WO2006075437A1

WO2006075437A1 - Antenna assembly, wireless communication apparatus and radar

Info

Publication number: WO2006075437A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/020352
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nobumasa Kitamori
Original assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-01-17
Filing date: 2005-11-07
Publication date: 2006-07-20

Abstract

An antenna assembly capable of narrowing the beam in the vertical direction without varying the antenna gain at the time of wide angle scanning in the horizontal direction, a wireless communication apparatus and a radar. The antenna assembly (1) comprises a dielectric lens (2), and a primary emitter (3). The dielectric lens (2) is arcuate. The primary emitter (3) can perform scanning in the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens (2) while emitting an electromagnetic beam, and the primary emitter (3) is arranged at the focal point of the dielectric lens (2) or in the vicinity thereof. Since all cross-sections of the dielectric lens (2) perpendicular to the circumferential direction are set to have an identical profile, pattern of the electromagnetic beam emitted from the dielectric lens (2), antenna gain, and the like, become identical in all scanning directions of the primary emitter (3). Since the primary emitter (3) is arranged at the focal point of the dielectric lens (2) or in the vicinity thereof, the electromagnetic beam emitted from the dielectric lens (2) is made narrow.

Description

Specification

ANTENNA DEVICE, RADIO COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND RADAR DEVICE

Technical field

The present invention relates to an antenna device, a wireless communication device, and a radar device that can scan an electromagnetic beam such as a microwave or a millimeter wave over a predetermined angle range.

Background art

Conventionally, as this type of antenna device, for example, there are technologies disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

The antenna device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a rectangular waveguide is connected to a fixed-side circular waveguide and a primary radiator is connected to a rotating-side circular waveguide. A high-frequency signal fed from the wave tube to the fixed circular waveguide can be emitted from the primary radiator. In addition, by rotating the primary radiator together with the rotating circular waveguide, the electromagnetic beam emitted from the primary radiator can be scanned.

[0003] On the other hand, the antenna device disclosed in Patent Document 2 has six horn antennas opened radially over a 180 ° angle range in a casing, and these horn antennas are connected by an antenna switching switch. With this configuration, the electromagnetic beam can be scanned in a desired direction by switching the horn antenna at any time using the antenna switching switch.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-112660

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-158911

Disclosure of the invention

[0005] However, the above-described conventional technology has the following problems.

As shown in FIG. 20 (a), when the electromagnetic beam B transmitted from the antenna device 100 attached to the automobile 200 spreads in the vertical direction with respect to the road 210, the road surface reflection or multiple reflection of the electromagnetic beam B occurs. Causes false detection. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 20 (b), the electromagnetic beam B is narrowed by narrowing it in the vertical direction with respect to the road 210 to avoid road surface reflections and the like. There is a need to. However, in order to achieve such a narrow beam structure in an antenna device including only a primary radiator such as a horn antenna, the antenna device itself must be made large, which increases the cost. It will be connected.

On the other hand, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a method of narrowing the electromagnetic beam B by arranging a secondary radiator made of a convex dielectric lens in front of the primary radiator. Conceivable. This technology makes it possible to narrow the beam of the electromagnetic beam B in the direction perpendicular to the lead while avoiding an increase in the size of the antenna device 100.

However, in such a technique, when the antenna device 100 is scanned in the horizontal direction with respect to the road 210, the pattern of the electromagnetic beam B of the secondary radiator force only changes depending on the scanning direction. If the position of the radiator is shifted from the center of the dielectric lens, there is a problem that the antenna gain is greatly deteriorated.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and can narrow a beam in the vertical direction without changing the antenna gain at the time of horizontal wide-angle scanning. An object is to provide a communication device and a radar device.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an antenna device according to the invention of claim 1 includes a primary radiator that radiates an electromagnetic beam, and secondary radiation that is disposed on the electromagnetic beam radiation side of the primary radiator. The secondary radiator is a dielectric lens that is curved in a circular arc shape at a predetermined central angle and whose cross section perpendicular to the circumferential direction is the same shape, and the primary radiator is The structure is located on the center side of the dielectric lens.

When the electromagnetic beam is scanned in the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens using the primary radiator located on the center side of the dielectric lens, the electromagnetic beam is transmitted via the secondary radiator. Although the secondary radiator is a dielectric lens whose cross section perpendicular to the circumferential direction is the same shape, the pattern of the electromagnetic beam emitted from the secondary radiator is radiated at the desired angle. The antenna gain and the like are the same in all scanning directions.

[0008] The invention of claim 2 is configured such that the center angle of the dielectric lens is an angle within a range of 40 ° to 360 ° in the antenna device according to claim 1.

[0009] The invention of claim 3 is the antenna device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the primary radiator is a focal point of a lens surface formed in a cross section perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens. Position Is arranged near the focal position to narrow the electromagnetic beam emitted from this dielectric lens in the vertical direction.

Due to the powerful structure, the electromagnetic beam of the primary radiator force is narrowed in the vertical direction by the dielectric lens, so that the influence of road surface reflection due to diffusion of the electromagnetic beam can be reduced.

[0010] The invention of claim 4 is the antenna device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the radiation direction of the electromagnetic beam radiated by the primary radiator is a cross section perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens. The lens surface is set relatively upward with respect to the lens surface.

[0011] The invention of claim 5 is the antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the primary radiator is a circle of the dielectric lens around the central axis of the dielectric lens. By rotating it in the circumferential direction, it was configured to have a rotation drive mechanism that enabled the primary radiator to scan the dielectric lens in the circumferential direction.

With a powerful configuration, rotating the primary radiator enables continuous beam scanning, and the beam pattern and antenna gain are the same in all scanning directions.

[0012] The invention of claim 6 is the antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the primary radiators are arranged in a radial pattern so as to be arranged along a circumferential direction of the dielectric lens. A plurality of radiators arranged and a dielectric lens formed by the primary radiator by radiating an electromagnetic beam from any one of the plurality of radiators and switching the radiation direction of the electromagnetic beam. The configuration is equipped with electromagnetic beam cutting ^^ that enables scanning in the circumferential direction.

[0013] The invention of claim 7 is the antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the dielectric lens is engraved on the inner surface or the outer surface along the circumferential direction. The configuration is a zoeng lens with multiple engravings.

[0014] A wireless communication device according to the invention of claim 8 is the antenna device according to any one of claims 1 and 7 and a transmitter that outputs a transmission signal to the antenna device, A receiving unit for receiving the received signal of the antenna device is used.

With this configuration, the transmission signal is output to the antenna device by the transmission unit, and the reception signal of the antenna device force is received by the reception unit. At this time, from the antenna device Antenna characteristics such as antenna gain and beam pattern of the radiated electromagnetic beam do not change with the radiation angle.

[0015] A radar apparatus according to the invention of claim 9 is the antenna apparatus according to claim 1 or 7, and a transmitter that outputs a transmission signal to the antenna apparatus, and the antenna A configuration is provided that includes a reception unit that receives a reception signal of the device force, and a detection processing unit that detects an electromagnetic beam reflecting object based on the reception signal received by the reception unit.

With this configuration, the transmission signal is output to the antenna device by the transmission unit. Also, after receiving the received signal of the antenna device force by the receiving unit, the electromagnetic beam reflecting object is detected by the detection processing unit based on the received signal. At this time, antenna characteristics such as antenna gain and beam pattern of the electromagnetic beam radiated from the antenna device force do not change according to the radiation angle, so that the detection distance, angle accuracy and resolution for the object do not change.

[0016] The invention of claim 10 is the radar apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a primary radiator is arranged in a radome integrated with a dielectric lens to constitute an antenna apparatus, and a transmitting unit And a housing housing the receiving unit and the detection processing unit are attached to the outside of the antenna device.

[0017] As described above in detail, according to the antenna device of the present invention, the secondary radiator is a dielectric lens whose cross section perpendicular to the circumferential direction has the same shape, and radiates from the secondary radiator. Since the pattern of the electromagnetic beam and the antenna gain, etc., are the same in all scanning directions, the antenna characteristics of the electromagnetic beam radiated from the secondary radiator are also affected by the difference in the radiation direction of the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the primary radiator There is an excellent effect that adverse effects due to changes in beam pattern, antenna gain, etc. can be prevented.

[0018] Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since the electromagnetic beam can be narrowed in the vertical direction to reduce the influence of road surface reflection due to electromagnetic beam diffusion, it is small and has high performance. There is an effect that an antenna device can be provided.

[0019] In particular, according to the invention of claim 7, since the dielectric lens is a zoning lens, it is possible to provide an antenna device that can be thinned and reduced in cost and can be easily formed. The [0020] According to the invention of claim 8, at the time of transmission / reception, the antenna characteristics such as the antenna gain and beam pattern of the electromagnetic beam radiated from the antenna device do not change depending on the radiation angle, so that the detection distance is an angle. As a result, it is possible to provide a high-performance wireless communication apparatus with a low false detection rate that does not change due to the above.

[0021] According to the invention of claim 9, since the detection distance to the object, the angular accuracy, and the resolution do not change, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a high-performance radar apparatus with a low false detection rate.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 10, the primary radiator is arranged in the radome in which the dielectric lens is integrally formed to constitute the antenna device, and the transmission unit, the reception unit, and the detection processing unit are arranged. Since the housed housing is attached to the outside of the antenna device, it is possible to provide a radar device that can be manufactured at low cost and can be easily assembled. Furthermore, in the invention of the radar device including the antenna device according to claim 5, the radar device for high-resolution and narrow-angle detection in long-distance detection, or conversely low in short-range detection, by changing only the radome. If radar devices with different applications such as a radar device with resolution and wide-angle detection can be configured, there is an effect.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an antenna apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the antenna device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing wide-angle scanning.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing narrowing of the beam.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining each set value.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the angle of an electromagnetic beam emitted from a dielectric lens cover and the relative antenna gain.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of a radar apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an external view of a radar device.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a radar apparatus. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a mounting state of the radar apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a wide-angle scanning state.

FIG. 13 is a rear view showing a narrow beam state.

FIG. 14 is an external view of a radar apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the antenna device portion excluding the upper surface portion of the radome in order to show the shape of the dielectric lens.

FIG. 16 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of the radar apparatus according to this embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view of an antenna apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a dielectric lens that is a main part of an antenna apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic sectional view showing a modification.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining the necessity of narrowing the electromagnetic beam.

Explanation of symbols

[0023] 1 ... Antenna device, 2 ... Dielectric lens, 3, 3 '...! Next radiator, 3a ... Aperture, 4, 4' ... Radar device, 5 ... Transmitter, 6 ... Receiver, 7 ... Detection processing section, 21-24 ... engraving, 30 ... motor, 31-35 ... radiator, 36 ... switch, 40, 40 '... radome, 40a, 40a' ... top face, Black: 41, 41 / ... Partition plate, 42, 42, ... Case, B, B1 ~: B3 ... Electromagnetic beam, M ... Central axis, S ... Section, S1 ... Inner surface, S2 "-Outer surface, f ... Focus position.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the best mode of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Example 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an antenna apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the antenna apparatus, and FIG. 3 is an arrow A—A in FIG. It is sectional drawing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the antenna device 1 includes a dielectric lens 2 as a secondary radiator and a primary radiator 3.

The dielectric lens 2 is disposed on the electromagnetic beam radiation side of the primary radiator 3, and the shape thereof is an arc shape in a plan view as shown in FIG. Curved to surround ing.

Specifically, the central angle Θ 2 of the dielectric lens 2 is set to 180 °. Further, the cross section perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2 is all set to the same shape. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, an arbitrary radial line length extending in the radial direction from the central axis M of the dielectric lens 2 and the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2 indicated by an arrow C are orthogonal to each other. At this time, the surface S in which the radial line R cuts the dielectric lens 2 in the vertical direction (the front and back direction in FIG. 2) is a cross section that is straight in the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2, and this cross section S is the dielectric material. It is the same regardless of the position of the lens 2 in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the cross section S of the dielectric lens 2 is formed into a convex lens shape that curves outward. Of course, in the dielectric lens 2, the aperture distribution and size are set as needed according to the expected antenna characteristics.

[0027] The primary radiator 3 is a horn antenna that radiates an electromagnetic beam toward the dielectric lens 2, and is located on the central axis M side of the dielectric lens 2, and is connected by a motor 30 as a rotational drive mechanism. And is rotatably supported. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the motor 30 can rotate the primary radiator 3 in the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2 around the central axis M of the dielectric lens 2. It has become. Thus, the primary radiator 3 can scan in the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2 while emitting an electromagnetic beam. In this embodiment, the scanning angle 03 is set to 150 °.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the primary radiator 3 is disposed near the focal position f of the convex lens surface formed by the section S perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2 or near the focal position f. Has been. As a result, the primary radiator 3 rotates in the circumferential direction while maintaining a distance D between the opening 3a and the inner surface S1 of the convex lens-shaped cross section S at a substantially focal length f.

[0028] Next, functions and effects of the antenna device of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing wide-angle scanning, and FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing narrowing of the beam.

As shown in Fig. 4, the primary radiator 3 is rotated by the motor 30 in the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2 and the electromagnetic lens B is radiated from the primary radiator 3 while rotating the circumference of the dielectric lens 2. Wide-angle scanning can be performed at a scanning angle of 150 ° in the direction. At this time, as described above, the cross section perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2 is all set to the same shape! The antenna gain of the electromagnetic beam passing through the central part of the lens 2 and the antenna gain of the electromagnetic beam passing through a part different from the central part of the dielectric lens 2 are the same value. Therefore, the pattern of the electromagnetic beam B1 radiated from the center of the dielectric lens 2 as shown by the solid line and the radiation from the dielectric lens 2 at a different angle from the electromagnetic beam B1 as shown by the two-dot chain line and the broken line The pattern of electromagnetic beams B2 and B3 is the same. That is, the pattern of the electromagnetic beam B radiated from the dielectric lens 2 and the antenna gain are the same in all scanning directions of the primary radiator 3.

[0029] Further, since the primary radiator 3 is disposed at the focal position f of the dielectric lens 2 or in the vicinity of the focal position f, the primary radiator 3 is radiated from the outer surface S2 of the dielectric lens 2 as shown in FIG. The electromagnetic beam B is typically a nearly parallel beam and is narrowed.

[0030] As described above, according to the antenna device 1 of this embodiment, wide-angle scanning of the same beam pattern can be performed in the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2, and the electromagnetic beam can be projected in the vertical direction. The beam can be narrowed.

The inventor performed a simulation to confirm the points to be applied.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining each set value, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the angle of the electromagnetic beam B radiated from the dielectric lens 2 and the relative antenna gain. In this example, a polycarbonate with a dielectric constant of 2.78 was used as the dielectric lens 2, and the thickness T of the dielectric lens 2 was set to 12 mm, and the vertical height H was set to 40 mm. For primary radiator 3, its width w is set to 4.5 mm, height h is set to 9 mm, depth m is set to 7 mm, and distance D to dielectric lens 2 is set to 4 mm.

In the simulation under the powerful setting, the results shown in Fig. 7 were obtained. The curve bl shown by the solid line in Fig. 7 shows the relative antenna gain (dB) in the vertical direction of the electromagnetic beam, and the curve b2 shown by the broken line shows the relative antenna gain in the scanning direction of the electromagnetic beam.

As can be seen from the curve bl, the antenna gain decreases greatly when the antenna gain deviates most from the angle in the radial direction (Odeg). That is, it can be seen that the electromagnetic beam B radiated from the primary radiator 3 is narrowed in the vertical direction by the dielectric lens 2. On the other hand, in the curve b2, the antenna is the most at the angle of radial direction (Odeg) The gain is high, but even if this angular force shifts, the antenna gain does not decrease greatly. Ie

It can be seen that the electromagnetic beam B radiated from the primary radiator 3 is not narrowed in the circumferential direction by the dielectric lens 2 and the beam width remains relatively wide.

Example 2

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of the radar apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is an external view of the radar apparatus, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the radar apparatus. As shown in FIG. 8, the radar device 4 of this embodiment includes the antenna device 1 of the first embodiment, a transmission unit 5, a reception unit 6, and a detection processing unit 7.

Specifically, the antenna device 1 is assembled in the radome 40 of the radar device 4. That is, the dielectric lens 2 is provided with the upper and lower surface portions 40a and 40b of the dielectric, and the radome 40 in which the dielectric lens 2 is integrated is formed. The primary radiator 3 and the motor 30 were mounted in the radome 40.

On the other hand, the transmission unit 5, the reception unit 6, and the detection processing unit 7 are housed in a housing 42 that is attached to the outside of the radome 40 via a partition plate 41. The transmission unit 5 is a part that outputs a transmission signal to the antenna device 1, the reception unit 6 is a part that receives a reception signal from the antenna device 1, and the detection processing unit 7 is a reception signal received by the reception unit 6. This is the part that detects the electromagnetic beam reflecting object.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, a voltage control oscillator 51 and an amplifier 52 constitute a transmission unit 5, and the amplifier 52 of this transmission unit 5 is connected to the antenna device 1 via a circulator 50. It has been continued. In addition, the receiver 61 is configured by the mixer 61 and the directional coupler 62 for down-converting the signal received from the antenna device 1 to the intermediate frequency signal IF, and the input side of the mixer 61 of the receiver 6 has the circulator 50. And the output side is connected to the detection processing unit 7.

As a result, the oscillation signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator 51 is amplified by the amplifier 52 and transmitted from the antenna device 1 as a transmission signal via the directional coupler 62 and the circulator 50. On the other hand, the received signal received from the antenna device 1 is input to the mixer 61 through the circuit 50 and a local signal from the directional coupler 62. Is down-converted using, and output to the detection processing unit 7 as an intermediate frequency signal IF.

Next, a usage example of the radar device 4 will be described.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a mounting state of the radar apparatus 4, FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a wide-angle scanning state, and FIG. 13 is a rear view showing a narrow beam state.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the radar apparatus 4 is mounted on both sides of the rear part 201 of the automobile 200 so that the blind spot range of the driver can be detected. When the output terminal of the detection processing unit 7 of the radar device 4 is connected to a monitor (not shown) in the automobile 200 and the radar device 4 is operated, a transmission signal is output to the antenna device 1 by the transmission unit 5 and the electromagnetic beam B is emitted from the antenna device 1. At this time, since the primary radiator 3 of the antenna device 1 rotates within a range of 150 °, the electromagnetic beam B is scanned within a range of 150 ° on both sides of the automobile 200 as shown in FIG. When the rear force of the other vehicle 20 (approaches within a predetermined distance, the electromagnetic beam B is reflected by the vehicle 20 (and received by the dielectric lens 2 and the primary radiator 3 of the antenna device 1. The received signal is input to the detection processing unit 7 through the receiving unit 6, and the detection processing unit 7 detects the rear vehicle 200 'based on this received signal! It will be projected on.

[0036] As described above, the antenna gain, beam pattern, and the like of the electromagnetic beam B radiated from the antenna device 1 do not change depending on the scanning angle, so the detection distance, angular accuracy, and The resolution does not change.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, since the electromagnetic beam B is narrowed in the vertical direction, road surface reflection and multiple reflection of the road 210 are reduced.

Furthermore, since the primary radiator 3 is supported by the motor 30, it can be changed to the radome 40 of the dielectric lens 2 with different characteristics, so that the radar with high resolution and narrow angle detection can be used for long-distance detection. It is possible to configure radar devices with different applications, such as low resolution and wide angle radar devices for short-range detection.

Since other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

Example 3 [0037] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 14 is an external view of a radar apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the antenna apparatus portion shown excluding the upper surface of the radome to show the shape of the dielectric lens. FIG. 16 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of the radar apparatus of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, the radar apparatus ^ of this embodiment has a circular radome 4 (and a radome 40 ′). And a casing 42 'mounted underneath, and has a structure capable of omnidirectional detection.

[0038] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 15, the dielectric lens 2 integrated with the radome 4 (has a ring shape with a central angle of 360 °, and a primary radiator on the central axis M thereof. In other words, as shown in Fig. 16, the ring-shaped dielectric lens 2 is provided with an upper surface portion 40a 'and the radome 4 (is used as the primary radiator 3 by the motor 30. Is rotated 360 ° on the central axis M of the dielectric lens 2. And it is attached to the lower side of the casing 42 'force radome 4 (in a state of being partitioned by the partition plate 41 /. In the casing 42 ', a transmitter 5, a receiver 6, and a detection processing unit 7 are accommodated as in the radar device 4 of the second embodiment.

[0039] With the powerful configuration, the primary radiator 3 is rotated 360 ° by the motor 30 so that the antenna gain and beam pattern of the electromagnetic beam are the same in all directions, and the electromagnetic beam is narrow in the vertical direction. Turn into a beam.

Of course, by adjusting the rotation angle of the primary radiator 3 according to the application, it is possible to detect at an angle within 360 ° such as 90 ° or 1 80 ° scanning angle.

Since other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those in the second embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

Example 4

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view of an antenna apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Similarly to the first embodiment, the antenna device of this embodiment has a structure in which a force primary radiator having a dielectric lens 2 having a central angle of 180 ° and a primary radiator is fixed and does not rotate. ing. Specifically, the primary radiator was composed of five radiators 31 to 35 arranged in a radial pattern so as to be arranged along the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2. Then, a switch 36 as an electromagnetic beam switching device for transmitting and receiving a transmission signal and a reception signal to any one of the five radiators 31 to 35 is provided in the subsequent stage of the five radiators 31 to 35.

[0041] By switching the switch 36 with a powerful configuration, the electromagnetic beam B is sequentially emitted from the five radiators 31-35. That is, the electromagnetic beam B radiated from the antenna device 1 can be scanned in the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2 by the switching operation of the switch 36.

Example 5

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a dielectric lens, which is a main part of the antenna device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a dielectric lens is a zoung lens.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18, a plurality of, for example, four engravings 21 to 24 were engraved on the outer surface S2 of the dielectric lens 2. The four engravings 21 to 24 are engraved in parallel along the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens 2 so that the antenna gain and beam pattern of the electromagnetic beam during wide-angle scanning of the primary radiator 3 can be reduced. No change occurs. Thus, by using the dielectric lens 2 as a zoom lens, the dielectric lens 2 can be reduced in thickness and cost, and the antenna device can be further reduced in size.

In this embodiment, it goes without saying that the engravings 21 to 24 may be provided on the force inner surface S 1 provided on the outer surface S 2 of the dielectric lens 2. Of course, the shape of the zoung is selected so as to satisfy desired antenna characteristics.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but is within the scope of the invention. Various modifications and changes are possible.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the dielectric lens having the central angles of 180 ° and 360 ° is applied has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the antenna to which the dielectric lens having an arbitrary central angle is applied. Devices are included within the scope of this invention.

In the above embodiment, the primary radiator 3, 3 ′ using a horn antenna as the primary radiator has been described as an example. However, the primary radiator may be configured by a planar patch antenna instead of the horn antenna. good.

In the above-described embodiment, the convex dielectric lens 2 is used as a shape capable of narrowing the beam. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a concave dielectric lens or an aspherical lens type dielectric lens can be used. May be applied.

In the first embodiment, the primary radiator 3 is arranged at or near the focal position f of the dielectric lens 2 to narrow the electromagnetic beam B in the vertical direction. This is for avoiding road surface reflection by the electromagnetic beam B spreading in the vertical direction. However, even if the primary radiator 3 is disposed at a position away from the focal position f of the dielectric lens 2, it is possible to avoid road surface reflection and the like. That is, as shown in FIG. 19 (a), by setting the radiation direction of the electromagnetic beam B of the primary radiator 3 upward with respect to the convex cross section S of the dielectric lens 2, the vertical direction As a result, the electromagnetic beam B spreading in the whole direction is directed upward. As a result, the incidence of the electromagnetic beam B on the road surface can be avoided. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 19 (b), by setting the convex cross section S of the dielectric lens 2 upward with respect to the radiation direction of the electromagnetic beam B of the primary radiator 3, The spread electromagnetic beam B can be directed upward as a whole. In FIGS. 19 (a) and 19 (b), the symbol Ml is the central axis of the cross section S.

In the above embodiment, the radar devices 4 and 4 ′ are listed as examples of the device provided with the antenna device 1. However, the antenna device 1 that includes only the radar device and the transmission that outputs a transmission signal to the antenna device 1 are used. A wireless communication device including a receiver and a receiving unit that receives a reception signal from the antenna device 1 is also a technique within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] An antenna device comprising a primary radiator that radiates an electromagnetic beam, and a secondary radiator disposed on the electromagnetic beam radiation side of the primary radiator,

The secondary radiator is a dielectric lens that is curved in a circular arc shape at a predetermined central angle and whose cross sections perpendicular to the circumferential direction are all the same shape.

The primary radiator is located on the center side of the dielectric lens.

An antenna device characterized by that.

[2] The central angle of the dielectric lens is an angle within a range of 40 ° to 360 °.

The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein:

[3] The primary radiator is disposed at or near the focal position of the lens surface formed in a cross section perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens, and the electromagnetic beam radiated from the dielectric lens is disposed. To narrow the beam vertically.

The antenna device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein

[4] The radiation direction of the electromagnetic beam radiated from the primary radiator is set to be relatively upward with respect to the lens surface formed by a cross section perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens. 3. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna device is characterized.

[5] By rotating the primary radiator in the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens around the central axis of the dielectric lens, scanning of the dielectric lens in the circumferential direction by the primary radiator is performed. Equipped with a rotation drive mechanism that enables

The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 and 4, wherein the antenna device is misaligned.

[6] The primary radiator includes a plurality of radiators arranged radially along the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens, and any one of the plurality of radiators. Electromagnetic beam cutting ^^ that enables scanning in the circumferential direction of the dielectric lens by the primary radiator by switching the radiation direction of the electromagnetic beam by radiating the electromagnetic beam from The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 and 4.

[7] The dielectric lens is a zoeng lens having a plurality of engravings engraved along the circumferential direction on an inner surface or an outer surface thereof. The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 and 6, wherein the antenna device is shifted.

[8] The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a transmission unit that outputs a transmission signal to the antenna device, and a reception unit that receives a reception signal of the antenna device power.

A wireless communication apparatus.

[9] The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a transmission unit that outputs a transmission signal to the antenna device, a reception unit that receives a reception signal of the antenna device power, and the reception A detection processing unit for detecting an electromagnetic beam reflecting object based on the received signal received by the unit,

Radar apparatus characterized by the above.

[10] The antenna device is configured by disposing the primary radiator in a radome in which the dielectric lens is integrated, and a housing that houses the transmitting unit, the receiving unit, and the detection processing unit. I attached my body to the outside of this antenna device,

The radar apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: