JP2013046215A - Tracking antenna device, and rf characteristic variation compensation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tracking antenna device and an RF characteristic variation compensation method, capable of compensating phase drift over time at a plurality of transceiver devices each of which operates individually.SOLUTION: A tracking antenna device, for transmitting a transmission RF signal from each antenna of each transmitter with a predetermined phase, includes feedback signal generation and down conversion means for down converting a transmission RF signal with phase drift after frequency up conversion at a transmitter, using a multiplied signal of a reference signal common to a plurality of transmitters, and for generating a feedback signal, and phase drift detection means for detecting relative phase differences among each of antennas yielded by phase drift of feedback signal from each transmitter. A distribution and phase shifting device, for distributing a transmission IF signal into a plurality of transmitters with predetermined input phases, controls each of input phases of transmission IF signals distributed into a plurality of transmitters based on the relative phase difference detected results, and compensates phase drift among each of the antennas.

Description

  The present invention relates to a tracking antenna device and an RF characteristic variation compensation method in an earth station device for mobile satellite communication.

  The tracking antenna device has a function of mechanically controlling the antenna directivity direction (elevation angle and azimuth angle) by detecting directivity direction estimation and a directivity direction error amount from various sensor information and signals received from a communication partner. .

  On the other hand, since satellite communication is the only broadband communication means provided on the ocean, tracking antennas that use multiple antennas are a low-cost method for realizing reliability against failure of satellite communication earth station equipment on board. An apparatus has been studied (Non-patent Document 1).

FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of a conventional tracking antenna apparatus using a plurality of antennas.
In FIG. 8, the tracking antenna device includes a plurality of N transmitting / receiving devices 50-1 to 50 -N, a phase control device 60, and a modem device 70.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of a conventional transmission / reception device 50-k (k = 1 to N).
In FIG. 9, the transmission / reception device 50-k includes an antenna unit 51 with a tracking function, a frequency down-converter 52, and a frequency up-converter 53. The frequency down-converter 52 outputs the received IF signal R _IF (k) obtained by frequency down-converting the received RF signal R _RF (k) input from the antenna unit 11 with the tracking function to the modulation / demodulation device 70 via the phase control device 60. To do. The frequency up-converter 53 includes a local oscillator 531 that inputs a 10 MHz reference signal, a frequency converter 532, and a high-pass filter (HPF) 533. The frequency converter 532 includes a transmission IF signal T _IF (k) having a frequency f _IF input from the modulation / demodulation device 70 via the phase control device 60, and a local signal LO (k) having a frequency f _LO input from the local oscillator 131. And a transmission RF signal T _RF (k) having a frequency f _RF (= f _IF + f _LO ) is output to the antenna unit 51 with a tracking function via the high-pass filter 533.

The local signal LO (k), the transmission IF signal T _IF (k), and the transmission RF signal T _RF (k) are expressed as follows.
Local signal LO (k): cos (2πf _LO t + Δθ _k (t))
Transmission IF signal T _IF (k): cos (2πf _IF t + θ _ink (mT))
Transmission RF signal T _RF (k): cos (2πf _RF t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t))
Here, θ _ink (mT) is an output phase set for each transmission / reception device 50-k by the phase control device 60, T is a set period, and m is a natural number. Δθ _k (t) is a phase component included in the local signal.

  In such a tracking antenna device, control is performed so that transmission signals from the plurality of transmission / reception devices 50-1 to 50-N are transmitted to the satellite station at a predetermined phase, and improvement in reliability and improvement in pointing direction accuracy are achieved. EIRP (effective radiation power) and G / T (reception performance) are improved.

Susaki, Suzuki, Yamashita, Kobayashi, "Study on a tracking antenna for a shipboard earth station using multiple antennas", 2010 IEICE Society Conference, B-3-19, 2010 Susaki, Suzuki, Kobayashi, "Method for compensating phase variation of shipboard earth station distributed array antenna and experimental verification", IEICE Technical Report SAT2011-3, pp.11-16, May 2011

A local oscillator 531 included in each transmitting / receiving device 50-k receives a common reference signal (for example, a 10 MHz reference signal) from the phase control device 60 and oscillates at the same frequency (13.05 GHz in the Ku band). Here, since the frequency difference between the local signal and the reference signal is more than 1000 times, if a slight phase shift Δθ _k (t) due to division between the local oscillators of each tracking antenna transmission / reception device accumulates, time elapses As a result, the relative phase varies. FIG. 10 shows an example of time variation of the relative phase difference generated between the transmitting and receiving apparatuses. When such a relative phase difference occurs, problems such as a decrease in gain and a shift in directivity direction occur.

  In order to solve this problem, the phase control device 60 compares the phase of the output of the frequency up-converter 53 of each of the transmission / reception devices 50-1 to 50-N, and the phase difference due to the above characteristic variation becomes zero. A method of performing feedback control is conceivable. However, since the signal after the frequency up-conversion has a high frequency and may be in the order of meters between the transmitting and receiving apparatuses, the feedback to the phase control apparatus 60 as it is in consideration of the point of phase fluctuation due to loss and environmental change. Will be difficult. Therefore, although it is desirable to convert to a low frequency, if a frequency conversion is performed using an independent local oscillator, a new phase fluctuation is superimposed as in the frequency up-converter 53.

  Further, a common reference signal in the same frequency band as the transmission signal is supplied from the modem device 70 or the phase control device 60 to each of the transmission / reception devices 50-1 to 50-N, and frequency conversion is performed based on the reference signal. Configuration is also conceivable. However, since it is necessary to increase the frequency of the reference signal in order to convert a high-frequency signal such as the Ku band widely used in satellite communications, the points of phase fluctuations due to loss and environmental changes are taken into consideration as described above. Then it is not realistic.

  Also, there is a method (Non-patent Document 2) for obtaining a low-frequency feedback signal by converting the frequency of the Ku-band transmission RF signal using the transmission IF signal input to the frequency up-converter 53. When the frequency of the Ku-band transmission RF signal is converted using the frequency, the frequency of the obtained feedback signal changes depending on the transmission IF signal and becomes several hundreds of MHz at the maximum, which causes a problem such as loss.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a tracking antenna device and an RF characteristic variation compensation method that can compensate for phase variation over time in a plurality of transmission / reception devices that operate independently.

  A first invention includes a distributor / phase shifter that distributes a transmission IF signal to a plurality of transmission devices at a predetermined input phase, and transmits RF signals obtained by frequency upconverting the transmission IF signal at each transmission device from an antenna. In a tracking antenna device that transmits at a phase of the same, a transmission RF signal including phase fluctuations after frequency up-conversion by the transmission device is down-converted using a signal obtained by multiplying a reference signal common to a plurality of transmission devices, and feedback is performed. Feedback signal generation down-converting means for generating a signal, and phase fluctuation detecting means for detecting a relative phase difference between the antennas due to phase fluctuations from the feedback signal of each transmitting device, and the distributor / phase shifter has a relative phase difference Based on the detection result of each, the input phase of the transmission IF signal distributed to a plurality of transmission devices is controlled, and the position between each antenna is controlled. It is configured to compensate for variations.

  A second invention includes a distributor / phase shifter that distributes a transmission IF signal to a plurality of transmission devices at a predetermined input phase, and transmits RF signals obtained by frequency up-converting the transmission IF signal at each transmission device from an antenna. In a tracking antenna device that transmits at a phase of λ, a transmission RF signal including phase fluctuations after frequency up-conversion by the transmission device is generated by a secondary or higher-order alias component using a reference signal common to the plurality of transmission devices. A feedback signal generation down-conversion unit that converts the frequency into a low frequency to generate a feedback signal, and a phase fluctuation detection unit that detects a relative phase difference between the antennas due to characteristic fluctuations from the feedback signal of each transmission device are provided. The phase shifter is configured so that each input phase of the transmission IF signal is distributed to a plurality of transmission devices based on the detection result of the relative phase difference. Controlled, a structure for compensating for phase variations between each antenna.

  In the tracking antenna device of the first invention or the second invention, the phase fluctuation detecting means detects a relative phase difference from the feedback signal of each transmission device, and transmits the relative phase difference of the feedback signal and the transmission distributed to each transmission device. This is a configuration for detecting a relative phase difference superimposed by frequency up-conversion of each transmission device using a known phase of the IF signal.

  In the tracking antenna device of the first invention or the second invention, the frequency of the reference signal is changed in accordance with the frequency of the transmission IF signal, and the frequency of the feedback signal is made constant.

  In the tracking antenna device of the first or second invention, the reference signal and the transmission IF signal are set to have different frequencies, and a plurality of transmissions are performed by superimposing the reference signal on the transmission IF signal distributed to the plurality of transmission devices. Means for transmitting to the apparatus, and means for demultiplexing the transmission IF signal and the reference signal transmitted to the plurality of transmitting apparatuses, and inputting the demultiplexed reference signal to the feedback signal generation down-converting means.

  In the tracking antenna device of the first or second invention, means for transmitting a reference signal to a plurality of transmitting devices via a signal line different from a transmission IF signal distributed to the plurality of transmitting devices, and a plurality of transmitting devices Means for inputting a reference signal transmitted via a signal line different from the transmission IF signal to feedback signal generation down-converting means.

  A third invention includes a distributor / phase shifter that distributes a transmission IF signal to a plurality of transmission devices at a predetermined input phase, and transmits RF signals obtained by frequency up-converting the transmission IF signal at each transmission device from an antenna. In the RF characteristic variation compensation method of the tracking antenna device that transmits at the phase of the transmission antenna, a signal obtained by multiplying a transmission RF signal including phase variation after frequency up-conversion by the transmission device by a reference signal common to a plurality of transmission devices is used. Down-convert, generate a feedback signal, detect the relative phase difference between the antennas due to phase fluctuations from the feedback signal of each transmission device, and the distributor / phase shifter detects a plurality of phases based on the detection result of the relative phase difference. Each input phase of the transmission IF signal distributed to the transmission apparatus is controlled to compensate for phase variation between the antennas.

  A fourth invention includes a distributor / phase shifter that distributes a transmission IF signal to a plurality of transmission devices at a predetermined input phase, and transmits RF signals obtained by frequency up-converting the transmission IF signal at each transmission device from an antenna. In the RF characteristic variation compensation method of the tracking antenna device that transmits at a phase of the transmission RF signal, the transmission RF signal including the phase variation after frequency up-conversion by the transmission device is second or higher using a reference signal common to a plurality of transmission devices. Down-converted by the alias component of, generates a feedback signal, detects the relative phase difference between each antenna due to characteristic fluctuations from the feedback signal of each transmitter, and the distributor / phase shifter is based on the detection result of the relative phase difference Thus, each input phase of a transmission IF signal distributed to a plurality of transmission devices is controlled to compensate for phase fluctuations between antennas.

  The present invention can stabilize the gain and the directing direction by compensating for phase fluctuations over time of a plurality of transmission apparatuses that operate independently of each other. In addition, since it is configured by a plurality of antenna devices, it is possible to configure an earth station antenna device that has improved reliability and redundancy by redundancy.

  Conventionally, because the transmission signal is high frequency and the devices are separated from each other, the generation of a feedback signal using a common reference signal that is not practical due to problems such as attenuation and path length fluctuation is about the same as the transmission IF signal frequency And a stable feedback signal can be obtained by using a low frequency reference signal.

  Moreover, a constant frequency feedback signal can be obtained by changing the reference signal frequency in accordance with the transmission IF signal frequency.

  By selecting the transmission IF signal frequency and the reference signal frequency to be different and demultiplexing them within the transmission device, it is possible to supply both signals superimposed on the same signal line, thereby reducing the number of signal lines. it can.

  Further, by supplying the reference signal through another signal line, it is possible to eliminate the duplexer inside the transmission apparatus and to make the transmission IF signal frequency the same as the reference signal frequency.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of Example 1 of the tracking antenna apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the transmission / reception apparatus 10-k in Example 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a dynamic phase fluctuation detection device 23. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example (L = 6) of the relationship between a transmission IF signal frequency and a reference signal frequency. It is a figure which shows the fluctuation | variation of a relative phase difference. It is a figure which shows the structural example of Example 2 of the tracking antenna apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the transmission / reception apparatus 10-k in Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional tracking antenna apparatus which uses a some antenna. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional transmission / reception apparatus 50-k. It is a figure which shows the example of a time fluctuation of the relative phase difference which arises between transmission / reception apparatuses.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a tracking antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the tracking antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of N transmission / reception apparatuses 10-1 to 10-N, a phase control apparatus 20, and a modulation / demodulation apparatus 30. The transmission / reception apparatus 10-k (k = 1). To N), the phase controller 20 compensates for the relative phase difference caused by the phase fluctuation generated in (N).

The phase control device 20 includes a distributor / phase shifter 21, a reference signal superimposing device 22, a dynamic phase fluctuation detector 23, and a signal synthesizer 24. The distribution / phase shifter 21 receives the transmission IF signal T _IF (= cos (2πf _IF t)) and distributes the output phase θ _ink (mT) of the transmission IF signal T _IF (k) to be distributed to each transceiver 10-k. ) Is set. The reference signal superimposing unit 22 adds a reference signal (= cos (2πf _REF t)) to the transmission IF signal T _IF (k) (= cos (2πf _IF t + θ _ink (mT))) output from the distributor / phase shifter 21. Is superimposed. The relationship between the distributor / phase shifter 21 and the dynamic phase fluctuation detector 23 will be described separately with reference to FIG. The signal synthesizer 24 synthesizes the reception IF signal R _IF (k) from each transmission / reception device 10-k and outputs it to the modulation / demodulation device 30.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration example of the transmission / reception device 10-k according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 2, the transmission / reception device 10-k includes an antenna unit 11 with a tracking function, a frequency down-converter 12, a frequency up-converter 13, a duplexer 14, and a feedback signal generation down-converter 15. . The duplexer 14 transmits the transmission IF signal T _IF (k) (= cos (2πf _IF t + θ _ink (mT)) + cos (2πf _REF t)) input from the phase control device 20 to the transmission IF signal (= cos (2πf _IF). t + θ _ink (mT))) and the reference signal (= cos (2πf _REF t)).

The frequency up-converter 13 uses the transmission IF signal (= cos (2πf _IF t + θ _ink (mT))) demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 14 as a local signal (= cos (2πf _LO t + Δθ _k (t))). Then, frequency conversion is performed as shown in Equation (1) to convert the transmission RF frequency to f _RF = f _LO + f _IF .
cos (2πf _LO t + Δθ _k (t)) cos (2πf _IF t + θ _ink (mT))
= (1/2) cos (2π (f _LO + f _IF ) t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t))
+ (1/2) cos (2π (f _LO −f _IF ) t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t)) = (1/2) cos (2πf _RF t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t))
+ (1/2) cos (2π (f _LO −f _IF ) t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t))… (1)

Of this signal, only the first term is extracted using a filter or the like, and is output to the antenna unit 11 with a tracking function and the feedback signal generation down-converter 15. At this time, the phase component of Δθ _k (t) included in the local signal remains, and the transmission RF signal T _RF (k) after frequency conversion (= cos (2πf _RF t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t))) Therefore, it is necessary to compensate by detecting this phase fluctuation. The feedback signal generation down-converter 15 generates a feedback signal for this phase fluctuation compensation from the transmission RF signal T _RF (k).

Here, in the present invention, the transmission IF signal T _IF (k) (= cos (2πf _IF ) for distributing the reference signal (= cos (2πf _REF t)) common to the phase control device 20 to the respective transmission / reception devices 10-k. t + θ _ink (mT))) and they are demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 14. The multiplier 151 of the feedback signal generation down-converter 15 multiplies the reference signal (= cos (2πf _REF t)) demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 14 by L (L is a natural number). The frequency converter 152 uses a reference signal (= cos (2πLf _REF t)) obtained by multiplying the transmission RF signal T _RF (k) (= cos (2πf _RF t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t))) by L. Then, frequency conversion is performed as shown in Equation (2).
cos (2πf _RF t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t)) cos (2πLf _REF t)
= (1/2) cos (2π (f _RF + Lf _REF ) t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t))
+ (1/2) cos (2π (f _RF −Lf _REF ) t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t)) (2)

Of this signal, only the second term is taken out by the low-pass filter (LPF) 153 and the feedback signal FB (k) (= cos (2π (f _RF −Lf _REF ) t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t)) ) Is output. Note that the feedback signal FB (k) does not use the multiplier 151, but is input from the transmission RF signal T _RF (k) and the reference signal to the frequency converter 152, and is second-order or higher alias components obtained by harmonic mixing. May be used.

  Here, an example of the relationship between the transmission IF signal frequency and the reference signal frequency is shown in FIG. The reference signal frequency is plotted against the transmission IF signal frequency when the frequency of the feedback signal is 70 MHz and 140 MHz, and L = 6. The local signal frequency is 13.05 GHz. As described above, in the present invention, by setting the reference signal frequency with respect to the frequency of the transmission IF signal, a feedback signal having a constant frequency can always be obtained.

  The feedback signal FB (k) obtained by each transmission / reception device 10-k is fed back to the dynamic phase fluctuation detection device 23 of the phase control device 20, and the phase fluctuation generated by the frequency up-converter 13 of each transmission / reception device 10-k To detect. Then, the phase setting value of the distributor / phase shifter 21 is determined so that the relative phase shift becomes 0 from the phase of the reference transmitting / receiving device (for example, 10-1).

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the dynamic phase fluctuation detection device 23.
In FIG. 3, the dynamic phase fluctuation detection device 23 includes a phase difference detector 231 and a phase compensation amount calculator 232. The phase difference detector 231 converts the feedback signal FB (k) (= cos (2π (f _RF −Lf _REF ) t + θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t))) input from each transmission / reception device 10-k into A / D. By means of conversion and conversion to an inverse trigonometric function or sliding correlation, the feedback signal FB (k) of the transmission / reception device 10-k and the feedback signal FB (1) of the transmission / reception device 10-1 serving as a reference here Relative phase difference θ _outk Find ₁ (t). This relative phase difference θ _{outk 1} (t) is expressed by the following relational expression.
θ _{outk 1} (t) = (θ _ink (mT) + Δθ _k (t))-(θ _in1 (mT) + Δθ ₁ (t))… (3)

The phase compensation amount calculator 232 calculates the relative phase difference θ _outk obtained by the phase difference detector 231. By performing the following calculation using the set values θ _ink (mT) and θ _in1 (mT) of the current distributor / phase shifter 21 from ₁ (t), the transceivers 10-1 and 10-k Relative phase difference Δθ _k between phase components Δθ ₁ (t) and Δθ _k (t) included in the local signal superimposed by each frequency up-converter 13. ₁ (t) (= Δθ _k (t) −Δθ ₁ (t)) can be detected.
Δθ _{k 1} (t) ＝ θ _{outk 1} (t) − (θ _ink (mT) − (θ _in1 (mT)) (4)

Relative phase difference Δθ _k detected by the phase compensation amount calculator 232 ₁ (t) is a function of θ _ink (mT) and is uniquely determined. Therefore, by appropriately controlling the phase setting value θ _ink (mT) by the distributor / phase shifter 21, the relative value included in the transmission signal is obtained. Phase fluctuation Δθ _{k 1} (t) can be set to zero. Therefore, as an example of the compensation control method, θ _ink (mT), Δθ _{k 1} (t) and constant α (0 <α <1), the phase set amount θ _ink ((( m + 1) By changing T), abrupt phase setting change due to false detection can be avoided and gradually Δθ _k A method such as applying feedback control so that ₁ (t) becomes 0 can be considered.
θ _ink ((m + 1) T) ＝ θ _ink (mT) −αΔθ _{k 1} (t)… (5)

  FIG. 5 shows a simulation example of phase fluctuation compensation for the set period T in an environment where relative phase fluctuation exists. The relative phase without compensation was set as shown in FIG. When the compensation is performed, it can be confirmed that the phase fluctuation is suppressed.

In the first embodiment, the phase control device 20 superimposes the reference signal on the transmission IF signal T _IF (k) and transmits the signal to each transmission / reception device 10-k. The transmission / reception device 10-k demultiplexes the reference signal and feeds back. The signal generation down-converter 15 is input to generate a feedback signal FB (k). In the second embodiment, the reference signal is transmitted from the phase control device 20 to the feedback signal generation down-converter 15 of each transmission / reception device 10-k through a signal line different from the transmission IF signal T _IF (k), and the feedback signal FB ( k) is generated.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a tracking antenna apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 6, a reference signal generator 25 is used in place of the reference signal superimposing unit 22 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the reference signal (= cos (2πf) is transmitted on a signal line different from the transmission IF signal T _IF (k). _REF t)) is transmitted to each transceiver 10-k. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a configuration example of the transmission / reception device 10-k according to the second embodiment.
In FIG. 7, the duplexer 14 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is not required, and the directly transmitted reference signal is input to the multiplier 151 of the feedback signal generation down-converter 15. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Also in the present embodiment, compensation is performed by multiplying the reference signal transmitted from the phase control device 20 inside the transmission / reception device 10-k and performing the same processing as in the first embodiment. The frequency f _{REF of the} reference signal is set so that the frequency of the feedback signal FB (k) is constant as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, it is also possible to set a frequency of f _REF = f _IF .

  6 shows a configuration in which the reference signal generator 25 is provided in the phase control device 20, but the configuration is not limited to this, and a configuration in which the reference signal generator 25 is independently installed outside the phase control device 20, A configuration in which a reference signal is distributed from a single reference signal generator, such as a configuration provided in a transmission / reception device, may be used.

10-1 to 10-N transceiver 11 antenna unit with tracking function 12 frequency downconverter 13 frequency upconverter 14 demultiplexer 15 feedback signal generation downconverter 151 multiplier 152 frequency converter 153 low pass filter (LPF) )
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Phase control apparatus 21 Distribution | distribution / phase shifter 22 Reference signal superimposing device 23 Dynamic phase fluctuation detector 231 Phase difference detector 232 Phase compensation amount calculator 24 Signal synthesizer 25 Reference signal generator 30 Modulator / Demodulator

Claims (8)

A distribution / phase shifter that distributes a transmission IF signal to a plurality of transmission devices at a predetermined input phase, and that each transmission device frequency-converts the transmission IF signal and transmits a transmission RF signal from the antenna at a predetermined phase. In the antenna device,
Feedback signal generation for generating a feedback signal by down-converting the transmission RF signal including the phase fluctuation after frequency up-conversion by the transmission device using a signal obtained by multiplying a reference signal common to the plurality of transmission devices. Down-conversion means,
Phase fluctuation detecting means for detecting a relative phase difference between the antennas due to phase fluctuations from the feedback signal of each transmitting device;
The distribution / phase shifter is configured to control each input phase of a transmission IF signal distributed to the plurality of transmission devices based on the detection result of the relative phase difference, and to compensate for a phase variation between the antennas. A tracking antenna device characterized by the above. A distribution / phase shifter that distributes a transmission IF signal to a plurality of transmission devices at a predetermined input phase, and that each transmission device frequency-converts the transmission IF signal and transmits a transmission RF signal from the antenna at a predetermined phase. In the antenna device,
The transmission RF signal including the phase fluctuation after frequency up-conversion by the transmission device is converted to a low frequency generated by a secondary or higher-order alias component using a reference signal common to the plurality of transmission devices and fed back. Feedback signal generation down-converting means for generating a signal;
Phase fluctuation detection means for detecting a relative phase difference between the antennas due to characteristic fluctuations from the feedback signal of each of the transmission devices; and
The distribution / phase shifter is configured to control each input phase of a transmission IF signal distributed to the plurality of transmission devices based on the detection result of the relative phase difference, and to compensate for a phase variation between the antennas. A tracking antenna device characterized by the above. In the tracking antenna device according to claim 1 or 2,
The phase fluctuation detection means detects a relative phase difference from the feedback signal of each transmission device, and uses the relative phase difference of the feedback signal and the known phase of the transmission IF signal distributed to each transmission device. The tracking antenna device is characterized by detecting a relative phase difference superimposed by frequency up-conversion of each of the transmission devices. In the tracking antenna device according to claim 1 or 2,
A tracking antenna apparatus, wherein the frequency of the reference signal is changed in accordance with the frequency of the transmission IF signal, and the frequency of the feedback signal is made constant. In the tracking antenna device according to claim 1 or 2,
Means for setting the reference signal and the transmission IF signal to have different frequencies, and superimposing the reference signal on the transmission IF signal distributed to the plurality of transmission devices, and transmitting the reference signal to the plurality of transmission devices;
And means for demultiplexing the transmission IF signal and the reference signal transmitted to the plurality of transmission devices, and inputting the demultiplexed reference signal to the feedback signal generation down-conversion means. Antenna device. In the tracking antenna device according to claim 1 or 2,
Means for transmitting the reference signal to the plurality of transmission devices via a signal line different from the transmission IF signal distributed to the plurality of transmission devices;
A tracking antenna apparatus comprising: means for inputting the reference signal transmitted to the plurality of transmission apparatuses via a signal line different from the transmission IF signal to the feedback signal generation down-conversion means. A distribution / phase shifter that distributes a transmission IF signal to a plurality of transmission devices at a predetermined input phase, and that each transmission device frequency-converts the transmission IF signal and transmits a transmission RF signal from the antenna at a predetermined phase. In the RF characteristic variation compensation method for an antenna device,
Down-converting the transmission RF signal including the phase fluctuation after frequency up-conversion by the transmission device using a signal obtained by multiplying a reference signal common to the plurality of transmission devices, and generating a feedback signal;
Detecting a relative phase difference between the antennas due to phase fluctuations from the feedback signal of each of the transmission devices;
The distribution / phase shifter controls each input phase of a transmission IF signal distributed to the plurality of transmission devices based on the detection result of the relative phase difference, and compensates for phase fluctuation between the antennas. A method for compensating for fluctuations in RF characteristics of a tracking antenna device. A distribution / phase shifter that distributes a transmission IF signal to a plurality of transmission devices at a predetermined input phase, and that each transmission device frequency-converts the transmission IF signal and transmits a transmission RF signal from the antenna at a predetermined phase. In the RF characteristic variation compensation method for an antenna device,
The transmission RF signal including the phase fluctuation after frequency up-conversion by the transmission device is converted to a low frequency generated by a secondary or higher-order alias component using a reference signal common to the plurality of transmission devices and fed back. Generate a signal,
Detecting a relative phase difference between the antennas due to characteristic variation from the feedback signal of each of the transmission devices;
The distribution / phase shifter controls each input phase of a transmission IF signal distributed to the plurality of transmission devices based on the detection result of the relative phase difference, and compensates for phase fluctuation between the antennas. A method for compensating for fluctuations in RF characteristics of a tracking antenna device.

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