WO2017006415A1 - Direction finder - Google Patents

Direction finder Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017006415A1
WO2017006415A1 PCT/JP2015/069419 JP2015069419W WO2017006415A1 WO 2017006415 A1 WO2017006415 A1 WO 2017006415A1 JP 2015069419 W JP2015069419 W JP 2015069419W WO 2017006415 A1 WO2017006415 A1 WO 2017006415A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
unit
arrival
signal
band
radio waves
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PCT/JP2015/069419
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French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
六蔵 原
崇 ▲柳▼
深沢　徹
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三菱電機株式会社
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Application filed by 三菱電機株式会社 filed Critical 三菱電機株式会社
Priority to PCT/JP2015/069419 priority Critical patent/WO2017006415A1/en
Priority to JP2017526820A priority patent/JP6266178B2/en
Publication of WO2017006415A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017006415A1/en

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/02—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using radio waves
    • G01S3/14—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
    • G01S3/46—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
    • G01S3/48—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems the waves arriving at the antennas being continuous or intermittent and the phase difference of signals derived therefrom being measured

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a technique for estimating the arrival direction of radio waves.
  • Direction Of Arrival In the technology that estimates the direction of arrival of radio waves (DOA: Direction Of Arrival), information on incoming radio waves is collected in a reception space having a certain size with respect to the radio wave source, or spatially from the radio wave source to the reception space. Detection of the direction of arrival (hereinafter also referred to as “direction search”) is performed by physically synthesizing radio waves arriving with a wide spread.
  • Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-247964
  • Patent Document 2 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-037354
  • Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for calculating a frequency component of the received signal by performing a fast Fourier transform process on the received signal obtained by the array antenna unit, and detecting an arrival direction of the received signal based on the frequency component.
  • Patent Document 2 and Non-Patent Document 1 disclose DOA estimation technology called MUSIC (Multiple Signal Classification).
  • MUSIC Multiple Signal Classification
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a direction finding device capable of realizing a simplified hardware configuration and a reduced manufacturing cost.
  • the direction finding device has N antenna elements (N is an integer of 2 or more) capable of receiving a radio wave having a phase difference, and corresponds to the outputs of the N antenna elements, respectively.
  • N is an integer of 2 or more
  • An N-channel analog reception signal that is output in parallel; a signal synthesis unit that generates an interference signal by interfering with the N-system analog reception signals by synthesizing the N-system analog reception signals;
  • a band selection unit that has a passband that is variably set and selectively outputs a signal component of the passband of the interference signal; an A / D conversion unit that digitizes the output of the band selection unit;
  • a data storage unit storing a database for defining a correspondence relationship between the frequency characteristics of the radio wave and the arrival direction of the radio wave, a control unit for controlling the band selection unit to change the passband, and the A Calculate the frequency characteristic of the output of D converter, characterized in that the calculated frequency characteristics and a DOA estimating unit for estimating the direction of arrival of received radio
  • the direction finding device has N (N is an integer of 2 or more) antenna elements that can receive incoming radio waves having a phase difference, and outputs N antenna elements respectively.
  • An antenna apparatus that outputs the corresponding N analog received signals in parallel, and a passband that is variably set. By filtering each of the N analog received signals, N is obtained as a signal component of the passband.
  • a band selection unit for outputting the filter signals of the system in parallel, a signal synthesis unit for synthesizing the filter signals of the N systems by interfering with the filter signals of the N systems, and digitizing the output of the signal synthesis unit
  • An A / D conversion unit a data storage unit storing a database for defining a correspondence relationship between a frequency characteristic of a radio wave and an arrival direction of the radio wave, and the band selection
  • the frequency characteristic of the output of the A / D converter and the control unit that changes the passband by controlling the frequency, and the arrival direction of the received radio wave is estimated by comparing the calculated frequency characteristic with the database And an arrival direction estimating unit.
  • a direction finding device includes an antenna device that generates an interference wave by causing interference between incoming radio waves having a phase difference and outputs an analog reception signal corresponding to the interference wave, and is variably set A band selector that selectively outputs a signal component of the passband of the analog reception signal, an A / D converter that digitizes the output of the band selector, and a radio wave
  • a data storage unit storing a database for defining a correspondence relationship between the frequency characteristic and the arrival direction of the radio wave, a control unit for controlling the band selection unit to change the pass band, and the A / D conversion
  • an arrival direction estimation unit that estimates the arrival direction of the received radio wave by calculating the frequency characteristic of the output of the unit and comparing the calculated frequency characteristic with the database.
  • the control unit changes the pass band of the band selection unit.
  • the arrival direction estimation unit calculates the frequency characteristic of the signal component that has passed through the changing passband, and estimates the arrival direction of the received radio wave by comparing the calculated frequency characteristic with a database. Therefore, the arrival direction of the received radio wave can be estimated with a certain accuracy, and the hardware configuration of the direction finding device can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the prior art.
  • FIG. 10 is a flowchart schematically showing a procedure of direction-of-arrival estimation processing according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a direction finding device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • the direction finding device 1 includes an array antenna device 10 having N antenna elements AN 1 , AN 2 ,.
  • N is an integer of 3 or more.
  • These antenna elements AN 1 ,..., AN N are regularly arranged so that incoming radio waves having a phase difference can be received.
  • the antenna element AN 1, ..., AN N are disposed with the spread of certain space.
  • the observation target of the present embodiment includes broadband radio waves generated by a discharge phenomenon, but is not limited to this.
  • the array antenna apparatus 10 the antenna element AN 1, AN 2, ..., receiver RX 1 for generating an analog reception signal of N lines by performing each amplification processing to the output of AN N, RX 2, ..., RX N.
  • the direction finding device 1 includes a signal synthesis unit 21 that synthesizes N analog reception signals output in parallel from the array antenna device 10, a band selection unit 22 that filters the output of the signal synthesis unit 21, and a band selection.
  • a / D conversion unit 23 for digitizing the analog output of the unit 22, an arrival direction estimation unit 24 for estimating the arrival direction of the received radio wave based on the digital output of the A / D conversion unit 23, and a database relating to the frequency characteristics of the radio wave Is stored, and a control unit 26 is provided.
  • the control unit 26 controls the operations of the receivers RX 1 ,..., RX N , the band selection unit 22 and the arrival direction estimation unit 24 of the array antenna apparatus 10.
  • the signal synthesizer 21 synthesizes the N analog received signals input from the array antenna apparatus 10 to cause the N analog received signals to interfere with each other to generate an interference signal.
  • the signal synthesizer 21 can be configured using, for example, a waveguide structure.
  • the band selection unit 22 includes an analog filter having a variably set pass band Bf.
  • the control unit 26 controls the band selecting unit 22 so that the pass band Bf of the band selecting unit 22 is any of a plurality of frequency bands NB 1 ,..., NB M (M is an integer of 2 or more) having different center frequencies. Can be set.
  • the frequency bands NB 1 ,..., NB M may be continuous in the frequency domain or discontinuous.
  • the band selection unit 22 outputs the signal component of the pass band Bf among the interference signals input from the signal synthesis unit 21 as an analog filter signal.
  • the A / D conversion unit 23 converts the analog output of the band selection unit 22 into a digital filter signal, and supplies the digital filter signal to the arrival direction estimation unit 24.
  • the digital filter signal is a complex digital signal having phase information and amplitude information.
  • the data storage unit 25 stores a database that defines the correspondence between the frequency characteristics of radio waves that will arrive at the array antenna apparatus 10 and the arrival directions of the radio waves.
  • This database is created in advance based on a measurement result or a theoretical calculation result in an experimental environment, and is recorded in the data storage unit 25.
  • As the frequency characteristic of the radio wave an amplitude spectrum or a power spectrum can be used.
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 calculates the frequency characteristics of the digital filter signal input from the A / D conversion unit 23, and compares the calculated frequency characteristics with a database in the data storage unit 25, thereby The direction of arrival can be estimated. For example, the direction-of-arrival estimation unit 24 performs correlation analysis between the calculated frequency characteristic and a plurality of frequency characteristics in the database, so that among the plurality of frequency characteristics recorded in the database, The frequency characteristic having the highest degree of correlation with the calculated frequency characteristic can be selected. The arrival direction estimation unit 24 estimates that the arrival direction corresponding to the selected frequency characteristic in the database is the arrival direction of the received radio wave, and outputs estimation data indicating the estimation result.
  • the control unit 26 individually controls the gain of amplification processing of the receivers RX 1 ,..., RX N in the array antenna apparatus 10, thereby optimizing the reception gain of the entire array antenna apparatus 10.
  • the control unit 26 can cause the arrival direction estimation unit 24 to estimate the arrival direction again. For example, when any of the numerical values indicating the degree of correlation between the frequency characteristic calculated based on the digital filter signal and the frequency characteristic in the database is lower than the threshold, the accuracy of the estimation result by the arrival direction estimation unit 24 Can be determined to be low.
  • FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of a procedure of DOA (Direction Of Arrival) estimation processing according to the present embodiment.
  • This arrival direction estimation process is mainly executed by the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26.
  • the control unit 26 performs initial setting for the array antenna apparatus 10 (step ST1). Specifically, the gain is initially set for each of the receivers RX 1 ,..., RX N in the array antenna apparatus 10.
  • the band selection unit 22 outputs the signal component of the frequency band NB 1 in the interference signal input from the signal synthesis unit 21 as the analog filter signal FS 1 .
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 waits until the digital filter signal FS 1 is input from the A / D conversion unit 23 (NO in step ST3).
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 stores the value of the digital filter signal FS 1 in the memory (step ST4).
  • the control unit 26 increments the band number m by 1 (step ST6).
  • the pass band Bf of the band selection unit 22 is set to the second frequency band NB2.
  • the band selection unit 22 outputs the signal component of the frequency band NB 2 in the interference signal input from the signal synthesis unit 21 as the analog filter signal FS 2 .
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 stores the value of the digital filter signal FS 2 in the memory (step ST4 ).
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 a digital filter signal FS 1, ..., collates with the database the frequency characteristic of the FS M ( Step ST10). Specifically, the arrival direction estimation unit 24, a digital filter signal FS 1, ..., and calculates the respective frequency characteristics of the FS M, and the calculated frequency characteristics, the frequency of the radio wave is defined in the database Of the combinations with characteristics, the combination showing the highest correlation is detected. When the combination is detected, the arrival direction estimation unit 24 estimates that the arrival direction corresponding to the combination is the arrival direction of the received radio wave.
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 returns the procedure of the DOA estimation process to step ST2. For example, if the degree of correlation is lower than the threshold for all combinations of the above-described calculated frequency characteristics and the frequency characteristics of the radio wave defined in the database, it can be determined that the DOA estimation has not been successful. .
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 outputs estimation data indicating the estimation result (step ST12). Thereby, the DOA estimation process ends.
  • the functions of the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26 described above can be realized by a processor that executes a computer program.
  • the function may be realized by an LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit) such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).
  • FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the signal processing unit 30 that mainly realizes the functions of the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26.
  • 3 includes a processor 31 including a CPU 31C, a signal input interface 32, an A / D converter (ADC) 33, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 34, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 35, an HDD (Hard Disk). And a large-capacity recording medium 36 such as a drive and a flash memory, and an input / output interface 38.
  • ADC A/ D converter
  • RAM Random Access Memory
  • ROM Read Only Memory
  • HDD Hard Disk
  • the processor 31 loads the computer program recorded in either the ROM 35 or the large-capacity recording medium 36, and operates according to this computer program, so that the functions of the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26 are performed.
  • the RAM 34 is used as a working storage area for the processor 31.
  • the RAM 34 is used as a storage area for temporarily storing the values of the digital filter signals FS 1 ,..., FS M.
  • the ADC 33 can function as the A / D converter 23. That is, the ADC 33 converts the analog filter signal input from the band selection unit 22 into a digital filter signal, and supplies the digital filter signal to the processor 31 via the signal input interface 32 and the bus 37. it can.
  • the ROM 35 or the large-capacity recording medium 36 can function as the data storage unit 25.
  • the input / output interface 38 can function as an interface to the array antenna device 10 and the band selection unit 22 described above.
  • the control unit 26 changes the passband Bf of the band selection unit 22.
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 calculates the frequency characteristic of the signal component that has passed through the changing pass band Bf, and compares the calculated frequency characteristic with the database in the data storage unit 25 to determine the arrival direction of the received radio wave. Estimated. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the arrival direction of the received radio waves in a relatively wide band with a certain accuracy. For example, when a wide-band radio wave generated by a frequent discharge phenomenon intermittently arrives at the direction finding device 1, since the radio wave having the same generation factor intermittently arrives, it resembles the frequency characteristics of the radio wave even at different observation times. Sex is considered to exist.
  • the direction finding device 1 of the present embodiment can detect the arrival direction of a broadband radio wave generated by this type of discharge phenomenon.
  • the present embodiment can realize a simplified hardware configuration of the direction finding device and, in turn, a reduction in manufacturing cost as compared with the prior art.
  • the performance of an A / D converter is required to be higher as the frequency of the input signal to the A / D converter is higher.
  • the hardware scale of this type of A / D converter is required. Is big.
  • the A / D converter 23 of the present embodiment is provided at a stage subsequent to the signal synthesizer 21 and the band selector 22, so it is sufficient to digitize one system of analog signals. . Therefore, the direction finding device 1 does not need to have a large-scale circuit configuration for digitizing the outputs of the N systems of the receivers RX 1 ,..., RX N , and thus simplifies the hardware configuration of the direction finding device 1. be able to.
  • FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the direction finding device 1M according to the second embodiment.
  • the direction finding device 1M includes an array antenna device 10 having the same configuration as the array antenna device 10 of the first embodiment.
  • the direction finding device 1M includes a band selection unit 40 that filters N analog received signals output in parallel from the array antenna device 10 and outputs N analog filter signals in parallel, and these N systems.
  • a signal synthesizer 42 that synthesizes the analog filter signal
  • an A / D converter 23 that digitizes the analog output of the signal synthesizer 42, and the arrival direction of the received radio wave based on the digital output of the A / D converter 23
  • the direction-of-arrival estimation unit 24 that estimates the frequency
  • a data storage unit 25 that stores a database relating to frequency characteristics of radio waves
  • a control unit 26M that controls the frequency from the array antenna device 10 and outputs N analog filter signals in parallel, and these N systems.
  • the configuration of the A / D conversion unit 23, the arrival direction estimation unit 24, and the data storage unit 25 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the A / D conversion unit 23, the arrival direction estimation unit 24, and the data storage unit 25 illustrated in FIG. The detailed description is omitted.
  • the control unit 26M has a function of controlling the operations of the receivers RX 1 ,..., RX N and the arrival direction estimation unit 24 of the array antenna apparatus 10 in the same manner as the control unit 26 of the first embodiment.
  • the control unit 26M of the present embodiment has a function of controlling the pass band of the band selecting unit 40.
  • the band selection unit 40 includes N analog filters 41 1 , 41 2 ,..., 41 N having a common pass band Bf that is variably set. These analog filters 41 1, 41 2, ..., 41 N are each receiver RX 1, RX 2, ..., to filter the output of the RX N. Control unit 26M, these analog filters 41 1, ..., 41 N and are individually controlled, the analog filter 41 1, ..., a passband Bf of 41 N, a plurality of frequency bands NB 1 having different center frequencies, ..., It can be set to any one of NB M (M is an integer of 2 or more).
  • the frequency bands NB 1 ,..., NB M may be continuous in the frequency domain or discontinuous.
  • the signal synthesizer 42 synthesizes the N analog filter signals input from the band selector 40 to cause the N analog filter signals to interfere with each other to generate and output an interference signal.
  • the signal synthesis unit 42 can be configured using, for example, a waveguide structure.
  • the A / D converter 23 converts the analog output of the signal synthesizer 42 into a digital filter signal, and supplies this digital filter signal to the arrival direction estimation unit 24.
  • the digital filter signal is a complex digital signal having phase information and amplitude information.
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26M can execute the DOA estimation process according to the procedure shown in FIG.
  • the functions of the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26M can be realized by the signal processing unit 30 shown in FIG.
  • the control unit 26M changes the pass band Bf of the band selecting unit 40.
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 calculates the frequency characteristic of the signal component that has passed through the changing pass band Bf, and compares the calculated frequency characteristic with the database in the data storage unit 25 to determine the arrival direction of the received radio wave. Estimated. Therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment, it is possible to estimate the direction of arrival of received radio waves in a relatively wide band with a certain accuracy, and thus the hardware configuration of the direction finding device is simplified compared with the conventional technique, and consequently Reduction of manufacturing cost can be realized.
  • FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the direction finding device 2 according to the third embodiment.
  • the direction finding device 2 includes an antenna device 11 that receives an incoming radio wave having a phase difference.
  • the antenna device 11 includes a radio wave interference unit 11c that generates an interference wave by causing the incoming radio waves to interfere with each other with the structure of the antenna device 11 itself.
  • the antenna device 11 outputs an interference signal that is an analog reception signal corresponding to the interference wave.
  • an aperture antenna such as a known parabolic antenna can be used.
  • a parabolic antenna includes a reflector having a rotating paraboloid and a receiving unit arranged at the focal point of the rotating paraboloid. When a plane wave enters the reflector as an incoming radio wave, the incoming radio wave reflected by the rotating paraboloid of the reflector is collected at the receiver and interferes.
  • the direction finding device 2 includes a band selection unit 22, an A / D conversion unit 23, an arrival direction estimation unit 24, and a data storage unit 25.
  • the configuration of the A / D conversion unit 23, the arrival direction estimation unit 24, and the data storage unit 25 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the A / D conversion unit 23, the arrival direction estimation unit 24, and the data storage unit 25 illustrated in FIG. The detailed description is omitted.
  • the control unit 26K has a function of controlling the operations of the band selection unit 22 and the arrival direction estimation unit 24, similarly to the control unit 26 of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of the procedure of DOA estimation processing according to the present embodiment.
  • This arrival direction estimation process is mainly executed by the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26K.
  • the band selection unit 22 outputs the signal component of the frequency band NB 1 among the interference signals input from the antenna device 11 as the analog filter signal FS 1 .
  • Arrival direction estimating unit 24 stands by the A / D converter 23 to digital filter signal FS 1 is input (NO in step ST23).
  • digital filter signal FS 1 to the arrival direction estimation unit 24 is input (YES in step ST23)
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 stores the value of the digital filter signal FS 1 in the memory (step ST24).
  • the control unit 26K increments the band number m by 1 (step ST26).
  • the pass band Bf of the band selection unit 22 is set to the second frequency band NB2.
  • the band selection unit 22 outputs the signal component of the frequency band NB 2 in the interference signal input from the antenna device 11 as the analog filter signal FS 2 .
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 stores the value of the digital filter signal FS 2 in the memory (step ST24 ).
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 performs digital filter signal FS 1, ..., collates with the database the frequency characteristic of the FS M (step ST30).
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 returns the procedure of the DOA estimation process to step ST22.
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 outputs estimation data indicating the estimation result (step ST32). Thereby, the DOA estimation process ends.
  • the control unit 26K changes the pass band Bf of the band selecting unit 22.
  • the arrival direction estimation unit 24 calculates the frequency characteristic of the signal component that has passed through the changing pass band Bf, and compares the calculated frequency characteristic with the database in the data storage unit 25 to determine the arrival direction of the received radio wave. Estimated. Therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment, it is possible to estimate the direction of arrival of received radio waves in a relatively wide band with a certain accuracy, and thus the hardware configuration of the direction finding device is simplified compared with the conventional technique, and consequently Reduction of manufacturing cost can be realized.
  • the array antenna apparatus 10 includes three or more antenna elements AN 1, AN 2, ..., have the AN N, but is not limited thereto.
  • the number of antenna elements may be two.
  • the antenna element AN 1 From the viewpoint of improving the arrival direction estimation accuracy of the received radio wave, the antenna element AN 1, ..., it is desirable that the geometrically asymmetrical arrangement the arrangement of AN N.
  • the probe device according to the present invention is suitable for use in a radio wave receiver, and in particular, suitable for use in a radio wave receiver for specifying a discharge generation source for radio waves generated by a discharge phenomenon. Yes.
  • AN 1 to AN N antenna elements RX 1 to RX N receivers, 1,1M, 2 direction finding devices, 10 array antenna devices, 11 antenna devices, 11c radio wave interference units, 21 signal synthesis units, 22 band selection units, 23 A / D conversion unit, 24 arrival direction estimation unit, 25 data storage unit, 26, 26M, 26K control unit, 30 signal processing unit, 31 processor, 31C CPU, 32 signal input interface, 33 A / D converter (ADC) 34 RAM, 35 ROM, 36 Large capacity recording medium, 37 bus, 38 I / O interface, 40 band selection unit, 41 1 to 41 N analog filter, 42 signal synthesis unit.
  • ADC ADC

Abstract

A direction finder (1) is provided with: an antenna device (10) for outputting N-system analog input signals in parallel; a signal-synthesizing unit (21) for synthesizing the N-system analog input signals to thereby cause the signals to mutually interfere; a band selection unit (22) for selectively outputting signal components in a passband among the outputs of the signal-synthesizing unit (21); an A/D conversion unit (23) for digitizing the output of the band selection unit (22); a data storage unit (25) for saving a database in which a correspondence between the frequency characteristics of an radio wave and the direction of arrival of the radio waves is established; a control unit (26) for controlling the band selection unit (22) to change the passband; and a direction of arrival estimation unit (24). The direction of arrival estimation unit (24) calculates the frequency characteristics of the output of the A/D conversion unit (23) and verifies the calculated frequency characteristics with the database to thereby estimate the direction of arrival of received radio waves.

Description

方探装置Detecting device
　本発明は、電波の到来方向を推定する技術に関する。 The present invention relates to a technique for estimating the arrival direction of radio waves.
　電波の到来方向（ＤＯＡ：Ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎ　Ｏｆ　Ａｒｒｉｖａｌ）を推定する技術では、電波源に対して一定の大きさを持つ受信空間において到来電波に関する情報を収集し、あるいは、電波源から当該受信空間へ空間的な拡がりをもって到来する電波を物理的に合成することでその到来方向の探知（以下「方探」ともいう。）が行われる。 In the technology that estimates the direction of arrival of radio waves (DOA: Direction Of Arrival), information on incoming radio waves is collected in a reception space having a certain size with respect to the radio wave source, or spatially from the radio wave source to the reception space. Detection of the direction of arrival (hereinafter also referred to as “direction search”) is performed by physically synthesizing radio waves arriving with a wide spread.
　この種のＤＯＡ推定技術は、たとえば、特許文献１（特開２００４－２４７９６４号公報）、特許文献２（特開２００５－０３７３５４号公報）及び下記の非特許文献１に開示されている。特許文献１には、アレイアンテナ部で得られる受信信号に高速フーリエ変換処理を施して当該受信信号の周波数成分を算出し、当該周波数成分に基づいて受信信号の到来方位を検出する技術が開示されている。一方、特許文献２及び非特許文献１には、ＭＵＳＩＣ（ＭＵｌｔｉｐｌｅ　ＳＩｇｎａｌ　Ｃｌａｓｓｉｆｉｃａｔｉｏｎ）と呼ばれるＤＯＡ推定技術が開示されている。 This type of DOA estimation technique is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-247964), Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-037354), and Non-Patent Document 1 below. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for calculating a frequency component of the received signal by performing a fast Fourier transform process on the received signal obtained by the array antenna unit, and detecting an arrival direction of the received signal based on the frequency component. ing. On the other hand, Patent Document 2 and Non-Patent Document 1 disclose DOA estimation technology called MUSIC (Multiple Signal Classification).
特開２００４－２４７９６４号公報JP 2004-247964 A 特開２００５－０３７３５４号公報JP 2005-037354 A
　従来のＤＯＡ推定技術では、電波の到来方向を高精度に推定するために、その到来方向を推定する方探装置のハードウェア規模が大きくなり、その製造コストが高くなるという課題がある。 In the conventional DOA estimation technique, in order to estimate the arrival direction of radio waves with high accuracy, there is a problem that the hardware scale of the direction finding device for estimating the arrival direction becomes large and its manufacturing cost increases.
　上記に鑑みて本発明の目的は、ハードウェア構成の簡素化及び製造コストの低減を実現し得る方探装置を提供する点にある。 In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a direction finding device capable of realizing a simplified hardware configuration and a reduced manufacturing cost.
　本発明の第１の態様による方探装置は、位相差を有する電波を受信可能なＮ本（Ｎは２以上の整数）のアンテナ素子を有し、当該Ｎ本のアンテナ素子の出力にそれぞれ対応するＮ系統のアナログ受信信号を並列に出力するアンテナ装置と、前記Ｎ系統のアナログ受信信号を合成することにより当該Ｎ系統のアナログ受信信号を互いに干渉させて干渉信号を生成する信号合成部と、可変に設定される通過帯域を有し、前記干渉信号のうち前記通過帯域の信号成分を選択的に出力する帯域選択部と、前記帯域選択部の出力をディジタル化するＡ／Ｄ変換部と、電波の周波数特性と該電波の到来方向との間の対応関係を定めるデータベースが格納されているデータ記憶部と、前記帯域選択部を制御して前記通過帯域を変化させる制御部と、前記Ａ／Ｄ変換部の出力の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性を前記データベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定する到来方向推定部とを備えることを特徴とする。 The direction finding device according to the first aspect of the present invention has N antenna elements (N is an integer of 2 or more) capable of receiving a radio wave having a phase difference, and corresponds to the outputs of the N antenna elements, respectively. An N-channel analog reception signal that is output in parallel; a signal synthesis unit that generates an interference signal by interfering with the N-system analog reception signals by synthesizing the N-system analog reception signals; A band selection unit that has a passband that is variably set and selectively outputs a signal component of the passband of the interference signal; an A / D conversion unit that digitizes the output of the band selection unit; A data storage unit storing a database for defining a correspondence relationship between the frequency characteristics of the radio wave and the arrival direction of the radio wave, a control unit for controlling the band selection unit to change the passband, and the A Calculate the frequency characteristic of the output of D converter, characterized in that the calculated frequency characteristics and a DOA estimating unit for estimating the direction of arrival of received radio waves by comparing with the database.
　本発明の第２の態様による方探装置は、位相差を有する到来電波を受信可能なＮ本（Ｎは２以上の整数）のアンテナ素子を有し、当該Ｎ本のアンテナ素子の出力にそれぞれ対応するＮ系統のアナログ受信信号を並列に出力するアンテナ装置と、可変に設定される通過帯域を有し、前記Ｎ系統のアナログ受信信号にそれぞれフィルタリングを施すことにより前記通過帯域の信号成分としてＮ系統のフィルタ信号を並列に出力する帯域選択部と、前記Ｎ系統のフィルタ信号を合成することにより当該Ｎ系統のフィルタ信号を互いに干渉させる信号合成部と、前記信号合成部の出力をディジタル化するＡ／Ｄ変換部と、電波の周波数特性と該電波の到来方向との間の対応関係を定めるデータベースが格納されているデータ記憶部と、前記帯域選択部を制御して前記通過帯域を変化させる制御部と、前記Ａ／Ｄ変換部の出力の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性を前記データベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定する到来方向推定部とを備えることを特徴とする。 The direction finding device according to the second aspect of the present invention has N (N is an integer of 2 or more) antenna elements that can receive incoming radio waves having a phase difference, and outputs N antenna elements respectively. An antenna apparatus that outputs the corresponding N analog received signals in parallel, and a passband that is variably set. By filtering each of the N analog received signals, N is obtained as a signal component of the passband. A band selection unit for outputting the filter signals of the system in parallel, a signal synthesis unit for synthesizing the filter signals of the N systems by interfering with the filter signals of the N systems, and digitizing the output of the signal synthesis unit An A / D conversion unit, a data storage unit storing a database for defining a correspondence relationship between a frequency characteristic of a radio wave and an arrival direction of the radio wave, and the band selection The frequency characteristic of the output of the A / D converter and the control unit that changes the passband by controlling the frequency, and the arrival direction of the received radio wave is estimated by comparing the calculated frequency characteristic with the database And an arrival direction estimating unit.
　本発明の第３の態様による方探装置は、位相差を有する到来電波を互いに干渉させることで干渉波を発生させ、当該干渉波に対応するアナログ受信信号を出力するアンテナ装置と、可変に設定された通過帯域を有し、前記アナログ受信信号のうち前記通過帯域の信号成分を選択的に出力する帯域選択部と、前記帯域選択部の出力をディジタル化するＡ／Ｄ変換部と、電波の周波数特性と該電波の到来方向との間の対応関係を定めるデータベースが格納されているデータ記憶部と、前記帯域選択部を制御して前記通過帯域を変化させる制御部と、前記Ａ／Ｄ変換部の出力の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性を前記データベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定する到来方向推定部とを備えることを特徴とする。 A direction finding device according to a third aspect of the present invention includes an antenna device that generates an interference wave by causing interference between incoming radio waves having a phase difference and outputs an analog reception signal corresponding to the interference wave, and is variably set A band selector that selectively outputs a signal component of the passband of the analog reception signal, an A / D converter that digitizes the output of the band selector, and a radio wave A data storage unit storing a database for defining a correspondence relationship between the frequency characteristic and the arrival direction of the radio wave, a control unit for controlling the band selection unit to change the pass band, and the A / D conversion And an arrival direction estimation unit that estimates the arrival direction of the received radio wave by calculating the frequency characteristic of the output of the unit and comparing the calculated frequency characteristic with the database.
　本発明によれば、制御部は、帯域選択部の通過帯域を変化させる。到来方向推定部は、その変化する通過帯域を通過した信号成分の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性をデータベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定する。したがって、受信電波の到来方向を一定の精度で推定することができ、従来技術と比べて方探装置のハードウェア構成の簡素化、ひいては製造コストの低減を実現することもできる。 According to the present invention, the control unit changes the pass band of the band selection unit. The arrival direction estimation unit calculates the frequency characteristic of the signal component that has passed through the changing passband, and estimates the arrival direction of the received radio wave by comparing the calculated frequency characteristic with a database. Therefore, the arrival direction of the received radio wave can be estimated with a certain accuracy, and the hardware configuration of the direction finding device can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the prior art.
本発明に係る実施の形態１の方探装置の概略構成を示す機能ブロック図である。It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the direction finding apparatus of Embodiment 1 which concerns on this invention. 実施の形態１に係る到来方向推定処理の手順を概略的に示すフローチャートである。3 is a flowchart schematically showing a procedure of direction-of-arrival estimation processing according to Embodiment 1. 実施の形態１に係る信号処理ユニットの構成例を示す機能ブロック図である。3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a signal processing unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 本発明に係る実施の形態２の方探装置の概略構成を示す機能ブロック図である。It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the direction finding apparatus of Embodiment 2 which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る実施の形態３の方探装置の概略構成を示す機能ブロック図である。It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the direction finding apparatus of Embodiment 3 which concerns on this invention. 実施の形態３に係る到来方向推定処理の手順を概略的に示すフローチャートである。10 is a flowchart schematically showing a procedure of direction-of-arrival estimation processing according to Embodiment 3.
　以下、図面を参照しつつ、本発明に係る種々の実施の形態について詳細に説明する。なお、図面において同一符号を付された構成要素は、同一機能及び同一構成を有するものとする。 Hereinafter, various embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the component which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in drawing shall have the same function and the same structure.
実施の形態１．
　図１は、本発明に係る実施の形態１の方探装置１の概略構成を示す機能ブロック図である。図１に示されるように、この方探装置１は、Ｎ本のアンテナ素子ＡＮ１，ＡＮ２，…，ＡＮＮを有するアレーアンテナ装置１０を備えている。ここで、Ｎは、３以上の整数である。これらアンテナ素子ＡＮ１，…，ＡＮＮは、位相差を有する到来電波を受信可能となるように規則的に配列されている。電波の到来方向を推定するためには、電波の空間分布を観測する必要があるので、アンテナ素子ＡＮ１，…，ＡＮＮは、一定の空間の広がりをもって配置されている。よって、電波源からアンテナ素子ＡＮ１，…，ＡＮＮへ至る電波の伝搬経路は複数存在する。なお、本実施の形態の観測対象としては、放電現象により発生する広帯域の電波が挙げられるが、これに限定されるものではない。 Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a direction finding device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the direction finding device 1 includes an array antenna device 10 having N antenna elements AN 1 , AN 2 ,. Here, N is an integer of 3 or more. These antenna elements AN 1 ,..., AN N are regularly arranged so that incoming radio waves having a phase difference can be received. To estimate the direction of arrival of radio waves, it is necessary to observe the spatial distribution of the radio wave, the antenna element AN 1, ..., AN N are disposed with the spread of certain space. Thus, the antenna element AN 1 from the radio wave source, ..., propagation paths of radio waves There are multiple leading to AN N. Note that the observation target of the present embodiment includes broadband radio waves generated by a discharge phenomenon, but is not limited to this.
　また、アレーアンテナ装置１０は、アンテナ素子ＡＮ１，ＡＮ２，…，ＡＮＮの出力にそれぞれ増幅処理を施すことでＮ系統のアナログ受信信号を生成する受信器ＲＸ１，ＲＸ２，…，ＲＸＮを備えている。 Also, the array antenna apparatus 10, the antenna element AN 1, AN 2, ..., receiver RX 1 for generating an analog reception signal of N lines by performing each amplification processing to the output of AN N, RX 2, ..., RX N.
　更に、方探装置１は、アレーアンテナ装置１０から並列に出力されたＮ系統のアナログ受信信号を合成する信号合成部２１と、信号合成部２１の出力をフィルタリングする帯域選択部２２と、帯域選択部２２のアナログ出力をディジタル化するＡ／Ｄ変換部２３と、Ａ／Ｄ変換部２３のディジタル出力に基づいて受信電波の到来方向を推定する到来方向推定部２４と、電波の周波数特性に関するデータベースが格納されているデータ記憶部２５と、制御部２６とを備えている。制御部２６は、アレーアンテナ装置１０の受信器ＲＸ１，…，ＲＸＮ、帯域選択部２２及び到来方向推定部２４のそれぞれの動作を制御する。 Further, the direction finding device 1 includes a signal synthesis unit 21 that synthesizes N analog reception signals output in parallel from the array antenna device 10, a band selection unit 22 that filters the output of the signal synthesis unit 21, and a band selection. A / D conversion unit 23 for digitizing the analog output of the unit 22, an arrival direction estimation unit 24 for estimating the arrival direction of the received radio wave based on the digital output of the A / D conversion unit 23, and a database relating to the frequency characteristics of the radio wave Is stored, and a control unit 26 is provided. The control unit 26 controls the operations of the receivers RX 1 ,..., RX N , the band selection unit 22 and the arrival direction estimation unit 24 of the array antenna apparatus 10.
　信号合成部２１は、アレーアンテナ装置１０から入力されたＮ系統のアナログ受信信号を合成することにより当該Ｎ系統のアナログ受信信号を互いに干渉させて干渉信号を生成する。信号合成部２１は、たとえば、導波管構造を用いて構成することができる。  The signal synthesizer 21 synthesizes the N analog received signals input from the array antenna apparatus 10 to cause the N analog received signals to interfere with each other to generate an interference signal. The signal synthesizer 21 can be configured using, for example, a waveguide structure.
　帯域選択部２２は、可変に設定される通過帯域Ｂｆを有するアナログフィルタで構成されている。制御部２６は、帯域選択部２２を制御して、この帯域選択部２２の通過帯域Ｂｆを、中心周波数の異なる複数の周波数帯域ＮＢ１，…，ＮＢＭ（Ｍは２以上の整数）のいずれかに設定することができる。周波数帯域ＮＢ１，…，ＮＢＭは、周波数領域で連続していてもよいし、不連続であってもよい。帯域選択部２２は、信号合成部２１から入力された干渉信号のうち通過帯域Ｂｆの信号成分をアナログ・フィルタ信号として出力する。Ａ／Ｄ変換部２３は、帯域選択部２２のアナログ出力をディジタル・フィルタ信号に変換し、このディジタル・フィルタ信号を到来方向推定部２４に供給する。ここで、当該ディジタル・フィルタ信号は、位相情報及び振幅情報を有する複素ディジタル信号である。 The band selection unit 22 includes an analog filter having a variably set pass band Bf. The control unit 26 controls the band selecting unit 22 so that the pass band Bf of the band selecting unit 22 is any of a plurality of frequency bands NB 1 ,..., NB M (M is an integer of 2 or more) having different center frequencies. Can be set. The frequency bands NB 1 ,..., NB M may be continuous in the frequency domain or discontinuous. The band selection unit 22 outputs the signal component of the pass band Bf among the interference signals input from the signal synthesis unit 21 as an analog filter signal. The A / D conversion unit 23 converts the analog output of the band selection unit 22 into a digital filter signal, and supplies the digital filter signal to the arrival direction estimation unit 24. Here, the digital filter signal is a complex digital signal having phase information and amplitude information.
　一方、データ記憶部２５には、アレーアンテナ装置１０に到来するであろう電波の周波数特性と当該電波の到来方向との対応関係を定めるデータベースが格納されている。このデータベースは、実験的環境下での測定結果または理論的な計算結果に基づいて事前に作成され、データ記憶部２５に記録されたものである。当該電波の周波数特性としては、振幅スペクトルまたはパワースペクトルを使用することができる。 On the other hand, the data storage unit 25 stores a database that defines the correspondence between the frequency characteristics of radio waves that will arrive at the array antenna apparatus 10 and the arrival directions of the radio waves. This database is created in advance based on a measurement result or a theoretical calculation result in an experimental environment, and is recorded in the data storage unit 25. As the frequency characteristic of the radio wave, an amplitude spectrum or a power spectrum can be used.
　到来方向推定部２４は、Ａ／Ｄ変換部２３から入力されたディジタル・フィルタ信号の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性をデータ記憶部２５内のデータベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定することができる。たとえば、到来方向推定部２４は、当該計算された周波数特性と、データベース内の複数個の周波数特性との間の相関分析を行うことにより、データベース内に記録されている複数個の周波数特性のうち、当該計算された周波数特性と最も高い相関度を有する周波数特性を選択することができる。到来方向推定部２４は、データベースにおいて当該選択された周波数特性に対応する到来方向を受信電波の到来方向であると推定し、その推定結果を示す推定データを出力する。 The arrival direction estimation unit 24 calculates the frequency characteristics of the digital filter signal input from the A / D conversion unit 23, and compares the calculated frequency characteristics with a database in the data storage unit 25, thereby The direction of arrival can be estimated. For example, the direction-of-arrival estimation unit 24 performs correlation analysis between the calculated frequency characteristic and a plurality of frequency characteristics in the database, so that among the plurality of frequency characteristics recorded in the database, The frequency characteristic having the highest degree of correlation with the calculated frequency characteristic can be selected. The arrival direction estimation unit 24 estimates that the arrival direction corresponding to the selected frequency characteristic in the database is the arrival direction of the received radio wave, and outputs estimation data indicating the estimation result.
　制御部２６は、アレーアンテナ装置１０における受信器ＲＸ１，…，ＲＸＮの増幅処理の利得を個別に制御し、これによりアレーアンテナ装置１０全体の受信利得を最適化することができる。また、制御部２６は、到来方向推定部２４による推定結果の精度が低いと判断した場合は、再度、到来方向推定部２４に到来方向を推定させることもできる。たとえば、ディジタル・フィルタ信号に基づいて計算された周波数特性とデータベース内の周波数特性との間の相関度を示す数値のいずれもが閾値を下回る場合には、到来方向推定部２４による推定結果の精度が低いと判断することができる。 The control unit 26 individually controls the gain of amplification processing of the receivers RX 1 ,..., RX N in the array antenna apparatus 10, thereby optimizing the reception gain of the entire array antenna apparatus 10. In addition, when the control unit 26 determines that the accuracy of the estimation result by the arrival direction estimation unit 24 is low, the control unit 26 can cause the arrival direction estimation unit 24 to estimate the arrival direction again. For example, when any of the numerical values indicating the degree of correlation between the frequency characteristic calculated based on the digital filter signal and the frequency characteristic in the database is lower than the threshold, the accuracy of the estimation result by the arrival direction estimation unit 24 Can be determined to be low.
　次に、図２を参照しつつ、上記方探装置１の動作について説明する。図２は、本実施の形態に係る到来方向（ＤＯＡ：Ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎ　Ｏｆ　Ａｒｒｉｖａｌ）推定処理の手順の例を概略的に示すフローチャートである。この到来方向推定処理は、主に到来方向推定部２４及び制御部２６により実行される。 Next, the operation of the direction finding device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of a procedure of DOA (Direction Of Arrival) estimation processing according to the present embodiment. This arrival direction estimation process is mainly executed by the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26.
　図２を参照すると、まず、制御部２６は、アレーアンテナ装置１０に対する初期設定を行う（ステップＳＴ１）。具体的には、アレーアンテナ装置１０における受信器ＲＸ１，…，ＲＸＮに対してそれぞれ利得の初期設定を行う。次いで、制御部２６は、帯域番号ｍを初期値（＝１）に設定することにより、帯域選択部２２の通過帯域Ｂｆを１番目の周波数帯域ＮＢ１に設定する（ステップＳＴ２）。この結果、帯域選択部２２は、信号合成部２１から入力された干渉信号のうち周波数帯域ＮＢ１の信号成分をアナログ・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１として出力する。 Referring to FIG. 2, first, the control unit 26 performs initial setting for the array antenna apparatus 10 (step ST1). Specifically, the gain is initially set for each of the receivers RX 1 ,..., RX N in the array antenna apparatus 10. Next, the control unit 26 sets the pass band Bf of the band selection unit 22 to the first frequency band NB 1 by setting the band number m to an initial value (= 1) (step ST2). As a result, the band selection unit 22 outputs the signal component of the frequency band NB 1 in the interference signal input from the signal synthesis unit 21 as the analog filter signal FS 1 .
　到来方向推定部２４は、Ａ／Ｄ変換部２３からディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１が入力されるまで待機している（ステップＳＴ３のＮＯ）。到来方向推定部２４にディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１が入力されたとき（ステップＳＴ３のＹＥＳ）、到来方向推定部２４は、当該ディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１の値をメモリに記憶する（ステップＳＴ４）。 The arrival direction estimation unit 24 waits until the digital filter signal FS 1 is input from the A / D conversion unit 23 (NO in step ST3). When digital filter signal FS 1 to the arrival direction estimation unit 24 is input (YES in step ST3), the arrival direction estimation unit 24 stores the value of the digital filter signal FS 1 in the memory (step ST4).
　次に、制御部２６は、帯域番号ｍが最大値（＝Ｍ）に到達していない場合（ステップＳＴ５のＮＯ）、帯域番号ｍを１だけインクリメントする（ステップＳＴ６）。これにより、帯域選択部２２の通過帯域Ｂｆは２番目の周波数帯域ＮＢ２に設定される。この結果、帯域選択部２２は、信号合成部２１から入力された干渉信号のうち周波数帯域ＮＢ２の信号成分をアナログ・フィルタ信号ＦＳ２として出力する。そして、到来方向推定部２４にディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ２が入力されたとき（ステップＳＴ３のＹＥＳ）、到来方向推定部２４は、当該ディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ２の値をメモリに記憶する（ステップＳＴ４）。 Next, when the band number m has not reached the maximum value (= M) (NO in step ST5), the control unit 26 increments the band number m by 1 (step ST6). Thereby, the pass band Bf of the band selection unit 22 is set to the second frequency band NB2. As a result, the band selection unit 22 outputs the signal component of the frequency band NB 2 in the interference signal input from the signal synthesis unit 21 as the analog filter signal FS 2 . When the digital filter signal FS 2 is input to the arrival direction estimation unit 24 (YES in step ST3), the arrival direction estimation unit 24 stores the value of the digital filter signal FS 2 in the memory (step ST4 ).
　その後、帯域番号ｍが最大値（＝Ｍ）に到達したとき（ステップＳＴ５のＹＥＳ）、到来方向推定部２４は、ディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１，…，ＦＳＭの周波数特性をデータベースと照合する（ステップＳＴ１０）。具体的には、到来方向推定部２４は、ディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１，…，ＦＳＭのそれぞれの周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性と、データベースに定められている当該電波の周波数特性との組み合わせのうち、最も高い相関を示す組み合わせを検出しようとする。当該組み合わせが検出された場合、到来方向推定部２４は、当該組み合わせに対応する到来方向が受信電波の到来方向であると推定する。 Then, when the band number m reaches the maximum value (= M) (YES in step ST5), the arrival direction estimation unit 24, a digital filter signal FS 1, ..., collates with the database the frequency characteristic of the FS M ( Step ST10). Specifically, the arrival direction estimation unit 24, a digital filter signal FS 1, ..., and calculates the respective frequency characteristics of the FS M, and the calculated frequency characteristics, the frequency of the radio wave is defined in the database Of the combinations with characteristics, the combination showing the highest correlation is detected. When the combination is detected, the arrival direction estimation unit 24 estimates that the arrival direction corresponding to the combination is the arrival direction of the received radio wave.
　ＤＯＡ推定に成功しなかった場合（ステップＳＴ１１のＮＯ）、到来方向推定部２４は、当該ＤＯＡ推定処理の手順をステップＳＴ２に戻す。たとえば、前述の計算された周波数特性と、データベースに定められている当該電波の周波数特性との組み合わせの全てについて相関度が閾値を下回る場合には、ＤＯＡ推定に成功しなかったと判定することができる。一方、ＤＯＡ推定に成功した場合には（ステップＳＴ１１のＹＥＳ）、到来方向推定部２４は、その推定結果を示す推定データを出力する（ステップＳＴ１２）。これにより、ＤＯＡ推定処理は終了する。 If the DOA estimation is not successful (NO in step ST11), the arrival direction estimation unit 24 returns the procedure of the DOA estimation process to step ST2. For example, if the degree of correlation is lower than the threshold for all combinations of the above-described calculated frequency characteristics and the frequency characteristics of the radio wave defined in the database, it can be determined that the DOA estimation has not been successful. . On the other hand, when the DOA estimation is successful (YES in step ST11), the arrival direction estimation unit 24 outputs estimation data indicating the estimation result (step ST12). Thereby, the DOA estimation process ends.
　上記した到来方向推定部２４及び制御部２６の機能は、コンピュータ・プログラムを実行するプロセッサにより実現可能である。また、当該機能は、ＦＰＧＡ（Ｆｉｅｌｄ－Ｐｒｏｇｒａｍｍａｂｌｅ　Ｇａｔｅ  Ａｒｒａｙ）またはＡＳＩＣ（Ａｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎ　Ｓｐｅｃｉｆｉｃ　Ｉｎｔｅｇｒａｔｅｄ　Ｃｉｒｃｕｉｔ）などのＬＳＩ（Ｌａｒｇｅ　Ｓｃａｌｅ　Ｉｎｔｅｇｒａｔｅｄ　ｃｉｒｃｕｉｔ）により実現されてもよい。 The functions of the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26 described above can be realized by a processor that executes a computer program. The function may be realized by an LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit) such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).
　図３は、主に到来方向推定部２４及び制御部２６の機能を実現する信号処理ユニット３０の構成例を概略的に示す機能ブロック図である。図３の信号処理ユニット３０は、ＣＰＵ３１Ｃを含むプロセッサ３１、信号入力インタフェース３２、Ａ／Ｄ変換器（ＡＤＣ）３３、ＲＡＭ（Ｒａｎｄｏｍ　Ａｃｃｅｓｓ　Ｍｅｍｏｒｙ）３４、ＲＯＭ（Ｒｅａｄ　Ｏｎｌｙ　Ｍｅｍｏｒｙ）３５、ＨＤＤ（Ｈａｒｄ　Ｄｉｓｋ　Ｄｒｉｖｅ）やフラッシュメモリなどの大容量記録媒体３６、並びに入出力インタフェース３８を有する。これら構成要素３１，３２，３４，３５，３６，３８は、バス３７を介して相互に接続されている。 FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the signal processing unit 30 that mainly realizes the functions of the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26. 3 includes a processor 31 including a CPU 31C, a signal input interface 32, an A / D converter (ADC) 33, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 34, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 35, an HDD (Hard Disk). And a large-capacity recording medium 36 such as a drive and a flash memory, and an input / output interface 38. These components 31, 32, 34, 35, 36 and 38 are connected to each other via a bus 37.
　プロセッサ３１は、ＲＯＭ３５または大容量記録媒体３６のいずれか一方の記録媒体に記録されているコンピュータプログラムをロードし、このコンピュータプログラムに従って動作することにより、到来方向推定部２４及び制御部２６の機能を実現する。ＲＡＭ３４は、プロセッサ３１の作業用の記憶領域として使用される。たとえば、上記ディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１，…，ＦＳＭの値を一時的に記憶する記憶領域としてＲＡＭ３４が利用される。また、ＡＤＣ３３は、上記Ａ／Ｄ変換部２３として機能し得る。すなわち、ＡＤＣ３３は、上記帯域選択部２２から入力されたアナログ・フィルタ信号をディジタル・フィルタ信号に変換し、このディジタル・フィルタ信号を信号入力インタフェース３２及びバス３７を介してプロセッサ３１に供給することができる。また、ＲＯＭ３５または大容量記録媒体３６は、上記データ記憶部２５として機能し得る。更に、入出力インタフェース３８は、上記したアレーアンテナ装置１０及び帯域選択部２２に対するインタフェースとして機能し得る。 The processor 31 loads the computer program recorded in either the ROM 35 or the large-capacity recording medium 36, and operates according to this computer program, so that the functions of the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26 are performed. Realize. The RAM 34 is used as a working storage area for the processor 31. For example, the RAM 34 is used as a storage area for temporarily storing the values of the digital filter signals FS 1 ,..., FS M. Further, the ADC 33 can function as the A / D converter 23. That is, the ADC 33 converts the analog filter signal input from the band selection unit 22 into a digital filter signal, and supplies the digital filter signal to the processor 31 via the signal input interface 32 and the bus 37. it can. Further, the ROM 35 or the large-capacity recording medium 36 can function as the data storage unit 25. Further, the input / output interface 38 can function as an interface to the array antenna device 10 and the band selection unit 22 described above.
　以上に説明したように実施の形態１では、制御部２６は、帯域選択部２２の通過帯域Ｂｆを変化させる。到来方向推定部２４は、その変化する通過帯域Ｂｆを通過した信号成分の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性をデータ記憶部２５内のデータベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定している。したがって、比較的広い帯域の受信電波の到来方向を一定の精度で推定することができる。たとえば、頻発する放電現象で発生する広帯域な電波が断続的に方探装置１に到来する場合、同一発生要因の電波が断続的に到来するので、観測時刻が異なっても電波の周波数特性に相似性が存在すると考えられる。本実施の形態の方探装置１は、この種の放電現象で発生した広帯域な電波の到来方向を検出することができる。 As described above, in the first embodiment, the control unit 26 changes the passband Bf of the band selection unit 22. The arrival direction estimation unit 24 calculates the frequency characteristic of the signal component that has passed through the changing pass band Bf, and compares the calculated frequency characteristic with the database in the data storage unit 25 to determine the arrival direction of the received radio wave. Estimated. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the arrival direction of the received radio waves in a relatively wide band with a certain accuracy. For example, when a wide-band radio wave generated by a frequent discharge phenomenon intermittently arrives at the direction finding device 1, since the radio wave having the same generation factor intermittently arrives, it resembles the frequency characteristics of the radio wave even at different observation times. Sex is considered to exist. The direction finding device 1 of the present embodiment can detect the arrival direction of a broadband radio wave generated by this type of discharge phenomenon.
　また、本実施の形態は、従来技術と比べて方探装置のハードウェア構成の簡素化、ひいては製造コストの低減を実現することができる。一般に、Ａ／Ｄ変換器の性能は、当該Ａ／Ｄ変換器への入力信号の周波数が高いほどに高性能であることが要求されるが、この種のＡ／Ｄ変換器のハードウェア規模は大きい。本実施の形態のＡ／Ｄ変換部２３は、図１に示されるように信号合成部２１及び帯域選択部２２よりも後段に設けられているので、１系統のアナログ信号をディジタル化すれば足りる。よって、方探装置１は、受信器ＲＸ１，…，ＲＸＮのＮ系統の出力をディジタル化する大規模な回路構成を備える必要が無いので、方探装置１のハードウェア構成を簡素化することができる。 In addition, the present embodiment can realize a simplified hardware configuration of the direction finding device and, in turn, a reduction in manufacturing cost as compared with the prior art. In general, the performance of an A / D converter is required to be higher as the frequency of the input signal to the A / D converter is higher. The hardware scale of this type of A / D converter is required. Is big. As shown in FIG. 1, the A / D converter 23 of the present embodiment is provided at a stage subsequent to the signal synthesizer 21 and the band selector 22, so it is sufficient to digitize one system of analog signals. . Therefore, the direction finding device 1 does not need to have a large-scale circuit configuration for digitizing the outputs of the N systems of the receivers RX 1 ,..., RX N , and thus simplifies the hardware configuration of the direction finding device 1. be able to.
実施の形態２．
　次に、本発明に係る実施の形態２について説明する。図４は、実施の形態２の方探装置１Ｍの概略構成を示す機能ブロック図である。図４に示されるように、この方探装置１Ｍは、上記実施の形態１のアレーアンテナ装置１０と同一構成を有するアレーアンテナ装置１０を備えている。 Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the direction finding device 1M according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the direction finding device 1M includes an array antenna device 10 having the same configuration as the array antenna device 10 of the first embodiment.
　また、方探装置１Ｍは、アレーアンテナ装置１０から並列に出力されたＮ系統のアナログ受信信号をそれぞれフィルタリングしてＮ系統のアナログ・フィルタ信号を並列に出力する帯域選択部４０と、これらＮ系統のアナログ・フィルタ信号を合成する信号合成部４２と、信号合成部４２のアナログ出力をディジタル化するＡ／Ｄ変換部２３と、Ａ／Ｄ変換部２３のディジタル出力に基づいて受信電波の到来方向を推定する到来方向推定部２４と、電波の周波数特性に関するデータベースが格納されているデータ記憶部２５と、制御部２６Ｍとを備えている。 Further, the direction finding device 1M includes a band selection unit 40 that filters N analog received signals output in parallel from the array antenna device 10 and outputs N analog filter signals in parallel, and these N systems. A signal synthesizer 42 that synthesizes the analog filter signal, an A / D converter 23 that digitizes the analog output of the signal synthesizer 42, and the arrival direction of the received radio wave based on the digital output of the A / D converter 23 The direction-of-arrival estimation unit 24 that estimates the frequency, a data storage unit 25 that stores a database relating to frequency characteristics of radio waves, and a control unit 26M.
　本実施の形態のＡ／Ｄ変換部２３、到来方向推定部２４及びデータ記憶部２５の構成は、図１に示したＡ／Ｄ変換部２３、到来方向推定部２４及びデータ記憶部２５の構成と同じであるので、詳細な説明を省略する。 The configuration of the A / D conversion unit 23, the arrival direction estimation unit 24, and the data storage unit 25 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the A / D conversion unit 23, the arrival direction estimation unit 24, and the data storage unit 25 illustrated in FIG. The detailed description is omitted.
　制御部２６Ｍは、上記実施の形態１の制御部２６と同様に、アレーアンテナ装置１０の受信器ＲＸ１，…，ＲＸＮ及び到来方向推定部２４のそれぞれの動作を制御する機能を有する。本実施の形態の制御部２６Ｍは、帯域選択部４０の通過帯域を制御する機能を有している。 The control unit 26M has a function of controlling the operations of the receivers RX 1 ,..., RX N and the arrival direction estimation unit 24 of the array antenna apparatus 10 in the same manner as the control unit 26 of the first embodiment. The control unit 26M of the present embodiment has a function of controlling the pass band of the band selecting unit 40.
　帯域選択部４０は、可変に設定される共通の通過帯域Ｂｆを有するＮ個のアナログフィルタ４１１，４１２，…，４１Ｎで構成されている。これらアナログフィルタ４１１，４１２，…，４１Ｎは、それぞれ、受信器ＲＸ１，ＲＸ２，…，ＲＸＮの出力をフィルタリングする。制御部２６Ｍは、これらアナログフィルタ４１１，…，４１Ｎを個別に制御して、アナログフィルタ４１１，…，４１Ｎの通過帯域Ｂｆを、中心周波数の異なる複数の周波数帯域ＮＢ１，…，ＮＢＭ（Ｍは２以上の整数）のいずれかに設定することができる。周波数帯域ＮＢ１，…，ＮＢＭは、周波数領域で連続していてもよいし、不連続であってもよい。 The band selection unit 40 includes N analog filters 41 1 , 41 2 ,..., 41 N having a common pass band Bf that is variably set. These analog filters 41 1, 41 2, ..., 41 N are each receiver RX 1, RX 2, ..., to filter the output of the RX N. Control unit 26M, these analog filters 41 1, ..., 41 N and are individually controlled, the analog filter 41 1, ..., a passband Bf of 41 N, a plurality of frequency bands NB 1 having different center frequencies, ..., It can be set to any one of NB M (M is an integer of 2 or more). The frequency bands NB 1 ,..., NB M may be continuous in the frequency domain or discontinuous.
　信号合成部４２は、帯域選択部４０から入力されたＮ系統のアナログ・フィルタ信号を合成することにより当該Ｎ系統のアナログ・フィルタ信号を互いに干渉させて干渉信号を生成し出力する。信号合成部４２は、たとえば、導波管構造を用いて構成することができる。Ａ／Ｄ変換部２３は、信号合成部４２のアナログ出力をディジタル・フィルタ信号に変換し、このディジタル・フィルタ信号を到来方向推定部２４に供給する。ここで、当該ディジタル・フィルタ信号は、位相情報及び振幅情報を有する複素ディジタル信号である。 The signal synthesizer 42 synthesizes the N analog filter signals input from the band selector 40 to cause the N analog filter signals to interfere with each other to generate and output an interference signal. The signal synthesis unit 42 can be configured using, for example, a waveguide structure. The A / D converter 23 converts the analog output of the signal synthesizer 42 into a digital filter signal, and supplies this digital filter signal to the arrival direction estimation unit 24. Here, the digital filter signal is a complex digital signal having phase information and amplitude information.
　本実施の形態でも、到来方向推定部２４及び制御部２６Ｍは、図２に示した手順でＤＯＡ推定処理を実行することができる。また、到来方向推定部２４及び制御部２６Ｍの機能は、図３に示した信号処理ユニット３０により実現可能である。 Also in the present embodiment, the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26M can execute the DOA estimation process according to the procedure shown in FIG. The functions of the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26M can be realized by the signal processing unit 30 shown in FIG.
　以上に説明したように実施の形態２では、制御部２６Ｍは、帯域選択部４０の通過帯域Ｂｆを変化させる。到来方向推定部２４は、その変化する通過帯域Ｂｆを通過した信号成分の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性をデータ記憶部２５内のデータベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定している。したがって、実施の形態１の場合と同様に、比較的広い帯域の受信電波の到来方向を一定の精度で推定することができ、従来技術と比べて方探装置のハードウェア構成の簡素化、ひいては製造コストの低減を実現することができる。 As described above, in the second embodiment, the control unit 26M changes the pass band Bf of the band selecting unit 40. The arrival direction estimation unit 24 calculates the frequency characteristic of the signal component that has passed through the changing pass band Bf, and compares the calculated frequency characteristic with the database in the data storage unit 25 to determine the arrival direction of the received radio wave. Estimated. Therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment, it is possible to estimate the direction of arrival of received radio waves in a relatively wide band with a certain accuracy, and thus the hardware configuration of the direction finding device is simplified compared with the conventional technique, and consequently Reduction of manufacturing cost can be realized.
実施の形態３．
　次に、本発明に係る実施の形態３について説明する。図５は、実施の形態３の方探装置２の概略構成を示す機能ブロック図である。 Embodiment 3 FIG.
Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the direction finding device 2 according to the third embodiment.
　図５に示されるように、この方探装置２は、位相差を有する到来電波を受信するアンテナ装置１１を備えている。このアンテナ装置１１は、当該アンテナ装置１１自身の構造で当該到来電波を互いに干渉させることで干渉波を発生させる電波干渉部１１ｃを有する。アンテナ装置１１は、当該干渉波に対応するアナログ受信信号である干渉信号を出力する。この種のアンテナ装置１１としては、たとえば、公知のパラボラアンテナなどの開口面アンテナを使用することができる。一般に、パラボラアンテナは、回転放物曲面を有する反射器と、当該回転放物曲面の焦点に配置された受信部とを有している。到来電波として平面波が反射器に入射すると、当該反射器の回転放物曲面で反射した到来電波が受信部に集められて干渉する。 As shown in FIG. 5, the direction finding device 2 includes an antenna device 11 that receives an incoming radio wave having a phase difference. The antenna device 11 includes a radio wave interference unit 11c that generates an interference wave by causing the incoming radio waves to interfere with each other with the structure of the antenna device 11 itself. The antenna device 11 outputs an interference signal that is an analog reception signal corresponding to the interference wave. As this type of antenna device 11, for example, an aperture antenna such as a known parabolic antenna can be used. In general, a parabolic antenna includes a reflector having a rotating paraboloid and a receiving unit arranged at the focal point of the rotating paraboloid. When a plane wave enters the reflector as an incoming radio wave, the incoming radio wave reflected by the rotating paraboloid of the reflector is collected at the receiver and interferes.
　方探装置２は、図５に示されるように帯域選択部２２、Ａ／Ｄ変換部２３、到来方向推定部２４及びデータ記憶部２５を備えている。本実施の形態のＡ／Ｄ変換部２３、到来方向推定部２４及びデータ記憶部２５の構成は、図１に示したＡ／Ｄ変換部２３、到来方向推定部２４及びデータ記憶部２５の構成と同じであるので、詳細な説明を省略する。制御部２６Ｋは、上記実施の形態１の制御部２６と同様に、帯域選択部２２及び到来方向推定部２４の動作を制御する機能を有している。 As shown in FIG. 5, the direction finding device 2 includes a band selection unit 22, an A / D conversion unit 23, an arrival direction estimation unit 24, and a data storage unit 25. The configuration of the A / D conversion unit 23, the arrival direction estimation unit 24, and the data storage unit 25 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the A / D conversion unit 23, the arrival direction estimation unit 24, and the data storage unit 25 illustrated in FIG. The detailed description is omitted. The control unit 26K has a function of controlling the operations of the band selection unit 22 and the arrival direction estimation unit 24, similarly to the control unit 26 of the first embodiment.
　次に、図６を参照しつつ、上記方探装置２の動作について説明する。図６は、本実施の形態に係るＤＯＡ推定処理の手順の例を概略的に示すフローチャートである。この到来方向推定処理は、主に到来方向推定部２４及び制御部２６Ｋにより実行される。 Next, the operation of the direction finding device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of the procedure of DOA estimation processing according to the present embodiment. This arrival direction estimation process is mainly executed by the arrival direction estimation unit 24 and the control unit 26K.
　図６を参照すると、制御部２６Ｋは、帯域番号ｍを初期値（＝１）に設定することにより、帯域選択部２２の通過帯域Ｂｆを１番目の周波数帯域ＮＢ１に設定する（ステップＳＴ２２）。この結果、帯域選択部２２は、アンテナ装置１１から入力された干渉信号のうち周波数帯域ＮＢ１の信号成分をアナログ・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１として出力する。到来方向推定部２４は、Ａ／Ｄ変換部２３からディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１が入力されるまで待機している（ステップＳＴ２３のＮＯ）。到来方向推定部２４にディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１が入力されたとき（ステップＳＴ２３のＹＥＳ）、到来方向推定部２４は、当該ディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１の値をメモリに記憶する（ステップＳＴ２４）。 Referring to FIG. 6, the control unit 26K sets the pass band Bf of the band selection unit 22 to the first frequency band NB 1 by setting the band number m to an initial value (= 1) (step ST22). . As a result, the band selection unit 22 outputs the signal component of the frequency band NB 1 among the interference signals input from the antenna device 11 as the analog filter signal FS 1 . Arrival direction estimating unit 24 stands by the A / D converter 23 to digital filter signal FS 1 is input (NO in step ST23). When digital filter signal FS 1 to the arrival direction estimation unit 24 is input (YES in step ST23), the arrival direction estimation unit 24 stores the value of the digital filter signal FS 1 in the memory (step ST24).
　次に、制御部２６Ｋは、帯域番号ｍが最大値（＝Ｍ）に到達していない場合（ステップＳＴ２５のＮＯ）、帯域番号ｍを１だけインクリメントする（ステップＳＴ２６）。これにより、帯域選択部２２の通過帯域Ｂｆは２番目の周波数帯域ＮＢ２に設定される。この結果、帯域選択部２２は、アンテナ装置１１から入力された干渉信号のうち周波数帯域ＮＢ２の信号成分をアナログ・フィルタ信号ＦＳ２として出力する。そして、到来方向推定部２４にディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ２が入力されたとき（ステップＳＴ２３のＹＥＳ）、到来方向推定部２４は、当該ディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ２の値をメモリに記憶する（ステップＳＴ２４）。 Next, when the band number m has not reached the maximum value (= M) (NO in step ST25), the control unit 26K increments the band number m by 1 (step ST26). Thereby, the pass band Bf of the band selection unit 22 is set to the second frequency band NB2. As a result, the band selection unit 22 outputs the signal component of the frequency band NB 2 in the interference signal input from the antenna device 11 as the analog filter signal FS 2 . When the digital filter signal FS 2 is input to the arrival direction estimation unit 24 (YES in step ST23), the arrival direction estimation unit 24 stores the value of the digital filter signal FS 2 in the memory (step ST24 ).
　その後、帯域番号ｍが最大値（＝Ｍ）に到達したとき（ステップＳＴ２５のＹＥＳ）、到来方向推定部２４は、上記実施の形態１のステップＳＴ１０（図２）の場合と同様に、ディジタル・フィルタ信号ＦＳ１，…，ＦＳＭの周波数特性をデータベースと照合する（ステップＳＴ３０）。この結果、ＤＯＡ推定に成功しなかった場合（ステップＳＴ３１のＮＯ）、到来方向推定部２４は、当該ＤＯＡ推定処理の手順をステップＳＴ２２に戻す。一方、ＤＯＡ推定に成功した場合には（ステップＳＴ３１のＹＥＳ）、到来方向推定部２４は、その推定結果を示す推定データを出力する（ステップＳＴ３２）。これにより、ＤＯＡ推定処理は終了する。 Thereafter, when the band number m reaches the maximum value (= M) (YES in step ST25), the arrival direction estimation unit 24 performs digital filter signal FS 1, ..., collates with the database the frequency characteristic of the FS M (step ST30). As a result, when the DOA estimation is not successful (NO in step ST31), the arrival direction estimation unit 24 returns the procedure of the DOA estimation process to step ST22. On the other hand, when the DOA estimation is successful (YES in step ST31), the arrival direction estimation unit 24 outputs estimation data indicating the estimation result (step ST32). Thereby, the DOA estimation process ends.
　以上に説明したように実施の形態３では、制御部２６Ｋは、帯域選択部２２の通過帯域Ｂｆを変化させる。到来方向推定部２４は、その変化する通過帯域Ｂｆを通過した信号成分の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性をデータ記憶部２５内のデータベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定している。したがって、実施の形態１の場合と同様に、比較的広い帯域の受信電波の到来方向を一定の精度で推定することができ、従来技術と比べて方探装置のハードウェア構成の簡素化、ひいては製造コストの低減を実現することができる。 As described above, in the third embodiment, the control unit 26K changes the pass band Bf of the band selecting unit 22. The arrival direction estimation unit 24 calculates the frequency characteristic of the signal component that has passed through the changing pass band Bf, and compares the calculated frequency characteristic with the database in the data storage unit 25 to determine the arrival direction of the received radio wave. Estimated. Therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment, it is possible to estimate the direction of arrival of received radio waves in a relatively wide band with a certain accuracy, and thus the hardware configuration of the direction finding device is simplified compared with the conventional technique, and consequently Reduction of manufacturing cost can be realized.
　以上、図面を参照して本発明に係る種々の実施の形態について述べたが、これら実施の形態は本発明の例示であり、これら実施の形態以外の様々な形態を採用することもできる。たとえば、上記実施の形態１，２では、アレーアンテナ装置１０は、３本以上のアンテナ素子ＡＮ１，ＡＮ２，…，ＡＮＮを有するが、これに限定されるものではない。アンテナ素子の本数が２本であってもよい。 Although various embodiments according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, these embodiments are examples of the present invention, and various forms other than these embodiments can be adopted. For example, in Embodiments 1 and 2 above, the array antenna apparatus 10 includes three or more antenna elements AN 1, AN 2, ..., have the AN N, but is not limited thereto. The number of antenna elements may be two.
　また、受信電波の到来方向の推定精度を向上させる観点からは、アンテナ素子ＡＮ１，…，ＡＮＮの配置を幾何学的に非対称の配置とすることが望ましい。 From the viewpoint of improving the arrival direction estimation accuracy of the received radio wave, the antenna element AN 1, ..., it is desirable that the geometrically asymmetrical arrangement the arrangement of AN N.
　なお、本発明の範囲内において、上記実施の形態の自由な組み合わせ、各実施の形態の任意の構成要素の変形、または各実施の形態の任意の構成要素の省略が可能である。 It should be noted that within the scope of the present invention, the above embodiments can be freely combined, any component of each embodiment can be modified, or any component of each embodiment can be omitted.
　本発明に係る方探装置は、電波受信装置での使用に適しており、特に、放電現象により発生する電波を観測対象とし、放電発生源を特定するための電波受信装置での使用に適している。 The probe device according to the present invention is suitable for use in a radio wave receiver, and in particular, suitable for use in a radio wave receiver for specifying a discharge generation source for radio waves generated by a discharge phenomenon. Yes.
　ＡＮ１～ＡＮＮ　アンテナ素子、ＲＸ１～ＲＸＮ　受信器、１，１Ｍ，２　方探装置、１０　アレーアンテナ装置、１１　アンテナ装置、１１ｃ　電波干渉部、２１　信号合成部、２２　帯域選択部、２３　Ａ／Ｄ変換部、２４　到来方向推定部、２５　データ記憶部、２６，２６Ｍ，２６Ｋ　制御部、３０　信号処理ユニット、３１　プロセッサ、３１Ｃ　ＣＰＵ、３２　信号入力インタフェース、３３　Ａ／Ｄ変換器（ＡＤＣ）、３４　ＲＡＭ、３５　ＲＯＭ、３６　大容量記録媒体、３７　バス、３８　入出力インタフェース、４０　帯域選択部、４１１～４１Ｎ　アナログフィルタ、４２　信号合成部。 AN 1 to AN N antenna elements, RX 1 to RX N receivers, 1,1M, 2 direction finding devices, 10 array antenna devices, 11 antenna devices, 11c radio wave interference units, 21 signal synthesis units, 22 band selection units, 23 A / D conversion unit, 24 arrival direction estimation unit, 25 data storage unit, 26, 26M, 26K control unit, 30 signal processing unit, 31 processor, 31C CPU, 32 signal input interface, 33 A / D converter (ADC) 34 RAM, 35 ROM, 36 Large capacity recording medium, 37 bus, 38 I / O interface, 40 band selection unit, 41 1 to 41 N analog filter, 42 signal synthesis unit.

Claims (7)

  1. 　位相差を有する電波を受信可能なＮ本（Ｎは２以上の整数）のアンテナ素子を有し、当該Ｎ本のアンテナ素子の出力にそれぞれ対応するＮ系統のアナログ受信信号を並列に出力するアンテナ装置と、
    　前記Ｎ系統のアナログ受信信号を合成することにより当該Ｎ系統のアナログ受信信号を互いに干渉させて干渉信号を生成する信号合成部と、
    　可変に設定される通過帯域を有し、前記干渉信号のうち前記通過帯域の信号成分を選択的に出力する帯域選択部と、
    　前記帯域選択部の出力をディジタル化するＡ／Ｄ変換部と、
    　電波の周波数特性と該電波の到来方向との間の対応関係を定めるデータベースが格納されているデータ記憶部と、
    　前記帯域選択部を制御して前記通過帯域を変化させる制御部と、
    　前記Ａ／Ｄ変換部の出力の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性を前記データベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定する到来方向推定部と
    を備えることを特徴とする方探装置。     An antenna having N antenna elements (N is an integer of 2 or more) capable of receiving radio waves having a phase difference, and outputting N analog received signals corresponding to the outputs of the N antenna elements in parallel. Equipment,
    A signal synthesizer that generates an interference signal by interfering with the N analog reception signals by synthesizing the N analog reception signals;
    A band selection unit that has a pass band that is variably set and selectively outputs a signal component of the pass band of the interference signal;
    An A / D converter for digitizing the output of the band selector;
    A data storage unit storing a database that defines a correspondence relationship between the frequency characteristics of radio waves and the arrival directions of the radio waves;
    A control unit that controls the band selection unit to change the passband;
    A direction-of-arrival estimation unit that calculates a frequency characteristic of an output of the A / D conversion unit and compares the calculated frequency characteristic with the database to estimate a direction of arrival of a received radio wave. Search device.
  2. 　請求項１記載の方探装置であって、
    　前記制御部は、前記通過帯域をＭ個（Ｍは２以上の整数）の周波数帯域に順次設定することにより前記通過帯域を変化させ、
    　前記帯域選択部は、前記Ｍ個の周波数帯域の信号成分を順次出力し、
    　前記Ａ／Ｄ変換部は、前記Ｍ個の周波数帯域の信号成分にそれぞれ対応するＭ個のディジタル信号を順次出力し、
    　前記到来方向推定部は、前記Ｍ個のディジタル信号に基づいてそれぞれ計算された当該周波数特性と、前記データベースに定められている当該電波の周波数特性との組み合わせのうち、最も高い相関を示す組み合わせを検出し、当該検出された組み合わせに対応する当該電波の到来方向を前記受信電波の到来方向であると推定する、
    ことを特徴とする方探装置。     The direction finding device according to claim 1,
    The control unit changes the pass band by sequentially setting the pass band to M (M is an integer of 2 or more) frequency bands,
    The band selection unit sequentially outputs signal components of the M frequency bands,
    The A / D converter sequentially outputs M digital signals respectively corresponding to the signal components of the M frequency bands,
    The direction-of-arrival estimation unit selects a combination showing the highest correlation among combinations of the frequency characteristics calculated based on the M digital signals and the frequency characteristics of the radio waves determined in the database. Detecting and estimating the direction of arrival of the radio wave corresponding to the detected combination as the direction of arrival of the received radio wave,
    A direction finding device characterized by that.
  3. 　位相差を有する到来電波を受信可能なＮ本（Ｎは２以上の整数）のアンテナ素子を有し、当該Ｎ本のアンテナ素子の出力にそれぞれ対応するＮ系統のアナログ受信信号を並列に出力するアンテナ装置と、
    　可変に設定される通過帯域を有し、前記Ｎ系統のアナログ受信信号にそれぞれフィルタリングを施すことにより前記通過帯域の信号成分としてＮ系統のフィルタ信号を並列に出力する帯域選択部と、
    　前記Ｎ系統のフィルタ信号を合成することにより当該Ｎ系統のフィルタ信号を互いに干渉させる信号合成部と、
    　前記信号合成部の出力をディジタル化するＡ／Ｄ変換部と、
    　電波の周波数特性と該電波の到来方向との間の対応関係を定めるデータベースが格納されているデータ記憶部と、
    　前記帯域選択部を制御して前記通過帯域を変化させる制御部と、
    　前記Ａ／Ｄ変換部の出力の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性を前記データベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定する到来方向推定部と
    を備えることを特徴とする方探装置。     It has N antenna elements (N is an integer of 2 or more) capable of receiving incoming radio waves having a phase difference, and outputs N analog received signals corresponding to the outputs of the N antenna elements in parallel. An antenna device;
    A band selection unit that has a variably set pass band, and outputs the N system filter signals in parallel as the signal components of the pass band by filtering each of the N system analog received signals;
    A signal synthesis unit for interfering the N system filter signals with each other by synthesizing the N system filter signals;
    An A / D converter for digitizing the output of the signal synthesizer;
    A data storage unit storing a database that defines a correspondence relationship between the frequency characteristics of radio waves and the arrival directions of the radio waves;
    A control unit that controls the band selection unit to change the passband;
    A direction-of-arrival estimation unit that calculates a frequency characteristic of an output of the A / D conversion unit and compares the calculated frequency characteristic with the database to estimate a direction of arrival of a received radio wave. Search device.
  4. 　請求項３記載の方探装置であって、
    　前記制御部は、前記通過帯域をＭ個（Ｍは２以上の整数）の周波数帯域に順次設定することにより前記通過帯域を変化させ、
    　前記信号合成部は、前記Ｍ個の周波数帯域の信号成分を順次出力し、
    　前記Ａ／Ｄ変換部は、前記Ｍ個の周波数帯域の信号成分にそれぞれ対応するＭ個のディジタル信号を順次出力し、
    　前記到来方向推定部は、前記Ｍ個のディジタル信号に基づいてそれぞれ計算された当該周波数特性と、前記データベースに定められている当該電波の周波数特性との組み合わせのうち、最も高い相関を示す組み合わせを検出し、当該検出された組み合わせに対応する当該電波の到来方向を前記受信電波の到来方向であると推定する、
    ことを特徴とする方探装置。     A direction finding device according to claim 3,
    The control unit changes the pass band by sequentially setting the pass band to M (M is an integer of 2 or more) frequency bands,
    The signal synthesis unit sequentially outputs signal components of the M frequency bands,
    The A / D converter sequentially outputs M digital signals respectively corresponding to the signal components of the M frequency bands,
    The direction-of-arrival estimation unit selects a combination showing the highest correlation among combinations of the frequency characteristics calculated based on the M digital signals and the frequency characteristics of the radio waves determined in the database. Detecting and estimating the direction of arrival of the radio wave corresponding to the detected combination as the direction of arrival of the received radio wave,
    A direction finding device characterized by that.
  5. 　位相差を有する到来電波を互いに干渉させることで干渉波を発生させ、当該干渉波に対応するアナログ受信信号を出力するアンテナ装置と、
    　可変に設定された通過帯域を有し、前記アナログ受信信号のうち前記通過帯域の信号成分を選択的に出力する帯域選択部と、
    　前記帯域選択部の出力をディジタル化するＡ／Ｄ変換部と、
    　電波の周波数特性と該電波の到来方向との間の対応関係を定めるデータベースが格納されているデータ記憶部と、
    　前記帯域選択部を制御して前記通過帯域を変化させる制御部と、
    　前記Ａ／Ｄ変換部の出力の周波数特性を計算し、当該計算された周波数特性を前記データベースと照合することにより受信電波の到来方向を推定する到来方向推定部と
    を備えることを特徴とする方探装置。     An antenna device that generates an interference wave by causing the incoming radio waves having a phase difference to interfere with each other, and outputs an analog reception signal corresponding to the interference wave;
    A band selection unit that has a variably set pass band and selectively outputs a signal component of the pass band of the analog reception signal;
    An A / D converter for digitizing the output of the band selector;
    A data storage unit storing a database that defines a correspondence relationship between the frequency characteristics of radio waves and the arrival directions of the radio waves;
    A control unit that controls the band selection unit to change the passband;
    A direction-of-arrival estimation unit that calculates a frequency characteristic of an output of the A / D conversion unit and compares the calculated frequency characteristic with the database to estimate a direction of arrival of a received radio wave. Search device.
  6. 　請求項５記載の方探装置であって、前記アンテナ装置は、開口面アンテナであることを特徴とする方探装置。 6. The direction finding device according to claim 5, wherein the antenna device is an aperture antenna.
  7. 　請求項５記載の方探装置であって、
    　前記制御部は、前記通過帯域をＭ個（Ｍは２以上の整数）の周波数帯域に順次設定することにより前記通過帯域を変化させ、
    　前記帯域選択部は、前記Ｍ個の周波数帯域の信号成分を順次出力し、
    　前記Ａ／Ｄ変換部は、前記Ｍ個の周波数帯域の信号成分にそれぞれ対応するＭ個のディジタル信号を順次出力し、
    　前記到来方向推定部は、前記Ｍ個のディジタル信号に基づいてそれぞれ計算された当該周波数特性と、前記データベースに定められている当該電波の周波数特性との組み合わせのうち、最も高い相関を示す組み合わせを検出し、当該検出された組み合わせに対応する当該電波の到来方向を前記受信電波の到来方向であると推定する、
    ことを特徴とする方探装置。     The direction finding device according to claim 5,
    The control unit changes the pass band by sequentially setting the pass band to M (M is an integer of 2 or more) frequency bands,
    The band selection unit sequentially outputs signal components of the M frequency bands,
    The A / D converter sequentially outputs M digital signals respectively corresponding to the signal components of the M frequency bands,
    The direction-of-arrival estimation unit selects a combination showing the highest correlation among combinations of the frequency characteristics calculated based on the M digital signals and the frequency characteristics of the radio waves determined in the database. Detecting and estimating the direction of arrival of the radio wave corresponding to the detected combination as the direction of arrival of the received radio wave,
    A direction finding device characterized by that.
PCT/JP2015/069419 2015-07-06 2015-07-06 Direction finder WO2017006415A1 (en)

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