JP2731301B2 - Driving device for tracking antenna - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tracking driving apparatus for an antenna for receiving satellite broadcasting and communication on a moving body such as an automobile by rotating the antenna.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, when a radio wave from a satellite broadcast is received by a flat planar antenna, the elevation angle and azimuth angle of the planar antenna are adjusted, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-189613 filed by the present applicant. Is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-205,878. Such an apparatus includes an elevation angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the elevation angle of the planar antenna, and an azimuth angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the azimuth angle of the plane antenna. The elevation angle and the azimuth angle can be adjusted by manually rotating the adjustment knob. It can be adjusted freely.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional example, since the elevation angle and the azimuth angle are manually adjusted, in the case of a moving body such as an automobile, it is possible to track in accordance with the position. It could not be received and could not be received. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to adjust the elevation angle and azimuth of a planar antenna by driving a motor so that the antenna can be mounted on a moving body such as an automobile. An object of the present invention is to provide a tracking antenna driving device capable of tracking a satellite or the like.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a driving apparatus for a tracking antenna according to the present invention comprises a planar antenna, a rotating frame on which the planar antenna is swingably mounted, and a rotating shaft for adjusting the elevation angle. Motor for rotating the azimuth angle, a motor for azimuth adjustment to rotate the rotating frame around the rotation axis for azimuth adjustment together with the planar antenna, and a rotatable support for the rotating frame. And a control circuit unit is mounted on the rotating frame, and a circular opening is provided substantially at the center of the rotating frame.
A ring is provided along the opening edge on the lower side of the opening edge.
The rotating base is attached integrally, and this rotating base is
Of the above-mentioned opening
Rotation frame around azimuth adjustment rotation axis located at the center
The antenna is rotatably supported, and a flat antenna and azimuth adjustment
Azimuth angle adjustment drive unit such as motor, elevation angle adjustment motor etc.
Drive unit for adjusting the elevation angle and the motor drive circuit unit
It is characterized in that it is arranged at a symmetrical position around the rotation axis for adjustment .

[0005]

[Function] By driving the elevation adjustment motor , the planar antenna is swung about the elevation adjustment rotation axis, and the azimuth is adjusted.
By rotating the rotation frame by driving the angular adjustment motor be one capable of rotating the plane antenna about an axis of rotation for adjusting the azimuth angle, elevation angle adjustment motor
The elevation angle and the azimuth of the planar antenna can be freely adjusted by controlling the driving of the azimuth adjustment motor . For this reason, the satellite or the like can be automatically tracked even when mounted on a moving body such as an automobile.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 6, an annular fixed base 1 is disposed at the center.
A flat rotating frame 2 formed of a sheet metal is rotatably disposed on the top. A circular opening 3 is drilled in the center of the rotating frame 2, and a rotating base 4 is integrally mounted on the lower surface side of the edge of the opening 3, and the rotating base 4 is mounted on the fixed base 1 with a bearing 5. It is rotatably mounted via a. A disk 6 is arranged above the opening 3, and the disk 6 is integrated with the rotating frame 2 by connecting legs 6a. The center line of the disk 6 serves as an azimuth adjustment rotation shaft 7, and a slip ring 8 is provided below the disk 6. In the center of the rear of the rotating frame 2 is provided with a motor mounting plate 9 together, on top of the motor mounting plate 9 are mounted rectangular position angle adjustment motor 10. The azimuth angle adjusting motor 10 uses a servomotor as a rotary drive actuator and uses an encoder as a control sensor. Motor mounting plate 9
Has a fixed shaft 11 mounted thereon. A gear 12 and a timing pulley 13 are rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 11, and the gear 12 and the timing pulley 13 are integrated. The output gear 21 of the output shaft of the azimuth angle adjusting motor 10 is meshed with a gear 12 so that the timing pulley 13 can be driven at a reduced speed. A timing pulley 14 is fixed to the fixed base 1 so as to be located around the bearing 5.
A timing belt 15 is wrapped around 3,14.
When the azimuth adjustment motor 10 is driven, rotation is transmitted to the output gear 21, the gear 12, the timing pulley 13, the timing belt 15, and the timing pulley 14, but since the timing pulley 14 is fixed, the azimuth adjustment motor 10 Comes to rotate relatively,
The rotation frame 2 rotates about the azimuth adjustment rotation shaft 7.

As shown in FIG. 5, reinforcing ribs 16 are formed by bending before and after the rotating frame 2. End plates 17a, 1 are integrally provided at both ends of the rotating frame 2.
7b is integrally mounted. One end plate 17
a to Yes wearing the angular adjustment motor 18 pretensions is the elevation angle adjustment motor 18 is provided with an output gear 19. The elevation angle adjustment motor 18 also uses a servomotor as a rotary drive actuator, and uses an encoder as a control sensor. A gear 20 is rotatably mounted on the end plate 17a, a timing pulley 22 is provided integrally with the gear 20, and an output gear 19 and a gear 2 are provided.
0 is meshed so that the timing pulley 22 can be driven at a reduced speed. Further, a shaft hole 23 is provided in the end plates 17a and 17b, and the shaft hole 2 is provided.
3 of the center is in the angular adjustment rotation shaft 24 pretensions. A control circuit unit 25 is mounted on the upper surface of the rotating frame 2 opposite to the elevation angle adjusting motor 18, and motor driving circuit units 26 are mounted on the left and right sides of the lower surface of the rotating frame 2, respectively. .

A bracket 27 is disposed on each of the left and right end plates 17a and 17b, and each bracket 27 is mounted so as to be rotatable about an elevation adjustment rotation shaft 24. The left and right brackets 27 are connected by a connection plate 28. The bracket 27 has an antenna mounting portion 29
And the planar antenna 3 as shown in FIGS.
0 are attached to the antenna attachment portion 29 at both ends. The bracket 27 is provided with a stopper 31 for stopping the bracket 27 from rotating beyond a certain angle. A timing pulley 32 is mounted on the elevation adjusting rotation shaft 24 so as to be integral with the bracket 27, and a timing belt 33 is wound around the timing pulley 32 and the timing pulley 22. When the elevation angle adjusting motor 18 is driven, the rotation is transmitted in the order of the output gear 19, the gear 20, the timing pulley 22, the timing belt 33, and the timing pulley 32,
The bracket 27 is swung up and down to adjust the elevation angle of the planar antenna 30.

The slip ring 8 is electrically connected to a received signal and a power supply. Further, the entire antenna device configured as described above is covered with a radome 35 as shown in FIG. The operation of the tracking antenna driving device of the present invention configured as described above will be described as follows. When the azimuth adjusting motor 10 is driven, the rotating frame 2 rotates around the azimuth adjusting rotating shaft 7 as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, and the azimuth of the planar antenna 30 is adjusted. When the elevation angle adjusting motor 18 is driven, the bracket 27 is swung up and down about the elevation angle adjusting rotation shaft 24 as shown in FIG. 11, the elevation angle of the planar antenna 30 is adjusted, and the satellite or the like can be tracked.

When controlling the azimuth and elevation of the planar antenna 30 as described above, the azimuth adjustment motor 10 and the elevation angle adjustment motor 18 are driven, but a gear is used on the driving side and a timing belt is used on the driven side. Since the mechanism is formed, the backlash can be reduced and the tracking can be performed by using the inertial force of the flat antenna 30 side, so that the tracking can be stabilized. Further, by using a servomotor as a rotary drive actuator of the azimuth angle adjustment motor 10 and the elevation angle adjustment motor 18 and using an encoder for the control sensor, high-speed response can be improved and high-accuracy tracking can be performed. Further, the planar antenna 30, an azimuth adjusting drive such as the azimuth adjusting motor 10, an elevation adjusting drive such as the elevation adjusting motor 18, and the two motor drive circuit units 26 are respectively connected to the azimuth adjusting rotary shaft 7. By arranging them at symmetrical positions around, it is possible to form a tracking drive device that balances the inertial mass around the rotation axis 7 for azimuth adjustment,
Stable azimuth tracking rotation control becomes possible. Also, the azimuth angle adjusting motor 10 is mounted on the motor mounting plate 9 and the elevation angle adjusting motor 18 is mounted on the end plate 17a, and is located at a position distant from the electronic circuits such as the control circuit unit 25. The heat transfer to the part can be reduced, and the heat resistance can be improved. Further, a timing pulley 14 is mounted on the outer side of the fixed base 1 and a bearing 5 is mounted on the inner side. A rotary shaft 7 for azimuth adjustment is formed substantially at the center thereof. By arranging the slip ring 8, the size and weight can be reduced. Also, the radio wave receiving / synthesizing circuit unit and the antenna tracking drive control circuit unit are all provided with the rotating frame 2 and the planar antenna
The electrical connection (slip ring 8) between the fixed base 1 and the rotating frame 2 does not require an electrical connection other than a received signal and a power supply, thereby simplifying the structure. Furthermore, brackets 2 are provided at both ends of the planar antenna 30.
By attaching the bracket 7 and connecting the two brackets 27 with the connecting plate 28 to form the antenna portion, the weight can be reduced and the rigidity can be increased at low cost. Furthermore, since the rotating frame 2 has a sheet metal structure and the reinforcing ribs 16 are formed at the ends, the weight can be reduced and the rigidity can be increased at low cost. Further, by providing the mechanical stopper 31 for limiting the elevation angle adjustment to the bracket 27 to which the planar antenna 30 is attached, the planar antenna 30 can be protected from damage by a simple and small stopper.

[0011]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, by driving the motor for adjusting the elevation angle, the flat antenna is swung about the rotation axis for adjusting the elevation angle to drive the motor for adjusting the azimuth angle. By rotating the rotating frame about the azimuth adjustment rotation axis, the planar antenna can be rotated by controlling the driving of the elevation adjustment motor and the azimuth adjustment motor. The elevation and azimuth of the planar antenna can be adjusted freely,
Even if it is mounted on a moving body such as a car, it can easily and easily track a satellite or the like with high accuracy. Also, in the present invention, since the rotating frame is rotatably supported on the fixed base, and the elevation frame adjusting motor and the azimuth angle adjusting motor are mounted on the rotating frame, and the control circuit unit is also mounted on the rotating frame.
If the fixed base and the rotating frame are electrically connected by a slip ring, they can be electrically connected simply by wiring to the elevation adjustment motor, azimuth adjustment motor and control circuit on the rotating frame. It is possible to drive and control the motor by simplifying the wiring, and it is also possible to control the elevation angle adjustment motor and the azimuth angle adjustment motor with one control circuit, and to simplify the control structure. In addition, no rotational driving force acts on the wiring, which causes breakage or failure, and furthermore, the number of poles of the slip ring electrically connecting the fixed base and the rotating frame. Can be reduced. Furthermore, the present invention is an abbreviation of a rotating frame.
A circular opening is provided in the center, and on the lower side of this opening edge
An annular rotating base is attached integrally along the opening edge, and this
Attach the rotating base to the fixed base rotatably via bearings
The rotation axis for azimuth adjustment located at the center of the opening
Because the rotating frame is supported rotatably around
The rotating frame is rotated with respect to the fixed base
And the rotation of the rotating frame is safe.
Although it can be done in a well-balanced and well-balanced manner, the operation accuracy improves
In addition, a planar antenna and an azimuth adjustment motor
Drive for azimuth angle adjustment and elevation angle of motor for elevation angle adjustment
The adjustment drive unit and the motor drive circuit unit are used to adjust the azimuth angle.
Azimuth adjustment because it is located at a symmetrical position around the rotation axis
To balance the inertial mass around the rotation axis for
Adjustable azimuth by rotating the rotating frame with stable layer
It can be performed stably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a state covered with a radome of the above.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the elevation angle adjustment drive unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an azimuth angle adjusting drive unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a flat antenna and a bracket of FIG. 1 are removed.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the azimuth adjustment drive unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the antenna unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the azimuth is adjusted.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the azimuth angle is adjusted.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the azimuth is adjusted.

FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating a state in which the elevation angle is adjusted.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 rotating frame 7-way position angle adjusting rotary shaft 10-way position angle adjusting motor 18 elevation angle adjustment motor 24 elevation angular adjustment rotation shaft 30 flat antenna

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-159802 (JP, A) JP-A-62-274801 (JP, A) JP-A-3-128506 (JP, A) 93809 (JP, U) Actually open 1953-76749 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A planar antenna, a rotating frame on which the planar antenna is swingably mounted, an elevation adjusting motor for rotating the planar antenna around an elevation adjusting rotation axis, and a rotating together with the planar antenna. An azimuth adjustment motor for rotating the frame around an azimuth adjustment rotation axis; and a fixed base for rotatably supporting the rotation frame. also mounted controller unit to rotate the frame with mounting the angular adjustment motor, times
A circular opening is provided at approximately the center of the
An annular rotating base is integrated along the opening edge on the lower side of the lip
And mount the rotating base on the fixed base via bearings.
Orientation located at the center of the above opening by movably mounting
The rotating frame is supported rotatably around the rotation axis for angle adjustment.
Azimuth adjustment such as a planar antenna and an azimuth adjustment motor
Drive for elevation adjustment and drive for elevation adjustment such as motor for elevation angle adjustment
And the motor drive circuit around the azimuth adjustment rotary shaft.
A driving device for a tracking antenna, wherein the driving device is disposed at a symmetrical position of the tracking antenna.