JPH04115184A - Illuminator apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to cope with various forms of attack by one illuminator apparatus by transmitting a one-pencil beam, a fan beam and others in accordance with situation by using a phased array antenna, a target information processor and a phase-shift computer. CONSTITUTION:When there is one target 4, the direction 16 of the axial line of nutation of an antenna is driven by theta1 from the reference direction 15 of the antenna for the target. When there are two targets, the direction 16 of the axial line of the antenna is so driven as to be directed approximately to the center of an angular range of presence of the targets, by using a prescribed formula, on the basis of angles (thetaT1, thetaT2) of the targets from the reference direction 15, and when there are three or more targets, the direction 16 is driven likewise on the basis of angles of the targets at the opposite ends of the angular range of presence of the targets. Besides, the actual direction of nutation of a phased array antenna is detected with high precision by a nutation angle detector, nutation position information is sent to a target information processor and an error between the direction of nutation of the axial line of the phased array antenna and the direction of the target is calculated. In the target information processor, moreover, the width and direction of a fan beam corresponding to the angular range of presence of discrete target beams from a multi-target tracking radar are computed with an antenna reference plane used as a reference, and they are sent to a phase-shift computer.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an illuminator device that is mounted on, for example, a ship, and receives instructions from a multi-target tracking radar to irradiate a beam to a target and guide a semi-active homing missile. It is related to.

[Prior Art] Fig. 4 shows the operation of an illuminator device on a ship. In Fig. 1, fl) is a ship, (2) is a multi-target tracking radar, and the illuminator device (3) is a multi-target tracking radar. Obtain the angle information of target (4) from (2),
Semi-active missile guidance radio waves are transmitted towards this target (4). Semi-active homing missile (
5) receives reflected radio waves from target (4) and is guided toward the enemy point.

Fig. 5 shows a typical conventional illuminator device capable of dealing with two targets. In Fig. 1, (2) is a multi-target tracking radar, (6) is an antenna, (7) is an antenna drive unit,
(8) is a transmitter, and (9) is a fan beam antenna.

The conventional illuminator device is configured as described above, and receives information on the number of targets and target position detected by the multi-target tracking radar (2), and mechanically adjusts the axis of the antenna (6) using the antenna drive unit (7). It accurately points the direction of turning and elevation toward the target, and transmits guidance radio waves.

In addition, as shown in Figure 6, when the number of targets is one, one illuminator device transmits guided radio waves [Figure 6 (a)
] , ] In the case of targets, the illuminator device 28N is used to transmit guided radio waves to each target [Figure 6 (b)
], In the case of a saturation attack with two or more targets, a separate fan beam antenna (9) is prepared and the fan beam is sent in the plane of rotation [Figure 6 (C)] and in the plane of elevation [Figure 6 (d)]. Sent and dealt with.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] In the conventional illuminator device as described above, one device can only transmit one beam, so it is possible to deal with only one target. However, the number of illuminator devices is limited due to installation space, weight, and cost. Also.

The antenna must be mechanically driven so that the axis of the antenna rotates and the direction of elevation and elevation are accurately directed toward the target, which also poses the problem of requiring a precise and large-scale antenna drive unit.

Furthermore, for saturation attacks on multiple targets, a separate illuminator device for fan beam transmission is required, but since the beam width of the fan beam is determined by the mechanical dimensions of the antenna,
There was also the problem that radio waves were forced to be emitted in unnecessary angular ranges, resulting in energy dispersion and the missile seeker's range performance becoming extremely poor.

This invention was made to solve this problem, and by changing the number of transmitted beams and beam shapes depending on the number of targets to be dealt with and their range, it is possible to deal with various attack forms with one illuminator device. This not only maximizes energy efficiency, but also radiates radio waves only within the necessary range.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The illuminator device according to the present invention uses a phased array antenna, a target information processor, and a phase shift calculator to generate one pencil beam, two pencil beams, and a fan beam depending on the situation. It is what you send.

[Operation] In the present invention, by switching the number of transmission beams and beam shapes according to the number of targets and their existence range using a phased array antenna, a target information processor, and a phase shift calculator, a single illuminator device can transmit various signals. It not only improves energy efficiency by emitting radio waves only within the range of the target, but also mechanically rotates the axis of the antenna in relation to the target and provides high precision in the elevation direction. Unlike conventional illuminator devices, which irradiate the beam by directing the beam.

The axial direction of the antenna is mechanically directed only in the direction of rotation toward the target, and the beam can be irradiated onto the target by beam scanning, making it possible to reduce the size, weight, and cost of the antenna drive unit.

[Example] Figures 1, 2, and 3 are diagrams showing examples of the present invention.
8) is exactly the same as the conventional device described above.

(10) is a phased array antenna, and (11) is a smaller and lighter phased array antenna drive unit.

(12) is a turning angle detector, (131 is a phase shift calculator,
(14) is the target information processor, and (15) is the antenna reference direction.

(16) is the antenna rotation axis direction, and (17) is the antenna drive angle θ.

In the illuminator device configured as shown in FIG. 1, the number of targets and target positions detected by the multi-target tracking radar (2) are input to the target information processor (14). The target information processor (14) first determines the antenna rotation axis direction (16) from the target angle information by determining the target existence rotation angle range (1
7), and input it to the phased array antenna drive unit (11) to direct the rotation axis (16) of the phased array antenna (lO) to the center of the target existence rotation angle range (17). turn to

This situation is shown in FIG. In the figure, when the target (4) is one target [Figure (a)], the antenna rotation axis direction (I6) is 01 from the antenna reference direction (15) with respect to the target.
drive only. In addition, in the case of two targets [Figure (b)], the angle of each target from the antenna reference direction (15) (θT
From I+01□).

Furthermore, if there are three or more targets, use the angles (θmin, θmax) of the targets at both ends of the target existence angle range.

The antenna is driven so that the antenna axis direction (16) is directed approximately to the center of the target existence angle range using the calculation formula θmin 100max θ■ =.

Furthermore, the actual turning direction of the phased array antenna (lO) is detected with high precision by the turning angle detector (12), and turning position information is sent to the target information processor (14).

The error between the rotation direction of the axis of the phased array antenna (10) and the target direction is calculated.

Furthermore, the target information processor (14) uses a multi-target tracking radar (
Based on the information from 2), ■ When there are targets, the direction of 1 pencil beam, when there are 2 targets, the direction of 2 pencil beams, and when there are 3 or more targets, the fan beam width and direction according to the angle range of existence are set on the antenna surface. is calculated with reference to , and sent to the phase shift calculator (13). The phase shift calculator (13) calculates the amount of phase shift required for these and creates a phased array antenna (lO).
and transmits guided radio waves.

This situation is shown in FIG. In the figure, if target (4) is one target, one pencil beam is transmitted [see figure (a)
], If there are 2 targets, 2 pencil beams are transmitted [
If there are two or more targets, move the fan beam in the plane of rotation [(C) in the same figure] or in the plane of elevation [(d) in the same figure]
Address multiple objectives by sending to.

Incidentally, in the above description, the present invention is applied to an illuminator device installed on a ship, but it goes without saying that it can also be used as an illuminator device installed in other ships.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, this invention uses a phased array antenna and a phase shift calculator to detect one pencil beam for one target, two pencil beams for two targets, and the existence of targets for more than one target. Since it is possible to use a fan beam that concentrates energy within an angular range, it is possible not only to deal with a large number of diverse targets, but also to make optimal use of the transmitted energy according to the number of targets, as well as to An antenna drive unit that does not require high precision can be used, and the antenna drive unit can be made smaller, lighter, and cheaper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1, 2, and 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the illuminator device, and FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are diagrams showing the configuration and operation of the conventional device. It is. In the figure, (1) is a ship, (2) is a multi-target tracking radar,
(5) is a semi-active homing missile, (6) is an antenna, (7) is an antenna drive unit, (8) is a transmitter,
(9) is a fan beam antenna, (10) is a phased array antenna, (11) is a phased array antenna drive unit, (12) is a turning angle detection unit, (131)
is a phase shift calculator, and (14) is a target information processor. Note that the same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] When transmitting, the phased array antenna scans the beam in the required direction, calculates the direction of the transmitted beam, the number of beams, and the beam shape according to the number of targets and the angular range in which they exist. A target information processor that converts to the phased array antenna plane reference, and a phase shift amount corresponding to the beam direction, number, and shape calculated by this target information processor, and the phase shift amount is converted to the phased array antenna plane reference. An illuminator device characterized by being equipped with a phase shift calculator applied to a ray antenna.