JP4518364B2 - Multi-beam antenna device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-beam antenna device suitable for communication with a desired region by being mounted on a flying object such as a flying object deployed in the stratosphere or an artificial satellite deployed in outer space.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, in the field of communications, a concept has been developed in which a plurality of airships are deployed in the stratosphere and a communication service in a desired area on the ground is executed using an antenna device mounted on these airships. As such an antenna device, a multi-beam antenna device is considered to be effective.
[0003]
In such a conventional multi-beam antenna device, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of antennas 1 called horn antennas are fixedly arranged in a so-called petal shape with a predetermined opening angle, An antenna unit 2 set to partially overlap is provided.
[0004]
The antenna unit 2 in which the plurality of antennas 1 are fixedly arranged in a petal shape is an antenna support mechanism formed to be rotatable around two axes (X axis, Y axis) orthogonal to each other, for example, XY (biaxial) A rotation angle around two axes called a roll axis and a pitch axis is assembled to the gimbal 3 so as to be adjustable. The XY gimbal 3 has a base portion around the so-called yaw axis in a state where the base portion is electrically connected to the electric system of the flying object via, for example, a coupling mechanism 4 called a rotary joint (not shown). It is mounted and arranged so that it can rotate freely.
[0005]
In the above configuration, the antenna unit 2 is adjusted in angle around the two axes by the XY gimbal 3 and rotated around the yaw axis by the coupling mechanism 4, so that the plurality of antennas 1 can be placed in a desired area. Signals are sent to and received from areas within the beam area.
[0006]
However, in the multi-beam antenna device, in order to supply electric power to the XY gimbal 3, the XY gimbal 3 is electrically connected to the electric system in the flying object via a coupling mechanism 4 such as a rotary joint. Due to the configuration that must be connected to and mounted, the mounting structure becomes very complicated, and the reliability of operation control is reduced.
[0007]
According to this, when one of the plurality of antennas 1 of the antenna unit 2 breaks down and communication service to a desired service area becomes difficult, it is temporarily collected on the ground and the replacement work including the repair is performed. What has to be done has the problem that the maintenance work is very troublesome.
[0008]
In addition, according to this, if the communication load of some areas in the service area fluctuates depending on the time of day, season, etc., it becomes difficult to cope with it, so there is a problem that fluctuations must be taken into consideration in advance. Have.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional multi-beam antenna device, the mounting structure is complicated, the reliability of operation control is low, the maintenance work is very troublesome, and the operation is difficult to diversify. Have
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a multi-beam antenna device capable of realizing highly reliable and stable communication with a simple configuration and promoting the diversification of operations. The purpose is to provide.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a plurality of antennas arranged side by side with respect to the mounting structure, and a plurality of antenna support mechanisms for mounting and arranging the plurality of antennas so as to be rotatable around two axes orthogonal to each other. These two antenna support mechanisms are driven and controlled as a set of two or more to control the rotation angle of each of the antennas about two axes, and the beam area of the set of antennas is directed to a desired area. The multi-beam antenna device is configured to include a beam region setting means to be controlled.
[0012]
According to the above configuration, when the rotation angle around the two axes of the antenna support mechanism is controlled, the directivity directions of the beam regions are controlled according to the rotation angles, and the plurality of antennas cooperate with each other in a desired manner. A beam pattern is formed.
[0013]
As a result, with a configuration that only includes an antenna support mechanism that can adjust the rotation angle around two axes, high-precision beam area control is realized, and multiple antennas and the electrical system on the mounting structure side are electrically coupled. This facilitates simplification of the mounting structure. As a result, it is possible to improve the reliability of the operation control and to promote the diversification of operation as an antenna system.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
1 and 2 show a multi-beam antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which an arrangement state of a plurality of, for example, 16 antennas 10a to 10p is viewed from the back side. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the arrangement state of the 16 antennas 10a to 10p is viewed from the front end side.
[0016]
That is, the 16 antennas 10a to 10p are formed by, for example, horn antennas, and are arranged in a mounting structure, for example, the stratosphere via, for example, biaxial (XY) mounts 11a to 11p that form an antenna support mechanism in a similar manner. Each of the flying bodies 12 such as an airship is arranged side by side with a predetermined interval so that the orientation can be freely adjusted. These 16 antennas 10a to 10p, for example, form a group of three antennas 10A to 10E with 15 antennas 10a to 10o, and the remaining one antenna 10p constitutes a redundant system.
[0017]
The sixteen biaxial mounts 11a to 11p that hold the antennas 10a to 10p so as to be rotatable about two axes have an X-axis drive unit 13 and a Y-axis drive unit 14 as a first and a second as shown in FIGS. The second support members 15 and 16 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable through the X axis and the Y axis which are orthogonal to each other and do not cross each other.
[0018]
For example, the X-axis drive unit 13 includes a speed reduction unit 131 and a drive motor 132. The speed reducer 131 and the drive motor 132 are assembled to the first support member 15, and the first support member 15 is attached to the flying object 12. Then, one end of a rotation member 17 is coupled to the X-axis drive unit 13 attached to the first support member 15 so as to be rotatable around the X-axis.
[0019]
The second support member 16 is fixedly disposed at the other end of the rotating member 17. For example, a speed reducing portion 141 and a drive motor 142 constituting the Y-axis drive portion 14 are attached to the second support member 16. And the base part of the said antenna 10a (10b-10p) is assembled | attached to the Y-axis drive part 14 rotatably around the Y-axis.
[0020]
Thereby, when the Y-axis drive unit 14 is driven, the antenna 10a (10b to 10p) is rotationally controlled around the Y axis with respect to the second support member 16 by the Y-axis drive unit 14. When the X-axis drive unit 13 is driven, the antenna 10a (10b to 10p) rotates around the X-axis integrally with the Y-axis drive unit 14 via the rotation member 17 and the second support member 16. Be controlled.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 5, a drive control unit 18 is connected to each X-axis drive unit 13 and Y-axis drive unit 14 of each of the 16 biaxial mounts 11a to 11q. The drive control unit 18 receives beam region command information from a command unit (not shown) at the first input end, and the position / posture information of the flying object 12 at the second input end. .
[0022]
Based on these beam area command information and position / posture information, the drive control unit 18 has two axes (X axis, Y axis) around the yaw axis (Z axis) so that the 15 antennas 10a to 10o face the service area. The X-axis drive signal around each X-axis and the Y-axis drive signal around the Y-axis of each of the biaxial mounts 11a to 11o including the converted values are calculated, and the X-axis drive unit 13 and the Y-axis drive unit 14 are calculated. Output to.
[0023]
Here, the X-axis drive unit 13 and the Y-axis drive unit 14 of the fifteen biaxial mounts 11a to 11o are based on the X-axis drive signal and the Y-axis drive signal from the drive control unit 18, respectively. The rotation angle around the axis is controlled to control the antennas 11a to 11o to each desired service area. At this time, the 15 antennas 10a to 10o are arranged such that each of the beam areas A to E of the set of three antenna groups 10A to 10E overlaps a part of the adjacent beam area as shown in FIG. It is set to have a desired beam pattern.
[0024]
In the above configuration, the drive control unit 18 receives beam region command information and position / posture information of the flying object 12 from the command unit (not shown). Then, the drive control unit 18 rotates around the yaw axis (Z axis) so that each of the 15 antennas 10a to 10p faces a desired service area based on the beam area information and the position / posture information of the flying object 12. Each X-axis drive unit 13 and Y-axis drive unit is calculated by calculating an X-axis drive signal around each X-axis and a Y-axis drive signal around the Y-axis including values converted around two axes (X-axis and Y-axis). 14 for output.
[0025]
Here, each X-axis drive unit 13 drives the drive motor 132 based on the input X-axis drive signal, and rotationally drives the rotation member 17 with respect to the first support member 15 via the speed reduction unit 131. Then, the rotation angles of the antennas 10a to 10o around the X axis together with the second support member 16 are controlled.
[0026]
At the same time, each Y-axis drive unit 14 drives the drive motor 142 based on the input Y-axis drive signal, rotationally drives the antennas 10a to 10o around the Y axis via the speed reduction unit 141, and rotates around the Y axis. Control the rotation angle.
[0027]
Here, the 15 antennas 10a to 10o are set so that, for example, the beam areas A to E form a desired beam pattern as shown in FIG. 6, and the communication service to the service area is executed.
[0028]
When the position / posture of the flying object 12 changes in this communication service state, the position / posture information of the flying object 12 corresponding to the amount of change is input to the drive control unit 18. Here, the drive control unit 18 has two axes around the yaw axis (Z axis) so that the 15 antennas 10a to 10o are directed to a desired service area based on the position / posture information of the flying object 12. X-axis drive signal around each X-axis and Y-axis drive signal around Y-axis including values converted around (X-axis, Y-axis) are calculated and output to each X-axis drive unit 13 and Y-axis drive unit 14. To do.
[0029]
Here, each X-axis drive unit 13 drives the drive motor 132 based on the input X-axis drive signal, and rotationally drives the rotation member 17 with respect to the first support member 15 via the speed reduction unit 131. Then, the rotation angles of the antennas 10a to 10o around the X axis together with the second support member 16 are controlled.
[0030]
At the same time, each Y-axis drive unit 14 drives the drive motor 142 based on the input Y-axis drive signal, rotationally drives the antennas 10a to 10o around the Y axis via the speed reduction unit 141, and rotates around the Y axis. Control the rotation angle.
[0031]
In this way, the 15 antennas 10a to 10o have their beam areas A to E in the initial service by correcting the variation of the position and orientation of the flying object 12 via the biaxial mounts 11a to 11o. Local orientation is maintained. As a result, the 15 antennas 10a to 10o are not affected by fluctuations in the position / posture of the flying object 12, and highly accurate directivity control to a desired service area is performed and a stable communication service is continued. The
[0032]
In the communication service state, for example, when the communication load in a desired service area is increased, the command unit (not shown) outputs beam superimposition command information to the drive control unit 18.
[0033]
Then, based on the input beam superimposition command information, the drive control unit 18 rotates around its yaw axis (Z axis) so that, for example, any one of the fifteen antennas 10a to 10o faces the service area where the superimposition is requested. X-axis drive signal around the X-axis and Y-axis drive signal around the Y-axis including values converted from the two axes (X-axis and Y-axis) are calculated, respectively, and the X-axis drive unit 13 and the Y-axis drive are calculated. To the unit 14.
[0034]
Here, the X-axis drive unit 13 drives the drive motor 132 based on the input X-axis drive signal, and rotationally drives the rotation member 17 with respect to the first support member 15 via the speed reduction unit 131. The antenna 10a (10b to 10o), together with the second support member 16, controls the rotation angle around the X axis.
[0035]
At the same time, the Y-axis drive unit 14 drives the drive motor 142 based on the input Y-axis drive signal, rotationally drives the antennas 10a to 10o around the Y axis via the speed reduction unit 141, and rotates around the Y axis. Control the corners.
[0036]
In this way, one of the 15 antennas 10a (10b to 10o) is superposed on another beam region by changing the beam region corresponding to the beam superposition information. Thereby, the communication capacity to a desired service area is increased, and a stable communication service is executed.
[0037]
In the communication service state, when any of the 15 antennas 10a to 10o breaks down and it is difficult to execute the communication service in the service area, the command unit (not shown) The switching signal is output to the drive control unit 18.
[0038]
Then, the drive control unit 18 responds to the input antenna switching signal so that the redundant antenna 10p corresponds to the beam pattern of the failed antenna 10a (10b to 10o). An X axis drive signal of the drive unit 13 and a Y axis drive signal of the Y axis drive unit 14 are generated and output to the X axis drive unit 13 and the Y axis drive unit 14.
[0039]
Here, the X-axis drive unit 13 and the Y-axis drive unit 14 control the rotation angles around the X-axis and Y-axis of the redundant biaxial mount 11p, and the antenna 10a (10b to 10o) that has failed the antenna 10p. Set to the beam direction.
[0040]
At the same time, the drive control unit 18 generates a stop signal for the failed antenna 10a (10b to 10o) and controls the failed antenna 10a (10b to 10o) to be turned off. As a result, 14 of the other antennas (10a to 10o) and the redundant antenna 10p cooperate to form a desired beam pattern for the initial service area, thereby stabilizing the high frequency for the service area. A quality communication service is executed.
[0041]
As described above, the multi-beam antenna device has 16 antennas 10a to 10p attached to the flying object 12 via the biaxial mounts 11a to 11p so as to be rotatable about two axes orthogonal to each other. The biaxial mounts 11a to 11p are selectively driven and controlled to control the rotation angles of the antennas 11a to 11p around the two axes, and the beam areas A to E of the antennas 11a to 11p are controlled to be directed to desired areas. It was configured as follows.
[0042]
According to this, when the rotation angles around the two axes of the biaxial mounts 11a to 11p are controlled, the directivity directions of the beam areas A to E are respectively controlled according to the rotation angles of the antennas 10a to 10p. Collaborate to form the desired beam pattern and execute the communication service.
[0043]
Therefore, with the configuration only including the biaxial mounts 11a to 11p capable of adjusting the rotation angles around the biaxial axes, the highly accurate control of the beam areas A to E is realized, and the antennas 10a to 10p and the electric system on the flying object side are realized. It is possible to facilitate the simplification of the mounting structure for electrically connecting the two. As a result, it is possible to improve the reliability of the operation control and promote the diversification of the operation as the antenna system.
[0044]
In the above embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the 15 antennas 10a to 10o cooperate to form a desired beam pattern. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, 15 antennas. 10a to 10o may be configured to form a transmission system with the antennas 10a to 10h and separate and control the directivity so as to form a reception system with the antennas 10g to 10o.
[0045]
Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated as a case where it comprised using the biaxial mount 11a-11p provided with the biaxial (X axis and Y axis) which are mutually orthogonal and not crossed as an antenna support mechanism, In addition to the above, it is also possible to use a so-called biaxial (XY) gimbal having a support structure in which two axes orthogonal to each other intersect.
[0046]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration is such that 16 antennas 10a to 10p including a redundant system are divided into five groups of antenna groups 10A to 10E as a set and arranged side by side with the flying object 12. As described above, various configurations are possible without being limited to this number.
[0047]
In the above embodiment, the redundant system is formed by a single antenna 10p. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other two or more redundant antennas are provided. Also good. And as such a redundant antenna, it is also possible to comprise so that another antenna may be used as needed, without providing especially.
[0048]
Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention at the stage of implementation. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.
[0049]
For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the effect of the invention can be obtained. In some cases, a configuration from which this configuration requirement is deleted can be extracted as an invention.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is provided a multi-beam antenna device capable of realizing highly reliable and stable communication with a simple configuration and promoting the diversification of operations. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multi-beam antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from one direction.
2 is a perspective view showing a state viewed from the other side different from FIG. 1; FIG.
3 is a perspective view showing the antenna and the biaxial mount extracted from FIG.
4 is a perspective view showing the antenna and the biaxial mount extracted from FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the control system shown in FIG.
6 is a diagram showing an example of a beam pattern of 15 antennas in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional multi-beam antenna device.
[Explanation of symbols]
10a-10p ... Antenna.
10A to 10E Antenna group.
11a-11p ... Biaxial mount.
12 ... Flying object.
13: X-axis drive unit.
131 ... Deceleration part.
132: Drive motor.
14: Transmitter / receiver.
141: Deceleration part.
142: Drive motor.
15 ... 1st support member.
16: Sixth support member.
17: Rotating member.
18: Drive control unit.
A to E: Beam region.

Claims (4)

A plurality of antennas arranged alongside the mounting structure;
A plurality of antenna support mechanisms for mounting and arranging the plurality of antennas so as to be rotatable about two axes orthogonal to each other with respect to the mounting structure;
Two or more of these antenna support mechanisms are driven as a set to control the rotation angle of each of the antennas around two axes, and the beam area of the set of antennas is controlled to a desired area. A multi-beam antenna device comprising: a beam region setting unit. 2. The multi-beam antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna support mechanisms set the plurality of antennas so as to overlap a part of a beam region of an adjacent set of antennas. 3. The mounting structure is a flying body, and the beam region setting means selectively drives and controls the plurality of antenna support mechanisms based on the position and orientation of the flying body for each set, and the beam of the plurality of antennas. 3. The multi-beam antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the region is maintained in an initial state. At least one of the plurality of antennas and the plurality of antenna support mechanisms constitutes a redundant system, and the antenna support mechanism is selectively driven and controlled so that a beam area is directed to a desired area. The multi-beam antenna device according to claim 1.

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