission signal radiated from the array antenna 10, a phase shifter 2 It is possible to appropriately correct a phase error caused by a signal transmission path error between the array antenna 10 and the like. If this path length difference exceeds 20% of the wavelength, the generated phase error cannot be finely corrected. If the path length is less than 5% of the wavelength, it is not possible to appropriately correct a large error.

(Application examples)
Although the case where the array antenna 10 of the antenna apparatus 100 performs only transmission has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to a shared antenna that performs transmission and reception. A configuration example in this case is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an antenna device 100A capable of performing transmission and reception. In this configuration example, the first to fifth duplexers 61 to 65, which are types of filters for separating the transmission wave and the reception wave, include the first phase shifter 2A for transmission and the second phase shifter for reception. 2B and the first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105, respectively.

  The first phase shifter 2 </ b> A distributes the signal input from the feeding point 14 and adjusts the phase, and outputs the result to the first to fifth duplexers 61 to 65. The second phase shifter 2 </ b> B adjusts the phase of the input signals from the first to fifth duplexers 61 to 65 and outputs the adjusted signal to the output point 15. The functions and configurations of the first phase shifter 2A and the second phase shifter 2B are the same as those described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, components having the same functions as those described with reference to FIG.

  In the antenna device 100A, the variation in characteristics of the first to fifth duplexers 61 to 65 is added as a cause of the phase error, so that the phase error tends to be larger than the configuration shown in FIG. . However, the first phase shifter 2 </ b> A and the second phase shifter 2 </ b> B including the first to fifth phase adjustment units 41 to 45 suppress this phase error and suppress the deterioration of the vertical plane directivity. Can do. In addition, since the first phase shifter 2A for transmission and the second phase shifter 2B for reception are provided separately, the first to fifth of the transmission frequency band and the reception frequency band are provided. The phase of the radio wave radiated from the antenna elements 101 to 105 can be individually adjusted.

  While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments described above do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, it should be noted that not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the first phase adjustment unit 41 has three first to third connection paths 413, 414, and 415 having different path lengths has been described, but the number of connection paths may be two. Well, four or more. If the number of connection paths is large, the phase can be adjusted more finely.

  In the above embodiment, the phase shifter 2 has the same number of phase adjustment units (first to fifth phase adjustment units 41 to 45) as the five antenna elements (first to fifth antenna elements 101 to 105). However, the number of phase adjustment units may be smaller than the number of antenna elements. In this case, for example, when it is necessary to adjust the phase of an antenna element that does not have a corresponding phase adjustment unit, the phase difference between the antenna elements is adjusted by adjusting the phase of the phase adjustment unit corresponding to another antenna element. Errors can be suppressed.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the array antenna 10 had five antenna elements (the 1st-5th antenna elements 101-105), the number of antenna elements is not restricted to this. The present invention is particularly effective when there are three or more antenna elements in which the phase of each antenna element cannot be adjusted only by the phase shift unit 3.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the movable conductor 23 is rotated by the actuator 22 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the input conductor and the first and second output conductors are straight lines parallel to each other. The movable conductor may be translated by an actuator.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the 1st-3rd connection path | route 413,414,415 was divided | segmented in the one place, not only this but multiple each of several connection paths | routes The route length may be changed depending on the combination of connections at the divided points.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Phase shifter, 2A ... 1st phase shifter, 2B ... 2nd phase shifter, 3 ... Phase shift part, 10 ... Array antenna, 12 ... Control part, 13 ... Filter circuit, 14 ... Feeding point, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Output point, 20 ... Case, 20a, 20b, 20c ... Side wall, 21 ... Board | substrate, 21a ... Front surface, 21b ... Back surface, 22 ... Actuator, 23 ... Movable conductor, 23a ... Column part, 23b ... Connection part, 23c ... 1st arc part, 23d ... 2nd arc part, 31 ... 1st output side conductor (1st fixed conductor), 31a ... 1 end part, 31b ... other end part, 32 ... 2nd output side conductor (1st Fixed conductor), 32a ... one end, 32b ... the other end, 33 ... input-side conductor (second fixed conductor), 41-45 ... first to fifth phase adjusters, 61-65 ... first to first. Fifth duplexer, 100, 100A ... antenna device, 101-105 ... first to fifth antennas Child, 111-116 ... 1st-6th cable, 120 ... Wire harness, 201-206 ... Coaxial connector (input / output part), 207 ... Multi-core connector, 211-216 ... Electrode, 220 ... Rotating shaft, 221 ... Internal wiring, 231, 232, 233 ... insulator, 411 ... first node, 412 ... second node, 413 to 415 ... first to third connection paths, 413a, 413b, 414a, 414b, 415a, 415b ... electrodes, 413c, 413d, 414c, 414d, 415c, 415d ... wiring pattern, 511, 512, 521, 522, 531, 532, 541, 542, 551, 552, 560 ... wiring pattern

Claims (5)

A first fixed conductor;
A second fixed conductor spaced apart from the first fixed conductor;
A movable conductor that electrically couples the first fixed conductor and the second fixed conductor;
A path of signal transmission between the first fixed conductor and the second fixed conductor by moving the movable conductor along the extending direction of at least one of the first fixed conductor and the second fixed conductor An actuator that changes the length;
An input / output unit for performing signal output to the antenna element or signal input from the antenna element;
A phase adjustment unit that is provided between the first fixed conductor and the input / output unit and adjusts the phase of the signal;
The phase adjusting unit is divided at least at one location on the first node on the first fixed conductor side and the second node on the input / output unit side, and by connecting the divided locations, A phase shifter having a plurality of connection paths capable of connecting the first node and the second node with different path lengths. The phase adjustment unit is configured such that a difference between a path length of a connection path having the shortest path length and a path length of a connection path having the longest path length among the plurality of connection paths is a center frequency of the signal frequency band. 5 to 20% of the wavelength of
The phase shifter according to claim 1. The plurality of connection paths are composed of at least three connection paths.
The phase shifter according to claim 1 or 2. The first fixed conductor is formed in an arc shape,
The second fixed conductor is formed on the arc center side of the first fixed conductor,
The movable conductor is rotatable along a circumferential direction of the first fixed conductor;
The first fixed conductor, the second fixed conductor, the first node, the second node, and the plurality of connection paths are conductor patterns formed on a common substrate.
The phase shifter of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3. Using the phase shifter according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
One of the plurality of connection paths is selected based on a phase difference between a signal supplied to the second fixed conductor and a signal radiated from the antenna element via the phase adjustment unit. And a phase adjustment method for connecting the divided portions of the selected connection path.

Images