JPH05281322A - Directional antenna controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a highly reliable antenna which is small in size, simple in structure, and high in gain by mechanically setting it elevation angle against a main beam in accordance with positional information and setting its azimuth by selecting one of the received signals individually outputted from the antenna. CONSTITUTION:A central processing unit 3 decides the elevation angle to a geostationary satellite based on position measurement information S1 from a position measuring instrument 2 and the positional information of the satellite and an elevation angle controller 5 mechanically decides the elevation angle of the omnidirectional antenna of an antenna system 7 based on the elevation angle information S2. A signal intensity measuring instrument 8 measures intensities of received signals 34-S7 individually outputted from the omnidirectional antenna and outputs the signal S9 having the highest intensity of the received signals S4-S7 to a transmitter-receiver 9 through an antenna selection controller (switching means) 6 based on the signal intensity information S11 regarding the signals S4-S7 and/or information S1 during movement and positional information of the satellite. Therefore, a low-cost ground terminal equipment 1 for satellite communication having high mechanical reliability and a large gain can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. Field of Industrial Application Conventional Technology Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7) Action (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7) Example (FIGS. 1 to 1) 9) Effect of the invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a directional antenna control device, and more particularly, to a tracking type directional antenna control device for a ground terminal device mounted on a mobile body in a mobile communication and broadcasting system using a geostationary satellite. And is suitable.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a directional antenna control device of a mobile communication and broadcasting system using a geostationary satellite,
There is also a system that uses a low-gain omnidirectional antenna as an antenna used for the ground terminal device on the mobile side, but generally, for example, as shown in JP-A-61-20403 and JP-A-64-44608. A directional antenna is used to control the elevation angle and azimuth angle mechanically so that the received signal strength is maximized in order to always receive even if the antenna direction changes according to the movement of the moving body. An automatic tracking type directional antenna control device has been proposed.

[0004]

However, as described above, in the method of constantly controlling the elevation angle and the azimuth angle mechanically, the entire apparatus becomes large, and many parts rely on mechanical operation.
Control is complicated and lacks reliability.

On the other hand, a method of arranging the directional antennas in a matrix so as to cover all directions and tracking each one by switching scanning is also conceivable, but a large number of antennas are required, which is large and complicated. It is inevitable that it will become something like this.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a tracking type directional antenna control device which is smaller in size and simpler in structure, and which improves reliability by reducing the parts relying on machines. ..

[0007]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a tracking type directional antenna control device 1 (or 30) for a ground terminal device of a mobile communication and broadcasting system using a geostationary satellite, An antenna device 7 having a plurality of directional antennas 10 for receiving radio waves transmitted from geostationary satellites and individually outputting reception signals S4 to S7.
A positioning means 2 that measures the position of the antenna device 7 and outputs positioning information S1; and all directional antennas of the antenna device 7 based on the positioning information S1 and the geostationary satellite position information output from the positioning means 2. The antenna device 7 based on the elevation angle determining means 3 (or 33) that determines the elevation angle in the directivity direction of the main beam 10 and outputs the elevation angle information S2, and the elevation angle information S2 output from the elevation angle determining means 3 (or 33). The elevation angle control means 5 for controlling the elevation angles of the directional directions of the main beams of all the directional antennas 10 to the elevation angle, and the signal strengths of the respective reception signals S4 to S7 individually output by all the directional antennas 10 of the antenna device 7. Signal strength information S11
(Or S16) to output the signal strength measuring means 8 (or 3
5) and all directional antennas 10 of the antenna device 7
Switching means 6 (or 3) for switching each of the reception signals S4 to S7 individually output by each and outputting to the signal strength measuring means 8 (or 35) and / or the transmission / reception or reception means 9 (or 34).
2), and the antenna based on the signal strength information S11 (or S16) output from the signal strength measuring means 8 (or 35) and / or the moving positioning information S1 output from the positioning means 2 and the position information of the geostationary satellite. Among the reception signals S4 to S7 individually output by all the directional antennas 10 of the device 7, the reception signal S9 (or S13) having the maximum signal strength is switched by the switching means 6 (or 32) to transmit / receive or receive. Selection information S3 to be output to the means 9 (or 34)
(Or S12) is output to the optimum antenna determining means 3 (or 33), and the antenna device 7 has a gain when all the directional antennas 10 of the antenna device 7 have an elevation angle of 0 ° in the direction of the main beam. Is greater than 1 and is continuously equal to or higher than a predetermined gain, and is less than or equal to the angle between the ends of the range of the directional characteristics including the directional direction of the main beam, the directional characteristics of all the directional antennas 10 of the antenna device 7. The directional antenna 10 of the antenna device 7 is arranged so as to cover all azimuths by combining the angles sandwiched in the directions of both ends in the azimuth direction without any gap, and The elevation angle of the directivity direction of the main beam of the directional antenna 10 is controlled to the elevation angle by mechanically setting the elevation angle of the directional antenna 10 of the antenna device 7 by the elevation angle control means 5. So as to.

[0008]

The elevation angle is determined by the elevation angle determining means 3 (or 33) based on the positioning information S1 output by the positioning means 2 and the position information of the geostationary satellite, and the elevation angle information S2 output by the elevation angle determining means 3 (or 33). Based on the above, the elevation angle control means 5 mechanically sets the elevation angles of all the directional antennas 10 of the antenna device 7.

Further, the signal strength measuring means 8 (or 35) measures the signal strength of the received signals S4 to S7 individually output by all the directional antennas 10 of the antenna device 7, and outputs the signal strength information S11 (or S16). ) And / or signals among the received radio waves S4 to S7 individually output by all the directional antennas 10 of the antenna device 7 based on the moving position information S1 output from the positioning means 2 and the position information of the geostationary satellites. The reception signal S9 (or S13) having the highest intensity is output to the transmission / reception or reception means 9 (or 34) via the switching means 6 (or 32).

Thus, by setting only the elevation angle mechanically and selecting one of the plurality of directional antennas 10 in the azimuth direction, the mechanical reliability is higher, the cost is lower, and the omnidirectional antenna is used. The directional antenna control device 1 (or 30) that can obtain a higher gain than that of the above system can be realized.

[0011]

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

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a satellite communication ground terminal device as a whole, and a positioning device 2 including a radio wave positioning device such as GPS and Loran C, or an independent positioning device using an azimuth sensor and a speed sensor is a predetermined device. The latitude / longitude of the ground terminal device 1 is measured at time intervals and the positioning information S1 is output to the central processing unit 3.

The central processing unit 3 calculates the elevation angle based on the positioning information S1 output from the positioning unit 2 and the position information of the geostationary satellite, and outputs the elevation angle information S2 to the elevation angle control unit 5 of the antenna control unit 4. Has been done.

The antenna control unit 4 comprises an elevation angle control unit 5 and an antenna selection control unit 6, and the elevation angle control unit 5 is based on the elevation angle information S2 output from the central processing unit 3 and has all the directional antennas of the antenna unit 7. It is designed to give a predetermined elevation angle.

The antenna selection control device 6 is the central processing unit 3
On the basis of the selection information S3 output from the antenna device 7, reception broadcast signals S4 to S7 individually supplied from all the directional antennas of the antenna device 7 are switched by switching control to receive the measurement target designated by the central processing unit 3. The broadcast signal S8 is output to the reception signal strength measuring device 8 and is individually supplied from all the directional antennas of the antenna device 7 based on the selection information S3 output from the central processing unit 3. Received broadcast signal S4 ~
By switching S7 by switching control, the central processing unit 3 outputs the received broadcast signal S9 having the maximum signal strength to the transmitting / receiving unit 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the antenna device 7 has four antenna bases 11 each having a plane antenna 10 having a half-value angle of 90 ° mounted on the surface thereof so that all the main beams of each plane antenna 10 are directed outward. And each planar antenna 10
Of the main beam of the so that the azimuth is different by 90 ° in each direction, and the hinge 13 is used to mount 13 with a hole in the center.
It is attached to and the half-value angle of each planar antenna 10 is 90 °.
Therefore, at least one of the four planar antennas 10 has a half-value at any azimuth angle of the geostationary satellite with the elevation angles of the main beam pointing directions of all the planar antennas 10 set to 0 °. It is designed to be able to secure a gain within a half-value angle by supplementing geostationary satellites within an angle.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each planar antenna 18 has a ground plate 1 on one surface, for example, a lower surface, of the dielectric substrate 14.
5, the dielectric 16 and the power supply line 17 are formed in a multilayer structure,
A circular element 18 that radiates and absorbs electromagnetic waves is provided on the other surface of the dielectric substrate 14, that is, the upper surface.

The feed line 17 and the element 18 are connected to each other at a feed point 20 via a pin 19 penetrating the dielectric 16 and the dielectric substrate 14, and each plane antenna 10 has an azimuth angle in the direction of the main beam. Since the radio waves transmitted from the geostationary satellites are received, the received broadcast signals S having different signal intensities are obtained because the radio waves transmitted from the geostationary satellite are received.
4 to S7 are supplied to the antenna selection control device 6 through the feeder line 17 of each planar antenna 10.

As shown in FIG. 5 with the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2, levers 21 are fixedly attached to the back surfaces of the four antenna bases 11, and each lever 21 is connected via a link 22. Is engaged with one end of the operating rod 23.

The other end of the operating rod 23 is connected to the elevation angle control device 5
The link 22 can be operated by being operated vertically.
And about 4 antenna bases 11 via lever 21
The rotation angle range of 90 ° can be given at the same time.

Thus, the four planar antennas 10 mounted on the four antenna bases 11 are provided in the vertical direction given to the operating rod 23 by the elevation angle control device 5 based on the elevation angle information S2 output from the central processing unit 3. Through operation, the link 22 and lever 21 and antenna base 11
The above-mentioned elevation angles can be mechanically set at the same time within a rotation angle range of 90 °, whereby four planar antennas 1
The pointing directions of the main beam of 0 are also mechanically set to the same elevation angle at the same time.

The reception signal strength measuring device 8 has its own tuner section, and its reception frequency is always tuned to the reception frequency of the transmission / reception device 9 by the reception tuning information S10 supplied from the transmission / reception device 9. , The antenna selection control device 6 receives the received broadcast signals S4 to S4 based on the selection information S3.
By measuring the signal strength of the received broadcast signal S8 to be measured, which is output by switching S7 by switching control, and outputting the signal strength information S11 to the central processing unit 3,
The central processing unit 3 compares the signal strengths of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 based on the signal strength information S11, determines the received broadcast signal having the maximum signal strength, and determines one of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 as an antenna. The switching information of the selection control device 6 can be switched to output the selection information S3 to be output to the transmission / reception device 9 as the reception broadcast signal S9 having the maximum signal strength.

In the above configuration, the satellite communication ground terminal device 1 operates in accordance with the antenna control processing procedure shown in FIG.

That is, when the positioning device 2 measures the latitude and longitude of the satellite communication ground terminal device 1 at step SP1 and outputs the positioning information S1 to the central processing unit 3, step S
In P2, the central processing unit 3 determines the antenna device 7 based on the positioning information S1 of the latitude and longitude and the position information of the geostationary satellite.
All directional antennas (ie planar antenna 1
0) is calculated by determining the elevation angle to be given to
Is output to the elevation angle control device 5.

At the subsequent step SP3, the elevation angle control unit 5 determines the current elevation angles of all the planar antennas 10 of the antenna unit 7 and the elevation angles determined by the central processing unit 3 based on the elevation angle information S2 output from the central processing unit 3. Compare
If the angle difference is equal to or more than a predetermined angle difference, it is determined that the elevation angle needs to be changed, and the process proceeds to the next step SP4 to operate the operating rod 23 of the antenna device 7 in the vertical direction to link 22.
Then, the elevation angles of all the planar antennas 10 are simultaneously set to the elevation angles determined by the central processing unit 3 via the lever 21 and the antenna base 11, and the process proceeds to the next step SP5.

On the other hand, the elevation angle control device 5 compares the current elevation angles of all the planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 7 with the elevation angles determined by the central processing unit 3, and when the predetermined angle difference is not reached, the elevation angles are controlled. When it is judged that the change of No. is unnecessary, it jumps over Step SP4 and moves to Step SP5.

In step SP5, the central processing unit 3 selects one of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 individually supplied from the four planar antennas 10 of the antenna unit 7.
When the selection information S3 is output to the antenna selection control device 6, the antenna selection control device 6 individually supplies the antenna selection control device 6 from the four planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 7. Based on the selection information S3 output from the central processing unit 3, one of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 that has been determined by the central processing unit 3 as a target for signal strength measurement is subjected to switching control. Therefore, the received broadcast signal S8 to be measured is output to the received signal strength measuring device 8 as the received broadcast signal S8.

At the next step SP6, the reception signal strength measuring device 8 operates so that the reception frequency of the tuner unit is tuned to the reception frequency of the transmission / reception device 9 according to the reception tuning information S10 supplied from the transmission / reception device 9, Thus, the signal strength of the received broadcast signal S8 to be measured is measured and the signal strength information S11 is output to the central processing unit 3.

Subsequently, the central processing unit 3 determines the next step S.
By outputting the signal strength information S11 and the selection information S3 of the reception broadcast signal S8 of the measurement target output from the reception signal strength measurement device 8 in P7, the switching of the antenna selection control device 6 is performed as the reception broadcast signal S8 of the measurement target. Data corresponding to the antenna numbers A1 to A4 attached to the planar antenna 10 that has supplied one received radio wave of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 switched by control is stored.

Here, the central processing unit 3 switches the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 from all the planar antennas 10 by switching control of the antenna selection controller 6 to measure the signal strength, and obtains the received broadcast signals S4 to S7. When four sets of data consisting of four types of corresponding signal strength information S11 and four types of antenna numbers A1 to A4 corresponding to the signal strength information S11 are obtained, it is determined that all planar antennas 10 have been selected. Go to next step SP8.

On the other hand, when four sets of data have not been obtained, the central processing unit 3 judges that all the plane antennas 10 have not been selected and enters the loop LOOP1 and selects the next plane antenna 10 at step SP9. In order to do so, one new received broadcast signal to be the next received broadcast signal S8 to be measured is determined from the received broadcast signals S4 to S7, and the selection information S3 is output to the antenna selection control device 6 to be used as the selection information S3. Based on this, the antenna selection control device 6 is caused to switch one of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 by switching control and output to the received signal strength measurement device 8 as the next received broadcast signal S8 to be measured, and step SP6. Then, the processing of steps SP6-SP7-SP9-SP6 is repeated thereafter.

The central processing unit 4 in step SP8
Is four signal strength information S1 based on four sets of data consisting of signal strength information S11 and antenna numbers A1 to A4.
Signal strength information S11 indicating the maximum signal strength by comparing 1
One of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 corresponding to is determined as the received broadcast signal S9 having the maximum signal strength to be supplied to the transmitter / receiver 9, and the selection information S3 is output to the antenna selection controller 6. Antenna selection control device 6
Is switched to one of the reception broadcast signals S4 to S7 based on the selection information S3 as the reception broadcast signal S9 having the maximum signal strength determined by the central processing unit 3 by the switching control and transmitted to the transmission / reception device 9. After making it output, signal strength information S11 and antenna numbers A1 to A
Loop LO by clearing the memory of 4 sets of 4 data
Enter OP2 and return to step SP1.

According to the above configuration, the satellite communication ground terminal device 1 has the antenna device 7 that covers all azimuth angles by using four plane antennas 10 having a half-value angle of 90 °, and the positioning information S1 and The elevation angle determined by the central processing unit 3 based on the position information of the geostationary satellite and the four planar antennas 1
If there is an angle difference of more than a predetermined value from the current elevation angle of the main beam pointing direction of 0, the elevation angle of the plane antenna 10 is mechanically set by the elevation angle control device 5 at the same time by the central processing unit 3. To do.

Further, the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 individually supplied by the four planar antennas 10 are measured by the received signal strength measuring device 8 having a tuner section independently, and the respective signal strengths obtained are compared and the antennas are compared. The switching control of the selection control device 6 changes the signal strength to a maximum of 1 by switching.
By repeating the operation of supplying one received broadcast signal to the transmitter / receiver 9, the geostationary satellite can always be supplemented with an appropriate elevation angle within the half-value angle of the planar antenna 10, so that the gain is omnidirectional. It is significantly larger than when used.

Further, as compared with the method in which both the elevation angle and the azimuth angle of one directional antenna are mechanically controlled, only the elevation angle is mechanically set, so that the part relying on the mechanical operation is reduced and the mechanical It is possible to realize a simple directional antenna control device having high reliability and capable of tracking more rapidly.

FIG. 7 in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the antenna control device 31 of the satellite communication ground terminal device 30 selects the antenna. In the control device 32, the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 individually supplied from all the planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 7 are switched by switching control based on the selection information S12 output from the central processing unit 33. The measurement target specified by the central processing unit 33 and / or the reception broadcast signal S13 having the maximum signal strength is output to the transmission / reception device 34, and a predetermined one of the positioning information S1 output from the positioning device 2 while moving. Based on the two positioning information S1 before and after input at the time interval of 1 and the position information of the geostationary satellite, it is determined that the plane ante is oriented toward the geostationary satellite. The received broadcast signals S4 to S7 are switched by switching control on the basis of the selection information S12 output by the central processing unit 33 to select the received broadcast signal output from the CPU 10, and the received radio wave is output to the transmitter / receiver 34. It is designed to do.

The configuration and operation of the antenna device 7 are almost the same as those of the first embodiment described above, but there are two differences as compared with the case of FIG.

First, the four planar antennas 10 mounted on the four antenna bases 11 receive the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 having different signal intensities when receiving the radio waves transmitted from the geostationary satellite. Feeding line 1 of planar antenna 10
The second point is that the antenna selection control device 32 is supplied to the antenna selection control device 32 through the No. 7 antenna.
The four planar antennas 10 mounted on the 1 are linked to the link 22 and the lever 21 by the vertical operation given to the operating rod 23 by the elevation angle control device 5 based on the elevation angle information S2 output from the central processing unit 33. The point is that they can be simultaneously set to the same elevation angle up to about 90 ° via the antenna base 11.

When the transmission / reception device 34 enters the reception state according to the reception switching information S14 output from the central processing unit 33, the antenna selection control device 3 based on the selection information S12.
2 receives the measurement object by amplifying the received broadcast signal S13 which is output by switching one of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 individually supplied from all the planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 12 by switching control. Broadcast signal S15
Is supplied to the received signal strength measuring device 35.

The received signal strength measuring device 35 does not have its own tuner section and measures the signal strength of the received broadcast signal S13 supplied from the transmitter / receiver 34 and outputs the signal strength information S16 to the central processing unit 33. Therefore, the central processing unit 33 receives the received broadcast signal S4 based on the signal strength information S16.
To S7 are compared, the received broadcast signal having the highest signal strength is determined, and one received broadcast signal among the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 is switched by the switching control of the antenna selection control device 32 to switch the signal strength. The selection information S12 to be output to the transmitting / receiving device 34 as the maximum received broadcast signal S13 can be output.

In the above configuration, the ground terminal device 30 which is stopped operates according to the antenna control processing procedure shown in FIG.

That is, in step SP11, the positioning device 2 measures the latitude and longitude of the ground terminal 30 to measure the positioning information S1.
Is output to the central processing unit 33, the central processing unit 33 at step SP12 determines the latitude / longitude positioning information S1.
And the elevation angles to be given to all the planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 7 are calculated and determined based on the position information of the geostationary satellite, and the elevation angle information S2 is output to the elevation angle control device 5.

The elevation angle control device 5 operates the operating rod 23 of the antenna device 7 in the vertical direction based on the elevation angle information S2 output from the central processing unit 33 at step SP13, whereby the link 22, lever 21 and antenna base are provided. The elevation angles of all the planar antennas 10 are simultaneously set to the elevation angles determined by the central processing unit 33 via 11.

Subsequently, in step SP14, the central processing unit 33 measures the signal strength of any one of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 individually supplied from the four planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 7. The selection information S12 is determined as the target of the antenna selection control device 32
Then, the antenna selection control device 32 receives the received broadcast signals individually supplied from the four planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 7 to the antenna selection control device 32 based on the selection information S12 output from the central processing unit 33. S4 ~
From S7, one reception broadcast signal determined by the central processing unit 33 as the target of signal strength measurement is switched by switching control and output to the transmission / reception device 34 as the reception broadcast signal S13 of the measurement target.

At the next step SP15, the transmission / reception device 34 enters the receiving state according to the reception switching information S14 output from the central processing unit 33, and the measurement object switched and output from the antenna selection control device 32 by the switching control. The received broadcast signal S13 is amplified and the received signal S15 to be measured is output to the received signal strength measuring device 35.

At this time, the received signal strength measuring device 35 outputs the received broadcast signal S1 output from the transmitting / receiving device 34 to be measured.
The signal strength of No. 5 is measured and the signal strength information S16 is output to the central processing unit 33.

Next, in step SP16, the central processing unit 33 outputs the signal strength information S16 and the selection information S12 of the reception radio wave S15 of the measurement target output from the reception signal strength measuring device 35, whereby the reception broadcast of the measurement target is obtained. As the signal S13, the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 switched by the switching control of the antenna selection control device 32.
One of the plane antennas 1 that has supplied the received broadcast signal
Data corresponding to the antenna numbers A1 to A4 assigned to 0 is stored, and the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 from all the planar antennas 10 are switched by the switching control of the antenna selection control device 32 to measure the signal strength. Then, four types of signal strength information S16 corresponding to the received broadcast signals S4 to S7
If four sets of data consisting of four types of antenna numbers A1 to A4 corresponding to the signal strength information S16 are obtained, it is determined that all the planar antennas 10 have been selected, and the process proceeds to the next step SP17.

On the other hand, if the above four sets of data have not been obtained, it is judged that all the plane antennas 10 have not been selected yet, and LOOP3 is entered, and at step SP18, the next plane antenna 10 is selected for reception. Received broadcast signal S1 to be measured next from broadcast signals S4 to S7
Select one new received broadcast signal to be 3 and select information S
12 is output to the antenna selection control device 32, and the selection information S
On the basis of 12, the antenna selection control device 32 switches one of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 by switching control so as to output to the transceiver device 34 as the next received broadcast signal S13 to be measured. Then, the process returns to step SP15, and then step SP15-S.
The process of P16-SP18 is repeated.

At step SP17, the central processing unit 33 causes the signal strength information S16 and the antenna numbers A1 to A4.
Based on the above four sets of data, the four signal strength information S15 are compared with each other, and one received broadcast signal of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 corresponding to the signal strength information S16 indicating the maximum signal strength is transmitted / received. 34 is determined as the received broadcast signal S13 having the maximum signal strength to be supplied to
12 is output to the antenna selection control device 32, and the signal strength determined by the central processing unit 33 by the antenna selection control device 32 is one of the received broadcast signals S4 to S7 based on the selection information S12. The maximum received broadcast signal S13 is switched by switching control and supplied to the transmitting / receiving apparatus 34, and then the memory of four sets of signal strength information S16 and antenna numbers A1 to A4 is cleared and the operation moves to step SP19. To finish.

In addition, the satellite communication ground terminal device 30 which is moving
Operates according to the antenna control processing procedure shown in FIG.

That is, in step SP21, the central processing unit 33 inputs the first positioning information S1 of the satellite communication ground terminal device 30 output from the positioning device 2 and stores the first latitude and longitude, and then, in the next step SP22. The second latitude / longitude is stored by inputting the second positioning information S1 of the satellite communication ground terminal device 30 output from the positioning device 2 after the time T seconds, and the first latitude / longitude and the second latitude / longitude are compared. By doing so, the traveling direction of the satellite communication ground terminal device 30 is determined, or the traveling direction is determined by the information from the direction sensor included in the positioning information S1.

At the next step SP23, the central processing unit 33 determines the above-mentioned traveling direction and the second positioning information S1.
And the direction in which the geostationary satellite is determined to be visible from the second latitude / longitude based on the geostationary satellite position information, the geostationary satellite is supplemented within a half-value angle of all the planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 7. The selection information S12 is used to determine which of the planar antennas 10 is operating and to output the received broadcast signal individually supplied from the planar antenna 10 to the transmission / reception device 34 as the received broadcast signal S13 having the maximum received signal strength. When output to the antenna selection control device 32, the antenna selection control device 32 switches the reception broadcast signals S4 to S7 by switching control based on the selection information S12 and individually receives the reception broadcast signals from the planar antenna 10. The received broadcast signal S with the maximum received signal strength
It is output as 13 to the transmission / reception device 34.

In step SP24, the central processing unit 3
3 calculates and determines the elevation angle to be given to all the planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 7 based on the second positioning information S1 and the position information of the geostationary satellite, and outputs the elevation angle information S2 to the elevation angle control device 5.

In step SP25, the elevation angle control device 5
Compares the current elevation angle of all the planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 7 with the elevation angle determined by the central processing unit 33 based on the elevation angle information S2 output from the central processing unit 33.

If there is a difference equal to or greater than a predetermined angle difference, the elevation angle control device 5 determines that the elevation angle needs to be changed, and the next step SP2.
6 By moving the operating rod 23 of the antenna device 7 in the vertical direction, the elevation angles of all the planar antennas 10 are simultaneously adjusted to the elevation angle determined by the central processing unit 33 via the link 22, the lever 21 and the antenna base 11. After setting, clear the memory of the first latitude and longitude and the second latitude and longitude, enter loop LOOP4 and return to step SP21,
Thereafter, steps SP21-SP22-SP-23-SP2
The process of 4-SP25 is repeated.

On the other hand, the current elevation angles of all the planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 7 are compared with the elevation angles determined by the central processing unit 33, and if the difference is within a predetermined angle difference, the elevation angle need not be changed. After that, the memory of the first latitude / longitude and the second latitude / longitude is cleared, the loop LOOP5 is entered, the process returns to step SP21, and the operation of each step described above is repeated.

According to the above configuration, the satellite communication ground terminal device 30 has the antenna device 7 that covers all the azimuth angles by using the four plane antennas 10 having the half-value angle of 90 °, and the positioning device during the stop. The central processing unit 33 calculates the elevation angle based on the positioning information S1 output from 2 and the elevation angle control unit 5 determines the elevation angle of the main beam pointing direction of the planar antenna 10 by the central processing unit 33. The received broadcast signals S4 to S7, which are mechanically simultaneously set to the determined elevation angle and are individually supplied from the four planar antennas 10, are transmitted and received by the transmitting and receiving device 34.
The signal strength is measured by the received signal strength measuring device 35 not having its own tuner section through the respective signals, and the signal strengths are compared by comparing the signal strengths obtained by the antenna selection control device 32. Supplies the maximum one received broadcast signal to the transmitter / receiver 34.

In addition, the satellite communication ground terminal device 30 which is moving
Indicates the traveling direction by inputting and comparing two pieces of positioning information S1 output from the positioning device 2 at a predetermined time interval T seconds before and after comparison or by the azimuth information from the azimuth sensor included in the positioning information S1. Based on the traveling direction and the direction of the geostationary satellite determined by the positioning information S1 of the latter and the position information of the geostationary satellite, the four planar antennas 10 of the antenna device 12 are within a half-value angle. The plane antenna 10 that supplements the geostationary satellite is determined and the plane antenna 1
The received broadcast signals individually supplied from 0 are supplied to the transmission / reception device 34 by switching by the switching control of the antenna selection control device 32.

Further, between the elevation angle calculated and determined by the central processing unit 33 on the basis of the latter positioning information S1 and the position information of the geostationary satellites and the current elevation angle of the directing directions of the main beams of the four planar antennas 10. If there is an angle difference of a predetermined angle or more, the operation of mechanically simultaneously setting the elevation angles of the main beam pointing directions of the four planar antennas 10 by the elevation angle control device 5 to the elevation angles determined by the central processing unit 33 is repeated. As a result, the geostationary satellite can be supplemented within the half-value angle of any of the planar antennas 10 of the antenna device at an appropriate elevation angle even when the antenna is stopped or moving.

Thus, the gain is remarkably larger than that when an omnidirectional antenna is used, and only the elevation angle is mechanically controlled as compared with the method of mechanically controlling both the elevation angle and the azimuth angle of one directional antenna. Since the setting is performed, the number of parts relying on mechanical operation is reduced, mechanically higher reliability can be realized, and a directional antenna control device having a simple configuration capable of more rapidly tracking can be realized.

In the above embodiment, the positioning device 2
The case where the elevation angle is determined by calculation by the central processing unit 3 (or 33) based on the positioning information S1 and the position information of the geostationary satellite output from the above has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the elevation angle is calculated beforehand based on the positioning information such as latitude and longitude and the position information of the geostationary satellite, and the table data in which the positioning information and the position information of the geostationary satellite and the elevation angle are associated with each other is stored in the storage device, and the central processing unit 3 ( Alternatively, 33) may determine the elevation angle by referring to the table data based on the positioning information S1 output from the positioning device 2.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case has been described in which one directional antenna has a half value angle of 90 ° and four directional antennas are arranged to cover all azimuth angles. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and all the azimuth angles may be covered by increasing or decreasing the number of directional antennas used according to the required gain.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, the elevation angles of the directional directions of the main beams of all the directional antennas of the antenna device are determined by the current position regardless of whether they are stopped or moving. Since the azimuth angle direction is determined by switching one reception broadcast signal among the reception broadcast signals individually output by all the directional antennas of the antenna device, both the elevation angle and the azimuth angle are determined. Co-mechanical control requires less mechanical reliance than tracking.

Therefore, the reliability is improved and the best reception or transmission state can be entered more quickly, and the directional antennas are arranged in a matrix so as to cover all directions, and each switch is switched. Compared to the method of tracking by tracking, a single directional antenna is required in the elevation angle direction, and therefore, a directional antenna control device that is much smaller and simpler and has a larger gain than a system using an omnidirectional antenna is provided. Can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a satellite communication ground terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of an antenna device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a planar antenna.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a planar antenna.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section and an operation of the antenna device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an antenna control processing procedure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a satellite communication ground terminal device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an antenna control processing procedure during a stop of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an antenna control processing procedure during movement according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 30 ... Satellite communication ground terminal device, 2 ... Positioning device,
3, 33 ... Central processing unit, 4, 31 ... Antenna control device, 5 ... Elevation angle control device, 6, 32 ... Antenna selection control device, 7 ... Antenna device, 8, 35 ... Received signal strength measurement Device, 9, 34 ... Transceiver device, 10 ... Planar antenna, S1 ... Positioning information, S2 ... Elevation information, S
3, S12 ... Selection information, S4 to S7 ... Received broadcast signal, S8 ... Received broadcast signal to be measured, S9 ... Received broadcast signal with maximum signal strength, S10 ... Receive tuning information, S
11, S16 ... Signal strength information, S13 ... Received broadcast signal having the maximum measurement target and / or signal strength, S14 ... Reception switching information.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masami Abe 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tracking type directional antenna control device for a ground terminal device of a mobile communication and broadcasting system using geostationary satellites, wherein a plurality of radio waves transmitted from the geostationary satellites are received and received signals are individually output. Antenna device having a directional antenna, positioning means for measuring the position of the antenna device and outputting positioning information, and the antenna based on the positioning information and the geostationary satellite position information output from the positioning means. Elevation angle determining means for determining the elevation angles of the directional directions of the main beams of all directional antennas of the device and outputting elevation angle information, and all the orientations of the antenna device based on the elevation angle information output from the elevation angle determining means. Angle control means for controlling the elevation angle of the directivity direction of the main beam of the directional antenna to the above-mentioned elevation angle, and all the directional antennas of the above antenna device Signal strength measuring means for measuring the signal strength of each received signal to be output to output signal strength information, and each received signal individually output by all the directional antennas of the antenna device for switching the signal strength measuring means. And / or switching means for outputting to the transmitting / receiving or receiving means, and based on the signal strength information output from the signal strength measuring means and / or the moving positioning information output from the positioning means and the position information of the geostationary satellite Among the reception signals individually output by all the directional antennas of the antenna device, the selection signal for switching the reception signal having the maximum signal strength by the switching means to be output to the transmission / reception or reception means is output. The optimum antenna determining means for controlling the main beam directivity of all the directional antennas of the antenna device. In the state where the elevation angle is 0 °, the gain exceeds 1 and is continuously equal to or higher than a predetermined gain, and is less than or equal to the angle between the two ends of the directional characteristic range including the directional direction of the main beam. The directional antennas of the antenna device are arranged so that all the azimuth angles can be covered by synthesizing the angles sandwiched by the two ends of the directional characteristics range of all the directional antennas in the azimuth direction. The elevation angle of the directional direction of the main beam of the directional antenna of the antenna device is controlled to the elevation angle by mechanically setting the elevation angle of the directional antenna of the antenna device by the elevation angle control means. A directional antenna control device characterized by the above.