JPH10282215A - Active phased array radar system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an active phase array radar system provided with such function as protecting an active phased array antenna module (active module) by monitoring a cooling liquid. SOLUTION: At a pressure abnormality detector 14, the pressure measured with a flow-in pressure sensor 13 installed at an inlet of circulation circuit 5 for cooling liquid is compared with a pre-set reference pressure, and when such high pressure abnormality as leading to destruction of an active module 3 is detected, the amount of cooling liqiud flowing into an opening part 2 is limited by a cooling liquid input controller 15. Thus, bursting of the circulation channel 5 for cooling liquid is prevented for protecting the active modules.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an active phased device which circulates a cooling liquid supplied from an external cooling device without having a cooling device in order to reduce the size and weight of the device, such as for an aircraft. The present invention relates to an active phased array radar device having a function of cooling an array antenna module (hereinafter, referred to as an active module).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional active phased array radar device. In the figure, 1 is an antenna, 2 is an opening, 3 is an active module, 4 is a beam controller, 5 is a coolant circulation path, 6 is an excitation receiver,
7 is a signal processor unit, 8 is a power supply unit, 9 is a temperature sensor, 10
Denotes a temperature abnormality detector, 11 denotes an opening power supply controller, and 12 denotes a transmission signal output controller.

Next, the operation will be described. The opening 2 in the antenna unit 1 is composed of a number of active modules 3, each of which includes a phase shifter and an amplifier, amplifies the transmission signal sent from the excitation receiver unit 6, and controls the beam. The transmission radio wave is emitted by changing the phase shift according to the information from the device 4. The beam controller 4 determines the direction in which the transmission radio wave is radiated based on the information sent from the signal processing unit 7,
Control of the phase shifter and transmission start / stop of the transmission radio wave. In the active phased array radar device, since the power handled by each active module 3 is relatively small, semiconductors are used for internal phase shifters and amplifiers, and the heat generated by each active module 3 is Few. However, the opening 2 composed of many active modules 3 generates a large amount of heat,
The active module 3 may be broken by heat. In order to prevent this, the conventional active phased array radar device has a structure in which a coolant is circulated in the opening 2 and cools the opening 2 by receiving a supply of the coolant from an external cooling device. The coolant circulation path 5 is provided in contact with the active module 3 and indirectly cools the active module 3 using heat conduction.
The excitation receiver unit 6 generates a transmission signal suitable for detecting a target and measuring a distance, and supplies the transmission signal to the active module 3 in the opening 2. Further, it amplifies the received signal obtained from the antenna unit 1 and converts it to a frequency band that can be processed by the signal processor unit 7 at the same time. The signal processor unit 7 extracts a signal necessary for target detection and distance measurement from unnecessary signals such as noise. Power supply unit 8
Supplies power to each part of the radar device. Temperature sensor 9
Is attached in contact with the active module 3 in the opening 2, and outputs the temperature of the active module 3 to the temperature abnormality detector 10. The temperature abnormality detector 10 detects a temperature abnormality based on the output of the temperature sensor 9, supplies power to the power supply unit 8 to the opening 2, and outputs a transmission signal to the excitation receiver unit 6 to the opening 2. Ban.

[0004]

The conventional active phased array radar device is configured as described above.
The active module 3 is cooled by receiving only the coolant from the external cooling device and circulating the coolant in the circulation path 5 of the coolant. Therefore, there is a problem that even if an abnormality occurs in the coolant, it cannot be detected.

An object of the present invention is to provide a function for monitoring an abnormality of a coolant in order to solve such a problem, thereby protecting an active module when an abnormality occurs in the coolant.

[0006]

An active phased array radar device according to a first aspect of the present invention measures the inflow pressure of a coolant using a pressure sensor and a coolant pressure abnormality detector attached to an inlet of a coolant circulation path. If a high pressure abnormality that could lead to the destruction of the active module is detected,
It has a function of restricting the amount of coolant flowing into the opening.

Further, in the active phased array radar device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the pressure difference between the input and output of the coolant is detected by the pressure sensors and the coolant pressure abnormality detector attached to the inlet and the outlet of the coolant circulation path. It has the function of prohibiting output of a transmission signal and power supply to the active module when measuring and detecting a low pressure abnormality.

Further, the active phased array radar device according to the third invention has a function of correcting a temperature error of the pressure sensor by using a pressure corrector.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
It is exactly the same as a phased array radar device. 13 is an inflow pressure sensor attached to the inlet of the coolant circulation path 5, 14 is a coolant pressure abnormality detector that detects coolant pressure abnormality, and 15 is a coolant that limits the amount of coolant flowing into the opening. It is an input controller.

In the active phased array radar device configured as described above, the pressure when the coolant flows into the circulation path is measured by the coolant pressure abnormality detector 14 through the inflow pressure sensor 13. Coolant pressure abnormality detector 14
Compares the pressure Pi measured by the inflow pressure sensor 13 with a preset reference input pressure Pr, and performs an operation of Equation 1 to detect an abnormal input pressure of the coolant.

[0011]

(Equation 1)

If the result of the calculation of the equation (1) is positive, the coolant circulation path 5 may be ruptured by the high pressure and the active module 3 may be damaged. Notify the input controller 15. The coolant input controller 15 receives this and limits the amount of coolant flowing into the opening 2. By restricting the amount of the inflowing liquid, the hydraulic pressure is reduced and the rupture of the coolant circulation path 5 is prevented.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 to 15 are exactly the same as the radar device shown in the first embodiment. Reference numeral 16 denotes an outflow pressure sensor attached to the outlet of the coolant circulation path 5.

In the radar device configured as described above,
The pressure of the coolant is measured by the coolant pressure abnormality detector 14 through two pressure sensors. The coolant pressure abnormality detector 14 is
The difference between the pressure Pi measured by the inflow pressure sensor 13 and the pressure Po measured by the outflow pressure sensor 16 is calculated as a value P
d is compared with a preset reference differential pressure Pb, and the low pressure abnormality of the coolant is detected by performing the calculation of Expression 2.

[0015]

(Equation 2)

If the result of the calculation of Equation 2 is negative, it is expected that the coolant does not circulate normally due to liquid leakage or an abnormality of the external cooling device. If radio wave radiation is continued in a state where the coolant does not circulate normally, a predetermined cooling effect cannot be obtained and the opening 2 becomes high temperature, and the active module 3 may be destroyed by the heat. 1
4 transmits the pressure abnormality to the opening power controller 11 and the transmission signal output controller 12. In response to this, the opening power controller 11 informs the power supply unit 8 of the prohibition of power supply to the opening 2, and the transmission signal output controller 12 prohibits the excitation receiver unit 6 from outputting the transmission signal to the opening 2. Tell The active module 3 is suppressed from generating heat by stopping the supply of the power and the transmission signal, and is prevented from being damaged by the heat.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 to 16 are exactly the same as the radar apparatus shown in the second embodiment. A pressure corrector 17 corrects a temperature error of the pressure sensor. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a change in pressure sensor output with temperature.

In the active phased array radar device configured as described above, the inflow pressure sensor is based on the temperature characteristic data of the pressure sensor prepared in advance and the temperature of the active module 3 measured by the temperature abnormality detector 10. Correcting the outputs of the pressure sensor 13 and the outflow pressure sensor 16 enables more accurate measurement of the coolant pressure. When a pressure sensor having the characteristics shown in FIG. 4 is used, the true pressure Pt of the coolant can be obtained by performing the calculation of Equation 3. Where P
m is the output of the pressure sensor, Ks is the temperature coefficient when the temperature of the active module is T, and Ko is the offset value.

[0019]

(Equation 3)

[0020]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the high pressure abnormality when the coolant flows into the circulation path is detected, and the inflow of the coolant is restricted. And breakage due to coolant leakage.

According to the second aspect of the invention, by detecting the low pressure abnormality of the coolant and prohibiting the power supply to the opening and the output of the transmission signal, it is possible to prevent the active module from being thermally damaged due to insufficient cooling. it can.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, by correcting the temperature error of the pressure sensor, accurate pressure detection can be performed without depending on a change in the ambient temperature.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing Embodiment 1 of an active phased array radar device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing Embodiment 2 of an active phased array radar device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing Embodiment 3 of an active phased array radar device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a change in pressure sensor output with temperature.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional active phased array radar device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 antenna, 2 opening, 3 active module, 4 beam controller, 5 coolant circulation path, 6 excitation receiver section, 7 signal processor section, 8 power supply section, 9 temperature sensor, 10 temperature abnormality detector, 11 opening power controller,
12 transmission signal output controller, 13 inflow pressure sensor, 1
4 Coolant pressure abnormality detector, 15 Coolant input controller, 1
6 Outflow pressure sensor, 17 Pressure compensator.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A multi-stage active phased array.
An antenna unit having an opening configured by an antenna module, a beam controller for controlling the transmission direction of radio waves, and a circulation path for circulating a coolant from outside to cool the opening, and generating a transmission signal; An excitation receiver that amplifies received signals and converts the frequency, a signal processor that extracts signals necessary for target detection and ranging from received radio waves, a power supply that supplies power to each device, and an active phased A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the array / antenna module,
A temperature abnormality detector that detects abnormal temperature, an inflow pressure sensor that measures the inflow pressure of the coolant, a coolant pressure abnormality detector that detects an abnormality in the coolant pressure based on the output of the inflow pressure sensor, An active phased array radar device comprising: a coolant input controller for controlling an input of the coolant. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of active phased arrays are
An antenna unit having an opening configured by an antenna module, a beam controller for controlling the transmission direction of radio waves, and a circulation path for circulating a coolant from outside to cool the opening, and generating a transmission signal; An excitation receiver that amplifies received signals and converts the frequency, a signal processor that extracts signals necessary for target detection and ranging from received radio waves, a power supply that supplies power to each device, and an active phased A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the array / antenna module,
A temperature abnormality detector that detects abnormal temperature, an inflow pressure sensor that measures the inflow pressure of the coolant, an outflow pressure sensor that measures the outflow pressure of the coolant, and outputs of these inflow pressure sensors and outflow pressure sensors An active phased array radar device comprising: a coolant pressure abnormality detector for detecting a coolant pressure abnormality; and a coolant input controller for controlling the coolant input. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of active phased arrays are provided.
An antenna unit having an opening configured by an antenna module, a beam controller for controlling the transmission direction of radio waves, and a circulation path for circulating a coolant from outside to cool the opening, and generating a transmission signal; An excitation receiver that amplifies received signals and converts the frequency, a signal processor that extracts signals necessary for target detection and ranging from received radio waves, a power supply that supplies power to each device, and an active phased A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the array / antenna module,
A temperature abnormality detector that detects abnormal temperature, an inflow pressure sensor that measures the inflow pressure of the coolant, an outflow pressure sensor that measures the outflow pressure of the coolant, and outputs of these inflow pressure sensors and outflow pressure sensors A coolant pressure abnormality detector for detecting a coolant pressure abnormality based on the coolant pressure, a coolant input controller for controlling the coolant input, and a pressure correction for correcting a temperature error between the inflow pressure sensor and the outflow pressure sensor. An active phased array radar device comprising: