JP5919780B2 - Antenna device and satellite capturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an antenna apparatus and a satellite capturing method for capturing a satellite and transmitting, receiving, or transmitting / receiving radio waves to / from the satellite.

  Conventionally, an antenna device such as a satellite communication antenna mounted on a mobile body or a satellite communication antenna that is portable and used at an arbitrary place is provided with position information of a given satellite and a sensor when the antenna is deployed. Some of them have an initial acquisition function, which is a function of automatically directing the antenna toward the satellite in the satellite direction (sensor information) using the information on the antenna tilt and direction obtained from the antenna (sensor information). 1).

  In addition to the operation of such an antenna device, since the above-mentioned sensor information generally includes an error, there is a case where peaking is performed using the reception level of the satellite arrival wave to improve the pointing accuracy. . A series of these operations is called satellite automatic acquisition. Note that Patent Document 1 has a description that the acceleration information of the moving body is used in the automatic satellite acquisition (initial acquisition) function. As a means for obtaining such acceleration information, an acceleration sensor described in Patent Document 2 can be cited.

  As for the automatic satellite acquisition, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-86400, there is a mobile object that performs acquisition by a gyroscope in addition to using a reception level such as a step track method or a conical scan method. .

  Some conventional antenna devices use a drop in the reception level as a trigger for a re-acquisition operation as a re-initial acquisition method when the antenna is tilted due to an earthquake or an external load and the satellite capture is lost. (For example, refer to Patent Document 4). In the reinitialization acquisition described in Patent Document 4, since a drop in the reception level is used as a trigger for the reacquisition operation, even if the antenna is inclined due to an earthquake or an external load, the reacquisition can be performed automatically.

JP 2005-300347 A JP 2011-202961 A (acceleration sensor 1 described in paragraph [0014]) JP 2006-270806 A (paragraph number [0002]) JP 2005-20638 A

  However, the cause of the reception level drop is not only the change in the antenna installation attitude, but also the level drop in the radio wave propagation path due to rain, the level drop due to the passage of the wave shield in front of the antenna, maintenance of the satellite and ground station, etc. There is a temporary system down.

  Therefore, in the re-initialization acquisition described in Patent Document 4, a drop in the reception level is used as a trigger for the re-acquisition operation. In fact, the unnecessary re-acquisition operation is performed even though the antenna direction is directed to the satellite direction. There is a problem that communication is not possible during that period, and the availability of communication of the antenna device may be reduced.

  Further, in the re-initialization acquisition described in Patent Document 4, even when the antenna installation state actually changes due to an earthquake or an external load and the reception level is lowered to perform the re-acquisition operation, only the detection of the reception level drop is performed. Since the re-capture operation may be performed while the earthquake is still ongoing, the antenna drive due to the re-acquisition operation interacts with the vibration of the device due to the earthquake, giving a load to the device or causing the device to fall over. There were also issues such as triggering.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. By detecting a disturbance caused by an earthquake or an external load applied to the antenna device from vibrations, the satellite is re-acquired after the disturbance is settled. An object of the present invention is to provide a novel antenna device and a satellite capturing method capable of reliably correcting a communication interruption due to a change in the installation posture of the antenna device.

In the antenna device according to the present invention, the satellite capturing processing unit controls the drive mechanism unit that drives the antenna unit to capture the satellite, and transmit, receive, or transmit / receive radio waves to / from the satellite. An antenna housing in which the antenna unit is housed, vibration detecting means for detecting vibration applied to the antenna housing, and the vibration detecting means detects vibrations of a predetermined value or more, and during and during the vibration, After becoming less than or equal to the predetermined value, or after being settled, the azimuth and tilt angle or tilt angle of the antenna casing is acquired, and the acquired azimuth and tilt angle or tilt angle of the antenna casing is acquired. Is compared with the orientation and inclination angle of the antenna casing or the initial value of the inclination angle, and attitude change detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the attitude change of the antenna casing, and this attitude change detection When the unit detects a change in posture of said antenna housing, wherein the antenna housing inclination angle after the posture change is the antenna housing a predetermined range of less than the inclination angle of the extent leading to fall into an inclining state of and it has either determining satellite recapture determination unit within the range, when this satellite recapture determination unit determines that the inclination angle after the posture change of the antenna housing is within said predetermined range, A re-acquisition processing unit that controls the satellite acquisition processing unit to re-acquire the satellite.

Further, in the antenna device that controls the drive mechanism unit that drives the antenna unit, captures the satellite, and transmits, receives, or transmits / receives radio waves to / from the satellite, the antenna unit is housed. An antenna case, vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the antenna case, azimuth and inclination angle of the antenna case, or antenna attitude detection means for detecting an inclination angle, and the vibration detection means The vibration of the antenna housing is detected during the vibration and after the vibration becomes less than the predetermined value, or after the vibration is settled, or the inclination angle or the inclination angle of the antenna housing is detected. Obtained from the detecting means, and the obtained orientation and inclination angle of the antenna casing, or the inclination angle is the orientation and inclination angle of the antenna casing, or an initial value of the inclination angle Comprising time, the antenna housing of inclination angle the antenna housing satellite recapturing determines whether within a predetermined range is a range of less than the inclination angle of the extent leading to fall into an inclining state after the posture change a determination unit, when the satellite recapturing determination unit is an inclination angle of the antenna housing after the posture change is determined that falls within the predetermined range, and controls the satellite capturing unit, the satellite And a re-acquisition processing unit that re-acquires.

The satellite capturing method according to the present invention is a satellite capturing method in which an antenna unit is driven to capture a satellite, and an antenna device transmits, receives, or transmits / receives radio waves to / from the satellite. A vibration detecting step for detecting vibration applied to the antenna housing, and the vibration detecting step detects a vibration greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and during or after the vibration becomes less than the predetermined value Thereafter, the azimuth and tilt angle of the antenna casing, or the tilt angle is acquired, and the acquired azimuth and tilt angle of the antenna casing, or the tilt angle and the azimuth and tilt angle of the antenna casing, or A posture change detecting step of comparing the initial value of the inclination angle to detect the presence or absence of the posture change of the antenna housing, and the posture change detecting step comprises the antenna Detecting a change in the posture of the body, when it is determined that the inclination angle after the posture change of the antenna housing is within the antenna housing within a degree less than the inclination angle leading to fall into an inclining state And a re-acquisition processing step for re-acquiring the satellite.

According to the antenna device of the present invention, even if vibration is applied to the antenna casing and the satellite is unacquired, the inclination angle after the attitude change of the antenna casing causes the antenna casing to fall. If it is within the range of the inclination angle of a certain degree, it is possible to automatically and quickly detect that the satellite has been unacquired and perform re-acquisition.

According to the satellite capturing method of the present invention, even if vibration is applied to the antenna housing and the satellite is uncaptured, the inclination angle after the attitude change of the antenna housing causes the antenna housing to fall. When the angle is within a range of a certain inclination angle, it is possible to automatically and quickly detect that the satellite has been unacquired and perform reacquisition.

It is a functional block diagram of the antenna apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a state transition diagram of the antenna apparatus and satellite acquisition method (operation of an antenna apparatus) concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an inclination image figure of the antenna device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a functional block diagram (including an antenna housing | casing) of the antenna apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 1 is an external view of an antenna device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an inclined external view of an antenna device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is inclination angle explanatory drawing of the antenna device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the antenna apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the satellite acquisition method (operation | movement of an antenna apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart (part) of the satellite acquisition method (operation | movement of an antenna apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the satellite acquisition method (operation | movement of an antenna apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the satellite acquisition method (operation | movement of an antenna apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart (part) of the satellite acquisition method (operation | movement of an antenna apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is inclination angle explanatory drawing of the antenna device which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a flowchart (part) of the satellite acquisition method (operation | movement of an antenna apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a flowchart (part) of the satellite acquisition method (operation | movement of an antenna apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a flowchart (part) of the satellite acquisition method (operation | movement of an antenna apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the antenna apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a flowchart (part) of the satellite acquisition method (operation | movement of an antenna apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention.

  In the description of the processing step (retrap flow) in the flowchart in the present application, the processing step xx (xx is a number) is abbreviated as Sxx and is shown and illustrated. S is an acronym for STEP. Also, in the figure, the same processing steps indicate the same or corresponding ones, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. Further, in this application, a shake such as an earthquake is described as “seismic intensity”, and this “seismic intensity” is assumed to use the Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity class (after October 1, 1996). Note that the posture change detection means 8 (acceleration sensor) to be described later uses a well-known method used for a seismometer or the like as a method for converting acceleration (gal: 1 Gal = 0.01 m / s) into “seismic intensity”. Since it is good, I will not mention it.

  There are the following two types of determination (determination based on antenna attitude) as to whether or not the satellite capture of the antenna device has been lost due to an earthquake or vibration due to an external load in the present application. The first one assumes that the antenna device (an antenna housing 6 described later) is installed in a rotatable / rotatable state. Specifically, both the azimuth and the tilt angle of the antenna device (antenna housing 6 to be described later) before and after vibration detection of the antenna device (antenna housing 6 to be described later). Is sufficient if at least one of them is different from the initial value) for antenna attitude determination. The orientation of the antenna housing 6 is for detecting the rotation of the antenna housing 6, and a reference position (arbitrary setting) of the antenna housing 6 is set, and the reference is the antenna housing 6. The presence or absence of rotation of the antenna housing 6 is detected depending on which direction the rotation is before and after the rotation. The rotation axis may not be constant. The second case mainly assumes a case where the antenna device (antenna housing 6 described later) is installed in a state where the possibility of rotation / rotation is low. Specifically, this is a case where the angle of inclination of the antenna device (antenna housing 6 described later) before and after vibration detection of the antenna device (antenna housing 6 described later) is used for antenna posture determination.

  Therefore, in the present application, when both “azimuth” and “inclination angle” are used as parameters for determination based on the antenna orientation (in the determination of the antenna orientation, if at least one of the orientation and the inclination angle is different from the initial value, Both) and “inclination angle” will be described together. Therefore, in the expression “azimuth and inclination angle, or inclination angle”, an alternative expression “or” is used. However, when the former “azimuth and inclination angle” is used as a parameter, first, “ After the expression “azimuth and tilt angle or tilt angle” comes out, the latter “tilt angle” cannot be selected as a parameter. Similarly, when the latter “tilt angle” is used as a parameter, after the expression “azimuth and tilt angle or tilt angle” appears first, the former “azimuth and tilt angle” is selected as a parameter. It is not possible. In the present application, the expression “azimuth and tilt angle (tilt angle)” may be used for this purpose.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, reference numeral 1 denotes an antenna unit that receives a satellite incoming wave (a radio wave coming from a satellite) from a satellite, and the antenna device transmits, receives, or transmits / receives a radio wave to / from the satellite via the antenna unit 1. I do. Reference numeral 2 denotes a drive mechanism unit that drives the antenna unit 1, and the drive mechanism unit 2 includes a directivity direction drive unit 2a and a polarization angle drive unit 2b. When the radio wave exchanged with the satellite is circularly polarized, the polarization angle driving unit 2b is not necessary. 3 is a satellite capture processing unit that controls the drive mechanism unit 2 to drive the antenna unit 1 to cause the antenna unit 1 to capture a satellite and transmit, receive, or transmit / receive radio waves to / from the satellite. An RF unit that amplifies the satellite arrival wave received by the antenna unit 1 and converts the frequency, 5 is a tracking reception unit that measures and outputs the reception level of the satellite arrival wave from the satellite arrival wave converted by the RF unit 2, and 6 The antenna housing 6 includes an antenna housing, and the antenna housing 6 includes a circular base plate 6a on which the antenna portion 1 and the drive mechanism portion 2 are placed, and a cylindrical radome 6b that covers the base plate 6a. The antenna housing 6 may be a state in which the radome 6b is removed from the base plate 6a. Reference numeral 7 denotes vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the antenna housing 6. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  1 to 10, reference numeral 8 indicates that the vibration detection means 7 detects a vibration of a predetermined value or more, and during the vibration and after the vibration becomes less than the predetermined value or after it has settled, the antenna housing 6 The azimuth and the tilt angle or the tilt angle are acquired, and the acquired azimuth and tilt angle of the antenna housing 6 or the initial value of the tilt angle and the orientation of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the tilt angle, or the tilt Attitude change detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the attitude change of the antenna housing 6 by comparing with the initial value of the angle (when both the azimuth and the inclination angle are used as parameters, either the azimuth or the inclination angle is , 9 may be an antenna attitude detection unit that detects an inclination angle of the antenna casing 6. Note that the “acquisition of the orientation of the antenna housing 6” function in the attitude change detection means 8 and the antenna attitude detection means 9 may use an angular velocity sensor such as a magnetic sensor or a rate sensor. The azimuth in the magnetic sensor indicates an absolute azimuth with reference to true north, and the azimuth in the rate sensor indicates a relative azimuth based on some reference direction. In this application, the direction in which the antenna housing 6 is facing is an earthquake. In particular, it is used for the purpose of detecting (determining) that the antenna casing 6 itself is rotated and replaced by vibration due to external load (thus, whether or not the satellite capture of the antenna device has been removed). There is no need to be specific to either. Next, as the “acquisition of the attitude of the antenna housing 6” function in the attitude change detection means 8 and the antenna attitude detection means 9, it is preferable to use a function capable of detecting the inclination of the target such as a vibration sensor. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  1 to 10, reference numeral 10 indicates that “when the attitude change detection means 8 detects the attitude change of the antenna casing 6, it is determined whether the inclination angle after the attitude change of the antenna casing 6 is within a predetermined range. Or “the direction and the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 after the vibration detection means 7 detects vibration of a predetermined value or more and after the vibration becomes less than the predetermined value or after the vibration has settled. Alternatively, when the inclination angle is acquired from the antenna attitude detection means 9 and the acquired inclination angle of the antenna casing 6 is different from the initial value of the orientation of the antenna casing 6 and the initial value of the inclination angle, or the inclination angle ( When both the azimuth and the tilt angle are used as parameters, when either the azimuth or the tilt angle is different from the initial value), the acquired tilt angle of the antenna housing 6 is within a predetermined range. Whether it is determined "a satellite reacquisition determining unit. As will be described again, the attitude change in this application (the change in the attitude of the antenna, the change in the attitude of the antenna housing 6) is such that when at least one of the azimuth and the inclination angle changes when the azimuth and the inclination angle are used as parameters. Change posture. Needless to say, the predetermined range is a range that differs for each direction and inclination angle. When the tilt angle is used as a parameter, the posture changes if the tilt angle changes. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  1 to 10, in the satellite re-acquisition determination unit 10, the vibration detection / continuation determination unit 16 detects that the vibration detection unit 7 detects a vibration greater than a predetermined value, and the vibration becomes less than or equal to the predetermined value. After determining whether or not the vibration is less than a predetermined value or having settled, the azimuth and inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 or the inclination angle is obtained, and the obtained azimuth of the antenna housing 6 is obtained. And the inclination angle or the initial value of the azimuth of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the inclination angle or the initial value of the inclination angle are compared to detect the presence or absence of the attitude change of the antenna housing 6. . Then, the antenna orientation determination unit 10a acquires the orientation and inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 acquired from the antenna orientation detection means 9, or the initial value of the orientation and inclination angle of the orientation of the antenna housing 6, or When the initial value of the tilt angle (stored in the antenna attitude value storage unit 17) is different from the initial value, it is determined that the acquired tilt angle of the antenna housing 6 is within a predetermined range, and re-captured. The control unit 18 gives a recapture operation instruction to the recapture processing unit 11 described later. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  When the attitude change detection means 8 is present outside the satellite reacquisition determination unit 10 instead of the antenna attitude detection means 9, the attitude change detection means 8 determines whether the orientation and inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 or The inclination angle is compared with the initial value of the azimuth of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the inclination angle or the initial value of the inclination angle to determine the difference. 11, when the satellite reacquisition determination unit 10 determines that the inclination angle after the attitude change of the antenna housing is within a predetermined range, the satellite reacquisition determination unit 10 controls the satellite acquisition processing unit 3 to reacquire the satellite. It is a capture processing unit. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  Of the determinations regarding the change in the attitude of the antenna casing 6 described above, the determination of the change or difference in the orientation of the antenna casing 6 from the initial value (change or difference in the direction (angle) in which the antenna device is facing) Since the size and size of the antenna device and the communication system are large, it is assumed that the change in the azimuth (angle) and the difference in numerical values are such that the satellite capture of the antenna device is lost. The same applies to the tilt angle.

  The antenna device according to the first embodiment has the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and the satellite acquisition processing unit 3 detects the satellite position information obtained from the outside, the tilt detection means 12 that detects the tilt of the antenna unit 1, and the antenna unit 1. A driving mechanism with “the satellite direction viewed from the antenna position as the reference direction” calculated by the antenna direction calculation unit 15 from the antenna position output from the direction detection means 13 for detecting the direction to which the antenna is directed and the position detection means 14 such as GPS. The conventional antenna apparatus that directs the antenna unit 1 to the best state in the satellite direction by driving the antenna unit 1 and performing peaking according to the reception level while outputting an antenna drive instruction to the unit 2 A function (initial capture function) is provided. In the peaking operation, for example, coarse detection of the satellite direction by search is performed, and more accurate pointing control is performed by a step track method or a conical scan method.

  Furthermore, in the antenna device according to the first embodiment, the drive mechanism unit 2 that drives the antenna directing direction is also used for the re-acquisition operation by the output of the satellite capture processing unit 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the vibration detection means 3 for detecting the acceleration generated in the antenna unit 1 (antenna housing 6) due to the vibration caused by an earthquake or an external load outputs the acceleration output, and the attitude change information of the antenna unit 1 The satellite recapture determination unit 10 (antenna attitude determination unit 10a) determines whether or not the satellite recapture is necessary using the attitude change information output from the attitude change detection unit 8 (antenna attitude detection unit 9). Then, a satellite acquisition start command is output to the satellite acquisition processing unit 3. The basic re-acquisition operation is the same as the initial acquisition operation. The present application relates to automation (unmanned) of a recapture trigger.

  Next, state transitions of the antenna device and the satellite capturing method according to Embodiment 1 will be described using a state transition diagram (State Transition Diagram) in FIG. ST1 indicates a state in which the initial acquisition of the satellite is completed and “communication operation” is performed in the antenna device. ST2 indicates a state in which “vibration is being detected” in which the vibration detection unit detects vibration in the antenna device. ST3 indicates a state where the antenna housing 6 is tilted so that the antenna housing 6 is tilted. Here, for the sake of convenience, the “failure” state is assumed. In addition, even if the antenna housing 6 is not in the tilted state in the fall state, there is a possibility that the antenna housing 6 is tilted by vibrations and further transitions to the fall state when its own weight or additional fine vibration is applied. The posture of the antenna housing 6 that is “an inclination angle enough to fall into a fall state” may be a “failure” state. This is because it is assumed that the antenna device is installed in a place where an aftershock (something that affects the antenna device) may occur after the earthquake.

  ST4 is the “recapture” state in which the antenna housing 6 is in a tilt angle other than the tilt angle when the antenna housing 6 is in a fall state in the antenna device, and the satellite is recaptured. In ST3, when the attitude of the antenna housing 6 that is “an inclination angle enough to fall into a falling state” is also in a “failure” state, the antenna housing 6 is tilted from an inclination angle other than the inclination angle of the falling state, It is necessary to assume that the antenna housing is in the “recapture” state by excluding the inclination angle other than the inclination angle that would cause the antenna housing to fall over. Although FIG. 2 does not directly show the change in the orientation of the antenna housing 6 (whether the antenna housing 6 is rotated), the orientation and inclination are included in the parameters for detecting the orientation change (change in the antenna orientation). When the angle is used, the orientation of the antenna housing 6 may be rotated by vibration and the satellite may be unacquired, so that the orientation of the antenna housing 6 changes (whether the antenna housing 6 is rotated). Is used as a parameter for detecting a change in posture (change in antenna posture), but the parameter for determining the “re-capture” state may be the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6.

  As the “satellite capturing method for driving the antenna unit 1 to capture the satellite and causing the antenna device to transmit, receive, or transmit / receive radio waves to / from the satellite” according to the first embodiment, ST1 is the antenna unit 1 This is a vibration detection step for detecting vibration applied to the antenna housing 6 in which is stored. In the transition from ST2 to ST3 or ST2 to ST4, the vibration detection step detects a vibration of a predetermined value or more, and during the vibration and after the vibration becomes less than the predetermined value or after it has settled, the antenna housing 6 azimuth and inclination angle, or the inclination angle is acquired, and the acquired azimuth and inclination angle of the antenna housing 6, or the initial value of the inclination angle and the azimuth of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the inclination angle, or This is a posture change detection step of comparing the initial value of the inclination angle and detecting the presence or absence of the posture change of the antenna housing 6. ST4 recaptures the satellite when the attitude change detection step detects the attitude change of the antenna casing 6 and determines that the inclination angle after the attitude change of the antenna casing 6 is within a predetermined range. This is a recapture processing step.

  In FIG. 2, a state where the satellite reacquisition determination unit 10 determines that an external load causing an earthquake is applied to the antenna (antenna housing 6) using the vibration detection means 7 is Q = 1. To do. If the seismic intensity set as the predetermined value is “seismic intensity 4” or more, Q = 1. A state in which the earthquake has converged or no external load is applied is set to Q = 0. At this time, a state in which the shaking (vibration) completely stops may be set to Q = 0. Also, the state less than "" may be Q = 0. In addition, an angle change (attitude change of the antenna unit) detected during Q = 1 detected by the attitude change detection means 8 (antenna attitude detection means 9) is set to Δθ. The change in orientation is omitted in FIG.

  In ST1 (communication operation), satellite acquisition has already been completed and the antenna drive (drive mechanism unit 2) is stopped. In some cases, the electromagnetic brake of the motor is operating and the drive power supply is turned off. It is a state that is being done. In ST1 (during communication operation), if it is determined that Q = 1, the antenna state transitions to ST2 (during vibration detection). If Q = 0 is detected in ST2 (during vibration detection) and Δθ> 0, the satellite recapture determination unit 10 instructs the satellite capture processing unit 3 to capture the satellite, and the antenna state changes to ST4 (recapture). Transition. When satellite acquisition is completed, the antenna state transitions to ST1 (during communication operation), and a series of operations is completed.

  If Q = 0 is detected in the ST2 (during vibration detection) state and Δθ = 0, it is assumed that there was an earthquake or an external load, but there was no change in the antenna installation state. ST4 (re-capture) Transits to 12 during communication operation. As described above, when the azimuth and the tilt angle are used as the parameters for detecting the attitude change (antenna attitude change), the attitude of the antenna housing 6 is rotated by vibration even when Δθ = 0. Since the satellite may be unacquired, Q = 0 is detected during the ST2 (vibration detection) state, and even if Δθ = 0, the process transits to ST4 (re-acquisition execution). If an inclination that causes the antenna housing 6 to fall down is observed during the ST2 (during vibration detection) state, the operation state of the antenna is stopped by making a transition to a failure state with the drive power turned off. This is because the antenna housing 6 itself may swing due to driving of the drive mechanism unit 2 in the antenna housing 6 when the antenna housing 6 falls and transitions to ST4 (re-capture). Because there is.

  The inclination to the extent that the antenna housing 6 falls (“antenna posture”, that is, the posture of the antenna housing 6) is an inclination in which the center of gravity position (antenna device gravity center) of the antenna device is outside the antenna support structure due to the inclination. Sure. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the antenna device according to Embodiment 1 does not fall when the center of gravity of the antenna device is inside the antenna support structure. As shown in FIG. 3B, the antenna apparatus according to Embodiment 1 falls over when the center of gravity is outside the antenna support structure. Next, the definition of the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 that is the antenna posture in such a case will be described as an example with reference to FIGS.

  The antenna support structure is a base plate 6a, and the base plate 6a on the installation surface of the base plate 6a (antenna housing 6) has an inside / outside of a virtual cylinder extending in the vertical direction passing on the circumference where the base plate 6a is in contact with the installation surface. Are the inside and outside of the antenna support structure. FIG. 6 is a simplified diagram in which a dotted line (only one is shown) passing through one vertical section of a virtual cylinder is used as an inner / outer boundary for easy understanding. An angle formed by the origin and the center of gravity of the antenna device is defined as an inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 with a position where a dotted line passing through one vertical section of the virtual cylinder and a horizontal plane intersect with each other. Specifically, in the case shown in FIG. 6A, the antenna device does not fall. In the case shown in FIG. 3B, the antenna device falls.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram virtually showing the configuration of the internal antenna device seen through the radome 6b of the antenna housing 6. As shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows the gravity center position (antenna device gravity center) of the antenna device corresponding to FIG. Although shown in a plan view, it can be understood that the center of gravity of the antenna device is not inside the radome 6b but inside the radome 6b. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the antenna device illustrated in FIG. 5 is tilted. Then, the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 when FIG. 7 is defined in the previous section will be described.

  In FIG. 7, an angle formed by the origin and the center of gravity of the antenna device is defined as an inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 with a position where a dotted line passing through a vertical section of the virtual cylinder and a horizontal plane intersect with each other. Therefore, when the antenna housing 6 is installed on a flat surface, an inclination angle of α ° is inevitably generated. Similarly, when the antenna housing 6 is in a state of falling to the horizontal plane (a state in which the side surface of the radome 6b is in contact with the horizontal plane), an inclination angle of β ° is inevitably generated. The range of α ° ≦ tilt angle ≦ 90 ° is a predetermined range in ST4 (recapture processing step). It can be said that the range of the inclination angle where 90 ° <inclination angle ≦ β ° is such that the antenna housing 6 falls. In other words, the initial value of the inclination angle of the antenna housing needs to be α °, or at least an angle in the range of α ° ≦ inclination angle ≦ 90 °. This initial value is stored in the attitude change detection unit 8 or the antenna attitude value storage unit 17. Of course, the inclination angle is normalized by α °, and the range of 0 ° ≦ inclination angle ≦ (90−α) ° may be the predetermined range in ST4 (recapture processing step). Similarly, the inclination angle satisfying (90−α) ° <inclination angle ≦ (β−α) ° may be an inclination such that the antenna housing 6 falls. Note that the center of gravity of the antenna device (antenna device center of gravity) moves on the circumference of the arc shown in FIG. 7 (α ° ≦ tilt angle ≦ β).

  Next, the antenna device and the satellite capturing method according to Embodiment 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the antenna device according to the first embodiment, which is a fragmented version of the functional block diagram shown in FIG. The difference between the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 8 (a) and the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 8 (b) is that in FIG. The vibration of the antenna housing 6 is detected, and after the vibration becomes less than a predetermined value or after the vibration is settled, the orientation and the inclination angle or the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 are obtained, and the obtained The orientation and inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 or the orientation of the antenna housing 6 by comparing the inclination angle with the initial value and initial value of the inclination angle or initial value of the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 In FIG. 8 (b), the antenna attitude detection unit 9 detects only the orientation and inclination angle of the antenna casing 6 or the inclination angle in FIG. 6 orientation and tilt angle, or tilt angle and antenna housing 6 The initial value of the initial value and the inclination angle of the orientation or operation of comparing the initial value of the inclination angle and the (those stored in the antenna attitude value storage section 17), the antenna posture determination unit 10a is performed. In other words, the posture change detection unit 8 includes a function corresponding to the determination function of the posture change of the antenna housing 6 by the antenna posture determination unit 10 a and the antenna posture value storage unit 17.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the satellite acquisition method according to the first embodiment (operation of the antenna device according to the first embodiment). FIG. 9A shows processing steps up to re-capturing (ReTapping: RT), and FIGS. 9B and 9C show processing steps of re-capturing (ReTapping: RT). FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the case where the vibration detecting means 7 uses an acceleration sensor with respect to S01. Note that the functional block diagram corresponding to FIGS. 9 and 10 will be described using the one shown in FIG. 8B as an example.

  In FIG. 9A, S 01 outputs that the vibration detection means 7 has detected a vibration greater than a predetermined value and the value to the vibration detection / continuation determination unit 16. The vibration detection / continuation determination unit 16 instructs the antenna posture detection unit 9 to sequentially detect the antenna posture (azimuth and inclination angle or inclination angle of the antenna housing 6) via the antenna posture determination unit 10a. (S02), it is determined whether the vibration detected by the vibration detecting means 7 continues (S03). The orientation and inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 by the antenna attitude detection unit 9 or the detection frequency of the inclination angle and the delivery frequency of the antenna attitude determination unit 10a as a result of the detection may be arbitrary, but are suitable for the earthquake vibration time It is necessary to do. In S03, when the output of the vibration information detected by the vibration detection means 7 becomes 0 or falls below a predetermined value, the vibration detection / continuation determination unit 16 determines that the earthquake has ended or the antenna housing 6 It is determined that the vibration is not tilted and the process proceeds to S04.

  In S04, the antenna attitude determination unit 10a ends the acquisition of the azimuth and inclination angle or inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 from the antenna attitude detection unit 9. Thereafter, the orientation and inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 acquired from the antenna attitude detection unit 9, or the initial value of the orientation of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the inclination angle, or the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 during the vibration It is determined whether or not the initial value (stored in the antenna attitude value storage unit 17) has become a different value. Whether the values are different (similarity) may be determined using the above definition.

  The initial value of the orientation of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the tilt angle or the initial value of the tilt angle are preferably retained in advance, but the antenna posture has been changed several times due to earthquake vibration. In this case, the initial orientation (tilt and tilt angle of the antenna housing 6 or tilt angle) during the earthquake (vibration) is set to the initial value of the orientation of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the tilt angle or the tilt angle. It may be an initial value. When a rate sensor is used for the “acquisition of the orientation of the antenna housing 6” function in the antenna attitude detection means 9 (attitude change detection means 8), the rate sensor has a drift error and an error of several Deg occurs in several hours. . For this reason, when using a rate sensor, it is better to store (update the antenna attitude value storage unit 17) and use such an attitude value immediately before the attitude change.

  As a result of S05, when it is determined that there is no change in the antenna attitude (the position and inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 or the inclination angle), the antenna apparatus is capturing the satellite and proceeds to “END”. That is, normal operation is continued (state ST1 in FIG. 2). When it is determined that there is a change, the antenna attitude determination unit 10a determines that the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 is within a predetermined range after the vibration becomes less than the predetermined value or after it has settled. It is determined whether or not there is any problem (S06).

  If the determination in S06 is that the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 is not within the predetermined range, the process proceeds to S07. The fact that the process has proceeded to S07 is the state of ST3 shown in FIG. 2 and means that the attitude of the antenna housing 6 is in a state of an inclination angle in which the antenna housing 6 is in a fallen state. The operation of the antenna device such as 2 is stopped, and the process proceeds to “END”. If the determination in S07 is that the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 is not within the predetermined range, the process proceeds to S08 in FIG.

  In S08 of FIG. 9B, in response to the determination by the antenna attitude determination unit 10a, the recapture control unit 18 determines recapture, issues a recapture instruction to the recapture processing unit 11, and performs recapture. The acquisition processing unit 11 controls the antenna direction calculation unit 15 to perform re-acquisition of the satellite (S09). The re-acquisition processing unit 11 issues a satellite re-acquisition instruction to the antenna direction calculation unit 15 until the re-acquisition is completed, but the number of instructions (the number of confirmations) that will time out the cycle of S09 is arbitrary. When the re-acquisition of the satellite is confirmed, the process ends (transition to the state of ST1 in FIG. 2). Assuming that the antenna device receives vibration such as an earthquake again after completion of re-acquisition of the satellite, as shown in FIG. 9C, S10 is added and “the vibration is less than a predetermined value. “Orientation and inclination angle or inclination angle of antenna housing 6 after or after being settled” as “initial value of orientation of antenna housing 6 and initial value of inclination angle or initial value of inclination angle” It may be updated. Specifically, a process of updating data in the antenna attitude value storage unit 17 is performed. This S10 may be after S09.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a case where the vibration detecting means 7 uses an acceleration sensor with respect to S01. FIG. 10A is S01 itself described with reference to FIG. 9A, and is shown for comparison with FIG. 10B. In FIG. 10B, in S101, the acceleration sensor (acceleration detection unit 7a) detects the acceleration, and the acceleration applied to the antenna housing 6 detected by the acceleration sensor in S201 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (that is, the antenna device). It is determined whether or not the earthquake is such that the satellite acquisition will be missed. There is no need to set the number of times that the cycle of S201 times out. The acceleration sensor may be provided outside or on the surface of the antenna housing 6. However, the acceleration sensor is protected from disturbance by the base plate 6a and the radome 6b, and has a function of protecting from rainwater. The acceleration sensor is advantageously provided in the antenna housing 6 because it can be left to the antenna housing 6.

  The antenna device and the satellite acquisition method according to the first embodiment are satellite automatic acquisition antennas, and only the vibration (acceleration) output from the vibration detection means 7 is used to instruct the satellite automatic acquisition antenna to reacquire satellites. By inputting to the determination unit 10, even when a satellite is unacquired by the antenna device due to a large vibration such as an earthquake, it can be easily re-acquired automatically.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the antenna device and the satellite capturing method according to the first embodiment, it is assumed that the “azimuth and tilt angle (tilt angle)” of the antenna housing 6 is known in advance. In the antenna device and the satellite capturing method according to the above, an explanation is given assuming that the orientation and inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 or the inclination angle is not known in advance (when the initial value is not held in advance). To do. Since the second embodiment is only partially different from the first embodiment in processing steps, the description of the functional block diagram is the same as that according to the first embodiment. The functional block diagram corresponding to FIGS. 11 and 12 will be described by using the one shown in FIG. 8B as an example.

  FIG. 11A shows processing steps up to re-capturing (ReTapping: RT), and FIG. 11B shows processing steps of re-capturing (ReTapping: RT). Similarly, FIG. 12A shows processing steps up to re-capturing (ReTapping: RT), and FIG. 12B shows processing steps of re-capturing (ReTapping: RT). Note that the processing steps in FIG. 11B are the same as the processing steps in FIG. The processing steps in FIG. 12B are the same as the processing steps in FIG.

  In the first embodiment, a state where the satellite recapture determination unit 10 determines that an external load causing an earthquake is applied to the antenna (antenna housing 6) using the vibration detection means 7 is Q = Set to 1. If the seismic intensity set as the predetermined value is “seismic intensity 4” or more, Q = 1. A state in which the earthquake has converged or no external load is applied is set to Q = 0. At this time, a state in which the shaking (vibration) completely stops may be set to Q = 0. It is also possible to set Q = 0 for a state less than "." An earthquake is composed of an initial tremor caused by a P wave (Primary Wave) and a main movement caused by an S wave (Secondary Wave) that comes after the initial tremor. In general, the initial tremor often has a seismic intensity of 3 or less, and the external load applied to the antenna housing 6 due to the vibration causes the antenna housing 6 to rotate or tilt, and the satellite capture of the antenna device is removed. It is not about.

  Therefore, in the antenna device (satellite acquisition method) according to the second embodiment, the satellite re-acquisition determination unit 10 has a vibration detection means 7 of a second predetermined value (seismic intensity 3) or less that is less than a predetermined value (seismic intensity 4). When vibration is detected, the azimuth and inclination angle or inclination angle of the antenna casing 6 is acquired from the antenna attitude detection means 9, and the acquired azimuth and inclination angle or inclination angle of the antenna casing 6 is determined as the antenna. The initial value of the orientation of the antenna housing 6 is stored in the antenna orientation value storage unit 17 as the initial value of the orientation of the housing 6 and the initial value of the tilt angle or the initial value of the tilt angle. And an initial value of the tilt angle or an initial value of the tilt angle. That is, it is determined that an external load is applied to the antenna (antenna housing 6) even with vibration below the second predetermined value (seismic intensity 3), which corresponds to the initial fine movement. That is, the outline of the antenna device (satellite capturing method) according to the second embodiment is as follows. The initial value of the azimuth of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the inclination angle while the antenna housing 6 is shaken by the initial fine movement. Alternatively, the initial value of the tilt angle is obtained. Hereinafter, the processing steps will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 11A, S11 is a processing step in which the vibration detection means 7 detects a vibration (initial fine movement) equal to or less than a second predetermined value (seismic intensity 3) that is less than a predetermined value (seismic intensity 4). As a result, when the magnitude of the earthquake is small or the epicenter is far from the installation location of the antenna device, the main vibration is detected (in some cases, only the main vibration). Since this is performed in S13 described later, it is assumed here that initial fine movement is detected for convenience. When the vibration of the main motion converges and becomes less than a predetermined value, the value falls below the second predetermined value, and the convergence state of the main motion vibration is detected as the initial fine motion. The vibration detection / continuation determination unit 16 detects the vibration (predetermined value) of the main movement and detects the vibration based on the second predetermined value (initial fine movement detection) for a certain period of time so as not to make an “incorrect determination”. Make it not exist. The certain time here refers to a common-sense time during which vibration caused by an earthquake (main motion) is settled.

  In S12, the azimuth and inclination angle or inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 is obtained from the antenna attitude detection means 9, and the initial value of the azimuth of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the inclination angle or the inclination angle are obtained. Use the initial value. In S13, a change from the initial fine movement to the main movement is detected. If no vibration greater than the predetermined value (seismic intensity 4) is detected, the process proceeds to the end. In this case, the subsequent processing steps are changed to those according to the first embodiment (FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C) because the initial value of the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 has already been obtained. May be. If vibration greater than the predetermined value (seismic intensity 4) is detected, the process proceeds to S02. Since the processing steps from S02 to S09 are the same as the processing steps according to the first embodiment (FIGS. 9A and 9B), description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the time which becomes timeout in S13 may be arbitrary.

  When the epicenter is close to the place where the antenna device is installed, that is, a so-called direct earthquake, there is little or almost no shaking due to the initial fine movement. In some cases, it may be difficult to obtain the initial value of the azimuth of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the tilt angle, or the initial value of the tilt angle.

  Next, an antenna device (satellite capturing method) according to Embodiment 2 assuming such a case will be described with reference to FIG. 12, in S14, when the satellite recapture determination unit 10 detects a seismic intensity equal to or greater than a predetermined value (seismic intensity 4), the process proceeds to S15b as a main motion. When the vibration below the second predetermined value (seismic intensity 3) is detected, the process proceeds to S15.

  In S15 (when the satellite re-acquisition determination unit 10 detects initial fine movement), the number of executions of the processing step (re-trap flow) is confirmed. In the past, when the processing flow of FIGS. 12A and 12B has been carried out, the initial value of the orientation of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the tilt angle, or the initial value of the tilt angle are already present. Therefore, skip S12 and proceed to S13. In the past, when the processing flow of FIGS. 12A and 12B has not been performed, the initial value of the azimuth of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the inclination angle or the initial value of the inclination angle are not possessed. , Go to S12. Since the processing steps from S02 to S09 (S10) are the same as those described above, description thereof will be omitted.

  In S15b (when the movement detected by the satellite recapture determination unit 10 is a main motion), the number of executions of the processing step (retrap flow) is confirmed. In the past, when the processing flow of FIGS. 12A and 12B has been carried out, the initial value of the orientation of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the tilt angle, or the initial value of the tilt angle are already present. Therefore, the processing steps from S02 to S09 (S10) on the S15 side shown in FIG. 12 are performed. In the past, when the processing flow of FIGS. 12A and 12B has not been performed, the initial value of the azimuth of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the inclination angle or the initial value of the inclination angle are not possessed. The processing steps from S02, S03, S04, S06 to S09 (S10) on the S15b side shown in FIG. Here, the reason for omitting the step of S05 is that there is no initial value of the azimuth and initial value of the tilt angle or initial value of the tilt angle for determining whether or not the antenna posture has changed. . Therefore, even if the satellite capture of the antenna device is not removed, there may be a re-acquisition operation, but since it is immediately after the main motion has occurred, there is little actual damage due to temporary suspension of operation of the antenna device. .

  In addition, when the antenna posture is changed a plurality of times due to the vibration caused by the earthquake, the initial posture (tilt angle of the antenna housing 6) in the seismic intensity is set to the initial value of the orientation of the antenna housing 6 and the initial value of the tilt angle, Alternatively, the initial value of the tilt angle can be used. In such a case, S05 may be added to the processing steps from S02, S03, S04, S06 to S09 (S10) on the S15b side shown in FIG.

  Whether or not the processing flow in the past FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b) has been performed may be stored by the satellite recapture determination unit 10 when S09 is completed. For example, if the initial value of the azimuth and the initial value of the inclination angle or the initial value of the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 are stored in the antenna attitude value storage unit 17, in the past, FIG. The satellite re-acquisition determination unit 10 may determine that the process flow is executed.

  The antenna device and the satellite acquisition method according to the second embodiment ensure that the latest information on the antenna attitude is obtained, so that even if the satellite acquisition in the antenna device is lost due to a large vibration such as an earthquake, the antenna device can be automatically and reliably Can be captured.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the antenna device and the satellite acquisition method according to the first and second embodiments, during the re-capture (ReTapping: RT) processing steps of FIGS. 9B, 9C, 11B, and 12B, again, Although it was assumed that no vibration was applied to the antenna housing 6, the antenna device and the satellite capturing method according to the third embodiment will be described assuming that aftershocks occur successively. Since Embodiment 3 is only partially different from Embodiments 1 and 2 in processing steps, the description of the functional block diagram is the same as that according to Embodiment 1. The functional block diagram corresponding to FIG. 13 will be described by using the one shown in FIG. 8B as an example. FIG. 13 (a) shows a processing step of re-capturing (ReTapping).

  In the satellite acquisition method (operation of the antenna device) according to the third embodiment, when the re-acquisition processing step determines whether or not the re-acquisition of the satellite is successful and determines that the re-acquisition has failed, the satellite is re-acquired again. However, when the re-acquisition process step determines whether or not the re-acquisition of the satellite is successful, and when it is determined that the re-acquisition has failed, the vibration detection step, the attitude change detection step, and the re-acquisition process step are executed again. It can be said. The processing steps up to the re-capture (ReTapping) in Embodiment 3 may be the same as those in Embodiment 1 or 2, and will not be described. However, in the recapture (RT) processing step having S016 in the third embodiment, S08 is set to S08a in order to distinguish it from the others.

  That is, in S09 of FIG. 13, when the re-acquisition processing unit 11 controls the antenna direction calculation unit 15 to perform re-acquisition of the satellite and the re-acquisition fails, the vibration detection unit 7 in S16 It is determined whether or not vibration greater than a predetermined value is detected. If not detected, the process returns to S09. If detected, the value is output to the vibration detection / continuation determination unit 16. The vibration detection / continuation determination unit 16 instructs the antenna posture detection unit 9 to sequentially detect the antenna posture (tilt angle of the antenna housing 6) via the antenna posture determination unit 10a (S02). It is determined whether the vibration detected by the means 7 continues (S03). The processing after S04 is as described above, and the flow of processing steps is as shown in FIG. In addition, it is desirable to set the determination time of S09 short.

  The antenna device and the satellite capturing method according to Embodiment 3 can be automatically re-acquired reliably even when aftershocks continue even when the satellite device is decoupled from the antenna device due to a large vibration such as an earthquake.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first to third embodiments, even when the antenna housing 6 is not in a tilted state in a falling state, the antenna housing 6 is tilted by vibration, and further falls into a falling state when its own weight or additional slight vibration is applied. Although the attitude of the antenna housing 6 that is “an inclination angle enough to fall into a fall state” that may be changed may be in a “failure” state, in the fourth embodiment, the “falling state is entered”. An antenna device and a satellite capturing method will be described in which the “tilt angle to the extent of” is incorporated in the criterion. The processing steps up to re-trapping (RT) in the fourth embodiment may be the same as those in the first to third embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  An example of an inclination angle such as “an inclination angle to reach a fall state” will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the antenna device illustrated in FIG. 5 is tilted. FIG. 14 illustrates the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6. “An inclination angle enough to fall into a fall state” means, as described above, when an antenna device is installed in a place where an aftershock (something that affects the antenna device) may occur after the earthquake. Further, it is assumed that the antenna device falls into a fall state. “An inclination angle enough to fall into a fall state” means that the antenna device falls into a fall state due to its own weight or strong wind. Note that a range including “an inclination angle enough to fall into a fall state” is referred to as an “antenna attitude specifying range”.

  In FIG. 14, as in FIG. 7, the position where the dotted line passing through one vertical section in the virtual cylinder and the horizontal plane intersect is the origin, and the angle formed by this origin and the center of gravity of the antenna device is the inclination of the antenna housing 6. It is defined as an angle. When the antenna housing 6 is installed on a flat surface, an inclination angle of α ° is inevitably generated. Inevitable. Similarly, when the antenna housing 6 is in a state of falling to the horizontal plane (a state in which the side surface of the radome 6b is in contact with the horizontal plane), an inclination angle of β ° is inevitably generated.

  In FIG. 14, the range of α ° ≦ tilt angle ≦ 90 ° is a predetermined range in ST4 (recapture processing step), and the range of α ° ≦ tilt angle <γ ° is a range of tilt angles that do not fall over reliably. Become. Then, the range of γ ° ≦ tilt angle ≦ 90 ° (antenna attitude specifying range) is a range of tilt angles that is enough to cause the antenna device to fall over. In addition, the range of the tilt angle where 90 ° <tilt angle ≦ β ° is such that the antenna housing 6 falls. It is assumed that the center of gravity of the antenna device (antenna device center of gravity) moves on the circumference of the arc shown in FIG. 14 (α ° ≦ tilt angle ≦ β).

  In other words, the initial value of the inclination angle of the antenna housing needs to be α °, or at least an angle in the range of α ° ≦ inclination angle ≦ 90 °. This initial value is stored in the attitude change detection unit 8 or the antenna attitude value storage unit 17. It can also be seen that γ ° is a boundary angle as to whether or not the antenna device is stably installed. Therefore, it can be seen that γ ° is an angle very close to 90 °.

  Of course, the inclination angle is normalized by α °, and the range of 0 ° ≦ inclination angle ≦ (90−α) ° is a predetermined range in ST4 (recapture processing step), 0 ° ≦ inclination angle <(γ−α. ) ° range is a range of tilt angles that do not fall down reliably, and a range of (γ−α) ° ≦ tilt angle ≦ (90−α) ° (antenna attitude specific range) leads to the antenna device falling over. An inclination angle range of (90−α) ° <inclination angle ≦ (β−α) ° may be an inclination enough to cause the antenna housing 6 to fall.

  The re-capture (RT) processing step shown in FIG. 15 assumes a case where the antenna device falls into a falling state due to its own weight or strong wind.

  In FIG. 15, S017 is inserted before the processing step of S08. Here, the satellite capture determination unit 10 (antenna posture determination unit 10a) determines whether or not the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 is in the range of γ ° ≦ tilt angle ≦ 90 ° (antenna posture specific range). If the antenna attitude is not within the specific range, the processing after S08 is performed in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, and the satellite re-acquisition processing unit 3 is caused to execute the re-acquisition operation of the satellite. If the antenna posture is within the specified range, S08b according to Embodiment 4 is executed. In the new S08b, if the recapture fails in S09, the process proceeds to S18.

  In S18 of FIG. 15, the vibration detection / continuation determination unit 16 instructs the antenna posture detection unit 9 to sequentially detect the antenna posture (tilt angle of the antenna housing 6) via the antenna posture determination unit 10a. . In this case, the vibration detection / continuation determination unit 16 does not give an instruction to the antenna attitude detection unit 9 using the detection of vibration as a trigger, but the satellite acquisition processing unit 3 triggers the antenna re-acquisition failure as a trigger. An instruction is issued to the posture detection unit 9. Thereafter, the processes of S05 to S07 in the first to third embodiments are performed. The flow of processing steps is as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, according to the processing flow in FIG. 15, when the antenna device is not stably installed and immediately after the satellite capture processing unit 3 fails to reacquire the satellite, the weight of the antenna device and the strong wind Thus, when the antenna device falls into a fall state, the operation of the antenna device such as the drive mechanism unit 2 is stopped, and it is possible to proceed to “end”.

  The re-trapping (RT) processing step shown in FIG. 16 is performed when an antenna device is installed in a place where an aftershock (something that has an influence on the antenna device) may occur after an earthquake (aftershock occurs in succession). Assuming the case (when assuming Embodiment 3)).

  In FIG. 16, S017 is inserted before the processing step of S08. Here, the satellite capture determination unit 10 (antenna posture determination unit 10a) determines whether or not the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 is in the range of γ ° ≦ tilt angle ≦ 90 ° (antenna posture specific range). If the antenna attitude is not within the specific range, the processing after S08 is performed in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, and the satellite re-acquisition processing unit 3 is caused to execute the re-acquisition operation of the satellite. If the antenna posture is within the specified range, S08a according to Embodiment 3 is executed. In S08a, if recapture fails in S09, the process proceeds to S16. The processing steps after S08a are the same as those in the third embodiment. The flow of processing steps is as described in FIG.

  Therefore, according to the processing flow in FIG. 16, after the earthquake, the aftershock continues after the earthquake immediately after the satellite capture processing unit 3 fails to reacquire the satellite, even when the antenna device is not stably installed. When the antenna device has a certain influence), the operation of the antenna device such as the drive mechanism unit 2 is stopped, and it is possible to proceed to “end”.

  The re-trapping (RT) processing step shown in FIG. 17 is performed when the antenna device falls into a falling state due to its own weight or strong wind (FIG. 15) and aftershock (after the earthquake) This is based on the assumption that an antenna device is installed in a place where there is a possibility of occurrence of an influence (assuming a case where aftershocks occur in succession (third embodiment)). In FIG. 17, S017 is inserted before the processing step of S08. Here, the satellite capture determination unit 10 (antenna posture determination unit 10a) determines whether or not the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 is in the range of γ ° ≦ tilt angle ≦ 90 ° (antenna posture specific range). If it is not within the antenna orientation specific range, S08a according to Embodiment 3 is executed. In S08a, if recapture fails in S09, the process proceeds to S16. The processing steps after S08a are the same as those in the third embodiment. The flow of processing steps is as described in FIG.

  The satellite capture determination unit 10 (antenna attitude determination unit 10a) determines whether the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 is within the range of γ ° ≦ inclination angle ≦ 90 ° (antenna attitude specific range), and the antenna attitude If it is within the specific range, S08b according to Embodiment 4 is executed. In the new S08b, if the recapture fails in S09, the process proceeds to S18. The processing steps are the same as those according to FIG. The flow of processing steps is as described in FIG.

  Therefore, according to the processing flow in FIG. 17, when the antenna device is not in a stably installed state, immediately after the satellite capture processing unit 3 fails to reacquire the satellite, the weight of the antenna device and the strong wind Thus, when the antenna device falls into a fall state, the operation of the antenna device such as the drive mechanism unit 2 is stopped, and it is possible to proceed to “end”. When the antenna device is stably installed, and aftershock (something that affects the antenna device) occurs after the earthquake immediately after the satellite capture processing unit 3 fails to reacquire the satellite. In addition, it is possible to stop the operation of the antenna device such as the drive mechanism unit 2 and proceed to “end”.

  The antenna device and the satellite capturing method according to Embodiment 4 are the case where the capture of the satellite in the antenna device is deviated due to a large vibration such as an earthquake, and the antenna posture is tilted and the antenna device is stably installed. Even if it is not in the state of being, it is possible to reliably execute automatic re-acquisition and antenna device stop.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram of the antenna device according to the fifth embodiment, which is a fragmented version of the functional block diagram shown in FIG. The difference between the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 18 (a) and the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 18 (b) is that in FIG. The vibration of the antenna housing 6 is detected, and after the vibration becomes less than a predetermined value or after the vibration is settled, the orientation and the inclination angle or the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 are obtained, and the obtained The orientation and inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 or the orientation of the antenna housing 6 by comparing the inclination angle with the initial value and initial value of the inclination angle or initial value of the inclination angle of the antenna housing 6 In FIG. 18B, the antenna attitude detection unit 9 detects only the azimuth and inclination angle of the antenna casing 6 or the inclination angle in FIG. 6 azimuth and tilt angle, or tilt angle and antenna The operation of comparing the initial value of the orientation of the housing 6 and the initial value of the tilt angle or the initial value of the tilt angle (stored in the antenna posture value storage unit 17) is performed by the antenna posture determination unit 10a. Yes. In other words, the posture change detection unit 8 includes a function corresponding to the determination function of the posture change of the antenna housing 6 by the antenna posture determination unit 10 a and the antenna posture value storage unit 17.

  In FIG. 18, 7b is connected to the tracking receiving unit 5 or the RF unit 4 (only the tracking receiving unit 5 in the figure), and monitors the intensity of the RF signal based on the radio wave (satellite arrival wave, communication wave) from the satellite. This is an RF signal intensity monitoring unit. The RF signal intensity monitor unit 7b activates the acceleration detection unit 7a by using the information as a trigger when the antenna apparatus detects the attenuation of the RF signal to some extent that the satellite is likely to be unacquired. The power source of the acceleration detector 7a is turned on). That is, power consumption of the acceleration sensor (acceleration detection unit 7a) can be suppressed. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating in detail the case where the acceleration detection unit 7a (acceleration sensor) is activated (powered on) with the attenuation of radio waves from the satellite as a trigger. The functional block diagram corresponding to FIG. 19 will be described using the one shown in FIG. 18B as an example. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a case where the vibration detecting means 7 uses an acceleration sensor with respect to S01. FIG. 19A is S01 itself described with reference to FIG. 9A (FIG. 10A), and is shown for comparison with FIGS. 19B and 19C.

  In FIG. 10B, when the RF signal intensity monitor unit 7b detects the decrease (attenuation) of the RF signal (reception level) described above in S301, the process proceeds to S401, where the RF signal intensity monitor unit 7b detects the RF signal (reception level). ) (Decrease) continues for a predetermined time. The predetermined time here means a level drop in the radio wave propagation path due to rain, a level drop due to the passage of the radio wave shield in front of the antenna device, a temporary system down due to maintenance of the satellite or ground station, etc. It is the time when it is understood that the satellite device has lost its capture of the satellite. If the reception level continues to decrease for a predetermined time, the process proceeds to S501 and the acceleration detector 7a (acceleration sensor) is turned on. If not, the process returns to S301. In S501, the acceleration sensor (acceleration detector 7a) detects the acceleration, and whether the acceleration applied to the antenna housing 6 detected by the acceleration sensor in S601 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (that is, the satellite capture of the antenna device is lost). Whether it is a magnitude earthquake or not). It is not necessary to set the number of times that the cycle of S601 is timed out.

  FIG. 10C shows a flow in which S601 in FIG. 10B is replaced with S611. The difference between S611 and S601 is that in S601, the flow for detecting an earthquake is performed until a timeout occurs, but in S611, if an earthquake is not detected, the acceleration detection unit 7a (acceleration sensor) is turned off and the process returns to S301. That's it. Of course, although not shown, in S611, a flow of detecting an earthquake may be performed a plurality of times.

  In addition to the effects of the antenna device and the satellite capturing method according to the first to fourth embodiments, the antenna device and the satellite capturing method according to the fifth embodiment can reduce the power consumption of the vibration detection means 7.

1. Antenna unit 2. Driving mechanism unit 2a Directional direction driving unit 2b Polarization angle driving unit 3. Satellite acquisition processing unit 4. RF unit 5. Tracking receiving unit , 6 Antenna housing 6a Base plate 6b Radome 7 Vibration detection means (acceleration detection means, acceleration sensor) 7a Acceleration detection part (acceleration sensor) 7b RF signal intensity Monitor unit, 8 .. Attitude change detection means, 9 .. Antenna attitude detection means, 10 .. Satellite recapture determination unit, 10 a... Antenna position determination unit, 11. , 13..Direction detecting means, 14 .... position detecting means, 15 .... antenna direction calculating section, 16 .... vibration detection / continuation determining section, 17 .... antenna attitude value storage section, 18 .... recapture control section.

Claims (14)

An antenna device in which the antenna unit is housed in an antenna device that controls a drive mechanism unit that drives the antenna unit to capture a satellite and transmit, receive, or transmit / receive radio waves to / from the satellite A housing, vibration detecting means for detecting vibration applied to the antenna housing, and the vibration detecting means detects a vibration greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and during the vibration and after the vibration becomes less than the predetermined value Or after obtaining the orientation and tilt angle of the antenna casing, or the tilt angle, and acquiring the orientation and tilt angle of the antenna casing, or the tilt angle and the orientation of the antenna casing and A posture change detection means for comparing the inclination angle or an initial value of the inclination angle to detect the presence or absence of the posture change of the antenna case, and the posture change detection means is the posture of the antenna case. Upon detection of a reduction, determine the inclination angle after the posture change of the antenna housing is within the antenna housing within a predetermined range is a range of less than the inclination angle of the extent leading to fall into an inclining state and satellite recapture determination unit that, when the satellite recapturing determination unit determines that the inclination angle after the posture change of the antenna housing is within the predetermined range, controlling the satellite capturing unit And a re-acquisition processing unit for re-acquiring the satellite. An antenna device in which the antenna unit is housed in an antenna device that controls a drive mechanism unit that drives the antenna unit to capture a satellite and transmit, receive, or transmit / receive radio waves to / from the satellite Case, vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the antenna case, azimuth and inclination angle of the antenna case, or antenna attitude detection means for detecting the inclination angle, and the vibration detection means are not less than a predetermined value The antenna attitude detection means detects the azimuth and inclination angle or inclination angle of the antenna housing during the vibration and after the vibration becomes less than the predetermined value or after the vibration has settled. And the acquired orientation and tilt angle of the antenna housing, or the tilt angle is different from the initial value of the orientation and tilt angle of the antenna housing or the tilt angle. Come, the antenna housing inclination angle the antenna housing satellite recapturing determining determines whether within the range predetermined in the range of less than the inclination angle of the extent leading to fall into an inclining state of after the posture change and parts, when this satellite recapture determination unit is an inclination angle of the antenna housing after the posture change is determined that falls within the predetermined range, and controls the satellite capturing unit, the satellite An antenna device comprising a recapture processing unit for recapturing.   The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein the satellite re-acquisition determination unit includes an antenna attitude value storage unit that stores an orientation and an inclination angle of the antenna housing or an initial value of the inclination angle.   The satellite re-acquisition determining unit determines the direction and the inclination angle of the antenna housing or the inclination angle when the vibration detecting means detects a vibration that is less than a second predetermined value that is less than the predetermined value. The antenna attitude value storage unit obtained from the attitude detection means, and using the acquired orientation and inclination angle of the antenna casing or the inclination angle as an initial value of the orientation and inclination angle of the antenna casing or the inclination angle The antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the antenna device is stored.   The satellite re-acquisition determination unit compares the acquired azimuth and tilt angle of the antenna casing, or the tilt angle and the azimuth and tilt angle of the antenna casing, or an initial value of the tilt angle, and changes If there is, the orientation and tilt angle of the antenna housing after the posture change, or the tilt angle as the initial value of the orientation and tilt angle of the antenna housing or the tilt angle in the antenna posture value storage unit The antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the antenna device is stored. A vibration detection / continuation determination unit that determines that the vibration detected by the vibration detection means is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and that vibrations greater than or equal to the predetermined value are less than or equal to the predetermined value. With
The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attitude change detection unit or the satellite re-acquisition determination unit obtains a determination result from the vibration detection / continuation determination unit. The attitude change detection means or the satellite re-acquisition determination unit detects the vibration greater than a predetermined value by the vibration detection means, and during the vibration and after the vibration becomes less than the predetermined value, or When there is no change by comparing the orientation and inclination angle of the antenna housing obtained after being received, or the inclination angle with the initial value of the orientation and inclination angle or inclination angle of the antenna housing, the satellite is the antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, is being captured. The re-acquisition processing unit determines success or failure of the re-acquisition of the satellite. When it is determined that the re-acquisition has failed, the re-acquisition processing unit controls the satellite acquisition processing unit again to re-acquire the satellite. antenna device according to any one of claims 1-7. It said vibration detecting means, an antenna device according to any one of the antenna housing is an acceleration sensor provided in the body claims 1-8. The antenna device according to claim 9 , wherein the acceleration sensor is triggered by a radio wave attenuation from the satellite. In a satellite capturing method in which an antenna unit is driven to capture a satellite, and the antenna device transmits, receives, or transmits / receives radio waves to / from the satellite, and detects vibration applied to the antenna housing in which the antenna unit is housed. The vibration detection step, and the vibration detection step detects vibrations greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and during the vibration and after the vibration becomes less than or equal to the predetermined value, the orientation of the antenna housing And the tilt angle, or the tilt angle, and the obtained orientation and tilt angle of the antenna housing, or the tilt angle and the orientation and tilt angle of the antenna housing, or the initial value of the tilt angle are compared. Then, a posture change detecting step for detecting presence / absence of a posture change of the antenna housing, and the posture change detecting step detects a posture change of the antenna housing, and When the inclination angle after the posture change of the antenna housing is determined to fall within the antenna housing within a degree less than the inclination angle leading to fall into an inclining state, recapture to recapture the satellite A satellite acquisition method comprising: a processing step; In the posture change detection step, the antenna casing is acquired during the vibration and after the vibration is less than the predetermined value or after the vibration is detected. The antenna device is acquiring the satellite when there is no change by comparing the azimuth and inclination angle of the antenna, or the inclination angle and the azimuth and inclination angle of the antenna housing, or the initial value of the inclination angle. The satellite acquisition method according to claim 11 , wherein The satellite acquisition method according to claim 11 or 12 , wherein the re-acquisition processing step determines whether the re-acquisition of the satellite has succeeded or not, and when it is determined that the re-acquisition has failed, the satellite is re-acquired again. . In the re-acquisition processing step, the success or failure of the re-acquisition of the satellite is determined. When it is determined that the re-acquisition has failed, the vibration detection step, the attitude change detection step, and the re-acquisition processing step are executed again. The satellite acquisition method according to claim 11 or 12 , wherein

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