JP6386946B2 - Array antenna device - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an array antenna apparatus.

  Conventionally, an array antenna device including a plurality of antenna elements is known. In this array antenna apparatus, there is a case where a reception signal generated by receiving an electromagnetic wave by an antenna element is reflected in the apparatus itself and re-radiated from the antenna element. If the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave is uniform between the plurality of antenna elements, the re-radiated electromagnetic wave may be spatially synthesized to become an electromagnetic wave having a high intensity.

JP 2014-187484 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an array antenna device capable of reducing the reflection characteristics of electromagnetic waves.

  The array antenna apparatus according to the embodiment includes a plurality of antenna elements, a receiving unit, a first phase shifter, and a second phase shifter. The reception unit processes reception signals generated by the plurality of antenna elements. The first phase shifter adjusts the phase of the received signal processed by the receiving unit based on the directivity direction of its own device. The second phase shifter is provided between each antenna element and the signal reflecting unit in the receiving unit, and reflects the phase of the electromagnetic wave reflected by the signal reflecting unit and re-radiated from the plurality of antenna elements. The amount of change in the phase of the signal reflected by the signal reflection unit is adjusted so as to be shifted between.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the array antenna apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between the number of an antenna element and the setting phase for demonstrating operation | movement of the 2nd phase shifter 12 in the array antenna apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between the number of an antenna element and the setting phase for demonstrating operation | movement of the 1st phase shifter 24 in the array antenna apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment. The top view which shows the re-radiation phase in the signal carrying surface 100 in the array antenna apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment. A block diagram showing composition of array antenna device 1A of a 2nd embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship with the setting phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave with respect to the subarray circuit 110 in the array antenna apparatus 1A of 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship with the setting phase of the receiving beam with respect to the subarray circuit 110 in the array antenna apparatus 1A of 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the re-radiation phase in the signal carrying surface 100 in the array antenna apparatus 1A of 2nd Embodiment. The other figure which shows the re-radiation phase in the signal carrier surface 100 in the array antenna apparatus 1A of 2nd Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the 1st modification of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the 2nd modification of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the 3rd modification of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the 4th modification of embodiment.

Hereinafter, an array antenna apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an array antenna device 1 according to the first embodiment. The array antenna device 1 includes antenna elements 10a, 10b, ... 10n, second phase shifters 12a, 12b, ... 12n, transmission / reception switching units 14a, 14b, ... 14n, and a transmission filter 16a. 16b, transmission amplifiers 18a, 18b,... 18n, reception amplifiers 20a, 20b,... 20n, transmission / reception switching units 22a, 22b,. Phase shifters 24a, 24b,... 24n and a distribution / synthesis circuit 26 are provided. When the antenna element is not distinguished from other antenna elements, it is simply described as “antenna element 10”, and when the second phase shifter is not distinguished from other second phase shifters, it is simply “second”. In the case where the transmission / reception switching unit is not distinguished from other transmission / reception switching units, they are simply referred to as “transmission / reception switching unit 14” and “transmission / reception switching unit 22”. When not distinguished from the other transmission amplifiers, the first phase shifter is simply referred to as “reception amplifier 20”. In the case where the phase shifter is not distinguished from each other, it is simply referred to as “first phase shifter 24”. The array antenna apparatus 1 includes a control unit 28, an exciter 30, and a radar processing circuit 32.

  In the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment, between the transmission / reception switching unit 14 and the reception amplifier 20, a limiter circuit that limits the amplitude intensity of the reception signal and a filter circuit that limits the frequency band of the reception signal. May be arranged. In the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment, a transmission / reception shared filter may be arranged between the transmission / reception switching unit 14 and the antenna element 10 instead of the transmission filter 16.

  The plurality of antenna elements 10 receive the electromagnetic waves that have arrived at the array antenna device 1 and form a signal carrying surface (not shown) that radiates the electromagnetic waves. This signal carrying surface receives at least radio waves that have arrived at its own device. The signal carrying surface has, for example, a plurality of antenna elements 10 arranged in a matrix and has a rectangular shape in plan view.

  The exciter 30 generates a transmission signal having a predetermined frequency and outputs it to the distribution / synthesis circuit 26. The distribution / synthesis circuit 26 equally distributes the transmission signal generated by the exciter 30 to the first phase shifter 24. The first phase shifter 24 changes the phase of the transmission signal supplied from the distribution / synthesis circuit 26 based on the directivity of the transmission beam, and supplies the transmission signal to the transmission / reception switching unit 22. The amount of phase change by the first phase shifter 24 is adjusted corresponding to the antenna element 10 to which the first phase shifter 24 is connected.

  The transmission / reception switching unit 22 supplies a transmission signal to the transmission amplifier 18 during a period in which the own device transmits electromagnetic waves. The transmission amplifier 20 amplifies the transmission signal supplied from the transmission / reception switching unit 22. The transmission filter 16 suppresses unnecessary components of the amplified transmission signal. The transmission / reception switching unit 14 supplies a transmission signal to the second phase shifter 12 during a period in which electromagnetic waves are transmitted by the own device.

  The second phase shifter 12 adjusts the phase of the transmission signal so as to shift the phase between the electromagnetic waves re-radiated from its own device, and supplies it to the antenna element 10. Thus, the antenna element 10 radiates electromagnetic waves to the space in response to the transmission signal being supplied.

  The antenna element 10 receives an electromagnetic wave radiated into space, generates a reception signal, and supplies the reception signal to the second phase shifter 12. The second phase shifter 12 adjusts the phase of the reception signal so as to shift the phase between the electromagnetic waves re-radiated from the device itself, and supplies the reception signal to the transmission / reception switching unit 14.

  The transmission / reception switching unit 14 supplies a reception signal to the reception amplifier 20 during a period in which the electromagnetic wave is received by the own device. The reception amplifier 20 amplifies the transmission signal supplied from the transmission / reception switching unit 14. The reception amplifier 20 is a low noise amplifier (LNA) capable of low noise amplification. The transmission / reception switching unit 22 supplies a reception signal to the first phase shifter 24 during a period in which the electromagnetic wave is received by the own device.

  The first phase shifter 24 changes the phase of the reception signal supplied from the transmission / reception switching unit 22 based on the directivity of the reception beam, and supplies the reception signal to the distribution / synthesis circuit 26. The amount of phase change by the first phase shifter 24 is adjusted corresponding to the antenna element 10 to which the first phase shifter 24 is connected. The distribution combining circuit 26 combines the reception signals supplied from the plurality of first phase shifters 24 and outputs the combined reception beam to the radar processing circuit 32.

  The radar processing circuit 32 performs signal processing such as A / D conversion processing on the received beam, and performs processing for specifying the position of the target based on the received beam. The radar processing circuit 32 outputs the position information of the target to the control unit 28. The control unit 28 controls the amount of phase change in the second phase shifter 12, and based on the amount of phase change in the second phase shifter 12, the amount of phase change in the first phase shifter 24. To control. The control unit 28 may be a software function unit that functions when a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as an arithmetic circuit and a control circuit executes a program stored in a memory, or an LSI ( It may be a hardware function unit such as Large Scale Integration) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

  Hereinafter, the operations of the second phase shifter 12 and the first phase shifter 24 in the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the antenna element number and the set phase for explaining the operation of the second phase shifter 12 in the array antenna apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the antenna element number and the set phase for explaining the operation of the first phase shifter 24 in the array antenna apparatus 1 of the first embodiment.

  Here, when the array antenna apparatus 1 is performing a transmission operation or a reception operation when an electromagnetic wave transmitted from another device arrives at the antenna element 10, a signal based on the electromagnetic wave arriving at the antenna element 10 (hereinafter, referred to as the following) , Called a transmitted signal). This transmitted signal is transmitted from the antenna element 10 to the second phase shifter 12 side and is reflected inside the array antenna apparatus 1. The reflected transmitted signal is transmitted to the antenna element 10 side and re-radiated as an electromagnetic wave from the antenna element 10 (hereinafter referred to as a re-radiated electromagnetic wave). The transmitted signal mainly passes through the second phase shifter 12 and the transmission / reception switching unit 14 and is reflected by the active components of the transmission amplifier 18 or the reception amplifier 20 in the array antenna device 1. In a state where the array antenna device 1 receives a reception signal, the reception amplifier 20 mainly serves as a signal reflection unit that reflects the transmitted signal. When the phases of the re-radiated electromagnetic waves from each antenna element 10 are aligned, there is a possibility that a re-radiated beam having directivity may be formed by spatially synthesizing a plurality of re-radiated electromagnetic waves. As a result, there is a possibility of increasing the reflection characteristics of the own device relative to other devices.

  In order to suppress the formation of the re-radiated beam as described above, the array antenna device 1 according to the first embodiment is regenerated by the second phase shifter 12 so that the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave is not aligned in a specific direction. Adjust the phase of the radiated electromagnetic wave. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 28 sets the phase of the transmitted signal to be random between the adjacent antenna elements 10. The control unit 28 controls the amount of phase change in each second phase shifter 12 so that the phase of the transmitted signal output from the second phase shifter 12 to the antenna element 10 becomes the set phase. . The control unit 28 determines the amount of phase that is changed when the received signal passes through the second phase shifter 12 and the amount of phase that changes when the transmitted signal passes through the second phase shifter 12. In consideration of the above, the amount of change in the phase of the second phase shifter 12 is controlled.

  The second phase shifter 12 includes a switch circuit (not shown) that adjusts the phase of the transmitted signal transmitted to the signal path. The control unit 28 controls the switching operation of the switch circuit to control the phase of the transmitted signal transmitted from the second phase shifter 12 to the antenna element 10. The control unit 28 determines the phase of the frequency signal corresponding to the transmitted signal in the second phase shifter 12 because the frequency of the transmitted signal in the second phase shifter 12 is different from the operating frequency of the own device. Control.

  The control unit 28 desirably shifts the amount of phase change set in the second phase shifter 12 between the adjacent antenna elements 10. As a result, the control unit 28 suppresses the spatial synthesis of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave radiated by the adjacent antenna element 10. Further, the control unit 28 sets the amount of phase change set in the second phase shifter 12 not only between the adjacent antenna elements 10 but also between the antenna elements 10 provided via the other antenna elements 10. It is desirable to shift them between. As a result, the control unit 28 suppresses the synthesis of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave radiated by a certain antenna element 10 and the re-radiated electromagnetic wave radiated by another antenna element 10 separated from the one or more antenna elements 10. .

  In the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment, the received signal whose phase is adjusted by the second phase shifter 12 in response to the arrival of the electromagnetic wave at the antenna element 10 is transmitted to the transmission / reception switching unit 14, the reception amplifier 20, And supplied to the first phase shifter 24 via the transmission / reception switching unit 22. The control unit 28 adjusts the phase difference between the reception signals passing through the first phase shifters 24 so as to combine a plurality of reception signals to form a reception beam having a desired directivity. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the control unit 28 sets the phase difference between the reception signals generated by the adjacent antenna elements 10 to be linear. The control unit 28 controls the amount of phase change in each first phase shifter 24 so that the phase of the received signal that has passed through the first phase shifter 24 becomes the set phase.

  For this purpose, the control unit 28 controls the amount of phase change in the first phase shifter 24 for forming a desired reception beam in consideration of the phase set in the second phase shifter 12. . Specifically, the control unit 28 adds a phase that eliminates the phase difference adjusted in the second phase shifter 12 to the phase adjusted by the first phase shifter 24 with respect to the received signal. As a result, the received signal that has passed through the first phase shifter 24 is synthesized by the distribution / combining circuit 26 in a state where the phases are aligned as shown in FIG. 3, and forms a received beam having a desired directivity. Note that the control unit 28 controls the phase of the received signal so as to form a desired received beam at the operating frequency of the own device in order to form a received beam in the own device.

  Similarly to the reception signal, the control unit 28 controls the phase between the transmission signals distributed to the first phase shifter 24 so as to form a desired transmission beam. The control unit 28 controls the amount of phase change in the first phase shifter 24 for forming a desired transmission beam in consideration of the phase set in the second phase shifter 12. Specifically, the control unit 28 adds a phase that eliminates the phase difference adjusted in the second phase shifter 12 to the phase adjusted by the first phase shifter 24 with respect to the transmission signal.

  According to the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment as described above, the phase of the electromagnetic wave reflected by the signal reflection unit and re-radiated from the antenna element 10 by the second phase shifter 12 and other antenna elements. The amount of change in the phase of the transmitted signal is adjusted so that the phase of the electromagnetic wave re-radiated from 10 is shifted. According to the array antenna apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the phases of electromagnetic waves re-radiated from the antenna element 10 can be shifted, so that the re-radiated electromagnetic waves can be prevented from being combined. As a result, according to the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress transmission of electromagnetic waves having a high gain in a specific direction, and to reduce the reflection characteristics of the electromagnetic waves of the own device. .

  In addition, according to the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment, the phase change amount in the second phase shifter 12 is controlled, and the phase change amount in the second phase shifter 12 is controlled based on the phase change amount. Since the amount of change in the phase of one phase shifter 24 is controlled, it is possible to reduce the reflection characteristics of the electromagnetic wave of the own device and to maintain the electromagnetic wave receiving function of the own device.

In the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment described above, the control unit 28 changes the phase in the second phase shifter 12 so as to cancel the re-radiated electromagnetic wave radiated in a specific direction among the radiation directions of the own device. It is desirable to control the amount.
The control unit 28 is supplied with position information of other devices generated by the radar processing circuit 32. This position information includes angle information in which another device with respect to the own device exists. The control part 28 memorize | stores the relationship between each antenna element 10 and the electromagnetic wave radiation angle range in an own apparatus. The control unit 28 specifies an angle where another device exists in the electromagnetic wave radiation angle range in the own device, and specifies the antenna element 10 corresponding to the specified angle. The control unit 28 controls the phase of the transmitted signal supplied to the other antenna element 10 so as to cancel the re-radiated electromagnetic wave radiated from the specified antenna element 10.

  The control unit 28, for example, the phase of the transmitted signal supplied to the identified antenna element 10 (for example, the antenna element “5” in FIG. 2) and the antenna element 10 (for example, in FIG. 2) adjacent to the identified antenna element 10. Control is performed so that the phase of the transmitted signal supplied to the antenna elements “4” and “6”) is reversed. As a result, according to the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment, it is possible to cancel the re-radiated electromagnetic wave radiated in a specific direction where another device exists, and form a null point of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave in the specific direction. be able to.

  Further, the control unit 28 may change the phase of the transmitted signal corresponding to the specified antenna element 10 so as to change the principal axis direction of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave radiated from the specified antenna element 10 from the specific direction. . Thereby, the control part 28 can reduce the level of the main lobe of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave from the identified antenna element 10 in the specific direction, and can form the null point of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave in the specific direction.

In the array antenna device 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the control unit 28 sets the plurality of antenna elements 10 to the phase of the electromagnetic wave re-radiated from the first antenna element group among the plurality of antenna elements 10. Of these, it is desirable to control the phase amount of the second phase shifter 12 so as to invert the phase of the electromagnetic waves re-radiated from the second antenna element group.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a re-radiation phase in the signal carrying surface 100 in the array antenna apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. For example, the signal carrying surface 100 is formed by arranging a plurality of antenna elements 10 in an N × M matrix. As shown in FIG. 4, the array antenna device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of re-radiation phases that are phases of re-radiated electromagnetic waves radiated by the first antenna element group 10 among the plurality of antenna elements 10, and a plurality of re-radiation phases. The phase of the transmitted signal is changed so that the difference from the re-radiation phase which is the phase of the re-radiation electromagnetic wave radiated by the second antenna element group 10 among the antenna elements 10 is 180 degrees. That is, the first antenna element 10 group in which the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave is the first phase, and the second antenna element in which the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave is the second phase opposite to the first phase The 10 groups are arranged in a checkered pattern.

  The control unit 28 controls the re-radiation phase radiated from the region corresponding to the hatched portion in FIG. 4 in the signal carrying surface 100 to a reference (for example, 0 degree) phase. Further, the control unit 28 controls the re-radiation phase reflected from the region corresponding to the non-hatched portion in FIG. 4 in the signal carrying surface 100 to a phase inverted by 180 degrees with respect to the reference phase. Thereby, the array antenna apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment can control the electromagnetic waves radiated | emitted from the area | region corresponding to a hatching part, and the electromagnetic waves radiated | emitted from the area | region corresponding to a non-hatching part to a reverse phase relationship. . As a result, according to the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment, the gains of the re-radiated electromagnetic waves can be offset in the space radiated on the entire surface of the signal carrying surface 100, and the gain of the re-radiated electromagnetic waves in the specific direction. Can be prevented from becoming high.

  Moreover, the array antenna device 1 may arrange the first antenna element group 10 and the second antenna element group 10 in a striped pattern. The array antenna apparatus 1 controls the re-radiation phase radiated from the region corresponding to the first fringe portion of the signal carrying surface 100 to a reference (for example, 0 degree) phase. Further, the control unit 28 changes the re-radiation phase reflected from the region corresponding to the second fringe portion adjacent to the first fringe portion of the signal carrying surface 100 to a phase obtained by inverting the reference phase by 180 degrees. Control. Thereby, the array antenna apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment makes the electromagnetic wave radiated | emitted from the area | region corresponding to a 1st striped part, and the electromagnetic wave radiated | emitted from the area | region corresponding to a 2nd striped part in a reverse phase relationship. Can be controlled. As a result, according to the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment, the gains of the re-radiated electromagnetic waves can be offset in the space radiated on the entire surface of the signal carrying surface 100, and the gain of the re-radiated electromagnetic waves in the specific direction. Can be prevented from becoming high.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment will be described. It should be noted that the same parts as those of the array antenna device 1 of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment. The array antenna apparatus 1A includes subarray circuits 110a,... 110m including a plurality of antenna elements 10, and a distribution / synthesis circuit 26A connected to the subarray circuits 110a,. When the subarray circuit is not distinguished from other subarray circuits, it is simply described as “subarray circuit 110”. An array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment includes m subarray circuits 110, and each subarray circuit 110 includes n antenna elements 10.

  Each subarray circuit 110 includes antenna elements 10a,... 10n, second phase shifters 12a,... 12n, a distribution / synthesis circuit 112, a transmission / reception switching unit 14, a transmission filter 16, and a transmission amplifier 18. A reception amplifier 20, a transmission / reception switching unit 22, and a first phase shifter 24. The distribution / combination circuit 112 distributes the transmission signal supplied from the transmission / reception switching unit 14 to the second phase shifter 12. In addition, the distribution / combination circuit 112 synthesizes the reception signals supplied from the second phase shifter 12 and supplies them to the transmission / reception switching unit 14. The distribution / synthesis circuit 26 </ b> A is connected to the first phase shifter 24 of each subarray circuit 110. The distribution / synthesis circuit 26A distributes the transmission signal to the first phase shifter 24 in response to the transmission signal being supplied. The distribution / combination circuit 26A synthesizes the reception signals supplied from the first phase shifter 24 to form a reception beam.

  The second phase shifter 12 shifts the phase of the reception signal supplied to each antenna element 10 so as to form a reception beam in the subarray circuit 110. The second phase shifter 12 shifts the phase of the transmission signal supplied from each antenna element 10 so as to form a transmission beam in the subarray circuit 110. The amount of change in the phase of each second phase shifter 12 in the subarray circuit 110 is set based on the directivity of the reception beam and the transmission beam in the subarray circuit 110. The second phase shifter 12 shifts the phase of the transmitted signal so as to shift the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave between the subarray circuits 110. The amount of change in the phase of the transmitted signal is set for each subarray circuit 110.

  The first phase shifter 24 shifts the phases of the reception signal and the transmission signal so as to form a reception beam and a transmission beam between the subarray circuits 110. The amount of change in the phase of the first phase shifter 24 in each subarray circuit 110 is set based on the directivity of the reception beam and the transmission beam of its own apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship with the set phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave with respect to the sub-array circuit 110 in the array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship with the set phase of the reception beam for the subarray circuit 110 in the array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of second phase shifters 12 in each subarray circuit 110 shift the phase of the transmitted signal so that the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave is shifted from the other subarray circuit 110. Further, the first phase shifter 24 in each subarray circuit 110 shifts the phase of the reception signal so as to form a reception beam between the subarray circuits 110 as shown in FIG.

  The array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment may change the phase of the transmitted signal so that the phase difference of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave radiated by the antenna element 10 of each subarray circuit 110 is 180 degrees. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a re-radiation phase in the signal carrying surface 100 in the array antenna device 1A according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is another diagram showing a re-radiation phase in the signal carrying surface 100 in the array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment.

In the array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, the signal carrying surface 100 is formed by, for example, arranging a plurality of antenna elements 10 in an N × M matrix. As shown in FIG. 8, the array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment includes a first antenna element group 10 (subarray A) in the subarray circuit 110 and a second antenna element group 10 (subarray) in the other subarray circuit 110. B) are arranged in stripes. That is, the first antenna element 10 group in which the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave is the first phase, and the second antenna element in which the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave is the second phase opposite to the first phase 10 groups are arranged in a striped pattern.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the array antenna apparatus 1 </ b> A according to the second embodiment includes a first antenna element group 10 (subarray A) in the subarray circuit 110 and a second antenna element group 10 in another subarray circuit 110. (Sub-array B) is arranged in a striped pattern. That is, the first antenna element 10 group in which the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave is the first phase, and the second antenna element in which the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave is the second phase opposite to the first phase The 10 groups are arranged in a checkered pattern.
Thereby, according to the array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, the gain can be canceled out by the re-radiated electromagnetic waves radiated from the sub-array A and the re-radiated electromagnetic waves radiated from the sub-array B, and the reflection characteristics are reduced. can do.

  Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the array antenna device 1A of the second embodiment is configured so that the re-radiated electromagnetic waves between the sub-array circuits 110 form a null point in a specific direction. Two phase shifters 12 may be controlled.

  As described above, according to the array antenna apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, the phase of the transmitted signal is shifted in each subarray circuit 110 so as to shift the phases of the re-radiated electromagnetic waves radiated from the plurality of subarray circuits 110. Therefore, it can suppress that re-radiated electromagnetic waves combine between the subarray circuits 110.

Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment will be described.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a first modification of the embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a part of the array antenna device 1 according to the first embodiment. The first modification includes a cooling container 200 that houses the second phase shifter 12. In the first modification, the second phase shifter 12 is formed of a material whose signal line includes a superconductive material. The cooling container 200 is, for example, a box-type vacuum heat insulating container, and is formed of a material that shields the internal space from external heat. The inside of the cooling container 200 is controlled to an atmosphere close to a vacuum, and is cooled to a temperature not higher than a temperature at which the internal superconducting material becomes superconductive (for example, 77 K or lower) by a Stirling refrigerator (not shown) or liquid nitrogen, for example. The In addition, the structure for cooling may be provided for every cooling container 200, and may be shared with the cooling container 200 which accommodates the other 2nd phase shifter 12. FIG. According to the first modification, the sensitivity of the device itself can be increased by suppressing the signal loss of the second phase shifter 12.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a second modification of the embodiment. FIG. 11 shows a part of the array antenna device 1 according to the first embodiment. The second modification includes a cooling container 210 that houses the second phase shifter 12, the transmission / reception switching unit 14, and the reception amplifier 20. In the second phase shifter 12, the signal line is formed of a material containing a superconducting material. The cooling container 200 is controlled to an atmosphere close to vacuum inside, and is cooled to a temperature at which the internal superconducting material is in a superconducting state or less. According to the second modification, the sensitivity of the device itself can be further increased by cooling the reception amplifier 20 in addition to the second phase shifter 12. In the second modification, the transmission / reception switching unit 14 may not be accommodated in the cooling container 210.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a third modification of the embodiment. FIG. 12 shows a part of the array antenna device 1A according to the second embodiment. The third modification includes a cooling container 220 that houses each of the plurality of second phase shifters 12. In the second modification, the second phase shifter 12 is formed of a material whose signal line includes a superconducting material. The cooling container 220 is controlled to an atmosphere close to a vacuum inside, and is cooled to a temperature or less at which the internal superconducting material becomes superconductive. According to the 2nd modification, the sensitivity of an own apparatus can be made high by suppressing the signal loss of the some 2nd phase shifter 12. FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a fourth modification of the embodiment. FIG. 13 shows a part of the array antenna device 1A of the second embodiment. The second modification includes a cooling container 230 that houses the second phase shifter 12, the distribution / synthesis circuit 112, the transmission / reception switching unit 14, and the reception amplifier 20. In the second phase shifter 12, the signal line is formed of a material containing a superconducting material. The cooling container 200 is controlled to an atmosphere close to vacuum inside, and is cooled to a temperature at which the internal superconducting material is in a superconducting state or less. According to the fourth modification, the sensitivity of the device itself can be further increased by cooling the reception amplifier 20 in addition to the second phase shifter 12. In the second modification, the distribution / synthesis circuit 112 and the transmission / reception switching unit 14 may not be accommodated in the cooling container 230.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, the phase of the received signal is adjusted based on the directivity direction of the device itself, and the phases of the electromagnetic waves re-radiated from the plurality of antenna elements 10 are adjusted. By having the second phase shifter 12 that adjusts the amount of change in the phase of the transmitted signal so as to be shifted between the plurality of antenna elements 10, it is possible to suppress the phase of the re-radiated electromagnetic wave from being aligned. The reflection characteristics of electromagnetic waves can be suppressed.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A ... Array antenna apparatus, 10 ... Antenna element, 12 ... 2nd phase shifter, 14 ... Transmission / reception switching part, 16 ... Transmission filter, 18 ... Transmission amplifier, 20 ... Reception amplifier, 22 ... Transmission / reception switching part, 24 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1st phase shifter, 26 ... Distributing / combining circuit, 28 ... Control part, 30 ... Exciter, 32 ... Radar processing circuit, 100 ... Signal carrying surface, 112 ... Distributing / combining circuit, 200, 210, 220, 230 ... Cooling container

Claims (6)

A plurality of antenna elements;
A receiving unit that processes received signals generated by the plurality of antenna elements;
A first phase shifter that adjusts the phase of the received signal processed by the receiving unit based on the directivity direction of the device;
The phase of the electromagnetic wave provided between each antenna element and the signal reflecting unit in the receiving unit and reflected from the signal reflecting unit and re-radiated from the plurality of antenna elements is determined between the plurality of antenna elements. A second phase shifter that adjusts the amount of change in the phase of the signal reflected by the signal reflection unit so as to shift;
A control unit that controls the amount of phase change in the second phase shifter and controls the amount of phase change in the first phase shifter based on the amount of phase change in the second phase shifter. When,
An array antenna apparatus comprising: The control unit controls the amount of phase change in the second phase shifter so as to cancel electromagnetic waves radiated in a specific direction among the radiation directions of the antenna elements.
The array antenna apparatus according to claim 1 . The control unit is configured such that the phase of the electromagnetic wave reradiated from the second antenna element group among the plurality of antenna elements with respect to the phase of the electromagnetic wave reradiated from the first antenna element group among the plurality of antenna elements. Controlling the phase amount of the second phase shifter so as to invert
The array antenna apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . The plurality of antenna elements are arranged in a matrix,
The first antenna element group and the second antenna element group are arranged in a checkered pattern,
The array antenna apparatus according to claim 3 . The plurality of antenna elements are arranged in a matrix,
The first antenna element group and the second antenna element group are arranged in a stripe pattern,
The array antenna apparatus according to claim 3. A plurality of antenna elements; a reception unit that processes reception signals generated by the plurality of antenna elements; and a first shift that adjusts a phase of the reception signal processed by the reception unit based on a directivity direction of the own device. A phase shifter is provided between each antenna element and the signal reflecting unit in the receiving unit, and the phases of electromagnetic waves reflected by the signal reflecting unit and re-radiated from the plurality of antenna elements are determined by the plurality of antennas. A plurality of subarray circuits comprising: a second phase shifter that adjusts the amount of change in the phase of the signal reflected by the signal reflection unit so as to be shifted between the elements;
An array antenna apparatus comprising: a combining circuit configured to combine a plurality of reception signals supplied from the first phase shifter in the plurality of subarray circuits.

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