JPH1127031A - Setting method for exciting amplitude and phase of array antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set the amplitude and phase which are optimum to every element antenna to obtain a desired antenna pattern. SOLUTION: In regard to an array antenna having plural element antennas, variable phase shifters and variable amplitude units, the radiation power is measured at plural points and an evaluation function is decided to show the difference between the measured radiation power and the radiation power which is calculated from the initialization value of the amplitude and phase. The exciting phase is varied to decide an exciting phase that minimizes the evaluation function (1), and the evaluation function obtained in (1) is minimized by varying both exciting amplitude and phase (2). Thus, the exciting amplitude and phase which are optimum to every element antenna are decided to obtain a desired antenna pattern.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for setting an optimum excitation amplitude and excitation phase for obtaining a desired pattern of an array antenna for communication or radar, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The excitation amplitude and
Before describing the method of setting the phase, first, the operation of the array antenna will be briefly described. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an array antenna taking transmission as an example, where 31 is a transmitter, 32 is a power divider, 33 is a variable phase shifter, 34 is a variable amplitude device, and 35 is an element antenna. The signal from the transmitter 31 is distributed by a power distributor 32, and the distributed signal is changed in phase by a variable phase shifter 33, further, is changed in amplitude by a variable amplitude unit 34, and is converted into a space by an element antenna 35. Radiated. At this time, in order to obtain a desired antenna radiation pattern, the variable phase shifter 33 is used.
Must be set to a predetermined excitation phase, and the variable amplitude unit 34 must be set to a predetermined excitation amplitude. The excitation amplitude and the excitation phase are calculated in advance so that a desired radiation pattern is obtained.For example, for the excitation amplitude, a Taylor distribution that reduces the side lobe level of the radiation pattern is given.
As for the excitation phase, a phase amount that directs the main beam direction of the radiation pattern in a desired direction is given. As described above, the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase are set for the array antenna, and these values are actually (in the microwave band) the mutual coupling between the element antennas, the reflection from the surrounding environment,
In practice, it is difficult to obtain a desired radiation pattern because the power supply circuit from the transmitter 31 to the element antenna 35 is affected by an amplitude error and a phase error. In addition, a desired radiation pattern may not be obtained due to a change in the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase due to a failure of the power supply circuit or the like.

[0003] Therefore, in the conventional array antenna system, an evaluation function such as that shown by "Equation 1" is used to calculate a radiation pattern (hereinafter, referred to as an error radiation pattern) changed from a desired radiation pattern for the above various reasons. Given the power value Pom, the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase including actual various effects and errors are estimated, and finally the desired radiation including the error of the power supply circuit etc. is estimated from the estimated excitation amplitude and the excitation phase. The optimum excitation amplitude and excitation phase for obtaining the pattern were determined.

[0004] An example of a method for setting the excitation amplitude and phase of the conventional array antenna system was announced in B-13 of the 1989 IEICE Autumn National Convention.

[0005]

(Equation 1) The conventional array antenna system will be described with reference to the above “Equation 1”. “Equation 1” is a function of the excitation amplitude An and the excitation phase Pn. An appropriate initial set value is substituted for these An and Pn, and An and Pn that minimize the evaluation function of Equation 1 are obtained. As the initial setting values, an excitation amplitude and an excitation phase serving as a predetermined radiation pattern are given.

The minimization of the above evaluation function means that
By changing from the excitation amplitude / phase (calculated value) of a predetermined radiation pattern, it is meant that the radiation pattern matches the error radiation pattern. Therefore, An and Pn for minimizing the evaluation function of "Equation 1" Are the excitation amplitude and excitation phase of the error radiation pattern. If the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase of the error radiation pattern obtained in this way are estimated, the difference between the excitation amplitude, the excitation phase, and the initial set value that is optimal for obtaining the desired radiation pattern can be determined, and the difference is corrected. By giving the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase as described above to the variable amplitude unit 34 and the variable phase shifter 33, respectively, an original desired radiation pattern can be obtained.

[0007]

In the conventional method for setting the excitation amplitude and phase of an array antenna as described above, the excitation amplitude and excitation phase of a desired radiation pattern are set as initial values of the excitation amplitude An and the excitation phase Pn. Given and analyzed, for example, when the difference between the error radiation pattern and the desired radiation pattern is large, in other words, when the difference between the optimal excitation amplitude and excitation phase including the initial value and the error is large, There is a problem that the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase of a certain error radiation pattern cannot be accurately estimated.

For example, FIG. 5 shows a linear array antenna in which six element antennas 35 are linearly arranged at half-wavelength intervals, and the excitation amplitude (all -7.8 dB) is equal to all the element antennas 35 of this linear array antenna. ), The desired radiation pattern at that time is a radiation pattern having a main beam in the 0-degree direction as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the excitation amplitude is -1 from the element antenna 5 on the right of the element antenna 35 shown in FIG.
0.6 dB, -8.6 dB, -5.6 dB, -5.6 dB, -8.6 dB, -10.6 dB, and the excitation phase is 0 °, -61.6 °, -6 ° from the element antenna 5 on the right of the element antenna 35 shown in FIG. 123.2 ゜, 175.
The error radiation pattern shown in Fig. 7 is defined as 2 2, 113.6 ゜, and 52.0 ゜, and the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase are estimated using the conventional method of setting the excitation amplitude and phase of the array antenna. -19.4 dB, -8.5 dB, -6.1 dB, -5.6 from the element antenna 35 on the right of the element antenna 35 shown in FIG.
dB, -6.5 dB, and -9.8 dB, and the excitation phase is 0 °, -1 from the element antenna 35 on the right of the element antenna 35 shown in FIG.
14.4 ゜, 173.7 ゜, 111.1 ゜, 49.3 ゜, -23.0 ゜, and the difference between the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase could not be estimated accurately. FIG. 8 shows a radiation pattern based on the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase estimated by the conventional method. It can be seen that the error radiation patterns shown in FIG. 8 and FIG.

The method for setting the excitation amplitude and phase of the array antenna according to the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and accurately estimates the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase of the error radiation pattern and calculates the estimated amplitude and phase. It is an object of the present invention to provide a setting method for obtaining an excitation amplitude and an excitation phase of each element antenna which are optimal for realizing an original desired antenna pattern based on the antenna pattern.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for setting an excitation amplitude and a phase of an array antenna, comprising an array having a plurality of element antennas and a variable phase shifter and a variable amplitude unit connected to each of the element antennas. In the antenna, radiated power from the array antenna whose excitation amplitude and phase are initially set so as to obtain a predetermined radiation pattern is measured at a plurality of measurement points, and actual measured values of the radiated power at the plurality of measurement points are measured. And an evaluation function representing the difference between the calculated values of the radiated power of the array antenna derived from the initial values of the amplitude and phase of each of the element antennas. In the first stage, the amplitude remains unchanged from the initial value. By changing only the excitation phase of the element antenna and minimizing the evaluation function, the excitation phase of each of the element antennas was obtained. Then, in the second step, the excitation phase was obtained in the first step. By giving the vibration phase and amplitude (initial setting value) to the array antenna, the evaluation function is obtained, and the evaluation function is minimized by changing the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase of each of the element antennas, thereby obtaining the desired antenna. This is a method of setting an excitation amplitude and a phase of an array antenna for obtaining an excitation amplitude and an excitation phase of each element antenna which are optimal for realizing a pattern.

Further, when obtaining the excitation phase in the first stage, some points in the main beam are selected as the measurement points as sample points, and when obtaining the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase in the second stage, And a method for setting an excitation amplitude and phase of an array antenna in which some points in the main beam and some points in side lobes are selected as the measurement points as sample points.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the present invention. A method for setting the excitation amplitude and phase of the present array antenna will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the error radiation pattern whose excitation amplitude and excitation phase are to be estimated, the radiation power is measured at a plurality of measurement points (procedure 1). For example, FIG. 7 is an example of an error radiation pattern. In FIG. 7, the directional gain (Directiv
ity) represents the magnitude of the radiation power of the pattern, and the angle (Angle) of the horizontal axis represents the measurement point m. Next, the radiation power (calculated value) of the array antenna represented by the radiation electric field of each of the element antennas 35 whose excitation amplitude and phase are initially set so that a predetermined radiation pattern at the plurality of measurement points m is obtained. An evaluation function Fm representing the difference between the measured radiation power (actually measured value) Pom is set (step 2). Next, as the first step, the above evaluation function Fm is set to the excitation phase.
Minimize only by Pn (procedure 3). To minimize such an evaluation function, a nonlinear programming method such as a steepest descent method is used. Excitation phase when the evaluation function Fm is minimized
By giving Pn as the initial value of the second stage of the evaluation function and again minimizing this evaluation function by changing both the excitation amplitude An and the excitation phase Pn (same as the conventional method), the excitation amplitude of the error radiation pattern is obtained. And the excitation phase. (In this case, the difference between the calculated value and the actually measured value is determined as “excitation amplitude and excitation phase of the error radiation pattern”, and the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase are determined by the feeder circuit (33, 34 in FIG. 4) of the array antenna or the like. By giving the excitation amplitude and excitation phase that cancel each other, the desired radiation pattern is obtained.)

FIG. 2 shows a more detailed flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention. A method for setting the excitation amplitude and phase of the present array antenna will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in the error radiation pattern in which the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase are to be estimated as in FIG. 1, the radiation power is measured at a plurality of measurement points. Here, the measurement points in the first stage are selected only from the main beam ( Procedure 5). This is based on the fact that the characteristics of the main beam of the array antenna are generally determined mainly by the excitation phase of each element, and the characteristics of the side beam are mainly determined by the excitation amplitude of each element.

As in FIG. 1, in the first stage, the radiated electric field of each of the element antennas 35 whose excitation amplitude and phase are initially set so as to obtain a predetermined radiation pattern at the plurality of measurement points m is obtained. An evaluation function Fm representing the difference between the radiated power (calculated value) of the array antenna and the measured radiated power (actual value) Pom is set (step 6), and the evaluation function Fm is changed by only the excitation phase Pn. (Step 7). Next, in the second step, the excitation is performed with the amplitude and the phase obtained in the first step, and the radiated power is measured again at a plurality of measurement points with respect to the error radiation pattern. Choose from inside the robe (step 8). Finally, the radiated electric power (calculated value) of the array antenna represented by the radiated electric field of each of the element antennas 35 whose excitation amplitude and phase are initially set so as to obtain a predetermined radiation pattern at the plurality of measurement points j
By setting an evaluation function Fj representing a difference between the measured radiation power (actually measured value) Poj and the above (step 9), and minimizing the evaluation function Fj by both the excitation amplitude An and the excitation phase Pn, the error radiation The excitation amplitude and the excitation phase of the pattern are obtained (procedure 10).

Here, an example of a simulation result using the present method will be shown. When this method is applied when FIG. 6 shown in the conventional example is set as a desired radiation pattern and FIG. 7 is set as an error radiation pattern, the estimated excitation amplitude is calculated from the element antenna 35 on the right of the element antenna 35 shown in FIG. -10.5dB,
-8.7 dB, -5.5 dB, -5.6 dB, -8.7 dB, -10.5 dB, and the estimated excitation phase is 0 ゜, -61.2 ゜,-か ら from the element antenna 5 on the right of the element antenna 5 shown in FIG. 121.0 ゜, 17
7.2 ゜, 117.9 ゜, and 55.3 ゜. Compared to those set in the error radiation pattern, the results coincided with a difference of 0.1 dB at maximum in excitation amplitude and 3.3 最大 maximum in excitation phase. FIG. 3 shows a radiation pattern obtained from the above-described excitation amplitude and excitation phase estimated by the present method. It can be understood that the radiation pattern matches the error radiation pattern of FIG. 7 well. It is clear that it can be estimated. In other words, the present invention comprises a two-step procedure. In the first step, when the direction and beam width of the main beam of the desired pattern changes to the direction and beam width of the main beam of the error pattern, the excitation phase greatly contributes. Noting that the excitation amplitude is not changed in the first stage as described above, only the excitation phase is first determined. Next, in the second stage, when the shape of the side lobe of the desired pattern changes to the shape of the side lobe of the error pattern, attention is paid to the fact that the excitation amplitude greatly contributes. The excitation phase obtained in the step is used as an initial value, and finally, the optimum value is obtained by changing both the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase as in the conventional case.

The reason why the two-step excitation amplitude and the excitation phase are determined more accurately will be described below with reference to FIG. As in the prior art, in the error radiation pattern for which the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase are to be estimated, the radiation power is measured at a plurality of measurement points, and then the excitation amplitude is measured so that a predetermined radiation pattern at the plurality of measurement points m is obtained. An evaluation function that represents the difference between the radiated power (calculated value) of the array antenna represented by the radiated electric field of each element antenna whose phase is initially set and the measured radiated power (actually measured value) Pom
Fm is set, and this evaluation function is suddenly minimized by changing both the excitation amplitude An and the excitation phase Pn to obtain the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase of the error radiation pattern, and the difference between the calculated value and the actually measured value is obtained. Is very large (in the case of a microwave, the amplitude and phase of the power supply easily change depending on the length and the degree of bending of the power supply circuit, which is very likely), and the convergence point of the evaluation function is shown in FIG. Often falls into the local minimum point and does not reach the original minimum point.

According to the present invention, the error radiation pattern is first roughly estimated by changing only the excitation phase that governs the main beam (to drive into the range of A in FIG. 9), and then the excitation amplitude and the excitation Since the error radiation pattern is accurately estimated by changing the phase, it is possible to avoid falling into the local minimum.

[0019]

The present invention has the following effects. Each of the above-mentioned elements whose excitation amplitude and phase are initially set so that the radiation power from the array antenna corresponding to the error radiation pattern is measured at a plurality of measurement points and a predetermined radiation pattern at the plurality of measurement points is obtained. The radiated power of the array antenna expressed by the radiated electric field of the antenna (calculated value) and the measured radiated power (actual value)
The excitation function obtained by minimizing the evaluation function only by the excitation phase in the first stage is set as the initial value of the second stage, and the initial value is set to the evaluation function in the second stage. By minimizing this evaluation function by the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase, when the difference between the error radiation pattern and the desired radiation pattern is large, in other words, when the difference between the initial value and the excitation amplitude / phase to be obtained is large. However, the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase of the target error radiation pattern can be accurately estimated.

Further, according to the present invention, at the plurality of measurement points, a point in the main beam of the radiation pattern is selected when the excitation phase is determined in the first step, and the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase are determined in the second step. By selecting points in the main beam and points in the side lobes of the radiation pattern, there is an effect that the amount of calculation for obtaining the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a method for setting an excitation amplitude and a phase of an array antenna according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed flowchart showing one embodiment of a method for setting an excitation amplitude and a phase of an array antenna according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern obtained from an excitation amplitude and an excitation phase estimated according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an array antenna.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a linear array antenna including six element antennas.

FIG. 6 shows a desired radiation pattern.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an actually measured error radiation pattern.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an error radiation pattern obtained from an excitation amplitude and an excitation phase estimated by a conventional method.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a local minimum of an evaluation function of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 to 10 Each procedure of the flowchart of the present invention 11 Main lobe 12 to 15 Side lobe 16 to 18 Examples of estimated sample points of error pattern in main lobe 19 to 22 Examples of estimated sample points of error pattern in side lobe 31 Transmitter 32 Power divider 33 Variable phase shifter 34 Variable amplitude unit 35 Element antenna

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An array antenna comprising a plurality of element antennas and a variable phase shifter and a variable amplitude unit connected to each of the element antennas, the excitation amplitude and phase are initially set so as to obtain a predetermined radiation pattern. The measured radiated power from the array antenna is measured at a plurality of measurement points, and the array derived from the actual measured values of the radiated power at the plurality of measurement points and the initial set values of the amplitude and phase of each element antenna are measured. An evaluation function representing the difference between the calculated values of the radiated power of the antennas is provided. In the first stage, the amplitude is kept at the initial setting value, and only the excitation phase of each element antenna is changed to minimize the evaluation function. The excitation phase of each element antenna is determined, and then, in the second step, the excitation phase and amplitude (initial setting values) determined in the first step are given to the array antenna, and A minimum value function is obtained, and this evaluation function is minimized by changing both the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase of each of the above-described element antennas, so that the excitation amplitude of each of the element antennas optimal for realizing the predetermined antenna radiation pattern is obtained. And a method for setting an excitation amplitude and a phase of an array antenna, wherein the excitation amplitude and the phase are obtained. 2. When obtaining the excitation phase in the first stage,
When several points in the main beam are selected as the measurement points as sample points, and when the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase in the second stage are obtained, some points in the main beam and side points are used as the measurement points. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein some points in the lobe are selected as sample points.