JP4221634B2 - Phase shifter - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a phase shifter used for an array antenna that sets a main beam direction by adjusting a phase difference between antenna elements, thereby setting a communication area and suppressing interference between base stations. is there.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 9, the array antenna 1 has a plurality of antenna elements 2, and the main beam direction θ is set by adjusting the phase difference between the antenna elements 2 using the phase shifter 3. Is something that can be done.
In a conventional phase shifter, an arc-shaped strip conductor is fitted on a fixed substrate, and a rotary coupling conductor such as a watch hand is brought into contact with the strip conductor via an insulating film, thereby rotating the rotary coupling conductor. Therefore, there is one that continuously changes the amount of phase shift (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-13103). The reason for interposing the insulating film is that when metals are brought into direct contact with each other, intermodulation wave distortion occurs and communication failure occurs.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the phase shifter, since the rotary coupling conductor rotates, in order to supply an input signal thereto, a member (rotary joint) that can maintain electrical coupling while rotating is necessary.
In the phase shifter described in the publication, a shaft serving as an input terminal is formed at the center of the rotary coupling conductor, and a rotary joint is coupled to the shaft.
[0004]
However, if an axis is formed on the rotary coupling conductor or a rotary joint is used, the configuration of the phase shifter becomes complicated, and the shaft or rotary joint becomes an antenna that radiates radio waves. Cause disturbance.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to realize a phase shifter that has a simple configuration and has stable high-frequency characteristics.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The phase shifter of the present invention includes an arc-shaped or annular fixed conductor provided on a substrate, a center conductor provided at a center position of the arc or ring on the same substrate, and the center conductor wherein the stationary conductor and the rotation coupling conductor for coupling through an insulating film, the rotation center of the rotary coupling conductor, with downward force of the spring, is pressed by applying a predetermined pressure to the center conductor side and A first press-contact member, a second press-contact member that presses a predetermined pressure on the fixed conductor side with a push-down force of a spring, and an end portion of the rotary coupling conductor; the first press-contact member; A support member that is attached to the first pressure contact member and the second pressure contact member to receive a reaction force of the second pressure contact member, and rotates integrally with a rotation center axis of the rotary coupling conductor; rotating the pre-Symbol rotation coupling conductor And a rotation driving means for said first pressing member is made of resin, and each through hole is formed in the center of the rotation center portion and the insulating film of said rotary coupling conductor, the central Holes are formed in the conductor, and the first pressure contact member has protrusions that pass through these through holes and fit into the holes .
[0006]
According to the above configuration, the rotary coupling conductor is pressed against the substrate side by the first pressing member and the second pressing member. Thereby, a rotation coupling conductor and a fixed conductor and a rotation coupling conductor and a center conductor can be electrostatically coupled in a stable state via an insulating film. And it remains attached electrostatically by the rotary drive means, it is possible to vary the amount of phase shift to rotate the rotary coupling conductor.
Since the rotary coupling conductor does not have a shaft protruding toward the substrate as in the prior art, unnecessary radiation can be eliminated and the high frequency characteristics of the phase shifter can be improved.
[0007]
Further, since the protrusion is the center of rotation, when the first pressure contact member is rotationally driven by the rotational driving means, it can be smoothly rotated.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an array antenna incorporating a phase shifter.
This array antenna is a polarization diversity array antenna in which + 45 ° polarized antenna elements 8a and −45 ° polarized antenna elements 8b are vertically arranged. Three sets of antenna elements 8a and 8b that follow in the vertical direction constitute one feeding unit, and five feeding units constitute an array antenna. These power supply units are represented by reference numerals 2a to 2e. The array antenna includes phase shifters 3a and 3b with variable phase shift angles.
[0009]
The power feeding signal to the array antenna is distributed by the distributor 5 and supplied to the + 45 ° fixed phase shifter 6a and the −45 ° fixed phase shifter 6b. The output signals of the fixed phase shifters 6a and 6b are respectively distributed by the distributors 7a and 7b, and one of the distributed signals is directly fed to the power feeding unit 2c. The other is given a phase difference by the phase shifters 3a and 3b and is fed to the power feeding units 2a and 2b; 2d and 2e, respectively. The phase shifters 3a and 3b (generally denoted by 3) have the same structure, and are connected to each other by a connecting rod (not shown) so that the rotation is interlocked.
[0010]
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a portion that changes the phase shift of the phase shifter.
The phase shifter 3 is provided on a fixed ground plate (not shown) made of metal (copper, aluminum, etc.), and has an insulating substrate 17 fitted with an arc-shaped strip conductor (fixed conductor) 15 and a cylindrical center conductor 16. And a rotary rod 12 that supports the rotary coupling conductor 13 and an insulating film 14 made of an insulator such as polytetrafluoroethylene. An adhesive is applied to the lower surface of the insulating film 14.
[0011]
In FIG. 2, the insulating film 14 is a disk-like sheet that covers the entire strip conductor 15. However, the insulating film 14 is shaped to match the surface of the center conductor 16 and the surface of the strip conductor 15, and an adhesive is respectively used. It may be applied and affixed, or an adhesive may be applied and affixed to the surface of the rotary coupling conductor 13.
The central conductor C, the insulating film 14, and the central axis C of the rotating rod 12 are provided with rotating holes 16a, 14a, 12a, respectively, and the central conductor 16, the insulating film 14, and the rotating rod 12 are in contact with each other. An insertion protrusion 43a, which will be described later, passes through these rotation holes 16a, 14a, 12a. The rotary rod 12 is driven to rotate about the rotary hole 12a.
[0012]
FIG. 3 is a front view of the entire phase shifter including the rotation mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a plan view.
The phase shifter rotation mechanism has four rotation axes A to D provided on the entire mounting plate 33 so as not to move up and down.
The rotation axis A is a rotation axis of the electric motor 21 and is equipped with a gear 22.
The rotating shaft B is equipped with a gear 23 that meshes with the gear 22. Furthermore, an engagement protrusion 26 for feeding the gear 28 is formed on the rotation shaft B. Further, the rotary shaft B is equipped with a rotary plate 31 with a scale. The rotation of the rotating plate 31 is detected magnetically or optically by the detector 32.
[0013]
The rotating shaft C is connected to the press contact member 4 described later, and is equipped with a semicircular gear 28. Since the elastically moving pin 27 is inserted into the teeth of the gear 28, the gear 28 can rotate by one tooth by pushing the pin 27 away.
The pin 27 is fixed to one end of an L-shaped metal fitting 25 that is rotatably attached to the rotary shaft D. The other end of the metal fitting 25 is pulled in the direction of arrow E in FIG. Therefore, the pin 27 is always urged in the direction of biting into the teeth of the gear 28.
[0014]
Further, a rotating plate 29 is attached to the rotating shaft C. The rotating plate 29 is provided with a plurality of holes 29a that function as encoders, and the rotation angle of the rotating shaft C can be detected by detecting the position of the holes 29a by the detector 30.
The phase shifter 3 includes a supporting plate 18a for supporting a metal fixed ground plate 18, an insulating substrate 17, an insulating film 14 (not shown in FIG. 3), a rotating rod 12, and a pressure contact member 4 for pressing the rotating rod 12 ( And a support member 46 that receives the reaction force of the pressure contact member 4 and rotates integrally with the rotation shaft C. The support member 46 and the pressure contact member 4 can rotate together without slipping. Reference numeral 16b on the bottom surface of the support plate 18a indicates a power supply end of the center conductor 16.
[0015]
FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining the rotating operation of the phase shifter rotating mechanism.
When the rotating shaft B is rotated about one turn in the direction of arrow F as shown in FIG. 5 (a) by rotating the electric motor 21, the engaging protrusions 26 formed on the rotating shaft B Advance in the direction of arrow G. At this time, as described above, since the elastically moving pin 27 is inserted into the teeth of the gear 28, the gear 28 can push the pin 27 away and rotate one tooth in the arrow G direction.
[0016]
Further, when the rotation shaft B is rotated about one turn in the direction of arrow H as shown in FIG. 5B, the engagement protrusion 26 formed on the rotation shaft B advances the teeth of the gear 28 in the direction of arrow I. Also at this time, as described above, the gear 28 can rotate one tooth in the direction of arrow I by pushing the pin 27 away.
The engagement protrusion 26 may advance the tooth of the gear 28 by one tooth in the direction of the arrow G or I. Even if the engagement protrusion 26 rotates further, the rotation angle is the next tooth. As long as the angle is not reached, the gear 28 does not contribute to rotation. For this reason, the rotational angle accuracy of the engagement protrusion 26, that is, the rotation shaft B, has an advantage that the strictness is not required as much as when the rotational motion is generated by the motor and is changed to the straight motion using the cam.
[0017]
FIG. 6 is a front view showing the pressing member 4 that rotates together with the rotating rod 12 of the phase shifter 3 and presses the rotating rod 12 against the insulating substrate 17.
The pressure contact member 4 is mounted on a support member 46, and includes a support cylinder 44 and a pressure contact body 43 that press the rotating rod 12 at the center, and a support cylinder 42 and a pressure contact body 41 that press the rotation rod 12 at both ends. The support cylinders 42 and 44, the press contact bodies 41 and 43, and an insertion protrusion 43a described later are all made of resin (phenol resin, polycarbonate resin, or the like).
[0018]
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the support tube 44 (J-J cross-section in FIG. 6). The pressure contact body 43 is inserted in the support cylinder 44 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. A compression spring 45 is disposed inside the support tube 44, and the compression spring 45 pushes the pressure contact body 43 downward. The tip of the pressure contact member 43 is inserted projection 43a is being formed, the insertion projections 43a are holes of the rotating rod 12, through the holes of the insulating film 14, is inserted into the hole 16a of the central conductor 16. Then, by pressing the rotating rod 12 on the bottom surface 43b of the pressure contact body 43, stable electrostatic coupling between the rotary coupling conductor 13 arranged in a layer on the lower surface of the rotating rod 12 and the central conductor 16 is realized. .
[0019]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view (cross-section KK in FIG. 6) of the support cylinder 42. The press contact body 41 is inserted into the support cylinder 42 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. A compression spring 45 is disposed inside the support cylinder 42, and the compression spring 45 pushes the pressure contact body 41 downward. Accordingly, the rotating rod 12 can be held by the bottom surface 41a of the press contact body 41, and the stable coupling between the rotating coupling conductor 13 disposed in a layered manner below the rotating rod 12 and the arc-shaped strip conductor 15 is achieved. Is possible.
[0020]
Since the press contact body 41 is fitted in a recess provided on the upper surface of the rotary rod 12, when the press contact body 41 rotates, the rotary rod 12 also rotates.
Since the rotary rod 12 and the pressure contact member 4 are structured as described above, when the rotary shaft C rotates, the support member 46 and the pressure contact member 4 rotate accordingly, and the rotary rod 12 rotates. In this case, as described above, since the electrostatic coupling between the rotary coupling conductor 13 formed on the lower surface of the rotary rod 12 and the center conductor 16 and the arc-shaped strip conductor 15 is maintained, an electrically stable transfer is achieved. Phase characteristics can be realized.
[0021]
In addition, implementation of this invention is not limited to the above embodiment, A various change is possible within the scope of the present invention.
For example, two phase shifters 3 are prepared because they are used for a diversity array antenna. However, only one phase shifter 3 is required when used for an array antenna that is not diversity.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, unnecessary radiation can be eliminated with a simple configuration, and a phase shifter having stable high-frequency characteristics can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an array antenna incorporating a phase shifter.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a part of the phase shifter 3 that changes the phase shift.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the entire phase shifter including a rotation mechanism.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the entire phase shifter including a rotation mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining the rotational driving operation of the phase shifter rotating mechanism.
6 is a front view showing a pressure contact member 4 that presses the rotary rod 12 against the insulating substrate 17 while rotating together with the rotary rod 12 of the phase shifter 3. FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view (cross-section JJ in FIG. 6) of the support tube 44. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along the line KK in FIG. 6) of the support cylinder 42;
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a state in which radio waves are radiated from the array antenna 1 in the main beam direction θ.
[Explanation of symbols]
A to D rotating shaft 1 array antenna 2 antenna element 3 phase shifter 4 pressure contact member 12 rotating rod 14 insulating film 15 strip conductor 16 center conductor 16a rotating hole 17 insulating substrate 21 electric motor 26 engaging projection 27 pin 28 gear 29 rotating plate 29a hole 30 detector 41 pressure contact body 42 support cylinder 43 pressure contact body 43a insertion projection 44 support cylinder 46 support member

Claims (3)

An arc-shaped or annular fixed conductor provided on the substrate;
A central conductor provided at the central position of the arc or ring on the same substrate;
A rotary coupling conductor for coupling with said stationary conductor and the center conductor via an insulating film,
A first pressure contact member that presses the rotation center portion of the rotation coupling conductor by applying a predetermined pressure to the center conductor side by a pressing force of a spring; and
A second press-contact member that presses the end of the rotationally-coupled conductor by applying a predetermined pressure to the fixed conductor with a spring pressing force;
The first pressure contact member and the second pressure contact member are attached to receive the reaction force of the first pressure contact member and the second pressure contact member, and are integrated with the rotation center axis of the rotary coupling conductor. A support member that rotates and
And a rotation drive means for rotating the pre-Symbol rotation coupling conductor,
The first pressure contact member is made of resin ;
A through hole is formed in each of the rotation center portion of the rotation coupling conductor and the center portion of the insulating film, and a hole is formed in the center conductor, and the first pressure contact member passes through these through holes. The phase shifter has a protrusion that fits into the hole . 2. The phase shifter according to claim 1 , wherein recesses are formed at both ends of the rotary coupling conductor, and the second pressure contact member is fitted in the recesses . The rotation driving means, phase shifter according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, characterized in that it comprises an electric motor.

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