JP2016011921A - Transceiver device, and radar measurement system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure a shape of an object present in a small-sized area by a synthetic aperture radar system.SOLUTION: A transceiver device 1 and a measurement device 2 are connected to each other by a cable 3 for exchanging signals. The transceiver device 1 includes a transmission antenna 121, a reception antenna 122, and a mobile unit 14. The transmission antenna 121 transmits a microwave. The reception antenna 122 receives the microwave which is transmitted from the transmission antenna 121 and reflected to an object. The mobile unit 14 moves a position of at least one of the transmission antenna 121 and the reception antenna 122 relative to a base holding the transmission antenna 121 and the reception antenna 122. The reception antenna 122 outputs a signal depending on the microwave received by a synthetic aperture radar system to the measurement device 2 which measures a shape of the object.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of a transmission / reception apparatus and a radar measurement system in which a synthetic aperture radar is applied to a small area.

  A technique for measuring the shape of an object by applying a synthetic aperture radar has been developed. Patent Document 1 describes a synthetic aperture radar test apparatus that tests a synthetic aperture radar apparatus that acquires an image while electronically controlling the beam direction as a moving body equipped with a phased array antenna is moved. Yes. This synthetic aperture radar test device radiates a test signal simulating a signal received by the synthetic aperture radar device based on simulated movement information of a moving object, such as a flight path scenario in an airplane, toward the synthetic aperture radar device. Rotate the phased array antenna of the synthetic aperture radar device based on this movement information, and set the bias phase shift amount of the phased array antenna based on the propagation distance of the test signal from the test signal generator to the phased array antenna To do.

JP 2007-101260 A

However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 scans a large-scale area such as terrain, and does not scan a small-scale area using an indoor property or clothing as an object.
Also, if the synthetic aperture radar technology for scanning a large area is applied to a small area as it is, it is necessary to reciprocate the antenna beam multiple times, increasing the scanning time and the antenna size, In addition, the beam control is required and the cost is increased.

  An object of this invention is to measure the shape of the target object which exists in a small area | region by a synthetic aperture radar system.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is a transmission / reception device including a transmission antenna that transmits a microwave, and a reception antenna that receives a microwave transmitted from the transmission antenna and reflected by an object, the transmission device A moving means for moving the position of at least one of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna with respect to a base that holds the antenna and the receiving antenna is provided, and the receiving antenna responds to the microwave received by a synthetic aperture radar system. A transmission / reception apparatus is provided as a first aspect, which outputs a received signal to an apparatus for measuring the shape of the object.

  According to the transmission / reception apparatus of the first aspect, the shape of an object existing in a small area can be measured by the synthetic aperture radar method.

  The transmission / reception apparatus according to the first aspect includes a configuration in which each includes a plurality of transmission antennas that transmit microwaves, and one transmission antenna that is sequentially selected from among the plurality of transmission antennas transmits the microwaves. You may employ | adopt as a 2nd aspect.

  According to the transmission / reception device of the second aspect, the position of the transmission antenna can be changed in the sequentially selected direction without moving the transmission antenna.

  In the transmission / reception device according to the first or second aspect, each includes a plurality of reception antennas that receive microwaves, and one reception antenna that is sequentially selected from among the plurality of reception antennas receives the microwaves. This configuration may be employed as the third aspect.

  According to the transmission / reception device of the third aspect, the position of the reception antenna can be changed in the sequentially selected direction without moving the reception antenna.

  In the transmission / reception apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, a configuration in which the moving unit moves the transmission antenna and the reception antenna while maintaining a positional relationship between the transmission antenna and the reception antenna is fourth. It may be adopted as a mode of.

  According to the transmission / reception apparatus of the fourth aspect, the calculation is simplified as compared with the aspect in which the positional relationship between the transmission antenna and the reception antenna is not maintained when moving.

  In the transmission / reception apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the object is moving, and the moving unit is configured to cross at least one of the transmission antenna and the reception antenna with a moving direction of the object. The configuration of moving to may be adopted as the fifth aspect.

  According to the transmission / reception apparatus of the fifth aspect, it is possible to scan the moving object.

  The present invention also provides a plurality of transmission antennas fixedly arranged on the surface and each transmitting a microwave, and a microwave transmitted from one transmission antenna that is sequentially selected from the plurality of transmission antennas and reflected from an object. A transmission / reception device comprising a reception antenna for receiving, wherein the reception antenna outputs a signal corresponding to the microwave received by a synthetic aperture radar system to a device for measuring the shape of the object. A transmission / reception device is provided as a sixth aspect.

  According to the transmission / reception apparatus of the sixth aspect, it is not necessary to move the transmission antenna when scanning the object.

  The present invention further includes a transmission antenna that transmits microwaves, and a plurality of reception antennas that are fixedly arranged on a surface and that receive the microwaves that are transmitted from the transmission antenna and reflected from an object, respectively, One receiving antenna selected sequentially among the receiving antennas receives the microwave and outputs a signal corresponding to the microwave to an apparatus for measuring the shape of the object by a synthetic aperture radar system. A transmitting / receiving device is provided as a seventh aspect.

  According to the transmission / reception apparatus of the seventh aspect, it is not necessary to move the reception antenna when scanning the object.

  Further, the present invention comprises a plurality of transmitting antennas fixedly arranged on a surface and each transmitting a microwave, and a plurality of receiving antennas fixedly arranged on the surface and each receiving a microwave, One receiving antenna that is sequentially selected from the receiving antennas receives the microwaves that are transmitted from the one transmitting antenna that is sequentially selected from the plurality of transmitting antennas and reflected by the target object, and is converted into the microwaves by the synthetic aperture radar method. A transmission / reception apparatus that outputs a corresponding signal to an apparatus for measuring the shape of an object is provided as an eighth aspect.

  According to the transmission / reception apparatus of the eighth aspect, it is not necessary to move the transmission antenna and the reception antenna when scanning the object.

  In the transmission / reception apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the ninth aspect is configured such that the object is moving, and the plurality of transmission antennas are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the object. It may be adopted.

  According to the transmission / reception device of the ninth aspect, the moving object can be scanned.

  In the transceiver device according to the seventh aspect, as a tenth aspect, the object is moving, and the plurality of receiving antennas are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the object. It may be adopted.

  According to the transceiver device of the tenth aspect, it is possible to scan the moving object.

  Moreover, this invention provides the radar measuring system provided with the above-mentioned transmission / reception apparatus and the said apparatus which acquires the signal according to the said microwave from the said receiving antenna with which the said transmission / reception apparatus is provided as an 11th aspect.

  According to the radar measurement system of the eleventh aspect, the shape of an object existing in a small area can be measured by the synthetic aperture radar method.

The figure which shows the main structures of the radar measurement system 9 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure and operation | movement of the transmitter / receiver 1. FIG. The figure which shows the functional structure of the transmitter / receiver 1. FIG. The figure which shows the structure and operation | movement of the transmission / reception apparatus 1a which concern on a modification. The figure which shows the structure of the transmission / reception apparatus 1b which concerns on a modification.

1. Embodiment 1-1. Overall Configuration of Radar Measurement System Hereinafter, a radar measurement system 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the figure, a space in which each component of the radar measurement system 9 is arranged is represented as an xyz right-handed coordinate space. Of the coordinate symbols shown in the figure, a symbol in which a point is drawn in a circle represents an arrow heading from the back side to the near side. A direction along the x-axis in space is referred to as an x-axis direction. Of the x-axis directions, the direction in which the x component increases is referred to as + x direction, and the direction in which the x component decreases is referred to as -x direction. For the y and z components, the y-axis direction, + y direction, -y direction, z-axis direction, + z direction, and -z direction are defined according to the above definition.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a radar measurement system 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The radar measurement system 9 includes the transmission / reception device 1 and the measurement device 2 in the example illustrated in FIG. The transmission / reception device 1 and the measurement device 2 are connected by a cable 3 for exchanging signals.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of the transmission / reception device 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the transmission / reception device 1. The transmission / reception device 1 includes a base 13, an arm 10, and an antenna 12. Moreover, the transmission / reception apparatus 1 has the moving part 14, the switch group 15, and the control part 11, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.

  The base 13 holds the arm 10 and a plurality of antennas 12 attached to the arm 10. The base unit 13 accommodates the control unit 11 and the moving unit 14 therein. An elongated hole 130 extending in the y-axis direction that is the longitudinal direction of the base portion 13 is provided in the upward direction of the base portion 13, that is, in the + z direction, and the arm 10 protrudes upward from the elongated hole 130. . The arm 10 is provided with a plurality of antennas 12 arranged in the arrangement direction D2 along the z-axis direction. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, nine antennas 12 are arranged on the arm 10 in the arrangement direction D2. In the arm 10, these antennas 12 all face the + x direction.

  Each of the plurality of antennas 12 is provided with one transmission antenna 121 and one reception antenna 122. In each antenna 12, the transmitting antenna 121 and the receiving antenna 122 are fixed at predetermined positions. Therefore, even when the arm 10 moves, the transmission antenna 121 and the reception antenna 122 maintain the determined positional relationship.

  The transmission antenna 121 transmits microwaves to an object existing in a stationary state in the + x direction region of the base 13 under the control of the control unit 11. The receiving antenna 122 receives the microwave (referred to as reflected microwave) transmitted from the transmitting antenna 121 and reflected by the object under the control of the control unit 11. Further, when receiving the reflected microwave, the receiving antenna 122 outputs a signal corresponding to the reflected microwave to the measuring device 2 under the control of the control unit 11.

  The arm 10 is supported by the moving unit 14 at the lower end, that is, in the −z direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the moving unit 14 has, for example, an axis along the x-axis direction inside the base portion 13, and two rolls arranged in the y-axis direction and the two rolls. Belt. Moreover, the moving part 14 has power sources, such as a motor (all are not shown). The belt may be a chain or other member.

  When at least one of the two rolls rotates around the axis in response to power from a motor or the like, the belt stretched in the y-axis direction circulates. When the belt circulates, the arm 10 supported by the belt translates in the movement direction D1 along the y-axis direction.

  The switch group 15 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes switches that supply power to the plurality of antennas 12 disposed on the arm 10. The switch group 15 is controlled by the control unit 11 so that power is supplied to only one of the plurality of antennas 12 at a certain moment. That is, two or more of the plurality of switches included in the switch group 15 are not closed (ON state) at the same time.

  The control unit 11 is means for controlling the operation of each unit of the transmission / reception device 1. The control unit 11 includes an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and executes a program stored in these storage devices.

  The control unit 11 functions as the movement control unit 111, the selection unit 112, and the output unit 113 by executing the above-described program.

  The movement control unit 111 controls the moving unit 14 by sending a control signal so that the arm 10 passes a predetermined position on the base 13 at a determined timing. When the movement control unit 111 controls the moving unit 14, the moving unit 14 moves the positions of both the transmitting antenna 121 and the receiving antenna 122 with respect to the base unit 13 while maintaining the positional relationship between them. That is, the moving unit 14 is an example of a moving unit in the present invention.

  The selection unit 112 sends a control signal to the switch group 15 in conjunction with the movement control unit 111, and sequentially selects one antenna 12 among the plurality of antennas 12 along the arrangement direction D2. Electric power is supplied to the antenna 12 selected by the selection unit 112, and the transmission antenna 121 and the reception antenna 122 included in the antenna 12 function. That is, the transmission antenna 121 included in the selected antenna 12 transmits a microwave toward the object. Then, the receiving antenna 122 included in the selected antenna 12 receives the reflected microwave reflected by the object, and sends a signal corresponding to the reflected microwave to the control unit 11.

  The output unit 113 outputs the signal sent from the receiving antenna 122 to the measuring device 2 connected via the cable 3. The measuring device 2 acquires signals output over a period determined by the output unit 113, and the intensity of the reflected microwaves indicated by these signals, and each of the antennas 12 when these reflected microwaves are reflected. The position of the point at which the microwave is reflected on the object is specified by the synthetic aperture radar system using the position and the like, and the shape of the object is measured by combining the specified points.

  With this configuration, the transmission / reception device 1 sequentially selects the antennas 12 along the arrangement direction D2 (z-axis direction) and translates the arm 10 to which the antennas 12 are attached along the movement direction D1 (y-axis direction). Therefore, by combining the movement direction D1 and the arrangement direction D2, the trajectory or movement path or movement path of the antenna 12 covers the range A shown in FIG.

  Therefore, by adjusting the switching speed of the antenna 12 and the moving speed of the arm 10, the transmission / reception apparatus 1 can scan the space from the range A on the yz plane shown in FIG. 2 toward the + x direction. At least in the arrangement direction D2, scanning is performed by electrically switching the pair of the transmission antenna and the reception antenna, so that the scanning time is shortened. That is, the radar measurement system 9 can measure the shape of an object existing in a small area such as the above space by the synthetic aperture radar method.

  The configurations, shapes, sizes, and arrangement relationships described in the above embodiments are merely schematically shown to the extent that the present invention can be understood and implemented. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

2. Modification The above is the description of the embodiment, but the contents of this embodiment can be modified as follows. Further, the following modifications may be combined.

2-1. Modification 1
In the embodiment described above, the plurality of antennas 12 arranged in the arrangement direction D2 along the z-axis direction of the arm 10 are sequentially selected, and the arm 10 is translated in the movement direction D1 along the y-axis direction. Thus, although the transmission / reception device 1 has scanned the space from the range A on the yz plane shown in FIG. 2 toward the + x direction, the range that the transmission / reception device 1 can scan is not limited thereto.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration and operation of the transmission / reception device 1a according to this modification. The transmission / reception device 1a accommodates a plurality of antennas 12a each including a transmission antenna 121a and a reception antenna 122a, an arm 10a to which the plurality of antennas 12a are attached, a moving unit 14a that rotates the arm 10a, and a moving unit 14a. It has a base 13a.

  The arm 10a is supported by the shaft O so as to be rotatable in the rotation direction D3 shown in FIG. The moving unit 14a transmits power to the arm 10a. The moving unit 14a is controlled by a control unit 11a (not shown) and rotates the arm 10a so as to pass a predetermined position on the base unit 13a at a predetermined timing.

  In addition, a plurality of antennas 12a are arranged on the arm 10a along the arrangement direction D4, and one of the antennas 12a is sequentially selected and functions along the arrangement direction D4 by the control unit 11a (not shown). Since the arrangement direction D4 is a direction in which the yz plane extends radially about the axis O, the orbit or movement path of the antenna 12a covers the range B shown in FIG. 4 by combining with the rotation direction D3. A microwave is transmitted from the transmission antenna 121a included in the selected antenna 12a, and the reflected microwave reflected by the object is received by the reception antenna 122a included in the selected antenna 12a.

  Therefore, by adjusting the switching speed of the antenna 12a and the rotation speed of the arm 10a, the transmission / reception device 1a can scan the space in the + x direction from the range B on the yz plane shown in FIG.

2-2. Modification 2
In the above-described embodiment, the moving unit 14 moves the positions of both the transmitting antenna 121 and the receiving antenna 122 with respect to the base 13 while maintaining the mutual positional relationship. It is only necessary to move the position of at least one of the transmission antenna 121 and the reception antenna 122.

2-3. Modification 3
In the above-described embodiment, the arm 10 has a plurality of antennas 12, and each antenna 12 has a pair of transmission antennas 121 and reception antennas 122. Only one transmission antenna 121 may be provided one by one. In this case, one transmission antenna 121 that is sequentially selected from the plurality of transmission antennas 121 transmits the microwave toward the object, and for example, one reception antenna 122 attached to the arm 10 is the transmission antenna 121. It is only necessary to receive the reflected microwaves transmitted from and reflected by the object.

2-4. Modification 4
Further, the plurality of antennas 12 may have only the receiving antenna 122 one by one. In this case, for example, one transmission antenna 121 attached to the arm 10 transmits a microwave toward the object, and one reception antenna 122 sequentially selected from the plurality of reception antennas 122 receives the microwave. do it.

2-5. Modification 5
In the above-described embodiment, the transmission antenna 121 transmits microwaves to an object that exists in a stationary state in the + x direction region of the base 13, but the object may move. For example, the object may be placed on a belt conveyor or the like and moved in a predetermined direction (for example, the y-axis direction). In this case, the moving unit 14 may move at least one of the transmission antenna 121 and the reception antenna 122 in a direction that intersects the moving direction of the object, for example, the z-axis direction.

2-6. Modification 6
In the embodiment described above, the arm 10 is provided with a plurality of antennas 12 arranged in the arrangement direction D2 along the z-axis direction. However, the plurality of antennas are not only in the z-axis direction but also in the z-axis direction. They may be provided side by side in the orthogonal y-axis direction. That is, the plurality of antennas may be fixedly arranged on the yz plane.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a transmission / reception device 1b according to this modification. The plurality of antennas 12b shown in FIG. 5 are fixedly arranged in a lattice pattern on the surface of the arm 10b in which nine rows in the z-axis direction and eight columns in the y-axis direction are arranged along the zy plane. Yes. Each antenna 12b is sequentially selected with one of the z-axis direction and the y-axis direction as the main scanning direction and the other as the sub-scanning direction under the control of a control unit (not shown). The position of transmission / reception of microwaves by the selected antenna 12b covers the range C shown in FIG.

  Each antenna 12b has a transmission antenna 121b and a reception antenna 122b. Therefore, the arm 10b includes a plurality of transmitting antennas 121b that are fixedly arranged on the surface and each transmit a microwave, and a plurality of receiving antennas 122b that are fixedly disposed on the surface and each receive a microwave.

  In this case, one receiving antenna 122b sequentially selected from the plurality of receiving antennas 122b receives the microwaves transmitted from the one transmitting antenna 121b sequentially selected from the plurality of transmitting antennas 121b and reflected on the object. And the receiving antenna 122b which received this microwave should just output the signal according to this microwave to the apparatus which measures the shape of a target object by a synthetic aperture radar system.

2-7. Modification 7
In Modification 6 described above, the arm 10b has a plurality of antennas 12b, and each antenna 12b has a pair of a transmission antenna 121b and a reception antenna 122b. You may have only one transmission antenna 121b one by one. In this case, one transmission antenna 121b sequentially selected from the plurality of transmission antennas 121b transmits a microwave toward the object, and for example, one reception antenna 122b attached to the arm 10b includes the transmission antenna 121b. It is only necessary to receive the reflected microwaves transmitted from and reflected by the object.

2-8. Modification 8
Further, in the above-described modification example 6, the plurality of antennas 12b may have only one reception antenna 122b one by one. In this case, for example, one transmission antenna 121b attached to the arm 10b transmits a microwave toward the object, and one reception antenna 122 sequentially selected from the plurality of reception antennas 122b receives the microwave. do it.

2-9. Modification 9
In Modification 7 and Modification 8 described above, the object may be moving. For example, the object may be placed on a belt conveyor and moved in the y-axis direction. In this case, the plurality of antennas 12b each having one transmitting antenna 121b or one receiving antenna 122b may be arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the object, for example, the z-axis direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transmission / reception apparatus, 10 ... Arm, 11 ... Control part, 111 ... Movement control part, 112 ... Selection part, 113 ... Output part, 12 ... Antenna, 121 ... Transmission antenna, 122 ... Reception antenna, 13 ... Base part, 130 ... Elongated hole, 14 ... moving part, 15 ... switch group, 2 ... measuring device, 3 ... cable, 9 ... radar measuring system, A ... range, B ... range, C ... range, D1 ... moving direction, D2 ... array direction, D3 ... rotational direction, D4 ... array direction, O ... axis.

Claims (11)

A transmission / reception device comprising a transmission antenna for transmitting a microwave and a reception antenna for receiving a microwave transmitted from the transmission antenna and reflected by an object,
Moving means for moving the position of at least one of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna with respect to a base that holds the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna;
The transmission / reception apparatus, wherein the reception antenna outputs a signal corresponding to the microwave received by a synthetic aperture radar system to an apparatus for measuring the shape of the object.   2. The transmitting / receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of transmission antennas each transmitting microwaves, wherein one transmission antenna sequentially selected from among the plurality of transmission antennas transmits the microwaves. .   3. The reception device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of reception antennas includes a plurality of reception antennas, and one of the plurality of reception antennas is sequentially selected to receive the microwave. Transmitter / receiver.   The transmission / reception apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit moves the transmission antenna and the reception antenna while maintaining a positional relationship between the transmission antenna and the reception antenna. The object is moving,
The transmission / reception apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the moving unit moves at least one of the transmission antenna and the reception antenna in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the object. A plurality of transmitting antennas fixedly arranged on the surface, each transmitting a microwave, and a receiving antenna receiving a microwave transmitted from one transmitting antenna sequentially selected from the plurality of transmitting antennas and reflected on an object A transmission / reception device comprising:
The transmission / reception apparatus, wherein the reception antenna outputs a signal corresponding to the microwave received by a synthetic aperture radar system to an apparatus for measuring the shape of the object.   A transmission antenna that transmits microwaves and a plurality of reception antennas that are fixedly arranged on a surface and that receive microwaves that are each transmitted from the transmission antenna and reflected by an object, and are sequentially selected from the plurality of reception antennas One transmitting antenna receives the microwave, and outputs a signal corresponding to the microwave to a device that measures the shape of the object by a synthetic aperture radar system.   A plurality of transmitting antennas fixedly arranged on the surface and each transmitting microwaves, and a plurality of receiving antennas fixedly arranged on the surface and each receiving microwaves, and sequentially selected from the plurality of receiving antennas One receiving antenna receives a microwave transmitted from one transmitting antenna that is sequentially selected from the plurality of transmitting antennas and reflected on the object, and receives a signal corresponding to the microwave by a synthetic aperture radar system. A transmitter / receiver characterized in that the transmitter / receiver outputs to a device for measuring the shape of the signal. The object is moving,
The transmission / reception apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of transmission antennas are arranged side by side in a direction that intersects a moving direction of the object. The object is moving,
The transmission / reception apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of reception antennas are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the object. The transmission / reception device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A radar measurement system comprising: the device that acquires a signal corresponding to the microwave from the reception antenna included in the transmission / reception device.

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