KR20230048871A - Array antenna with adjustable beam direction - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an array antenna system with variable directivity, which can receive RF signals by changing the direction of an antenna. The array antenna system with variable directivity comprises: an array antenna consisting of a plurality of circularly arranged directional array elements; an actuator module for changing a directional angle in an elevation angle direction of the array elements; a driver module storing information on driving speed, movement amount and direction to control the actuator module; a link module used to adjust an elevation angle and directional angle of the array element in conjunction with the actuator module; and a switching module selecting one of the circularly arranged array elements and receiving the signal to achieve an effect of varying azimuth directions.

Description

Variable directional array antenna system {ARRAY ANTENNA WITH ADJUSTABLE BEAM DIRECTION}

The present invention relates to a variable directional array antenna system capable of receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal by varying the direction of an antenna, and in a 2D array antenna, the direction of propagation can be tracked by varying the direction of direction of a directional array element. It's about the device.

Recently, in the field of wireless communication, in order to overcome the lack of frequency specifications and the limitation of transmission capacity due to the rapid increase in traffic, the range of use is gradually expanding for bands higher than ultra-high frequencies. In particular, in the case of the 28 GHz band, utilization in the public service field as a 5G mobile communication frequency is being reviewed.

Therefore, due to the use of various wireless technologies in a wide range of fields, the demand for antenna systems capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves is expanding, and interference between devices, violations, and illegal use are also increasing due to the expansion of service fields, increasing the need for radio wave monitoring. It is becoming.

In this way, the trend toward higher frequencies gradually expands in various services, but as the frequency increases, the radio wave monitoring system using the omnidirectional circular array antenna, which was mainly used in the past, has low reception sensitivity due to low antenna gain and high propagation loss, so it can detect RF signals. There are difficulties in receiving, measuring, monitoring, and detecting radio waves.

In addition to the technology using an omni-directional circular array antenna, the antenna can be directed in the radio wave direction by rotating the drive unit in the direction of a plurality of axes according to the direction in which a single high-gain directional antenna is to be rotated. It often happens that tracking of an instantaneous signal is impossible due to the speed limit due to the large and mechanical rotation method.

In addition, the existing monitoring system in which directional antennas are arranged in a circular shape can track the directional direction through a switching module in the azimuth direction, but the elevation direction is fixed. It often happens that you can't.

Therefore, in the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the reception sensitivity is increased by using a high-gain antenna, and the RF (radio frequency) signal is changed by varying the direction of elevation and azimuth without greatly increasing the volume of the antenna system. It is intended to provide an array antenna system capable of receiving

In other words, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology for implementing an antenna device capable of effectively tracking a radio wave direction by varying the orientation direction of an antenna in an azimuth direction or elevation angle direction in a radio wave monitoring system.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by the examples of the present invention. It will also be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations indicated in the claims.

A variable directional array antenna system according to the present invention for solving the above technical problem is an array antenna composed of a plurality of directional array elements arranged in a circle, and an actuator module that allows the elevation angle of the array elements to be varied. module), a driver module that controls the actuator module by loading information on the driving speed, movement amount and direction, and a link module used to adjust the elevation angle of the array element in conjunction with the actuator module module), and a switching module that selects one of the circularly arranged array elements and receives a signal so that an azimuth directing direction variable effect can be seen.

In one embodiment, the variable directivity array antenna system may further include a mast serving to fix the array elements and the link module.

In one embodiment, the array element may have a directional radiation characteristic.

In one embodiment, the actuator module may generate vertical linear motion of each array element according to a control command of the driver module.

In one embodiment, the actuator module may include a motor, a linear guide, a ball screw, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the link module may include a first fixed link, a first movable link, a second movable link, a second fixed link, and a connecting link.

In one embodiment, the link module may be connected to a link mount capable of adjusting the beam angle of each array element by receiving the movement of the actuator module.

In one embodiment, in the variable directivity array antenna system, when power is supplied to the actuator module, a motor of the actuator module operates to move a ball screw in an up and down direction, and a linear guide attached to an upper end of the ball screw and the linear By interlocking the link mount fixed to the guide with the link modules, it is possible to operate to vary the orientation angle of each array element.

In one embodiment, the driver module and the switching module may vary elevation angles and azimuth direction orientation angles according to a control command from a system controller.

In one embodiment, the operating procedure of the radio wave monitoring system using the above-described array antenna system may include, when system power is applied, transmitting an initialization command for an elevation direction of an array element through a driver module according to a command of a system control unit; tilting the actuator module in response to an initialization command of the driver module so that the horizontal direction or maximum tilt direction of the array element becomes an initial position in the elevation angle direction; After the initial position of the array element is directed to the home position, a plurality of array elements arranged in a circle are sequentially selected by controlling a switching module through a radio frequency (RF) receiver to receive a signal of each array element and receive a received value. storing; storing the received signal value of each array element after changing the elevation direction by a predetermined step or interval; A process of sequentially selecting the plurality of array elements arranged in a circle in the range of 0 degree to the maximum tilt angle and storing the received signal value of each array element, and changing the elevation angle by a predetermined step, and then each array element repeating the process of storing the received signal value of; mechanically tilting the plurality of array elements in the elevation angle direction having the maximum value after the storage of the received signal value of each array element is completed; and selecting an array element having a maximum reception value in the azimuth direction through electrical control after the tilting step, receiving a signal in the corresponding direction, measuring a parameter, and analyzing the signal.

In one embodiment, the tilt in the elevation direction is mechanically adjusted by the driver module and the actuator module, and the adjustment in the azimuth direction is electrically controlled by a switching module to one of a plurality of circularly arranged array elements By selecting and receiving a signal from one selected array element, it is possible to respond to the mechanical rotation of one antenna.

According to the variable directional array antenna system of the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a variable directional array antenna of a new structure, and in a radio wave monitoring system of a super high frequency band or higher by interlocking a circular array directional antenna, an actuator module, a driver module, and a switching module By controlling, there is an effect of realizing a radio wave monitoring system that adjusts the direction of elevation and azimuth. This has an effect of properly negotiating problems such as volume, control speed, and manufacturing cost of a radio wave monitoring system using an array antenna by combining mechanical and electrical direction control.

In addition, according to the present invention, reception sensitivity can be increased by using a high-gain directional antenna as a single element, and ambiguity in direction finding that can occur due to the use of an array element as a non-directional element can be effectively resolved.

1 is an exemplary view of an antenna for a radio wave monitoring system according to a comparative example.
2 is an exemplary view of an antenna for a radio wave monitoring system according to another comparative example.
3 is an exemplary view of an antenna for a radio wave monitoring system according to another comparative example.
4 is a schematic block diagram of a variable directivity array antenna system (hereinafter simply referred to as an 'array antenna system') according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram that can be employed in the array antenna of FIG. 4 .
FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view when the elevation angle θ of an array element in the array antenna of FIG. 5 is 0°.
FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view when the elevation angle θ of the array element in the array antenna of FIG. 5 is α°.
FIG. 7A is a partial perspective view of the array element of FIG. 5 when the elevation angle θ of the array element is 0°.
FIG. 7B is a partial perspective view of the array antenna of FIG. 5 when the elevation angle θ of the array element is α°.
8 is a partial perspective view for explaining the movement of the link module in the arrangement elements of FIGS. 7A and 7B.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an array antenna structure applicable to the array antenna of FIG. 5 when an elevation angle θ of an array element is 0°.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view when the elevation angle (θ) of an array element in the array antenna structure of FIG. 9 is α°.

Since the present invention can make various changes and have various embodiments, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Terms such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, a first element may be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The terms and/or include any combination of a plurality of related recited items or any of a plurality of related recited items.

In embodiments of the present application, “at least one of A and B” may mean “at least one of A or B” or “at least one of combinations of one or more of A and B”. Also, in the embodiments of the present application, “one or more of A and B” may mean “one or more of A or B” or “one or more of combinations of one or more of A and B”.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, but other elements may exist in the middle. It should be. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another element, it should be understood that no other element exists in the middle.

Terms used in this application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, the terms "include" or "have" are intended to designate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features It should be understood that the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not precluded.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related art, and unless explicitly defined in this application, they should not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal meaning. don't

The spatially relative terms "below", "beneath", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. It can be used to easily describe a component's correlation with other components. Spatially relative terms should be understood as including different orientations of elements in use or operation in addition to the orientations shown in the drawings. For example, if you flip a component that is shown in a drawing, a component described as "below" or "beneath" another component will be placed "above" the other component. can Thus, the exemplary term “below” may include directions of both below and above. Components may also be oriented in other orientations, and thus spatially relative terms may be interpreted according to orientation.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail. In order to facilitate overall understanding in the description of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same components in the drawings, and redundant descriptions of the same components are omitted.

1 is an exemplary view of an antenna for a radio wave monitoring system according to a comparative example.

Referring to FIG. 1, an antenna for a radio wave monitoring system according to a comparative example has a configuration in which several omnidirectional single elements are circularly arranged in an equal angle. The antenna for the radio wave monitoring system of the comparative example monitors by classifying each frequency band when monitoring a wide band or multi-band. An antenna for a radio wave monitoring system according to a comparative example arranges a single element 110 of a first band, a single element 120 of a second band, and a single element 130 of a third band in a multi-bay form. , wideband or multi-band monitoring.

The antenna of the comparative example described above mainly utilizes a dipole antenna as the omnidirectional single elements 110, 120, and 130. Since the gain of the dipole antenna is as low as about 2 dBi, when the operating frequency is higher than the SHF (super high frequency) band, reception sensitivity is lowered due to propagation loss, making it difficult to detect radio waves.

2 is an exemplary view of an antenna for a radio wave monitoring system according to another comparative example.

Referring to FIG. 2, an antenna for a radio wave monitoring system according to another comparative example detects a received signal while mechanically rotating a directional single antenna 210 by 360 degrees using a rotating unit 220 to detect the direction of radio waves. Antennas using this method have limitations in speed due to mechanical rotation, and their lifespan can be a problem due to mechanical wear. exist.

3 is an exemplary view of an antenna for a radio wave monitoring system according to another comparative example.

Referring to FIG. 3 , an antenna for a radio wave monitoring system according to another comparative example has a structure in which high-gain directional single elements 310 are circularly arranged. The antenna for the radio wave monitoring system of this comparative example can simultaneously receive signals in each direction of the high-gain directional single elements 310 by using the circularly arranged high-gain directional single elements 310 . At this time, the antenna shape of the high-gain directional single element 310 may be a planar type, log-periodic or fan type. The antenna of this comparative example has improved reception sensitivity due to high gain, and can solve the ambiguity of direction detection that may occur in the detection method using the omnidirectional single elements 110, 120, and 130 according to the comparative example of FIG. 1, Since the boresight of the array element 310 is fixed in a horizontal state, a signal received in a direction out of the boresight may not be detected.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the reception sensitivity can be increased by using a high-gain directional antenna as a single element, and the RF signal is received by mechanically or electrically varying the direction of elevation and azimuth without greatly increasing the volume of the antenna system. We propose an array antenna system that can

4 is a block diagram of a variable directivity array antenna system (hereinafter simply referred to as an 'array antenna system') according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the array antenna system in a broad sense includes a plurality of array elements 510, a link module 400, an actuator module 600, a driver module 700, a switching module 820, and an RF receiver 800. , a power supply unit 900 and a system control unit 1000 may be provided.

In addition, the array antenna system may include a plurality of array elements 510, a link module 400, an actuator module 600, and a switching module 820 in a narrow sense. In this case, the array antenna system may be referred to as an array antenna 500 having a single assembly or single module form.

The driver module 700 controls the operation of the actuator module 600 including a motor, a ball screw and a linear guide. The driver module 700 controls the linear motion of the ball screw connected to the motor by the operation of the motor of the actuator module 600 . The driver module 700 may have pre-stored control settings for the current position, movement amount, and speed of the ball screw. The driver module 700 may adjust the elevation angle of the array element 510 coupled to the link mount disposed above the actuator module 600 . That is, the driver module 700 may control the operation of the actuator module 600 according to the data received through the system controller 1000 to adjust the elevation direction of the array element 510 .

The switching module 820 may have a function of selecting one of the array elements 510 among the array elements arranged in a circle to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal. The received RF signal is transferred to the RF receiver 800. Through this, the array antenna system can obtain an effect of adjusting the azimuth direction of the array element 510 without using a separate mechanical rotation device.

In this way, the array antenna system can adjust the elevation direction of the array element 510 by controlling the driver module 700 according to the control command of the system controller 1000 . The array element 510 may correspond to a unit antenna or antenna element of the array antenna 500 and may be referred to as an antenna for short.

In addition, the system control unit 1000 controls the switching module 820 to select one array element among the array elements 510 arranged in a circular manner through electrical manipulation, so that the array antenna 500 can be moved without moving a mechanical device. An effect of changing the azimuth direction can be obtained.

Regarding the above-mentioned elevation angle directing direction, when the system controller 1000 transmits data related to the direction to be moved, the amount of movement, and the driving speed to the driver module 700, the driver module 700 preloaded with information necessary for driving It can be adjusted by setting a parameter value according to the command of the system controller 1000 and transmitting a corresponding control signal to the actuator module 600 .

In addition, the above-mentioned azimuth directing direction is arranged in one direction designated among the array elements circularly arranged at a predetermined angle by the system controller 1000 controlling the switching module 820 through the RF receiver 800. It is possible to receive an RF signal by selecting only 510. In addition, by controlling the switching module 820 to sequentially select each array element 510 at a predetermined time interval, all RF signals in each direction can be received.

According to this embodiment, when measuring the specifications of an RF signal in a radio wave monitoring system to which an array antenna composed of a plurality of array elements 510 arranged in a circular shape is applied, when the arrival direction of radio waves is known, a predetermined It is possible to receive an RF signal by selecting only one-directional array element and measure a desired parameter from the received signal.

In addition, when the direction of the signal has to be tracked because the direction of the arrival of the radio wave is not known, the RF signal is received while sequentially selecting a plurality of circularly arranged array elements, the direction of the radio wave is detected based on the received signal, and among the received signals A parameter of the corresponding signal may be measured by selecting an array element in a direction in which the signal of the maximum level is received.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram that can be employed in the array antenna system of FIG. 4 .

Referring to FIG. 5, the array antenna system includes a plurality of array elements 510, a link mount 608, a link module 400, an actuator module 600, a driver module 700, a switching module 820, and a housing ( 900) may be provided.

The plurality of array elements 510 may form an array antenna composed of circularly arranged directional array elements, and the driver module 700 may be connected to the actuator module 600 through a control cable. Each array element 510 is coupled to the link module 400 .

The link module 400 is connected to the link mount 608 coupled to the upper end of the actuator module 600, and may be arranged in a conformal shape in a radial direction with respect to the central axis of the link mount 608. Each array element 510 may have a horn shape, but is not limited thereto.

The link module 400 adjusts the elevation angle of the array element 510 in conjunction with the actuator module 600 . One end of the link module 400 is coupled to the actuator module 600 through a link mount 608, and the other end is tiltably coupled while being supported by the housing 900 Arrangement element 510 combined with

The link module 400 can move up and down according to the movement of the actuator module 600 coupled to one end, and the other end of the link module 400 can also move up and down according to the movement of this one end. In addition, the elevation angle of the link module 400 may be adjusted by moving one side of the array element 510 supported on the housing 900 in the vertical direction by moving the other end while one end is fixed to the link mount 608. . As such, the link module 400 may be used to adjust the elevation angle of the array element in conjunction with the actuator module 600 .

The actuator module 600 can linearly move one end of the link module 400 connected through the link mount 608 in the vertical direction by generating a linear motion in the vertical direction according to a control command of the driver module 700 . The actuator module 600 may include a motor 604 , a linear guide 605 and a ball screw 606 .

The driver module 700 may control the actuator module 600 to move the link mount 608 to a desired position. The driver module 700 loads information necessary for the operation of the actuator module 600 in advance, sets parameter values according to the command of the system control unit, and transmits a corresponding control signal to the actuator module 600, thereby link mount ( 608) to enable movement. The information loaded in the driver module 700 may include information about the driving speed or movement amount and direction of the actuator module 600 .

The switching module 820 is controlled by the system control unit to receive an RF signal by selecting one array element 510 from among a plurality of circularly arranged array elements. According to this configuration, the array antenna can obtain an effect of varying the azimuth directing direction of the array element 510 without a separate rotational motion device, and can sequentially receive signals in all directions.

The housing 900 may have a hollow pillar shape. The actuator module 600 may be inserted into the hollow part of the housing 900 . A frame supporting the array element 510 may be fixed to an outer surface of the housing 900 , and the other end of the link module 400 may be rotatably coupled to one side of the array element 510 .

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view when the elevation angle θ of an array element in the array antenna of FIG. 5 is 0°. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view when the elevation angle θ of the array element in the array antenna of FIG. 5 is α°. FIG. 7A is a partial perspective view of the array element of FIG. 5 when the elevation angle θ of the array element is 0°. 7B is a partial perspective view when the elevation angle (θ) of the array element in the array antenna of FIG. 5 is α°.

Referring to FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B, the array antenna according to the present embodiment includes a directional array element 510 and an actuator generating vertical linear motion in order to vary the elevation angle of the array element. The link mount 608 and the link module 400 that receive the movement of the module 600 and the actuator module 600 to adjust the beam angle of the array element 510, and the actuator module located in the center of the circular array antenna ( 600), array elements 510, and a housing 900 serving to support the link module 400.

The array antenna according to the present embodiment has a structure in which directional array elements 510 are circularly arranged at predetermined angular intervals, but in FIGS. 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b, for convenience of description, one element or two Only the array elements of the number are shown.

The arrangement element 510 is connected to the link module 400, the link module 400 is connected to the link mount 608, and the link mount 608 is connected to the actuator module 600.

The link module 400 includes a first fixed link 402 , a second fixed link 408 , a first movable link 404 , a second movable link 406 and a connecting link 410 . The actuator module 600 may include a motor 604 , a linear guide 605 and a ball screw 606 .

The first fixed link 402 of the link module 400 is fixed to the link mount 608, and the first movable link 404 is bent to the first fixed link 402 through the first joint 412. connected to In addition, the second movable link 406 is connected in a form extending from one end of the first movable link 404 through a second joint 414, and one end of the second fixed link 408 is connected to the housing 900 is fixed to the outside of and the other end is fixedly connected to the array element 510. Here, the second moving link 406 may have a shape bent once. And the connection link 410 includes a third joint (416). The connection link 410 is installed in the form of a horizontal rotation shaft support structure on both sides of the rear surface of the array element 510 so that the other end of the second movable link 406 is rotatably connected to the other end of the second fixed link 408. It can be bonded between them as much as possible.

When power is supplied to the actuator module 600, the motor 604 operates so that the ball screw 606 can be moved in the vertical direction. At this time, the linear guide 605 is attached to the top of the ball screw 606. The role of the linear guide 605 is a device for fixing a load. In this embodiment, the link mount 608 to which the array element 510 is connected through the link module 400 is fixed to the top of the linear guide 605 By doing so, the link module 400 and the array element 510 can move stably without shaking. When the ball screw 606 moves up and down, the link module 400 connected to the link mount 608 and the arrangement element 510 connected to the link module 400 move.

That is, when the boresight direction is referred to as the horizontal direction (θ=0°) in FIG. 6A, when the ball screw is maximally extended, the arrangement elements are directed in the horizontal direction. And, in FIG. 6B, when the ball screw is shortened to the minimum, the array elements are directed at a predetermined angle (θ=α°).

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the motor inside the actuator module 600 operates, the ball screw 606 moves up and down, and the linear guide 605 fixed to the ball screw 606 and The link mount 608 connected to the top also moves in the vertical direction. At this time, as the link module 400 connected to the link mount 608 moves organically, the orientation angle of the array element 510 is varied. The organic motion of the link module 400 is omitted because it overlaps with the description with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

8 is a partial perspective view for explaining the movement of the link module in the arrangement elements of FIGS. 7A and 7B. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of an array antenna configuration that can be employed in the array antenna of FIG. 5 . 10 is a perspective view when the elevation angle (θ) of the array element in the array antenna of FIG. 9 is α°.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the link mount 608 has a disk shape as a whole and is coupled to an upper end of a linear guide (see 605 in FIG. 7A ). The link mount 608 may have a groove so as to be coupled with the first fixed link 402 of the link module. When the link mount 608 and the first fixing link 402 are coupled through a groove, there is an advantage in that assembly is easy, and the link module 400 can be fixed so that it does not shake from side to side even in an external shock.

The link mount 608 may move up and down integrally according to the up and down movement of the ball screw 606 coupled with the linear guide. At this time, the first fixed link 402 coupled to the link mount 608 also linearly moves in the vertical direction.

One end of the first fixed link 402 is fixed to the link mount 608, and the other end is coupled to the first movable link 404 through a first joint 412. The first joint 412 functions to rotate the first moving link 404 in the vertical direction with respect to the first fixed link 402 .

The first movable link 404 extends with a predetermined length, one end is coupled to the first fixed link 402 through a first joint 412, and the other end through a second joint 414 It is coupled with 2 mobile links 406.

The first joint 412 and the second joint 414 rotate between the first fixed link 402 and the second fixed link 408 so that the first movable link 404 and the second movable link 406 rotate together. function to allow

The second movable link 406 has an "L" shape, one end is coupled to the first movable link 404 through a second joint 414, and the other end is one end of the arrangement element 510 or a connecting link. (410).

The connection link 410 may have a “T” shape. The connection link 410 may be fixed to the left and right sides of the rear end of the array element 510, and may be rotatably coupled to one end of the second fixed link 408 through a third joint 416.

The second fixed link 408 extends with a predetermined length, and one end thereof may be coupled to the housing 900 and the other end thereof may be coupled to the connection link 410 through a third joint 416 . When the second fixing link 408 is fixed to the housing 900, a fixing bracket 420 may be inserted between one end of the second fixing link 408. In this case, both ends of the second fixing link 408 are respectively fixed to the brackets on both sides of the fixing bracket 420, and the fixing bracket body between the brackets on both sides can be fixed to the housing by fixing means such as bolts or screws. there is.

Here, a space in which the first movable link 404 and the second movable link 406 can move while varying the degree of bending may be formed between the second fixed link 408 and the connecting link 410 . Also, the aforementioned first to third joints 412, 414, and 416 may correspond to the first to third hinges.

As shown in FIGS. 7A, 8, and 9, the first joint 412 between the first fixed link 402 and the first movable link 404 is required to direct the arrangement element to an angle of θ = 0°. , the second joint 414 between the first movable link 404 and the second movable link 406, and the third joint between the second movable link 406 and the connecting link 410 and the second fixed link 408 (416) maintains a vertical or horizontal state.

As shown in FIGS. 7B and 10, when the length of the ball screw 60 is relatively shortened in order for the arrangement element 510 to orient the angle at θ=α°, the first fixing link 402 and the second 2 In a state in which the fixed link 408 remains in a horizontal state, the first joint 412, the second joint 414, and the third joint 416 are rotated so that the first movable link 404 and the second movement By folding the link 406, the array element 510 can be tilted to a desired angle.

Incidentally, when the ball screw 606 of the actuator module 600 moves up and down with the driving force of the motor, the first fixed link 402 together with the link mount 608 moves up and down. When the link mount 608 is at its highest point, the elevation angle of the array element 510 may be set to 0°. In this case, when the link mount 608 is lowered by a predetermined height, the elevation angle of the array element 510 may be changed to a predetermined angle by the lowered height.

In other words, when the link mount 608 descends, the first fixed link 402 coupled with the link mount 608 also descends, through the first fixed link 402 and the first joint 412. The coupled first movable link 404 also descends downward, and one end of the second movable link 406 coupled through the first movable link 404 and the second joint 414 descends downward. going to try to do

At this time, since the other end of the second movable link 406 is fixed to the other end of the second fixed link 408 through the third joint 416 of the connecting link 410, the first joint 412 and the second joint 412 3 As the vertical distance of the joint 416 is shortened, one end of the second movable link 406 is formed by the rotational interlocking or rotational combination of the first joint 412, the second joint 414, and the second joint 416, respectively. descending turns. The elevation angle of the arrangement element 510 may be adjusted to a predetermined angle according to the downward rotational movement of the second movable link 406 .

According to the present embodiment described above, the variable directional array antenna system interlocks and controls a directional array antenna having array elements arranged in a circular shape, an actuator module, a driver module, and a switching module, thereby controlling elevation and azimuth angles of each array element. Since it has the effect of adjusting the directing direction of the signal, it can be effectively applied to the radio wave monitoring system over the ultra-high frequency band.

In particular, the elevation angle of the variable directivity array antenna is mechanically adjusted using an actuator module, and the azimuth angle of the variable directivity array antenna is electrically controlled using a switching module to reduce the volume of the system, improve control speed, and reduce manufacturing cost. There are advantages to doing so.

In addition, by using a high-gain directional antenna as an array element, reception sensitivity can be increased, and the problem of ambiguity in direction detection that can occur when a non-directional element is used can be solved.

Meanwhile, the variable directivity array antenna system described above may be included in a radio wave monitoring device in a broad sense, and vice versa.

Although described with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can understand that the present invention can be variously modified and changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims below. will be.

Claims (1)

an array antenna composed of a plurality of circularly arranged directional array elements;
an actuator module capable of varying elevation angles of the array elements;
A driver module that controls the actuator module by loading information on driving speed or movement amount and direction;
a link module used to adjust elevation angles of the array elements in conjunction with the actuator module; and
A variable directivity array antenna system comprising a switching module for receiving a radio frequency signal by selecting one of the circularly arranged array elements.

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