JP7257989B2 - ANTENNA DEVICE AND TIMING ADJUSTMENT METHOD - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to an antenna device with an active phased array antenna and a timing adjustment method.

An active phased array antenna (hereinafter referred to as APAA (Active Phased Array Antenna)) is composed of a plurality of antenna panels. In APAA, a control signal from a control unit is sent to a transporter, an antenna element, etc. via a signal processing module mounted on each antenna panel (see Patent Document 1). For the APAA, it is desirable to reduce the weight of harnesses connecting the control section and each antenna panel in order to reduce the weight of the device. Therefore, the APAA does not connect the control unit and each antenna panel individually, and the antenna panel connected to the control unit is one of the antenna panels located in the center of the APAA, and the antenna panel connected to the control unit and the other antenna panels. cascade connection with another antenna panel. In each antenna panel, the signal processing module returns telemetry data to the controller after receiving the control signal from the controller. Therefore, the farther away from the control unit, the longer the telemetry data transmission time from the signal processing module mounted on the antenna panel to the control unit. Also, the time during which the control unit can receive telemetry data from the APAA is shortened in inverse proportion to the clock frequency used for data transfer.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-7640

The signal processing module receives control signals via three lines, clock, enable, and data, and after receiving transfer data, returns telemetry data at the rising and falling timings of the transfer clock. Clock delay occurs. In an APAA with a conventional aperture dimension, even if a 1/2 clock delay occurred in the signal processing module, it did not pose a big problem for the control unit to receive the telemetry data. However, with the APAA, as the size of the aperture surface increases, the time difference between the antenna panel closer to the control unit and the antenna panel farther from the control unit until telemetry data reaches the control unit increases. Therefore, there is a problem that the conventional difference in reception timing of telemetry data cannot be satisfied. In addition, the speeding up of the clock frequency of transfer data also imposes restrictions on the reception timing of telemetry data.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to obtain an antenna device capable of adjusting the return timing of telemetry data of signal processing modules mounted on each antenna panel connected in cascade.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the antenna device of the present disclosure provides an active phased array antenna in which a plurality of antenna panels having signal processing modules are cascaded, and a control signal is transmitted to at least one antenna panel. and a control unit that receives telemetry data from the antenna panel. The signal processing module is characterized by adjusting the return timing of the telemetry data based on the reception timing of the control signal.

Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present disclosure, the antenna device can adjust the return timing of the telemetry data of the signal processing modules mounted on the cascaded antenna panels.

A diagram showing a configuration example of an antenna device according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a delay adjustment circuit included in a signal processing module according to this embodiment; Flowchart showing the operation of the signal processing module according to the present embodiment A diagram showing an example of a case where a processing circuit included in the antenna device according to the present embodiment is configured by a processor and a memory. A diagram showing an example of a case where a processing circuit included in the antenna device according to the present embodiment is configured by dedicated hardware.

An antenna device and a timing adjustment method according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an antenna device 20 according to this embodiment. The antenna device 20 includes a controller 1 and an APAA2. APAA2 includes antenna panels 3-1 to 3-N. The antenna panel 3-1 has a signal processing module 4-1. Similarly, antenna panel 3-2 includes signal processing module 4-2, antenna panel 3-(N-1) includes signal processing module 4-(N-1), antenna panel 3-N includes signal processing module 4-N is provided. In the following description, the antenna panels 3-1 to 3-N are referred to as the antenna panel 3 when not distinguished, and the signal processing modules 4-1 to 4-N are referred to as the signal processing module 4 when not distinguished.

In the antenna device 20, the APAA 2 has antenna panels 3-1 to 3-N connected in cascade. Also, the signal processing modules 4 of the antenna panels 3-1 to 3-N are cascade-connected. In the antenna device 20, the signal processing module 4 connected to the control unit 1 is only the signal processing module 4-1 of the antenna panel 3-1. The signal processing modules 4 of the antenna panels 3-2 to 3-(N-1) are connected to the signal processing modules 4 of the antenna panels 3 in the front and rear stages. The signal processing module 4-N of the antenna panel 3-N is connected only to the signal processing module 4-(N-1) of the preceding antenna panel 3-(N-1).

In the antenna device 20, the control unit 1 transmits a control signal to the signal processing module 4 of each antenna panel 3 when controlling the APAA 2, that is, the antenna panels 3-1 to 3-N. The case where the controller 1 controls the APAA 2 is, for example, the case where the direction of the beam generated by the APAA 2 is changed. Specifically, the control unit 1 transmits a control signal to the signal processing module 4-1 of the connected antenna panel 3-1. Further, the control unit 1 receives telemetry data obtained by the processing of each signal processing module 4 from the signal processing module 4-1 of the antenna panel 3-1. The telemetry data is, for example, data representing the state of the antenna panel 3 and data obtained by observation, tracking, or the like by the antenna panel 3, but is not limited to these. In addition, although the control unit 1 is connected to one antenna panel 3 in FIG. 1, this is an example and the present invention is not limited to this. The control unit 1 may be connected to multiple antenna panels 3 . That is, the control unit 1 transmits control signals to the signal processing module 4 of at least one antenna panel 3 and receives telemetry data from the signal processing module 4 of the antenna panel 3 .

The signal processing module 4-1 of the antenna panel 3-1 converts the control signal received from the control unit 1 into a processing signal for processing by the signal processing module 4-1, which is its own device, and the subsequent antenna panel 3- 2 through signals for transfer to the signal processing module 4-2. The signal processing module 4-1 of the antenna panel 3-1 transfers a through signal for transfer, that is, a control signal to the signal processing module 4-2 of the subsequent antenna panel 3-2. The signal processing module 4-1 of the antenna panel 3-1 receives the control signal from the control unit 1, and after a delay time set by a delay adjustment circuit, which will be described later, is obtained by processing using the above-described processing signal. telemetry data is sent back to the control unit 1. Further, the signal processing module 4-1 of the antenna panel 3-1 transfers the telemetry data received from the signal processing module 4-2 of the subsequent antenna panel 3-2 to the control unit 1 as a through signal. In the signal processing module 4-1 of the antenna panel 3-1, _TR1 shown in FIG. 1 indicates the reception time of the control signal, _D1 indicates the delay time, and _TT1 indicates the return time of the telemetry data. The same applies to the signal processing modules 4 of the subsequent antenna panels 3-2 to 3-N.

The signal processing modules 4 of the antenna panels 3-2 to 3-(N-1) receive control signals, which are through signals, received from the signal processing module 4 of the antenna panel 3 in the preceding stage, and process them in the signal processing modules 4, which are their own devices. It is divided into a processing signal for processing and a through signal for transfer to the signal processing module 4 of the antenna panel 3 in the subsequent stage. The signal processing modules 4 of the antenna panels 3-2 to 3-(N-1) transfer through signals for transfer, that is, control signals to the signal processing modules 4 of the antenna panels 3 in the subsequent stage. The signal processing modules 4 of the antenna panels 3-2 to 3-(N-1) receive the control signal from the signal processing module 4 of the antenna panel 3 in the previous stage, and after a delay time set by a delay adjustment circuit described later, The telemetry data obtained by the processing using the processing signal described above is returned to the signal processing module 4 of the antenna panel 3 in the preceding stage. Further, the signal processing modules 4 of the antenna panels 3-2 to 3-(N-1) process the telemetry data received from the signal processing module 4 of the antenna panel 3 in the subsequent stage as a through signal, and perform the signal processing of the antenna panel 3 in the preceding stage. Transfer to module 4.

The signal processing module 4-N of the antenna panel 3-N receives a control signal, which is a through signal, from the antenna panel 3-(N-1) in the previous stage, and receives the control signal after a delay time set by a delay adjustment circuit described later. The telemetry data obtained by the processing using the control signal obtained is returned to the signal processing module 4-(N-1) of the preceding antenna panel 3-(N-1).

Thus, the signal processing module 4 adjusts the return timing of telemetry data based on the reception timing of the control signal. If there is a subsequent antenna panel 3, the signal processing module 4 transfers the control signal received from the control unit 1 or the antenna panel 3 to the subsequent antenna panel 3, and processes the telemetry data received from the subsequent antenna panel 3. It adjusts the return timing when returning the obtained telemetry data to the control unit 1 or the antenna panel 3 in the previous stage.

Specifically, in the antenna device 20, the signal processing module 4-1 of the antenna panel 3-1 connected to the control unit 1 transmits the control signal received from the control unit 1 to the subsequent antenna panel 3-2. . The signal processing modules 4 of the antenna panels 3-2 to 3-(N-1) that have received the control signal from the antenna panel 3 in the preceding stage transmit the control signal received from the antenna panel 3 in the preceding stage to the antenna panel 3 in the subsequent stage. . The signal processing module 4-N of the antenna panel 3-N without the antenna panel 3 in the subsequent stage converts the telemetry data obtained by the processing of the signal processing module 4-N to the return timing of the telemetry data based on the reception timing of the control signal. is adjusted, it is returned to the front antenna panel 3-(N-1). The signal processing modules 4 of the antenna panels 3-1 to 3-(N-1) that have received the telemetry data from the subsequent antenna panel 3 process the received telemetry data and the telemetry data obtained by the processing of the signal processing module 4. After adjusting the return timing of the telemetry data based on the reception timing of the control signal, the telemetry data is returned to the antenna panel 3 or the control unit 1 in the previous stage.

Here, the configuration of the delay adjustment circuit included in the signal processing module 4 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the delay adjustment circuit 5 included in the signal processing module 4 according to this embodiment. The signal processing module 4 includes a delay adjustment circuit 5 capable of adjusting the return timing of telemetry data after receiving the control signal. As shown in FIG. 2, the delay adjustment circuit 5 includes an integrated circuit 6, an external switch circuit 7, pin switches 9-1 to 9-N, a power supply 10, and a ground 11. The external switch circuit 7 has a plurality of resistors 8-1 to 8-2N. In the following description, resistors 8-1 to 8-2N may be referred to as resistors 8 when not distinguished, and pin switches 9-1 to 9-N may be referred to as pin switches 9 when not distinguished. The external switch circuit 7 includes N resistor circuits in which two resistors 8 are connected in series. A pin switch 9 is connected to the connection point of the two resistors 8 of each resistor circuit. Each resistor circuit is connected in parallel between the power supply 10 and the ground 11 and divides the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply 10 . In the delay adjustment circuit 5, the voltage value input to the integrated circuit 6 is set by selecting the resistance values of the resistors 8-1 to 8-2N of the external switch circuit 7 with the pin switches 9-1 to 9-N. and adjusts the delay time according to the voltage value input to the integrated circuit 6 . Thus, the integrated circuit 6 is connected to an external switch circuit 7 having a plurality of resistors 8 via a plurality of pin switches 9, and based on the selection state of the plurality of resistors 8 by switching the pin switches 9, returns A timing delay time is set from a plurality of delay adjustment times.

Specifically, the user uses the pin switch 9-1 at the input #1 of the integrated circuit 6 to determine the high or low potential input by the resistor circuit of the resistors 8-1 and 8-N+1. . Similarly, at input #2 of integrated circuit 6, the user uses pin switch 9-2 to determine the high or low potential input by the resistor circuit of resistors 8-2 and 8-N+2. Also, the user uses the pin switch 9-3 at the input #3 of the integrated circuit 6 to determine the high or low potential input by the resistor circuit of the resistors 8-3 and 8-N+3. Also, the user uses the pin switch 9-N at the input #N of the integrated circuit 6 to determine the high or low potential input by the resistor circuit of the resistors 8-N and 8-2N.

By setting the pin switches 9-1 to 9-N on and off, the user sets 2 ^N voltage values as voltage values to be input to the integrated circuit 6, that is, sets 2 ^N delay times. This allows the user to select a desired delay time from 2 ^N different delay times. Specifically, the user sets a longer delay time for the signal processing module 4 closer to the control unit 1 . Specifically, in the example of FIG. 1, the user sets the delay time of the signal processing module 4-1 closest to the control unit 1 to the longest, and the delay time of the signal processing module 4-N farthest from the control unit 1. The delay time is set by the delay adjustment circuit 5 provided in each signal processing module 4 so as to be the shortest. As a result, in the antenna device 20, the user can determine the return timing of the telemetry data from the signal processing module 4-1 closest to the control unit 1 and the return timing of the telemetry data from the signal processing module 4-N farthest from the control unit 1. The difference with timing can be reduced.

In the delay adjustment circuit 5, the external switch circuit 7 can adjust the delay adjustment time in units of 10 ns to 100 ns cycles, for example, but the delay adjustment time is not limited to this. In addition, it is assumed that the external switch circuit 7 has different ratios of resistance values of the two resistors 8 included in each resistance circuit. may be

The operation of the signal processing module 4 included in the antenna panel 3 will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the signal processing module 4 according to this embodiment. The signal processing module 4 receives a control signal from the control unit 1 or the signal processing module 4 of the front antenna panel 3 (step S1). The signal processing module 4 determines whether or not there is a subsequent antenna panel 3 (step S2). If there is the rear antenna panel 3 (step S2: Yes), the signal processing module 4 transfers the control signal to the rear antenna panel 3 (step S3).

The signal processing module 4 determines whether or not telemetry data has been received from the subsequent antenna panel 3 (step S4). If no telemetry data is received from the subsequent antenna panel 3 (step S4: No), the signal processing module 4 waits until telemetry data is received. When telemetry data is received from the subsequent antenna panel 3 (step S4: Yes), or when there is no subsequent antenna panel 3 (step S2: No), the signal processing module 4 uses the control signal received by itself. Telemetry data is generated by the processing described above (step S5). In addition, when the antenna panel 3 in the subsequent stage is present (step S2: Yes), the signal processing module 4 may perform the operations of steps S3 and S4 and the operation of step S5 in parallel.

The signal processing module 4 adjusts the return timing of the telemetry data based on the reception timing of the control signal, that is, sets the delay time (step S6). The signal processing module 4 waits until the delay time elapses (step S7: No). After the delay time has passed (step S7: Yes), the signal processing module 4 returns the telemetry data to the antenna panel 3 or the control section 1 (step S8).

Next, the hardware configuration of the antenna device 20 will be explained. In the antenna device 20, the control unit 1 and the signal processing module 4 are implemented by processing circuits. The processing circuitry may be a processor and memory executing programs stored in the memory, or may be dedicated hardware.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a processing circuit included in the antenna device 20 according to this embodiment is configured by a processor and a memory. When the processing circuit is composed of processor 91 and memory 92, each function of the processing circuit of antenna device 20 is implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. Software or firmware is written as a program and stored in memory 92 . In the processing circuit, each function is realized by the processor 91 reading and executing the program stored in the memory 92 . That is, the processing circuitry comprises a memory 92 for storing programs that result in the processing of the antenna device 20 being executed. It can also be said that these programs cause a computer to execute the procedures and methods of the antenna device 20 .

Here, the processor 91 may be a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a processing device, an arithmetic device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The memory 92 includes non-volatile or volatile memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (registered trademark) (Electrically EPROM). semiconductor memories, magnetic discs, flexible discs, optical discs, compact discs, mini discs, or DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the processing circuit included in the antenna device 20 according to the present embodiment is configured with dedicated hardware. When the processing circuit is composed of dedicated hardware, the processing circuit 93 shown in FIG. 5 is, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or a combination thereof is applicable. Each function of the antenna device 20 may be realized by the processing circuit 93 for each function, or each function may be collectively realized by the processing circuit 93 .

It should be noted that each function of the antenna device 20 may be partly realized by dedicated hardware and partly realized by software or firmware. Thus, the processing circuitry may implement each of the functions described above through dedicated hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the antenna device 20, the signal processing module 4 of the antenna panel 3 receives a control signal from the control unit 1 or the preceding signal processing module 4, and the delay adjustment circuit 5 Telemetry data is returned after the delay time based on the set value of . The signal processing module 4 sets a longer delay time for the signal processing module 4 closer to the control unit 1 by adjusting the return timing of the telemetry data, and the telemetry data from the signal processing module 4-1 closest to the control unit 1. and the timing of returning the telemetry data from the signal processing module 4-N, which is the farthest from the control unit 1, can be reduced. As a result, the antenna device 20 can cope with the expansion of the aperture dimension of the APAA 2, the speeding up of the data transfer clock frequency, and the like.

The configurations shown in the above embodiments are only examples, and can be combined with other known techniques, or can be combined with other embodiments, without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also possible to omit or change part of the configuration.

1 control unit, 2 APAA, 3-1 to 3-N antenna panel, 4, 4-1 to 4-N signal processing module, 5 delay adjustment circuit, 6 integrated circuit, 7 external switch circuit, 8-1 to 8- 2N resistor, 9-1 to 9-N pin switch, 10 power supply, 11 ground, 20 antenna device.

Claims (6)

an active phased array antenna in which a plurality of antenna panels having signal processing modules are cascaded;
a controller that transmits control signals to and receives telemetry data from at least one of the antenna panels;
with
The signal processing module adjusts the return timing of the telemetry data based on the reception timing of the control signal.
An antenna device characterized by: The signal processing module, if there is a rear-stage antenna panel, transfers the control signal received from the control unit or the front-stage antenna panel to the rear-stage antenna panel, and processes telemetry data received from the rear-stage antenna panel. Adjusting the return timing when returning the telemetry data obtained in the control unit or the preceding antenna panel,
2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein: The signal processing module is an integrated circuit capable of adjusting the return timing of the telemetry data after receiving the control signal;
3. The antenna device according to claim 1, comprising: The integrated circuit is connected to an external switch circuit having a plurality of resistors via a plurality of pin switches, and has a plurality of delay times for the return timing based on the selection state of the plurality of resistors by switching the pin switches. set from the delay adjustment time of
4. The antenna device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The external switch circuit can adjust the delay adjustment time in units of 10 ns to 100 ns cycles.
5. The antenna device according to claim 4, characterized in that: an active phased array antenna in which a plurality of antenna panels having signal processing modules are cascaded;
a controller that transmits control signals to and receives telemetry data from at least one of the antenna panels;
A timing adjustment method for an antenna device comprising:
a first step in which the antenna panel connected to the control unit transmits the control signal received from the control unit to a subsequent antenna panel;
a second step in which the antenna panel that has received the control signal from the preceding antenna panel transmits the control signal received from the preceding antenna panel to the subsequent antenna panel;
An antenna panel without an antenna panel in the subsequent stage returns the telemetry data obtained by the processing of the signal processing module to the antenna panel in the preceding stage after adjusting the return timing of the telemetry data based on the reception timing of the control signal. a third step;
The antenna panel that has received the telemetry data from the subsequent antenna panel transmits the received telemetry data and the telemetry data obtained by the processing of the signal processing module, and returns the telemetry data based on the reception timing of the control signal. After adjusting, a fourth step of returning to the preceding antenna panel or the control unit;
A timing adjustment method, comprising:

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