JPH04358406A - Plane antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve tghe productivity of a plane antenna without increasing the setting time of the antenna even though many radiation elements are set in the different radiating directions respectively. CONSTITUTION:A number of small holes 16... are formed along a spiral curve from the center of a disk with spacing less than a single wavelength to an upper metallic plate 12 of the disk. Then each helical antenna 7 is put into each hole 16 with a winding start part 17b set against the radius direction of the plate 12. In such a constitution, the antennas 17 can always be set with an angle kept constant in the revolving direction of the antenna as long as the plate 12 is revolved and at the same time 8 helical inserting part is moved toward the radius of the plate 12.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flat antenna used for receiving satellite broadcast waves and the like.

0002

[Prior Art] Generally, a planar antenna includes a circular upper metal plate and a circular lower metal plate whose outer peripheries are short-circuited, and a feeding section is arranged in the center of a space with a waveguide between the metal plates. In addition, on the surface of the upper circular metal plate, a large number of circularly polarized wave radiating elements such as helical antennas and patch antennas are insulated and arranged concentrically at intervals of one wavelength or less.

In this case, each circularly polarized wave radiating element is connected to a probe inserted through a number of concentric holes formed in an upper metal plate. The elements are arranged such that the rotational installation angles of the individual radiation elements are all different in order to set the radiation angle of the planar antenna itself in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the upper metal plate, for example.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned conventional planar antenna, a large number of radiating elements disposed on the upper metal plate are assembled in concentric circles with each element set in a different radiation direction. Because I have to
When attempting to automate the manufacturing process of this planar antenna, the number of control elements for the radiating element assembly apparatus increases, resulting in a long assembly time and poor productivity.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems.
An object of the present invention is to provide a planar antenna that can improve productivity without increasing installation time even when a large number of radiating elements are set in different radiation directions for each element.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the planar antenna according to the present invention includes a circular lower metal plate, and the lower metal plate is arranged above the lower metal plate to face each other in parallel with an interval of less than one wavelength. an upper metal plate having a shape corresponding to the above, a shorting plate that shorts the outer peripheral edges of the upper metal plate and the lower metal plate, and a waveguide provided at the center of the lower metal plate between the upper and lower metal plates. On the other hand, there is a power feeding section for high frequency coupling, a plurality of small holes formed at intervals of one wavelength or less along a spiral curve extending from the center of the upper metal plate, and a plurality of holes for each of the plurality of small holes. a plurality of circularly polarized wave radiating elements inserted with a constant rotational direction angle in the radial direction of the upper metal plate and high frequency coupled to the waveguide; and between the plurality of circularly polarized wave radiating elements and the small hole. and an interposed insulating spacer.

[0007]

[Operation] In other words, by rotating the upper metal plate, multiple circularly polarized wave radiating elements can be installed in the same direction, without the need to set different installation angles for each radiating element. The radiating element can be installed only by rotating the upper metal plate and moving the radiating element insertion portion in the radial direction of the metal plate and vertically.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a planar antenna.
FIG. 5(A) is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3(B) is a sectional view taken along the line AA.

In FIG. 1, 11 is a disk-shaped lower metal plate, 12 is a disk-shaped upper metal plate having the same diameter as the lower metal plate 11, and the lower metal plate 11 and the upper metal plate 12 are as follows: They are arranged in parallel and facing each other with an interval of less than one wavelength, and are short-circuited by providing a short-circuiting plate 13 on the outer peripheral edge.

[0011] At the center of the lower metal plate 11, a power feeding section 15 is provided, in which a power feeding probe is inserted into a waveguide 14 formed in a space with the upper metal plate 12. Note that the waveguide 14
may be filled with a foamed dielectric material.

On the other hand, the upper metal plate 12 has a large number of small holes 1.
6,... are formed in a spiral shape with respect to the center thereof, and the probes 17a,... of the helical antennas 17,... are connected to the large number of small holes 16,... through insulating spacers 18,..., respectively. is inserted into the waveguide 14, and is branched and coupled with equal power to the waveguide 14.

In this case, the spiral curve corresponds to the Archimedes' curve, and the spiral direction spacing x and radial spacing y of the small holes 16, . . . along this spiral curve are both equal to or less than one wavelength. (0.7~0.8
wavelength).

Here, the helical antennas 17, . . . each have their winding start portions 17b, . It is set in a direction perpendicular to 12.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the waveguide coupling portion of the helical antenna 17 in the planar antenna, with FIG. 2(A) being a plan view thereof and FIG. 2(B) being a sectional view thereof in the 0° direction.

The helical antenna 17 has a circumference of about 1
Wavelength, number of turns approximately 2 turns, winding pitch 7°, helical diameter approximately 0.
Use one with 3 wavelengths and a wire diameter of 0.01 to 0.05 wavelength,
The probe 17a is connected to the small hole 16 with a diameter of 0.2 to 0.1 wavelength formed in the upper metal plate 12 using an insulating spacer 18.
When the waveguide 14 is filled with a foamed dielectric material, dew condensation on the waveguide 14 due to temperature changes is prevented.

Here, if the dielectric constant of the foam dielectric used in the waveguide 14 is ε, then the radio waves in the waveguide 14 are propagated in inverse proportion to the "root ε", so each helical antenna 17, If the installation spacing is wide, a high-magnification foam dielectric with a low dielectric constant is used, and if it is narrow, a low-magnification foam dielectric with a high dielectric constant is used.

That is, for example, in a broadside type, the radial spacing y of the helical antennas 17, .
Since the dielectric constant ε is approximately 1.0 in terms of wavelength, the waveguide 14 does not require a foamed dielectric material or requires a very highly foamed dielectric material. In addition, helical antenna 17,
If the radial spacing y of ... is 0.7 wavelength, a foamed dielectric material with a dielectric constant ε of about 2.0 is required. Furthermore, if the radial spacing y of the helical antennas 17, .

That is, the radial spacing y between the helical antennas 17, .
If the distance y is narrow, a low magnification foam dielectric with a high dielectric constant ε may be filled.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an automatic installation device for the helical antennas 17, . . . in the above-mentioned planar antenna.
23 is an arm, 23 is a helical insertion portion, and 24 is a rotating table.

The helical antenna supply section 21 automatically creates the helical antenna 17 from the conductive wire provided therein, and attaches an insulating spacer 18 to the probe 17a in advance.
is sent into the helical insertion part 23 through the insertion arm 22, and the helical antenna is rotated by the arm 22 in the direction shown by arrow a and the rotary table 24 on which the upper metal plate 12 is placed in the direction shown by arrow b. The helical antenna 17 is assembled into the small hole 16 of the upper metal plate 12 by freely determining the insertion position of the helical antenna 17 and moving the helical insertion portion 23 in the direction shown by arrow c.

That is, the upper metal plate 1 is rotated by the rotating table 24.
By moving the arm 22 in a direction that gradually shortens it in synchronization with the rotational drive of 2, the helical insertion part 23 can be moved along a large number of small holes 16, which are formed in a spiral shape in the upper metal plate. , the insulating spacer 18 with the helical antennas 17,... integrated by controlling the helical insertion portion 23 to descend at the corresponding position of each small hole 16,...
, . . . are sequentially assembled into the upper metal plate 12.

Here, the rotation direction angle of each of the many helical antennas 17, .
In this case, the helical antennas 17,...
4, the upper metal plate 12 is rotated by a large number of small holes 16 formed in a spiral shape.
Each helical antenna 17,... on the upper metal plate 12
The respective rotation angles are different, and the radiation direction of this planar antenna is set perpendicular to the upper metal plate 12.

Therefore, according to the planar antenna having the above configuration, a large number of small holes 16, . The helical antennas 17, . . . are each inserted into each of the small holes 16, . By moving the helical insertion portion 23 in its radial direction while rotating, it is possible to install the helical antennas 17, . The helical antennas 17, ... can be assembled automatically by simply rotating the upper metal plate 12 and moving the helical insertion part 23 in the radial direction of the metal plate and vertically, without having to set different installation angles for each. The number of control elements in the manufacturing equipment is reduced, reducing installation time and improving productivity.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a planar antenna using a patch antenna. FIG. 4(A) is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 4(B) is a sectional view taken along the line BB.

In FIG. 4, the same components as those of the planar antenna shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

That is, in this planar antenna, the probes 31a of the patch antennas 31, . . . are connected to the small holes 16, . In this case as well, the rotational direction angles of each patch antenna 31 differ from each other, but are constant in the radial direction of the upper metal plate 12, and The patch antennas 31, . . . can be easily installed only by rotating the metal plate 12, moving the patch insertion portion in the radial direction of the metal plate, and moving it up and down.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of a waveguide coupling part of a spiral antenna in a planar antenna using a spiral antenna, and FIG. 5 (A) is a plan view thereof, and FIG.
is a sectional view thereof.

In FIG. 5, the same components as those of the planar antenna shown in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

That is, in this planar antenna, the spiral antennas 41, . . . are connected to the small holes 16, .
probes 41a are inserted and fixed through insulating spacers 18, . It is constant in the radial direction, and the spiral antennas 41, .

In each of the above embodiments, the insulating spacer 18
The insulating spacer 18 is inserted into the small holes 16, ... of the upper metal plate 12 in a state in which it is inserted into the antenna probe in advance. It is also possible to have a configuration in which the antenna probe is inserted into the antenna probe.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is a circular lower metal plate, and a shape corresponding to the lower metal plate, which is disposed above the lower metal plate in parallel and facing each other at an interval of less than one wavelength. an upper metal plate, a shorting plate that shorts the outer peripheral edges of the upper metal plate and the lower metal plate, and a waveguide provided at the center of the lower metal plate between the upper and lower metal plates to provide high-frequency coupling. a plurality of small holes formed at intervals of one wavelength or less along a spiral curve extending from the center of the upper metal plate, and a rotation direction angle of each of the plurality of small holes. a plurality of circularly polarized wave radiating elements inserted in a constant manner in the radial direction of the upper metal plate and high-frequency coupled to the waveguide; and an insulation interposed between the plurality of circularly polarized wave radiating elements and the small hole. Since the configuration includes a spacer, multiple circularly polarized wave radiating elements can be installed in the same direction by rotating the upper metal plate.
Even when a large number of radiating elements are set in different radiation directions for each element, it is possible to improve productivity without increasing installation time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a planar antenna using a helical antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a waveguide coupling portion of a helical antenna in the planar antenna.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an automatic installation device for a helical antenna in the planar antenna.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a planar antenna using a patch antenna.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a waveguide coupling portion of a spiral antenna in a planar antenna using a spiral antenna.

[Explanation of symbols]

11... Lower metal plate, 12... Upper metal plate, 13... Short circuit plate,
14... Waveguide, 15... Power feeding part, 16... Small hole, 17... Helical antenna, 17a... Probe, 17b... Winding start part,
18...Insulating spacer.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A lower metal plate having a circular shape, an upper metal plate having a shape corresponding to the lower metal plate and arranged facing above the lower metal plate in parallel with an interval of less than one wavelength, and the upper metal plate. and a short-circuit plate that shorts the outer peripheral edges of each of the lower metal plates, a power feeding unit that is provided at the center of the lower metal plate and that performs high frequency coupling to a waveguide formed between the upper and lower metal plates, and On the other hand, a plurality of small holes are formed at intervals of one wavelength or less along a spiral curve extending from the center, and the rotation direction angle of each of the plurality of small holes is constant in the radial direction of the upper metal plate. a plurality of circularly polarized wave radiating elements inserted and high frequency coupled to the waveguide;
A planar antenna comprising: an insulating spacer interposed between the plurality of circularly polarized wave radiating elements and the small hole. 2. Claim 1, wherein the waveguide formed between the upper and lower metal plates is filled with a foamed dielectric material.
Planar antenna as described.