JPS59110204A - Array antenna device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain desired radiation characteristics in the vertical surface of a cylindrical array by providing exciting circuits in a longitudinal direction with a specific phase distribution. CONSTITUTION:A connection cable 3k connects a feeding network to the two- distribution part of a signal distributor 14b, and connection cables 3i and 3j connect four-distribution parts of distributors 14a and 14b to the two-distribution part of the distributor 14b. Connection cables 3a-3d connect print die holes 2a- 2d to the four-distribution parts of the distributors 14a and 14b, and connection cables 3e-3k connect die holes 2e-2h respectively. Then, the lengths of the connection cables 3a-3h are set corresponding to the extents of phase shifting based upon coefficients of distortion to excite the die holes 2a-2h with the different extents of phase shifting. Thus, the desired radiation characteristics are obtained in the vertical surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in array antenna devices used for communications, broadcasting, radar, etc. in microwave and millimeter wave bands.

First, a conventional play antenna device of this type will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

In the figure, (1) is an array antenna device, (2) is a printed dipole, (3) is a connection cable, and (4) is a feeding circuit network.

(5) is a radome, (6) is a metal rod, (7) is a stopper frame,
(8) is the mounting bracket, (9) is the variable power divider, (11)
11) is a branch line coupler, 11) is a dummy load, 3) is a phase shift cable, and 0S is a connector.

In FIG. 1, this type of array antenna device (ll) is shown.

It is generally called a cylindrical array.
Printed dipoles (2), which are radiating elements, are placed between the grids of metal rods (6) that function as reflectors with an array radius R.
The printed dipoles (2) are arranged radially in a radial manner, and each printed dipole (2) is connected to a power supply network (4) for distributing or combining power by a connecting cable (3).

The printed dipole (2) has a stopper frame (7) of a predetermined diameter.
It is fixed using the mounting bracket (8). Radome (5)
This is to protect each printed dipole (2) from rain and wind, and a dielectric plate or the like which is thinner than the wavelength is used.

The cylindrical array is mainly an array antenna device of a type suitable for directivity synthesis in the horizontal plane including the antenna cross section, and in order to obtain the desired radiation characteristics or shaped beam, each printed dipole ( 2) Control the excitation amplitude and excitation phase shift.

Figure 2 shows the -Song embodiment of the variable power divider (9), which is a component of the feed network (4), and includes two branch line couplers (1) arranged on a printed circuit board.
Attach eight connectors θ to (0a) and (1ob), and connect branch line couplers (10a) and (1ob).
0b), two phase shift cables (12a), (
12b). The dummy load αυ is a non-reflection termination for absorbing unbalanced components, and is a connector (13
a) is the input terminal, and +ψ is connected to the phase shift cable (12a).
When a phase shift amount of 1 ψ° is applied to the phase shift cable (12), an output of cos ψ can be obtained from the connector (13b), and an output of sin ψ can be obtained from the connector (13c). FIG. 3 shows an example in which the array antenna device (1) is driven by a feeder network (4) configured by connecting the variable power dividers (9) shown in FIG. 2 in multiple stages.

Figure 3 is an example of a shaped beam in the horizontal plane, with the fourth
The figure is a coordinate system in the vertical plane.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the radiation characteristics of a vertical plane based on the coordinate system of FIG. 4.

As explained above, the conventional array antenna device can obtain desired radiation characteristics or shaped beams in the horizontal plane including the antenna cross section, and can be used as a base station antenna for mobile radio or as an antenna for broadcasting services. It was effective. However, in terms of radiation characteristics in the vertical plane, the central axis of the main beam is oriented in the horizontal direction, making it difficult to match the shaped beam in the horizontal plane to the shape of the service area in a sense of reduced density. The disadvantage was that more than half of the amount was wasted.

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, this invention is an improvement in which a predetermined phase distribution is given to the vertical excitation circuit and a beam tilt is applied to the main beam in the vertical plane.
This will be explained in detail using drawings.

The explanation of the play antenna device of this invention includes FIGS. 1 and 2.
Figure, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 6, Figure 7 are required, but 1
The configuration in the circumferential direction is basically the same as the conventional one, so we will only provide supplementary explanations.

The vertical configuration will be explained using FIGS. 4, 6, and 7.

In Figures 1, 2, and 3, (1) is an array antenna device, (2) is a printed dipole, (3) is a connection cable, (4) is a feeding circuit network, (5) is a radome, (
6) is a metal rod, (7) is a stopper frame, (8) is a mounting bracket, (
9) is a variable power divider, and Q is a branch line coupler.

fil) is a dummy load, member is a phase shift cable, and θj is a connector.

In the case of the above-mentioned 32-element configuration in the circumferential direction of the array antenna device of the present invention, the variable power divider (9)
will require 31 pieces. The power supply network (4) is.

It is constructed by connecting the variable power dividers (9) described above in five stages.

The shape of the shaped beam as shown in Figure 3 is based on the phase shifting cables (12a) and (12b) of the variable power divider (9).
In the case of a 32-element configuration, the phase shift amount of 31 pairs controls the excitation amplitude.

Figure 4 is a coordinate system used to explain the radiation characteristics in the vertical plane, but the radiation characteristics in the vertical plane are approximated by the number of elements in the vertical direction, the radiation characteristics of the elements, the excitation amplitude of the elements, and the excitation phase. Dependent.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the vertical configuration of the array antenna device of the present invention. In FIG. 6, (2) is a printed dipole, (3) is a connection cable, and +141 is a signal distributor. In the figure, two signal distributors (14a) and (14b) are used to transmit the signal from the power supply network (4).
After distributing, each print dipole (2a) is divided into 8 parts.

(2b), (2c), (2a), (2e)
An example of exciting , (2f), (2g), and (2h) is shown below. The connection cable (6k) is the power supply network (4)
and the two distribution parts of the signal distributor (14a), and the connection cables (31) and (sj) are connected to the signal distributor (14a), respectively.
14a).

The four-way distribution section of (14b) and the two-way distribution section of the signal distributor (14b) are connected. Connection cable (5a), (3b)
, (3c), (3d) are printed dipoles (2a
), (2b), (2c), (2a).

In addition, connection cables (xe), (sf), (5
g), (sh) is a printed dipole (2e),
(2f), (2g), and (2h) are pipe-connected to the four distribution parts of the signal distributors (14a) and (14b).

The number of elements is N, and the element spacing is d. Then, the aperture length is 2dFi
.

2a=ao-OJ-t) (Given by 11, the position of the first element from the top (Li is.

d'l =-d+do-('i-1) (
It will be 21. If the distortion coefficient is K, then the tilt angle θ
using vo.

The amount of phase shift φi given to the first element is.

becomes. Therefore, connection cables (3a), (+b)
.

(3c), (+a), (3e), (3f)
By making the lengths of , (3g) and (3h) correspond to the amount of phase shift given by equation (4), printed dipoles (2a), (2b) + (2c), (2d), (2e
), (2f).

(2g) and (2h) can be excited with different phase shifts.

FIG. 7 shows the 8-element array shown in FIG.

This is an example of determining the radiation characteristics in the vertical plane. The beam tilt angle θVO is set to 4°. The peak of the main beam is clearly visible downward, which means that the power contained within the service area can be used more effectively.

In addition, in Fig. 9, an example in which the vertical direction is configured with 8 elements and an example in which 8 distribution is performed using two signal distributors has been explained, but the present invention is not limited to these. The same effect can be obtained even if the signal distribution method changes. Further, a feed line corresponding to a connection cable may be arranged on the same printed circuit board together with the signal distributor and the radiating element.

As described above, in the array antenna device according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a shaped beam according to the shape of the service area in the horizontal plane, and also to tilt the main beam by a desired angle in the vertical plane. Therefore, not only the effective use of electric power can be achieved at any time.

Furthermore, it is possible to effectively utilize one frequency, and it can be said that it is extremely practical.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a conventional array antenna device, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a feeding circuit network of the conventional array antenna device. Figure 3 is a diagram explaining the radiation characteristics of a conventional array antenna device in the horizontal plane, Figure 4 is a diagram showing the coordinate system in the vertical plane, and Figure 5 is the radiation characteristic of the conventional array antenna device in the vertical plane. A diagram explaining the characteristics. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the vertical configuration of the array antenna device of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the radiation characteristics in the vertical plane of the play antenna device of the present invention. In the figure, (1) is an array antenna device, (2) is a printed dipole, (3) is a connection cable, and (4) is a feeding circuit network. (5) is a radome, (6) is a hook rod, (7) is a stop frame,
(8) is a mounting bracket, (9) is a variable power distributor, α is a branch line coupler, aD is a dummy load, α is a phase shifting cable, a is a connector, (t4 is a signal distributor) In Figure 9, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Agent Makoto Kazuno - Figure 3, Figure M4, Figure #E5, Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] A radiating section configured by vertically stacking 2" (n is a natural number) radiating elements arranged radially at predetermined intervals at predetermined intervals on a circumference of a predetermined radius; In an array antenna device consisting of a feeder network that excites according to the radiation characteristics of A power divider network is used, and a signal divider and a phase shift amount based on a predetermined distortion aberration coefficient are used as a feeder network for controlling the longitudinal radiation characteristics, and the above-mentioned radiating element and the above-mentioned power distribution are connected to each other. An array antenna device characterized in that it is configured using a connection cable that connects between antennas.