JP2630073B2 - Array antenna - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an array antenna,
In particular, it relates to the monitor circuit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows an example of an antenna module used for an array antenna. When transmitting a high-frequency signal in the antenna module 4, the transmission high-frequency power is input from the transmission high-frequency power input terminal 46, and the high-frequency switch 45-1, the high-frequency phase shifter 42, and the high-frequency switch 45- are transmitted.
2. It is output from the transmission / reception high-frequency power input / output terminal via the power amplifier 43 and the high-frequency switch 45-3. here,
The high-frequency phase shifter 42 is used for adjusting the phase of the transmission high-frequency power, and the power amplifier 43 is used for amplifying the transmission high-frequency power. On the other hand, when receiving the high-frequency power, the received high-frequency power is input from the transmission / reception high-frequency power input / output terminal 48, and the high-frequency switch 45-3, the low-noise amplifier 44, the high-frequency switch 45-1, the phase shifter 42, the high-frequency switch 4
5-2, output from the reception high-frequency power output terminal 47 via the high-frequency attenuator 41. Here, the low-noise amplifier 44 is used to amplify the received high-frequency power.
Is used to adjust the phase of the received high-frequency power, and the high-frequency attenuator 41 is used to adjust the amplitude of the received high-frequency power. The high frequency switches 45-1 to 45-3 are used for switching between transmission and reception.

In such an antenna module, since active elements are used for the power amplifier 43 and the low-noise amplifier 44, which are components of the antenna module, these characteristics fluctuate when the ambient temperature changes. The phase and amplitude of the power change. When the phase and the amplitude of the transmission high-frequency power and the reception high-frequency power output from the antenna module change, the electrical performance of the array antenna including the plurality of antenna modules deteriorates. In order not to degrade the electrical performance of the array antenna, always monitor the phase and amplitude of the output power of the antenna module, adjust the high-frequency phase shifter and high-frequency attenuator in the antenna module as necessary, and The power must be of a given phase and amplitude.

A circuit for monitoring the excitation phase and the excitation amplitude of the transmission high-frequency power and the reception high-frequency power output from the antenna module is a monitor circuit. FIG. 3 is a system diagram of an array antenna having such a monitor circuit. Is shown. When the transmission high-frequency power is input from the input terminal 9, the phase delay lines 2-1 to 2- (N-1) in the feed circuit 31, the directional couplers 12-1 to 12-N, and the transmission lines 21-1 to 21-N. 21
The signal is transmitted to the antenna modules 4-1 to 4-N via -N. Most of the transmission high-frequency output power output from the antenna modules 4-1 to 4-N is supplied to the antenna element 3-
The radiation pattern is radiated from 1 to 3 -N into space, and a radiation pattern having desired electric performance is formed. A part of the transmission high frequency output power is branched, and the transmission line 22-1 in the monitor circuit 32 is transmitted.
To the output terminal 10 via the directional couplers 11-1 to 11-N and the transmission lines 20-1 to 20- (N-1). The amplitude / phase measuring device 30 receives a part of the transmission high-frequency power from the input terminal 9 via the transmission line 23 as a reference signal, and outputs the transmission high-frequency output for each antenna module input from the output terminal 10 based on this signal. Measure the relative phase and amplitude of the power. Here, the non-reflection terminators 5-1 to 5-N, 6-1 to 6-N, 7, 8 are used to terminate unnecessary transmission high-frequency power and transmission high-frequency output power.

[0005]

In the conventional monitor circuit described above, the antenna modules 4-1 to 4-4 are connected from the input terminal 9.
-N feeding circuit 31 and antenna modules 4-1 to 4
The total electrical length of the monitor circuit 32 between −N and the output terminal 10 differs depending on the position of the antenna module. Therefore, when the ambient temperature changes, the amount by which the mechanical lengths of the feed circuit and the monitor circuit change for each position of the antenna module differs. That is, since the change in the relative phase and relative amplitude of the power supply circuit and the monitor circuit differs for each position of the antenna module, it is necessary to accurately measure the relative phase and relative amplitude of the antenna module alone with the amplitude / phase measuring device. It is necessary to correct the temperature characteristics of the circuit and the monitor circuit. In order to provide this function, there is a problem that the array antenna becomes complicated. An object of the present invention is to provide an array antenna including a monitor circuit capable of accurately measuring the relative phase and relative amplitude of a single antenna module regardless of a change in ambient temperature.

[0006]

An array antenna according to the present invention has a phase delay line for adjusting the phase of high-frequency power supplied to a power supply circuit, and a part of the high-frequency power whose phase has been adjusted from the phase delay line. A directional coupler for transmitting to each antenna module, and a monitor circuit for adjusting a phase of high-frequency power taken out of each antenna module and output to an amplitude / phase measuring device;
A directional coupler for passing high-frequency power extracted from each antenna module through this phase delay line is provided, and the electrical length of the high-frequency power passed through the feeding circuit, the antenna module, and the monitor circuit is provided to each antenna module. Set the same. For example, the sum of the phase delay amount of each antenna module with respect to the input terminal of the power supply circuit and the phase delay amount of each antenna module with respect to the output terminal of the monitor circuit is set to be equal.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the electrical length of the high-frequency power supplied from the input terminal of the power supply circuit to each antenna module and output to the output terminal of the monitor circuit becomes equal irrespective of the position of each antenna module. It is not necessary to correct the temperature characteristic of the monitor circuit regardless of the temperature change.

[0008]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.
The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as the conventional configuration shown in FIG. The transmission high-frequency power input to the input terminal 9 is
1 is supplied to the antenna modules 4-1 to 4-N via the antenna module 4-1.
It is radiated from 3-N in the same manner as before. A part of the transmission high-frequency output power is transmitted through transmission lines 22-1 to 22-N, directional couplers 11-1 to 11-N, and phase delay lines 1-1 to 1- (N-
Output terminal 1 via monitor circuit 33 composed of 1)
0. Here, the non-reflection terminators 7, 5-1 to 5
-N is for terminating unnecessary transmission high-frequency output power. Since the function of measuring the relative phase and relative amplitude of the transmission high-frequency output power after the output terminal 10 is the same as that of the related art, the description is omitted.

Here, in the monitor circuit 33, the phase delay lines 1-1 to 1- (N-1) are used as described above, and each of the phase delay lines 1-1 to 1- (N-1) is used. The electrical length is the phase delay line 2- (N-1) to 2 provided in the feed circuit 31.
Each is equal to -1. Further, the positions of the non-reflection terminator 7 and the output terminal 10 are replaced with the conventional monitor circuit 32, and the power supply circuit 31 and the monitor circuit 33
, The electrical length to the output end 10 is equal regardless of the positions of the antenna modules 4-1 to 4-N.

Therefore, in the array antenna provided with the monitor circuit 33, even if the transmission high-frequency power input to the input terminal 9 is supplied to any of the antenna modules 4-1 to 4-N, each transmission high-frequency power has a phase. Delay line 2-1
2- (N-1) all lengths or phase delay line 1-
Since the signals pass through delay lines corresponding to all lengths of 1 to 1- (N-1), the amount of delay of each transmission high-frequency power is constant. Therefore, the amount of change in the mechanical length of the power supply circuit 31 and the monitor circuit 33 is kept constant irrespective of the ambient temperature change, and it is not necessary to correct the temperature characteristics of the power supply circuit 31 and the monitor circuit 33. It is possible to accurately measure the relative phase and relative amplitude of the antenna module alone.

[0011]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the electric lengths of the feed circuit and the monitor circuit are set to be equal for all the antenna modules, the ambient temperature changes and the feed circuit and the monitor circuit are changed. Even if the mechanical length of the antenna module changes, the relative electrical length of the high-frequency power passing through the feed circuit and the monitor circuit does not change regardless of the position of the antenna module, and the relative length of the antenna module alone does not change. There is an effect that the position and the relative amplitude can be accurately measured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an embodiment of an array antenna according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of an internal configuration of the antenna module.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram of an example of a conventional array antenna.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1 to 1- (N-1), 2-1 to 2- (N-1) Phase delay line 3-1 to 3-N Antenna element 4-1 to 4-N Antenna module 11-1 to 11- N, 12-1 to 12-N Directional coupler 9 Input terminal 10 Output terminal 30 Amplitude / phase measuring device 31 Feed circuit 32, 33 Monitor circuit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of antenna modules for supplying high-frequency power to these antenna elements, a power supply circuit for supplying high-frequency power to these antenna modules, and a part of high-frequency power to be supplied to the antenna elements And a phase delay line that adjusts the phase of the high-frequency power supplied to the power supply circuit, comprising: a monitor circuit that extracts the power supply; and an amplitude / phase measuring device that measures the amplitude and phase of the high-frequency power extracted by the monitor circuit. A directional coupler for branching a part of the high-frequency power whose phase has been adjusted from the phase delay line and transmitting it to each antenna module, and the monitor circuit takes out the amplitude / phase measurement from each antenna module Phase delay line that adjusts the phase of the high-frequency power output to the antenna, and the high-frequency power extracted from each antenna module. A directional coupler for passing through the phase delay line is provided, and the electric length of the high-frequency power transmitted through the feed circuit, the antenna module, and the monitor circuit is set to be equal for each antenna module. Array antenna. 2. The array antenna according to claim 1, wherein a sum of a phase delay amount of each antenna module with respect to an input terminal of the feeding circuit and a phase delay amount of each antenna module with respect to an output terminal of the monitor circuit is set to be equal.