JP3616502B2 - Transceiver module - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an array antenna transmission / reception module that supplies transmission / reception signals to each antenna element of an active phased array antenna. Conventionally, this type of array antenna has been developed as shown in FIG. 11.19 (b) of “Revised Radar Technology” writer: Takashi Yoshida (1996). A power supply circuit is configured from the power supply unit for the transmission / reception, and the transmission / reception module includes an antenna element, an array receiver, a receiver, and an A / D converter. With this configuration, when a transmission signal is supplied to the transmission / reception module, a high-frequency signal is used. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a conventional array antenna power supply circuit. In power transmission of transmission / reception signals to the transmission / reception modules 1a to 1n, high-frequency signals are used as transmission signals and local signals. In operation, at the time of transmission, a high frequency signal is generated as a transmission signal from the signal generator 18, amplified by the power amplifier 17, and then transmitted to the transmission / reception modules 1 a to 1 n via the distributor 16. In the transmission / reception modules 1a to 1n, the transmission signal is phase-shifted to the required phase by the phase data from the control circuit 14 via the switches 8a to 8n controlled by the transmission / reception switching signal from the control circuit 14. After being phase-shifted by the devices 15a to 15n, amplified by the power amplifiers 5a to 5n and emitted from the radiation elements 2a to 2n. At the time of reception, the received signals from the radiating elements 2a to 2n are amplified by the high frequency amplifiers 4a to 4n, and are locally supplied from the switchers 8a to 8n controlled by the transmission / reception signals from the control circuit 14 by the mixers 6a to 6n. The signal is converted into a video signal. The video signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converters 7 a to 7 n and transmitted to the digital beam forming circuit 13. The transmission / reception modules 1a to 1n are controlled by the control circuit 14. For this reason, from the control circuit 14, the transmission / reception switching signal of the digital signal, the phase data for beam scanning of the array antenna, and the operation of the A / D converter are performed. A clock is supplied to the transmission / reception modules 1a to 1n.
[0002]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The first problem of the prior art is that the structure of the power feeding unit becomes complicated because a distributor for high frequency signals is required in the power feeding unit. The reason is that since the high frequency signal is targeted, it is necessary to manufacture the distributor by a microstrip line or a waveguide.
The second problem is that in the case of a plug-in structure transmission / reception module, a strict dimensional accuracy is required for an input / output end connector, and an expensive connector is required. The reason is that the interface of the transmission / reception module is intended for high-frequency signals.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an array antenna transmission / reception module and an array antenna apparatus using the same, which do not require a circuit for feeding a high-frequency signal to the active phased array antenna transmission / reception module.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an array antenna transmission / reception module and an array antenna apparatus using the same, which eliminates the need for an expensive connector with strict dimensional accuracy in the input / output connector of the transmission / reception module by using a digital signal. It is in.
[0003]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The array antenna transmission / reception module according to the present invention includes a memory for storing digital data serving as base data for a transmission signal and a local signal, a phase control means for controlling the phase of the digital data read from the memory, and an output from the phase control means. A D / A converter for converting the digital data to be converted into an analog signal, and a frequency converter for receiving the output of the D / A converter and converting it to a required high frequency signal frequency, the phase control means comprising: A data converter for offsetting the digital data that is the original oscillation of the transmission signal from the memory is provided. Further, the array antenna transmission / reception module of the present invention includes a memory for storing digital data as basic data of a transmission signal and a local signal, a phase control means for controlling the phase of the digital data read from the memory, and the phase control means. A D / A converter that converts the digital data output from the analog signal into an analog signal, and a frequency converter that receives the output of the D / A converter and converts it into a required high frequency signal frequency. The base data includes waveform data of an unmodulated high-frequency signal, FM-modulated high-frequency signal, and pulse-modulated high-frequency signal, and these waveform data are selected and read at the time of transmission and reception.
[0004]
In the present invention, since the high-frequency signal is generated inside the transmission / reception module, a high-frequency signal for transmission / reception from the outside is not necessary, and an effect of enabling the interface between the transmission / reception module and the power feeding unit to be a digital signal is obtained.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, transmission / reception modules 1a to 1n include radiating elements 2a to 2n for transmitting / receiving radio waves, transmission / reception switching units 3a to 3n for switching transmission / reception, power amplifiers 5a to 5n for amplifying transmission signals, and high-frequency amplifier 4a for amplifying reception signals. ~ 4n, mixers 6a to 6n for phase detection from received signals and local signals, A / D converters 7a to 7n for converting analog signals to digital signals, transmission of the power amplifiers 5a to 5n at the time of transmission, and local at the time of reception Switches 8a to 8n for sending signals to the mixers 6a to 6n, memories 9a to 9n having digital signals as signals for the transmission signal and the local signal, data converters 10a to 10n for offsetting the digital data, digital D / A converters 11a to 11n that convert data into analog signals, and frequency converter 12 that converts data into required high-frequency signals With a ~12n. Transmission / reception switching, transmission signal generation, and local signal generation to the transmission / reception modules 1a to 1n are controlled by digital signals from the control circuit 14. Received signals from the transmission / reception modules 1a to 1n are sent to the digital beam forming circuit 13 as digital signals. Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. At the time of transmission, digital data that is the original oscillation of a transmission signal is output as parallel data from memories 9a to 9n such as ROM, and the digital data is offset by data converters 10a to 10n including shift registers and the like. Thereafter, the D / A converters 11a to 11n convert the digital data into analog signals, and the frequency converters 12a to 12n configured by a frequency multiplier or the like convert the signals to transmission signals having a required high frequency signal frequency. The transmission signal is sent to the power amplifiers 5a to 5n via the switching devices 8a to 8n, amplified by the power amplifiers 5a to 5n, and emitted from the radiation elements 2a to 2n via the transmission / reception switching devices 3a to 3n. . When the transmission / reception switching signal from the control circuit 14 is transmission, the transmission / reception switching units 3a to 3n connect the power amplifiers 5a to 5n and the radiating elements 2a to 2n, and the switching units 8a to 8n include the power amplifiers 5a to 5n and the frequency converter. 12a to 12n are connected. The memories 9a to 9n output waveform data such as an unmodulated high-frequency signal, an FM-modulated high-frequency signal, and a pulse-modulated high-frequency signal according to the waveform used. Further, when beam scanning is performed as an array antenna, the phase of the original signal is offset by offsetting the digital data with the data converters 10 a to 10 n based on the phase data from the control circuit 14. In this way, the phase of the transmission signal is changed and beam scanning is performed. At the time of reception, reception signals received by the radiating elements 2a to 2n of the transmission / reception modules 1a to 1n are transferred to the mixers 6a to 6n. In the mixers 6a to 6n, the received signals are converted into video signals by the local signals supplied via the switchers 8a to 7n. This video signal is converted into a digital signal by A / D converters 7a to 7n and sent to a digital beam forming circuit. When the transmission / reception switching signal from the control circuit 14 is received, the transmission / reception switching units 3a to 3n connect the high frequency amplifiers 4a to 4n and the radiating elements 2a to 2n, and the switching units 8a to 8n are the mixers 6a to 6n and the frequency converter. 12a to 12n are connected. The memories 9a to 9n output waveform data of unmodulated high frequency signals. As shown in FIG. 2, readout to the memories 9a to 9n storing digital data which is the original oscillation of transmission signals to the respective transmission / reception modules 1a to 1n and waveform data of unmodulated high frequency signals used at the time of reception is performed by a clock. This is performed in synchronization with the transmission / reception switching signal from the control circuit 14 together with the synchronization of the operating frequency of the memory itself.
[0006]
【The invention's effect】
The first effect of the present invention is that a high-frequency distributor in the power feeding unit is not necessary. This is because a high-frequency signal is generated inside the transmission / reception module, so that the interface between the transmission / reception module and the power feeding unit is a digital signal. The second effect is that an inexpensive and small connector can be used at the input / output end of the transmission / reception module. The reason is that since the interface of the transmission / reception module is intended for digital signals, strict dimensional accuracy and mating accuracy are not required. The third effect is that an expensive high-frequency phase shifter is not required for the phase shifter of the transmission / reception module. This is because the phase of the transmission / reception module is changed by offsetting the digital data that is the original oscillation of the high-frequency signal in the memory.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing operation timing in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional array antenna transmission / reception module and an array antenna apparatus using the same.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a to 1n: transceiver module,
2a to 2n: radiating elements,
3a to 3n: transmission / reception switch,
4a to 4n: high frequency amplifier,
5a to 5n: power amplifier,
6a-6n: mixer,
7a-7n: A / D converter,
8a to 8n: switching device,
9a-9n: memory,
10a to 10n: data converter,
11a to 11n: D / A converter,
12a to 12n: frequency converter,
13: Digital beam forming circuit,
14: control circuit,
15a to 15n: phase shifter,
16: Distributor,
17: Power amplifier,
18: Signal generator

Claims (2)

A memory for storing digital data serving as base data for a transmission signal and a local signal, phase control means for controlling the phase of digital data read from the memory, and converting the digital data output from the phase control means into an analog signal In an array antenna transmission / reception module comprising a D / A converter and a frequency converter for receiving the output of the D / A converter and converting it to a required high frequency signal frequency,
The array antenna transmission / reception module, wherein the phase control means includes a data converter for offsetting the digital data which is the original oscillation of the transmission signal from the memory. A memory for storing digital data serving as base data for a transmission signal and a local signal, phase control means for controlling the phase of digital data read from the memory, and converting the digital data output from the phase control means into an analog signal In an array antenna transmission / reception module comprising a D / A converter and a frequency converter for receiving the output of the D / A converter and converting it to a required high frequency signal frequency, there is no basic data of the transmission signal. An array antenna transmission / reception module comprising: waveform data of a modulation high-frequency signal, FM modulation high-frequency signal, and pulse modulation high-frequency signal, and selecting and reading out the waveform data during transmission and reception.

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