JPH11266213A - Radio equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To monitor faults not only for a transmission part but also for the transmission route of the transmission waves of a transmission antenna or the like. SOLUTION: Radio waves due to the creeping of the radio waves emitted from the transmission antenna 7 are received by a reception antenna 8 for checking, the power of the reception signals is converted into a DC voltage in a diode 9, and the voltage level is monitored in a first monitoring circuit 10. By monitoring whether or not a reception signal level is within a prescribed threshold range, the normality/abnormality of the transmission level of the transmission part, the transmission antenna and the transmission line of the transmission waves, etc., can be found.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless device, and more particularly to a wireless device.
The present invention relates to a wireless device having a self-diagnosis function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a railway or the like, a radio device is used to transmit various information for operation management, operation guidance, traveling control and the like between a vehicle and the ground. For example, in recent years, a transmitter / receiver (interrogator) for transmitting question information to the ground side has been provided. On the vehicle side, question information from the transmitter / receiver on the ground side has been received and corresponding response information has been returned to the ground side. A transmission / reception device (a transponder) is provided, and when a train passes, an interrogator on the ground emits an interrogation wave, and a corresponding response wave is emitted from the transponder that has received the interrogator. In this way, various types of information are transmitted between the transmitting and receiving devices on the ground and on the vehicle, thereby controlling the operation of the train. In some cases, an interrogator is mounted on the upper side of the vehicle and a transponder is installed on the ground side.

In railway equipment, safety is considered to be extremely important. Therefore, radio equipment for transmitting information necessary for control of train operation management and the like is required to have high reliability, and self-diagnosis for failure monitoring is required. Function is required.

[0004]

However, as a conventional self-diagnosis function of a wireless device such as a transmitting device or a transmitting / receiving device, monitoring the transmission output level of the transmitting unit is usually performed. Nothing diagnosed everything up to the receiving function, including the antenna connected to the connector. Therefore, for example, when the connector is disconnected, a problem occurs such that a normal signal is not transmitted from the antenna even if the transmission unit is normal. In the transmitting / receiving device, it was not possible to determine whether the received wave was received normally.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a radio apparatus having a transmission function capable of performing self-diagnosis of a transmission antenna. It is another object of the present invention to provide a wireless device having a transmission / reception function capable of performing a self-diagnosis of everything from a transmission unit to a reception function including an antenna.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a transmitting unit for generating a transmission signal of a predetermined level and a transmitting antenna for radiating the transmission signal from the transmitting unit to the outside are provided. In the wireless device provided, a check receiving antenna that is installed near the transmission antenna and receives a wraparound signal of a transmission signal radiated from the transmission antenna, and determines whether a reception signal level of the reception antenna is a normal level. And a first monitoring means for monitoring.

In such a configuration, when a transmission wave is radiated from the transmission antenna, the transmission wave is received by the check reception antenna due to the wraparound (isolation) of the transmission wave. The first monitoring means monitors whether the reception signal level of the check receiving antenna is at a normal level. If the level is normal, it can be determined that the transmitting unit and the transmitting antenna are normal.

[0008] Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a second monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the output level of the transmission signal of the transmission section is at a normal level. In such a configuration, the transmission output level of the transmission unit is monitored by the second monitoring unit, so that the abnormality of the transmission unit and the transmission antenna can be identified and determined. Further, it is preferable that the apparatus further includes a first determination unit that determines a failure based on both outputs of the first monitoring unit and the second monitoring unit.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a transmitting unit for generating a transmission signal of a predetermined level, a transmitting antenna for radiating the transmitting signal from the transmitting unit to the outside, and a receiving antenna close to the transmitting antenna are provided. A radio unit having a transmission / reception function, comprising: a reception unit that receives a reception signal of the reception antenna and performs an external transmission information extraction process; and an information processing unit that processes the external transmission information extracted by the reception unit. And a first monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a wraparound signal level received from the transmitting antenna and received by the receiving antenna is a normal level.

With this configuration, it is possible to diagnose the transmitting antenna, the receiving antenna, and the transmitting unit based on the monitoring result of the first monitoring unit. In addition, as described in claim 5, it is preferable to include the second monitoring means according to claim 2.
With this configuration, it is possible to identify an abnormality between the transmitting unit and the antenna unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a check data transmitting antenna, a control operation of transmitting check data from the check data transmitting antenna, and a reception detection signal of external transmission information from the information processing section are performed. The information processing unit may include a control unit that stops the check data transmission operation when input, and a third monitoring unit that monitors whether the check data is normally received by the information processing unit.

With this configuration, it is possible to monitor all failures from the transmission unit to the reception function including the antenna unit. As the check data transmission antenna, a check data dedicated antenna arranged close to the reception antenna may be used as described in claim 7, and an existing antenna may be used as described in claim 8. May be used. If an existing transmitting antenna is used, the number of components can be reduced.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus including the first monitoring means and the second monitoring means includes a first determination means for performing a failure determination based on each monitoring output of the two monitoring means. It is good to configure. According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus including the first monitoring unit and the third monitoring unit includes a second determination unit that performs a failure determination based on each monitoring output of both the monitoring units. Good.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus provided with the first monitoring means, the second monitoring means, and the third monitoring means, a failure determination is performed based on each monitoring output of the three monitoring means. It is preferable to include a third determination unit that performs the above.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a switch is provided that can switch on / off each output of the first monitoring means, the second monitoring means, and the third monitoring means.

With this configuration, it is possible to specify a part to be monitored and perform a failure monitoring.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a wireless device having a transmission function according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a transmission device 1 of the present embodiment includes a transmission unit 4 including an oscillator 2 that generates a high-frequency transmission wave and an amplifier 3 that amplifies the transmission wave from the oscillator 2, and a transmission unit 4 formed on a substrate 5. A transmitting antenna 7 connected to the transmitting unit 4 by a connector 6;
A check receiving antenna 8 for receiving a radio wave due to a wraparound (ansoration) of a transmission wave radiated from the transmitting antenna 7, a diode 9 for converting the power of a signal received by the receiving antenna 8 into a DC voltage, It comprises a first monitor circuit 10 as first monitoring means for monitoring a DC voltage level, a power supply unit 11 for supplying power to the transmission unit 4 and the first monitor circuit 10, and a radome 12 for accommodating these devices. It is configured.

The transmitting antenna 7 is a microstrip antenna (MSA) made of, for example, a copper foil in a circular shape, and the wiring from the connector 6 is soldered through the through hole on the upper side in the figure to be electrically connected. You. 13 is a soldering part. The first monitor circuit 10 compares the input DC voltage level with a predetermined threshold based on the distance between the transmitting antenna 7 and the receiving antenna 8 for checking, the output level of the transmitting wave, and the like, and determines that the input voltage level is a predetermined value. It monitors whether it is within the threshold range.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. A high-frequency transmission wave is generated from the oscillator 2, amplified to a predetermined level by the amplifier 3, transmitted from the transmission unit 4 to the transmission antenna 7 via the connector 6, and radiated to the outside from the transmission antenna 7. . When the transmission wave is radiated, a wraparound phenomenon (isolation) of the radio wave occurs, and a part thereof is received by the check receiving antenna 8. The transmission wave received by the check receiving antenna 8 is converted into a DC voltage by the diode 9 and input to the first monitor circuit 10. First
The monitor circuit 10 compares the input voltage with upper and lower thresholds set in advance, and if the input voltage level falls within the upper and lower thresholds, the transmission from the transmission unit 4 and the transmission from the transmission unit to the transmission antenna 7 is performed. It is determined that all of the path and the transmitting antenna 7 are normal, and a monitoring output indicating normal is generated. When the input voltage level is lower than the lower threshold, it is determined that there is an abnormality in any of the transmission unit 4, the transmission path from the transmission unit to the transmission antenna 7, and the transmission antenna 7, and a monitoring output indicating a failure is generated. If the input voltage level is larger than the upper threshold, it can be understood that there is noise from an unnecessary radio wave transmission source near the transmitting device 1.

According to the transmitting apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, not only the transmitting unit 4 but also any of the transmitting unit 4, the transmitting antenna 7, and the transmission path from the transmitting unit 4 to the transmitting antenna 7 may have a failure. For example, an abnormality can be known from the monitoring output from the first monitor circuit 10. In the first embodiment, it is not possible to specify where in the transmission path from the transmission unit to the transmission antenna has failed, but the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
According to the embodiment, it is possible to specify a failure location.

That is, in the second embodiment shown in FIG.
In addition to the monitor circuit 10, a monitor circuit for monitoring an abnormality of the transmission unit 4 itself is provided. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 2, a transmission device 20 of the present embodiment includes, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a diode 21 that converts the power of the transmission wave output from the transmission unit 4 into a DC voltage,
A second monitor circuit 22 as second monitoring means for monitoring the DC voltage level from the first and second monitor circuits 10 and 2 based on respective outputs of the first and second monitor circuits 10 and 22;
And a determination unit 23 as a first determination unit that generates a determination output corresponding to the monitoring output from the control unit 2.

The second monitor circuit 22 compares the preset upper and lower thresholds with the input DC voltage level based on the preset output level range of the transmission wave, and determines whether the input voltage level is equal to the upper and lower limits. It is monitored whether it is within the threshold range. In such a configuration, when the monitor output of the first monitor circuit 10 indicates normal and the monitor output of the second monitor circuit 22 indicates abnormality, the determination unit 23 generates a determination output indicating a failure of the transmission unit 4. Conversely, when the monitor output of the first monitor circuit 10 indicates an abnormality and the monitor output of the second monitor circuit 22 indicates a normal, the determination unit 23 generates a determination output indicating a failure of the transmission antenna 7. . When both the monitor circuits 10 and 22 generate a monitoring output indicating an abnormality, a determination output indicating that both the transmitting unit 4 and the transmitting antenna 7 are out of order is generated.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the transmitting unit 4
It is possible to know where on the transmission path from the transmission antenna 7 the failure has occurred. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
A changeover switch SW1 capable of switching the output terminal of
If the SW2 is provided, it is possible to individually perform a failure check, for example, at the time of maintenance or the like. Normally, the changeover switches SW1 and SW2 are
Connected to the side. In the figure, OUT1, OUT2
Indicates an output terminal from which a monitoring output can be individually taken out.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a first embodiment of a wireless device having a transmitting / receiving function according to the present invention. 3, a transmitting / receiving device 30 of the present embodiment includes a transmitting unit 33 including an oscillator 31 and an amplifier 32, and a transmitting antenna 36 formed on a substrate 34 and connected to the transmitting unit 33 by a connector 35. A reception antenna 37 formed on the substrate 34, a reception unit 39 connected to the reception antenna 37 via the connector 38, a data processing unit 44 as an information processing unit for processing data received from the reception unit 39, A diode 45 for converting the power of the received signal transmitted from the receiving antenna 37 to the receiving unit 39 into a DC voltage, a first monitor circuit 46 as first monitoring means for monitoring the DC voltage level from the diode 45, The apparatus 30 includes a power supply unit 47 that supplies power to each unit inside the device 30 and a radome 48 that houses these devices. The components from the transmission section 33 to the transmission antenna 36 are the same as those described in the first and second embodiments.

The receiving antenna 37 is connected to the transmitting antenna 3
6 is a copper foil microstrip antenna (MSA) formed in the same manner as 6, and a wiring from a connector 38 is soldered on the upper surface side in the figure through a through hole. The receiver 39 includes an amplifier 40 for amplifying a received signal, and an amplifier 40.
41 that multiplies the amplified signal from the transmitter and the transmitted signal from the transmitter 31 of the transmitting unit 33 to extract a received signal, an amplifier 42 that amplifies the received signal from the mixer 41, and a signal that is received from the amplifier 42. And a demodulation unit 43 that performs demodulation processing and outputs the data to the data processing unit 44.

The first monitor circuit 46 includes a transmitting antenna 36
Of the radio wave generated based on the distance between the antenna and the receiving antenna 37, the output level of the transmission wave, etc. (isolation)
According to the level, a preset threshold range is compared with an input DC voltage level, and it is monitored whether or not the input voltage level is within a predetermined threshold range. The transmission / reception device 30 of the present embodiment has, for example, a function as an interrogator, and radiates an interrogation wave from the transmission antenna 36 at the time of passing the train, for example, to the transponder 50 installed on the ground and mounted on the train side. Then, the terminal acts as a terminal device that receives a response wave from the transponder 50 by the receiving antenna 37, processes the response data, and transmits the processed response data to a central command room (not shown).

Next, the operation will be described. A high-frequency transmission wave is generated from the oscillator 31, amplified to a predetermined level by the amplifier 32, and transmitted at a predetermined level from the transmission unit 33 to the transmission antenna 36 and radiated to the outside. When the transmission wave is radiated, a wraparound phenomenon (isolation) of the radio wave occurs, a part of the signal is received by the reception antenna 37, and the reception signal is converted into a DC voltage by the diode 45 and input to the first monitor circuit 46. . The first monitor circuit 46 compares the input voltage with preset upper and lower thresholds, and if the input voltage level is within the upper and lower threshold ranges, the transmitting unit 33, the transmitting antenna 36, and the receiving antenna 37. It is determined that all of the transmission paths up to this point are normal, and a monitoring output indicating normality is generated. If the input voltage level is lower than the lower threshold, it is determined that there is an abnormality somewhere in the transmission path, and a monitoring output indicating a failure is generated. When the input voltage level is larger than the upper threshold, it is understood that external noise exists.

By constantly generating a transmission wave from the transmission / reception device 30, it is possible to know whether or not a response wave from the transponder 50 is in a receivable state, thereby improving safety in train operation management. it can. A transmission / reception device 60 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 includes, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a diode 61 that converts transmission wave power from the transmission unit 33 into a DC voltage, and a DC voltage level from the diode 61. A second monitor circuit 62 as a second monitoring means for monitoring the abnormality of the transmission unit 33 by monitoring the
6 and a determination unit 63 as first determination means for performing a failure determination based on each monitoring output of the second monitor circuit 62. Note that the second monitor circuit 62 has the same configuration as the second monitor circuit 22 in FIG. 2, and a description thereof will be omitted.

According to the transmission / reception device 60 having such a configuration, the failure of the transmission unit 33 can be known from the monitoring output from the second monitor circuit 62. Therefore, based on the determination output of the determination unit 63, it is possible to specify whether the failure is the transmission unit 33 or the transmission path from the connector 35 to the transmission antenna, the reception antenna unit 33, and the connector 38. Also in the case of this embodiment, if the switches SW1 and SW2 capable of switching the output terminals of the respective monitor circuits 10 and 22 are provided, the switches SW1 and SW2 are connected to the output terminals O.
By appropriately switching and connecting to UT1 and OUT2, a failure check can be individually performed at the time of maintenance or the like.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment. The transmission / reception device 70 of the present embodiment is configured so that the reception unit 39 and the data processing unit 44 can be further monitored. Note that the same parts as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 5, a transmitting / receiving device 70 of the present embodiment includes:
In addition to the configuration of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a transmission antenna 71 dedicated to check data transmission for transmitting check data to the reception antenna 37 is provided near the reception antenna 37, A check data transmission unit 72 for transmitting a signal of check data, a control unit 73 for controlling data transmission of the check data transmission unit 72, and monitoring whether the reception unit 39 and the data processing unit 44 are normal. Third monitor circuit 74 as third monitoring means
And a judging unit 7 as a third judging means for judging a failure based on each output of the first to third monitor circuits 46, 62, 74.
5 is provided.

The control unit 73 normally transmits check data continuously or at predetermined intervals from the check data transmission unit 72, receives a response wave from the transponder 50, and receives normal data from the data processing unit 44. When the reception detection signal is input, the check data transmission unit 72 is configured to stop the check data transmission operation. Next, the operation will be described.

First monitor circuit 46 and second monitor circuit 6
Operation 2 is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. In the transmitting / receiving device 70, when a response wave from the transponder 50 is not received, check data is generated from the check data transmitting unit 72 based on a control command from the control unit 73, and the transmitting antenna 71 The check data is transmitted to the receiving antenna 37. The check data received by the receiving antenna 37 is transmitted to the data processing unit 44 via the receiving unit 39. Data processing unit 4
Reference numeral 4 determines whether the data is check data or regular received data. If the data is check data, the control unit 73 instructs the control unit 73 to continue transmission control of the check data. If the check data has been reliably received, the third monitor circuit 74 outputs a signal indicating that the data has been received to the third monitor circuit 74, and the third monitor circuit 74 monitors the normal state. The output is output to the determination unit 75.

According to this configuration, it is possible to monitor in advance whether the receiving unit 39 and the data processing unit 44 are operating normally based on the monitoring output of the third monitor circuit 74 by the receiving operation of the check data. become able to. Therefore, in the configuration of the third embodiment, the transmitting / receiving device 70
In all of the transmission system and the reception system, the determination unit 75 can know where the failure has occurred from the monitoring outputs of the first, second, and third monitoring circuits 46, 62, and 74.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the check data is stored in the existing transmitting antenna 3.
6, the transmission antenna 71 dedicated to the transmission of the check data in FIG. 5 is omitted. Therefore, in the transmitting / receiving device 70 'of the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the output end of the check data transmitting unit 72 is connected to the transmission path between the transmitting unit 33 and the transmitting antenna 36. .

According to this configuration, the check data is received by the receiving antenna 37 due to the wraparound of the radio wave from the transmitting antenna 36. Thus, as in the third embodiment, failure monitoring can be performed for all of the transmission system and the reception system, and further, there is an advantage that the transmission antenna 71 dedicated to check data can be omitted and the number of parts can be reduced.

In the third and fourth embodiments, the second
The monitor circuit 62 may be omitted. In this case, the first
The monitor circuit 46 can monitor the transmission path from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna, the third monitor circuit 74 can monitor the data processing unit 44, and the determining unit 75 functions as a second determining unit. Further, in the third and fourth embodiments, if a changeover switch SW3 capable of switching the output terminal of the third monitor circuit 74 is provided, the changeover operation of the changeover switches SW1, SW2, SW3 can be performed.
Obviously, each part can be individually checked for failure.

[0036]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to monitor the failure of the entire transmission system from the transmission unit to the transmission antenna in a wireless device having a transmission function. Further, according to the second and third aspects, it is possible to specify a failure point in the transmission system from the transmission unit to the transmission antenna.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in a wireless device having a transmitting / receiving function, it is possible to monitor a failure of a path from a transmitting system to a receiving antenna. According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect, it is possible to specify a failure point in the path from the transmission system to the reception antenna. According to the invention described in claim 6, according to claim 1,
In addition to the effects described above, failure monitoring up to the receiving unit and the data processing unit can be performed.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, there is no need to provide a dedicated antenna for checking data transmission, and the number of parts and cost can be reduced. According to the ninth to eleventh aspects of the present invention, it is possible to specify a failure point in all of the transmission system and the reception system from the transmission system to the data processing unit. According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to individually check locations to be monitored during maintenance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a wireless device with a transmission function according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a wireless device having a transmission / reception function according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 20 transmitting device 4 transmitting unit 7 transmitting antenna 10 first monitor circuit 22 second monitor circuit 23 determining unit 30, 60, 70, 70 'transmitting / receiving device 33 transmitting unit 36 transmitting antenna 37 receiving antenna 39 receiving unit 44 data processing unit 46 first monitor circuit 62 second monitor circuit 63, 75 determination unit 71 check data transmission antenna 72 check data transmission unit 73 control unit SW1-SW3 switch

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A radio apparatus comprising: a transmission section for generating a transmission signal of a predetermined level; and a transmission antenna for radiating the transmission signal from the transmission section to the outside, wherein the radio apparatus is installed near the transmission antenna. A check receiving antenna for receiving a wraparound signal of a transmission signal radiated from the transmission antenna; and first monitoring means for monitoring whether a reception signal level of the reception antenna is at a normal level. Wireless device. 2. The radio apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the output level of the transmission signal of said transmission section is at a normal level. 3. The wireless device according to claim 2, further comprising first determining means for determining a failure based on both outputs of said first monitoring means and said second monitoring means. 4. A transmission unit for generating a transmission signal of a predetermined level, a transmission antenna for radiating the transmission signal from the transmission unit to the outside, a reception antenna close to the transmission antenna, and a reception signal of the reception antenna. A receiving unit for inputting an externally transmitted information, and an information processing unit for processing the externally transmitted information extracted by the receiving unit. A first method for monitoring whether a wraparound signal level from the transmitting antenna is normal or not.
A wireless device comprising monitoring means. 5. The wireless device according to claim 4, comprising the second monitoring means according to claim 2. 6. A check data transmission antenna, and controls the operation of transmitting check data from the check data transmission antenna, and transmits the check data when a reception detection signal of external transmission information is input from the information processing unit. The wireless device according to claim 4, further comprising: a control unit configured to stop the operation; and a third monitoring unit configured to monitor whether the check data is normally received by the information processing unit. 7. The radio apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the check data transmitting antenna is a check data dedicated antenna arranged close to the receiving antenna. 8. The radio apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the check data transmission antenna is the transmission antenna that radiates a transmission signal to the outside. 9. The wireless device according to claim 5, further comprising first determining means for determining a failure based on both outputs of said first monitoring means and said second monitoring means. 10. The wireless device according to claim 6, further comprising a second determination unit for performing a failure determination based on both outputs of said first monitoring unit and said third monitoring unit. 11. The wireless device according to claim 5, further comprising a third determining means for inputting each output of said first monitoring means, second monitoring means and third monitoring means and performing a failure determination. . 12. The radio apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising switch means for switching on / off each output of said first monitoring means, second monitoring means and third monitoring means.