JPH0683154B2 - Active array antenna transmission power inspection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a transmission power for checking the output of an element amplifier in an active array antenna in which a plurality of element antennas each containing an element amplifier are arranged. Regarding inspection device.

[Prior Art] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional active array antenna transmission power inspection device described in, for example, page 99 of the NARDA product catalog, where (1) indicates transmission. Machine, (2) feeding circuit, (3 ₁ ) (3 ₂ ) ... (3n) element amplifier, (4 ₁ ) (4 ₂ ) ... (4n) directional coupler, (5 ₁ )
(5 ₂₎ ... (5n) the element antenna, (6) is a detector.

Next, the operation will be described. The electromagnetic wave generated by the transmitter (1) is sent to the element amplifiers (3 ₁ ) (3 ₂ ) ... (3 n) which are distributed in the power feeding circuit (2) so as to have a predetermined amplitude and phase. The electromagnetic waves amplified here are directional couplers (4 ₁ )
(4 ₂ ) ... Element antenna (5 ₁ ) through the main line of (4 n)
It is sent to (5 ₂ )… (5 n) and radiated into space there. Since the coupled output of the element amplifiers (3 ₁ ) (3 ₂ ) ... (3n) appears at the coupling terminals of the directional couplers (4 ₁ ) (4 ₂ ) ... (4n),
Assuming that the degree of coupling is known, the transmitted power can be checked by the detectors (6) connected to their coupling terminals.

Further, as a conventional device for branching transmission power without using a directional coupler, there is one shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the antennas of antennas described on the pages 42 and 43 of the antenna catalog of TRANSCO, for example, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a case where an array antenna in which a large number of these antennas are arranged is constructed. is there. In the figure, (5) is a horn antenna which is an element antenna, (7) is a feeder line, (8) is a coupling output connector connected to a detector (6) (not shown), and (8a) is coupling It is a probe.

In this configuration, the electromagnetic wave sent from the transmitter is transmitted to the horn antenna (5) via the power supply line (7). If the direction of the electric field vector of the electromagnetic wave at this time is the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 6, the electromagnetic wave is coupled to the coupling probe (8a) inserted in the direction parallel to this, so that the coupling output connector (8 ), Part of the transmission power is taken out, and it is possible to check the output by reading this with a detector. This horn antenna (5) is the element antenna (5 ₁ )
Becomes (5 ₂₎ ..., as shown in FIG. 7 when arranged as (5n). That is, the antennas (5 ₁ ) (5 ₂ ) ... (5 n) of the elements are arranged in a straight line at the element spacing d, and the power supply connectors (5 a ₁ ) (5 a ₁ )
a ₂ ) ... (5an) is not shown in the figure. Feed line (7 ₁ ) (7 ₂ ) ... (7
n), the output connectors (8 ₁ ) (8 ₂ ) ... (8 n) are connected to a detector (6) not shown via feed lines (9 ₁ ) (9 ₂ ) ... (9 n), respectively. .

In the array antenna, the optimal element spacing d of the array is determined from the design target value of the shape of the radiation pattern and the gain. It is not preferable to design the element spacing d to be larger than the permissible value because an unnecessary beam is generated and the gain is lowered.

When the element antenna is a horn antenna of a guiding tube system, its fundamental mode cutoff frequency fc is related to the waveguide H surface width a, so that the waveguide H surface width a becomes It is required to be above a certain allowable value. In order to satisfy both this condition and the condition for the above-mentioned allowable maximum value of the element spacing d, the array direction of the antennas is aligned with the E-plane direction of the waveguide as shown in FIG. Therefore coupling the output connector ₍₈₁₎ becomes ₍₈₂₎ ... that the projecting direction of the (8n) coincides with the array direction of the array antenna, which height, the feed line (9 ₁₎ (9 ₂₎ ... ( It is necessary to secure a space h for the wiring 9n) in the arrangement direction.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional array antenna transmission power inspection device is configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 5, the directional couplers (4 ₁ ) (4 ₂ ) ... ( 4n), the same number of directional couplers as element antennas are always incorporated,
Even during normal operation in which output inspection is not required, the loss due to these is added as a power feeding loss, which causes a problem that the gain of the array antenna is reduced and the device becomes large-scale and expensive. In addition, in the case of using the combined output connectors (8 ₁ ) (8 ₂ ) ... (8 n) as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in addition to the above problems, there is a space for mounting the combined output connectors. Since it is necessary to secure h in the array direction, there is a problem in that the element spacing d is increased to a value larger than an allowable value which is not preferable in terms of radiation pattern and gain.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is possible to easily check the transmission power without increasing the size of the array antenna or deteriorating the basic performance such as the radiation pattern and the gain. The purpose is to obtain a transmission power inspection device for an active array antenna that can be used in

[Means for Solving the Problems] A transmission power inspection apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of conductors, one end of which faces each element antenna and the other end of which is provided with an output connector. An inspection waveguide device composed of a wave guide line is detachably attached to the radiation surface of the array antenna, and the inspection output is taken out from the output connector.

[Operation] In the present invention, the inspection waveguide device is mounted on the array antenna radiation surface only during transmission power inspection, and electromagnetic waves radiated from each element antenna enter each of the waveguide lines facing it, and If necessary, attenuate it appropriately to a power level that can be measured with a general-purpose measuring instrument, take it out from the output connector, and measure the transmission power with the detector. Since the inspection waveguide device including these waveguides is removed except during inspection, this does not deteriorate the basic performance of the array antenna.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the (5), the element antenna respectively is horn antenna (5 ₁₎ (5 ₂₎ ‥ (5i) ‥ (5n) Array antennas arranged and arranged, (10 ₁ ) (10 ₂ ) (10i) (10n) are waveguide lines whose one ends separated by conductor partition walls face each element antenna, (11 ₁ ) (11 ₂ ) (11i) (11n) are output connectors provided at the other end of each waveguide line, and (12) is
The inspection waveguide device constituted by the waveguide lines (10 ₁ ) (10 ₂ ) ... (10i) .. (10n), and (13) the heat radiation provided on the outer wall of the inspection waveguide device (12). The fins (14) are attachment fittings for detachably attaching the inspection waveguide device (12) to the radiation surface of the array antenna (5).

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of the i-th waveguide line (10i) viewed from FIG. 3 II-II, and FIG. 3 is FIG. 2 III-I.
2 is a plan sectional view of the same as seen from II. In the figure, (15)
Is an electromagnetic wave absorber that acts as an attenuator, (16a) (16b)
Is a ridge for converting the TE ₁₀ mode of the waveguide line to the TEM mode of the coaxial line, and (17) is a pseudo TEM mode for connecting the ridge (16b) and the inner conductor of the output connector (11i). Inner conductors of the line portion, (18i _-1 ) (18i), are conductor partition walls separating the adjacent waveguide lines (10i _-1 ) (10i ₊₁ ). The element antenna (5i) is connected to the i-th element amplifier (not shown), and the output connector (11i) is connected to a detector (not shown) which is a general-purpose power measuring instrument. .

Next, the operation will be described. The array antenna (5) is used by removing the inspection waveguide device (12) from the radiation surface of the array antenna (5) by using the mounting bracket (14) during normal use.
When the output inspection is required, the inspection waveguide device (12) is attached by the mounting metal fittings (14) as shown in the figure. Then, when the transmitter is operated, the electromagnetic wave amplified by the element amplifier and reaching the opening of the element antenna (5i) is guided to the waveguide line (10i) in the inspection waveguide device (12) facing this. Incident. Since the electromagnetic wave absorber (15) is mounted on the E-plane wall of the waveguide line (10i), the incident electromagnetic wave is gradually attenuated as it propagates in the direction of the arrow, while the ridge waveguide section and the pseudo TEM line are being attenuated. To reach the output connector (11i). Output connector for power reaching here (11i)
The amount of attenuation determined by the shape of the electromagnetic wave absorber (14) is set to keep it below the maximum input power of a general-purpose measuring instrument for power measurement, which is the detector connected to, but in order to dissipate the heat generated in this part. A heat dissipation fin (1
3) is provided.

In the above embodiment, the electromagnetic wave absorber (15) and the heat radiation fin (13) are provided, but they may be omitted if they are not necessarily required due to the difference in the output of the element amplifier and the inspection method. It is possible.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case of the waveguide array antenna is explained, but as shown in FIG. 4, it can be applied to the output inspection of the active array antenna of other methods such as the dipole array antenna. . That is, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of another embodiment of the present invention.
9) is a dipole array antenna, and each element antenna is composed of a dipole. The inspection waveguide device (12)
Is a space for propagating electromagnetic waves radiated from each element antenna of the dipole array antenna (19) separated by a conductive partition, a check dipole (20) coupled to this electromagnetic wave, and an output connector ( 21).

As described above, according to the present invention, since the inspection waveguide device is detachably attached to the active array antenna radiation surface, the inspection waveguide device can be used only when inspection is required. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of the basic performance, which is a problem in the method of incorporating the antenna device itself, and it is possible to construct the entire device at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an internal structure of a waveguide line which is a part of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view thereof. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a transmission power inspection apparatus for a conventional active array antenna, and FIG. 6 is another conventional example. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an element antenna used in FIG. 7, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a case where the element antenna is used to form an array antenna. (5) is the array antenna, (5 ₁ ) (5 ₂ ) ... (5n) is the element antenna, (10 ₁ ) (10 ₂ ) ... (10n) is the waveguide line, (11 ₁ )
(11 ₂ ) ... (11 n) is an output connector, (12) is a waveguide device for inspection, (13) is a radiation fin, (14) is a mounting bracket,
(15) is an electromagnetic wave absorber, (18i) (18i _-1 ) is a conductor partition,
(19) is a dipole array antenna, (20) is an inspection dipole, and (21) is an output connector. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A radiation surface of an active array antenna having a plurality of element antennas arranged, one end of which faces each element antenna, and the other end of which is provided with an output connector.
An active array antenna transmission characterized in that a check waveguide device, which is composed of a plurality of waveguide lines separated by conductor partition walls, is detachably attached and the check output is taken out from the output connector. Power check device. 2. The active type according to claim 1, wherein the inspection waveguide device is provided with a radiation fin on the outside and an electromagnetic wave absorber for attenuation in each of the internal waveguide lines. Array antenna transmission power inspection device. 3. The antennas of the respective elements are fan-shaped horns, the waveguide line is provided with a ridge waveguide section for converting a TE mode electromagnetic wave into a TEM mode electromagnetic wave, and the output connector is coaxial. The transmission power inspection device for an active array antenna according to claim 1 or 2, which is a wire connector. 4. The antenna of each element is a dipole antenna element, and each of the waveguide lines is provided with a space for propagating the electromagnetic wave from each of the dipole antenna elements and a check dipole coupled to the electromagnetic wave. The active array antenna transmission power inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output connector is connected to each of the inspection dipoles.