WO2019026769A1 - Power amplifier and transmission output correcting method - Google Patents

Power amplifier and transmission output correcting method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019026769A1
WO2019026769A1 PCT/JP2018/028122 JP2018028122W WO2019026769A1 WO 2019026769 A1 WO2019026769 A1 WO 2019026769A1 JP 2018028122 W JP2018028122 W JP 2018028122W WO 2019026769 A1 WO2019026769 A1 WO 2019026769A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
power
attenuation
attenuator
transmission
transmission output
Prior art date
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PCT/JP2018/028122
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French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
正道 桑原
豪寿 内村
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株式会社日立国際電気
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Priority to JP2019534455A priority Critical patent/JP6803988B2/en
Publication of WO2019026769A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019026769A1/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
    • G01S13/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/02—Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S13/06—Systems determining position data of a target
    • G01S13/08—Systems for measuring distance only
    • G01S13/32—Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated
    • G01S13/34—Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
    • 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
    • G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/02—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S13/00
    • G01S7/35—Details of non-pulse systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03G—CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION
    • H03G1/00—Details of arrangements for controlling amplification
    • H03G1/04—Modifications of control circuit to reduce distortion caused by control
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03G—CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION
    • H03G3/00—Gain control in amplifiers or frequency changers
    • H03G3/02—Manually-operated control
    • H03G3/04—Manually-operated control in untuned amplifiers
    • H03G3/10—Manually-operated control in untuned amplifiers having semiconductor devices
    • H03G3/12—Manually-operated control in untuned amplifiers having semiconductor devices incorporating negative feedback

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a power amplifier for Doppler radar, and in particular, a high-power power amplifier and transmission capable of realizing stable observation by suppressing the influence of ringing in a transmission intermittent section and suppressing the transmission output to within a prescribed level.
  • the present invention relates to an output correction method.
  • the Doppler radar measures the distance to the object and the moving speed based on the frequency difference between the transmission signal and the reception signal.
  • Some short-wave band Doppler radars use a continuous wave modulated by an FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave).
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of the FMCW radar device.
  • the FMCW radar device 50 includes a signal generation unit 51, a transmission power amplifier 52, a transmission antenna 53, a reception antenna 54, a reception power amplifier 55, and a mixer circuit 56. And an output terminal 57.
  • a predetermined chirp signal (sweep signal) is repeatedly generated by the signal generation unit 51, and the power amplifier 52 amplifies the chirp signal to a predetermined transmission output and amplified from the transmission antenna 53. Signal is output.
  • the signal reflected by the object is received by the receiving antenna 54, amplified by the power amplifier 55 on the receiving side, input to the mixer circuit 56, and amplified, and the chirp signal from the signal generation unit 51. Is multiplied to generate a signal of a frequency according to the distance to the object, and is output from the output terminal 57 as a radar output.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a power supply circuit.
  • the power supply circuit includes a transformer unit 41 connected to the power supply unit, a diode unit 42, a choke coil 43, and a capacitor 44.
  • the power supply circuit converts a voltage by the transformer unit 41, performs rectification and smoothing with the diode unit 42, the choke coil 43, and the capacitor 44, and outputs power to the amplification element of the power amplifier 52 shown in FIG.
  • FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a transmission output in a conventional power amplifier, where (a) shows transmission operation on / off, (b) shows a transmission output waveform, and (c) shows a transmission signal frequency and transmission state. ing.
  • FIGS. 8A and 8C when the band of the chirp signal includes the forbidden frequency band, the output of the signal generation unit 51 is turned off in the section. As a result, as shown in (c), the prohibited frequency band is not transmitted, and becomes an intermittent section.
  • an ALC Automatic Level Control
  • Patent Document 1 describes correction of frequency non-linearity and frequency deviation of a voltage control oscillator in an FMCW radar system.
  • Patent Document 2 describes an information processing apparatus for reducing power consumption in a communication apparatus, and describes that the communication apparatus includes a power amplifier and periodically performs transmission and reception.
  • Patent Document 3 describes a communication apparatus that realizes a DFS function in consideration of interference avoidance with a radar in an Ad-Hoc mode in a multi-hop environment.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and a power amplifier and transmission output correction method capable of performing stable observation by suppressing the influence of ringing in a transmission intermittent interval and suppressing the transmission output within a prescribed level. Intended to provide.
  • the present invention for solving the problems of the prior art is a power amplifier for a short wave band Doppler radar, which attenuates an input signal of a frequency modulated continuous wave based on a set attenuation value; Amplifying element for amplifying the attenuated signal, a power detector for detecting the power of the amplified signal and transmitting and outputting the signal, and control for controlling the attenuator with a specific attenuation value based on the detected power
  • the attenuator is set to a specific value as an attenuation value at the start of radar observation, and the control unit is configured to stop transmission output from detected power when the band of the input signal includes a prohibited band.
  • the attenuator When a section is detected, the attenuator is set to a first attenuation value larger than the specific value, and the attenuator is operated to perform attenuation operation based on the first attenuation value in a first predetermined period. To control It is set to.
  • the control unit reduces the attenuation value for suppressing the fluctuation of the power according to the power detected by the power detector in the second period following the first period. It is characterized by setting and controlling the attenuator to perform the attenuation operation according to the power.
  • the present invention is characterized in that, in the power amplifier, the control unit sets an attenuation value corresponding to the power detected at the set sampling interval in the second period in the attenuator.
  • the present invention is a transmission output correction method in a power amplifier for amplifying an input signal of a frequency modulated continuous wave, and when the band of the input signal includes a prohibited band, the control unit attenuates at the start of radar observation.
  • a specific value is set as an attenuation value in the transmission unit and a transmission intermittent interval in which transmission output is stopped is detected from the power detected by the power detector, a first attenuation value larger than the specific value is set in the attenuator.
  • the attenuator is controlled to perform the attenuation operation based on the first attenuation value in a first predetermined period.
  • the control unit attenuates the attenuation value for suppressing the fluctuation of the power according to the power detected by the power detector in the second period following the first period. And control the attenuator to perform the attenuation operation according to the power.
  • a power amplifier for short wave band Doppler radar comprising: an attenuator for attenuating a frequency-modulated continuous wave input signal based on a set attenuation value; and an amplification element for amplifying the attenuated signal And a power detector that detects the power of the amplified signal and transmits the signal, and a controller that controls the attenuator with a specific attenuation value based on the detected power.
  • a specific value is set as an attenuation value, and when the band of the input signal includes a prohibited band, when the transmission intermittent period in which the transmission output is stopped is detected from the detected power, the attenuator Since the power amplifier is configured to control the attenuator to set the first attenuation value larger than the specific value and perform the attenuation operation based on the first attenuation value in the first predetermined period, the transmission Intermittent zone Transmission output due to the effect of the ringing in the power supply circuit at the time of transmission resumption after it is possible to prevent the exceeding the specified value, to stabilize the transmission output, there is an effect that it is possible to perform good radar observations.
  • the control unit sets, in the attenuator, an attenuation value that suppresses variation of the power according to the power detected by the power detector. Since the above power amplifier controls the attenuator to perform the attenuation operation according to the power, the transmission output can be further stabilized.
  • control unit since the control unit sets the attenuation value corresponding to the power detected at the set sampling interval in the second period as the attenuator, the sampling interval is short. If set, it is possible to finely detect the power and further stabilize the transmission power.
  • a transmission output correction method in a power amplifier for amplifying an input signal of a frequency modulated continuous wave, wherein when the band of the input signal includes a prohibited band, the control unit starts radar observation.
  • a specific value is set to the attenuator as an attenuation value, and a transmission intermittent interval in which the transmission output is stopped is detected from the power detected by the power detector, a first attenuation value larger than the specific value is set to the attenuator.
  • the transmission output correction method of controlling the attenuator so as to perform the attenuation operation based on the first attenuation value in the first predetermined period Therefore, the transmission output can be prevented from exceeding the specified value due to the influence of the above, and the transmission output can be stabilized and good radar observation can be performed.
  • the attenuation value for suppressing the fluctuation of the power is set in the attenuator according to the power detected by the power detector. Since the transmission output correction method of controlling the attenuator so as to perform the attenuation operation according to the power, the transmission output can be further stabilized.
  • a power amplifier (a first power amplifier) according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a power detector that detects power of a transmission output, and a control unit that controls an attenuator based on the detected power.
  • the controller is configured to forcibly operate the attenuator for a certain period of time with a specific attenuation value that cancels an increase in the transmission output due to ringing when the control unit detects the stop of the transmission output based on the detected power. After stopping transmission of the chirp signal at the transmission prohibited frequency, it is possible to prevent an output over at the time of transmission resumption, suppress the transmission output to within a specified level, and realize stable observation.
  • the power amplifier (second power amplifier) according to the second embodiment of the present invention is attenuated by a specific value that cancels out the increase of the transmission output due to ringing when the control unit detects the stop of the transmission output.
  • the unit is forced to operate for a fixed period of time, and then the attenuator is made to perform an ALC operation that operates with an attenuation value according to the transmission output power for a specific period of time. It is possible to prevent the drop of the transmission output and to stabilize the transmission output thereafter.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a first power amplifier.
  • the first power amplifier is a power amplifier used on the transmission side of the FMCW type shortwave band Doppler radar as shown in FIG. 6, and as shown in FIG. 1, an attenuator (ATT) 11 and an amplification element 12 , A power detector 13, and a control unit 14.
  • ATT attenuator
  • a power detector 13 A power detector
  • the first power amplifier and the second and third power amplifiers described later amplify a chirp signal including the forbidden frequency band, and the output from the signal generation unit is stopped in the forbidden frequency band, and this section Then the transmission output is turned off.
  • the attenuator 11 attenuates the input chirp signal based on the attenuation value set from the control unit 14.
  • the attenuation value is a preset fixed value.
  • the fixed value corresponds to the specific attenuation value stated in the claims.
  • the amplification element 12 amplifies the input chirp signal and outputs it as a transmission signal.
  • the power detector 13 is configured of a directional coupler or the like, and outputs the signal amplified by the amplification element 12 to the transmission antenna, and also detects the power of the transmission output and outputs it to the control unit 14.
  • the control unit 14 is a feature of the first power amplifier, and controls the attenuation amount of the attenuator 11 based on the power detected by the power detector 13. Specifically, the controller 14 of the first power amplifier sets the attenuation value of the attenuator 11 to the same fixed value as the conventional one while turning off the ALC function at the time of radar observation, but from the power detector 13 If it detects that the transmission output has stopped based on the power, an attenuation value larger than the fixed value is set in the attenuator 11 so that the output does not become over at the time of transmission resumption. Forced operation with the amount of attenuation based on the attenuation value. The attenuation value is set to a value that suppresses fluctuations in transmission power. The operation of the control unit 14 will be described later.
  • FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the transmission output in the first power amplifier, where (a) is the transmission operation ON / OFF, (b) is the transmission output waveform, and (c) is the transmission signal frequency and transmission state. It shows. 2 (a) and 2 (c) are the same as FIG. 8 described above, and the output from the signal generation unit for generating the chirp signal is off in the band of the prohibited frequency included in the band and the transmission output is off. When the forbidden frequency band ends, transmission of the chirp signal is resumed.
  • the prohibited frequency band is an intermittent section in which the transmission operation is not performed.
  • the attenuator 11 In the first power amplifier, a fixed value is set in the attenuator 11 from the transmission start of the chirp signal (the radar observation start) to the start of the intermittent section at the radar observation. Therefore, the attenuator 11 always performs attenuation operation with a fixed amount of attenuation (referred to as fixed ALC). In the fixed ALC period, the transmission output is almost constant.
  • the control unit 14 stops the transmission operation (start of intermittent interval ) To detect.
  • the control unit 14 sets a specific attenuation value (first attenuation value) stored in advance in the attenuator 11, and stores the specific time (first time) stored in advance. Control to attenuate the input signal with an amount of attenuation (first amount of attenuation) based on the first attenuation value until a first period of time elapses.
  • the first attenuation value is a value larger than the attenuation value (fixed value) in fixed ALC, and is set to a value that cancels out the influence of ringing generated in the choke coil of the power supply circuit in the intermittent interval of transmission operation as much as possible. Be done. That is, the first attenuation value is set to a value such that the transmission output does not exceed the specified value even when the peak of the fluctuation of the power supply overlaps with the timing of resuming transmission.
  • the first attenuation value is experimentally obtained in advance and stored in the control unit 14, and an optimum attenuation value is stored according to the characteristics of the power supply circuit, the length of the intermittent section, and the like.
  • the first attenuation value is optimum to completely cancel out the ringing effect, it is effective if it can suppress the fluctuation of the transmission power even if it is incomplete, so the transmission power may be slightly specified. It may be over or under.
  • the length of the first period in which the damping operation based on the first damping value is performed is also experimentally obtained in advance and stored in the control unit 14.
  • the first period is set to a time that can sufficiently absorb the effect of ringing and that the transmission output does not extremely decrease.
  • the operation of performing attenuation based on the first attenuation value is referred to as forced ALC.
  • the attenuator 11 operates at a fixed ALC until entering an intermittent interval, and performs an operation at a forced ALC when transmission output is stopped after entering an intermittent interval.
  • the transmission signal is not output in the intermittent interval where the chirp signal is not input, and it becomes the transmission intermittent interval.
  • the periods of fixed ALC and forced ALC are shown corresponding to the attenuation value set in the attenuator 11.
  • control is performed when entering the intermittent section.
  • the transmission is performed by the unit 14 causing the attenuator 11 to perform the operation of the forced ALC for forcibly attenuating the input signal with the first attenuation amount larger than the attenuation amount of the fixed ALC for the first period.
  • Control can be performed so that the transmission output does not exceed the specified value at the time of resumption. This makes it possible to prevent observation interruption due to transmission output over.
  • the control unit 14 sets the attenuation value of the fixed ALC to the attenuator 11 again to perform the attenuation operation (fixed ALC) at the fixed value. Let it go. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), although the ringing effect remains a little after the end of the first period, the transmission output power does not greatly exceed or extremely fall below the specified value, and is generally stable. doing. Thus, the operation of the first power amplifier is performed. The operation of the first power amplifier corresponds to the transmission output correction method in the first power amplifier.
  • the power amplifier is a power amplifier used in a Doppler radar device that transmits a chirp signal of an FMCW signal, and when there is an forbidden frequency band where the chirp signal is not input, the amplification element 12 However, the chirp signal attenuated by the attenuator 11 is amplified and output as a transmission signal, and the power detection unit 13 detects transmission output power, and the control unit 14 stops transmission output based on the detected power ( When an intermittent interval is detected, the attenuator 11 is set to a first attenuation value larger than the attenuation value set at the start of transmission, and the attenuation operation is performed based on the first attenuation value until the first time has elapsed. It is possible to suppress the effect of ringing due to the power supply circuit, and prevent transmission output from exceeding the specified value when transmission is resumed, and perform stable observation. There is an effect that can be.
  • the second power amplifier performs continuous ALC operation in which attenuation operation is performed with an attenuation amount based on the detected transmission power subsequent to forced ALC operation to further stabilize transmission output power.
  • the configuration of the second power amplifier is the same as the configuration of the first power amplifier shown in FIG. 1, but the control in the control unit 14 is partially different.
  • FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the second power amplifier, in which (a) shows the transmission operation on / off, (b) shows the transmission output waveform, and (c) shows the frequency and transmission state of the transmission signal. ing.
  • the operation of the second power amplifier is a method of correcting the transmission output in the second power amplifier.
  • control unit 14 sets a fixed value to the attenuator 11 and sets a fixed ALC, as in the first power amplifier, from the transmission start of the chirp signal to the intermittent interval. Control to perform an action.
  • the control unit 14 causes the forced ALC operation to be performed with the first attenuation amount, as in the first power amplifier.
  • the time for which the forced ALC operation is performed is a period shorter than the first period in the first power amplifier.
  • the control unit 14 sets the attenuation value to the attenuator 11 based on the detected power from the power detector 13 and performs the attenuation operation.
  • the operation (continuous ALC operation) is performed over the second period.
  • the controller 14 stores in advance attenuation values corresponding to the power.
  • the control unit 14 continuously performs the operation of setting the attenuation value based on the detected power.
  • the second power amplifier can suppress the drop in power after forced ALC, and can further stabilize the output power.
  • the control unit 14 detects the start of the intermittent section, first, in the first period, the first attenuation amount larger than the fixed value in the first period.
  • the forced ALC operation for causing the damping operation is performed, and when the first period ends, the continuous ALC operation is performed in the subsequent second period.
  • the first period is shorter than the first amplifier.
  • the broken line in FIG. 3B is the transmission output when the forced ALC operation is not performed, and the dotted line shows the timing of sampling of power detection in the continuous ALC.
  • the transmission output power in the first period of the forced ALC operation falls within the specified value, and the drop is smaller compared to the transmission power in the first power amplifier shown in FIG.
  • the transmission output closer to the specified value can be obtained by performing the continuous ALC operation to set the attenuation amount according to the detected transmission power. There is.
  • the second period is a period until the transmission output is almost stabilized, so that continuous ALC operation is not performed for a longer time than necessary. This minimizes the impact on radar observation.
  • the length of the second period is set in the control unit 14 in advance by obtaining an optimum time through experiments.
  • the time for the forced ALC operation to operate with a large attenuation amount is shortened to reduce the drop of the transmission power, and the forced ALC is followed by the transmission power.
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a transmission output waveform of the application example.
  • a second power amplifier application is to narrow the sampling interval in continuous ALC operation. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, after performing a forced ALC for a specific period, the power detector 13 detects transmission power in a short sampling cycle and outputs it to the control unit 14, and the control unit 14 sets transmission power as transmission power. The corresponding attenuation value is set in the attenuator 11.
  • the dotted lines in FIG. 4 indicate sampling timings for ALC.
  • the power detection unit 13 detects the transmission output power
  • the control unit 14 stops the amplification operation in the amplification element 12 based on the detected power (in the intermittent interval)
  • the attenuator 11 is set to a preset first attenuation value, and the attenuation operation is performed with the first attenuation amount until the second time elapses, and the second period is In the subsequent second period, the attenuation value based on the detected power is set in the attenuator 11 to perform the continuous ALC operation that performs the attenuation operation according to the output power, so ringing by the power supply circuit is
  • the influence can be suppressed to prevent the transmission output from exceeding the specified value at the time of transmission resumption, and it is possible to suppress the drop of the transmission power due to the forced ALC operation, and it is possible to stabilize the transmission output.
  • the sampling interval of power detection in the continuous ALC operation is shortened, the ALC can be performed finely following the output signal, and the transmission output is further stabilized. There is an effect that can be done.
  • the third power amplifier detects the power supply voltage and controls the attenuator by the voltage level in addition to the detection of the transmission output.
  • the third power amplifier includes a power supply voltage monitoring unit (not shown) that detects the voltage level of the power supply voltage supplied from the transmission power supply circuit to the amplification element 12, and the power supply voltage monitoring unit detects the detected voltage level Are output to the control unit 14.
  • FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing control of attenuation amount in the third power amplifier.
  • the control unit 14 adjusts the attenuation amount of the attenuator 11 accordingly. Specifically, since the transmission output increases as the power supply voltage increases, control is performed to increase the attenuation amount, and control is performed to decrease the attenuation amount when the power supply voltage decreases.
  • An attenuation value corresponding to the voltage level of the power supply voltage is stored in advance in the control unit 14, and a corresponding attenuation value is set in the attenuator 11 based on the voltage level input from the power supply voltage monitoring unit. Achieve a good amount of attenuation. Thereby, for example, the fluctuation of the power supply voltage can be detected during the intermittent section, and the attenuation value can be set to the attenuator, and the attenuation amount in the attenuator 11 can be controlled before resuming transmission. There is an effect that transmission output can be obtained.
  • the power supply voltage is monitored instead of the transmission output, and the attenuation amount can be determined before transmission output, and transmission is performed even if operation continues with continuous ALC performing attenuation operation with a fixed value. It is possible to prevent overpowering at the time of resumption. That is, no forced ALC is required.
  • the third power amplifier if only the power supply voltage monitoring is performed, the fluctuation of the transmission output caused by other than the power supply voltage can not be coped with. Therefore, ALC is performed in the transmission output monitoring to keep the output stable.
  • the power supply voltage monitoring unit detects the voltage level of the power supply voltage supplied from the transmission power supply circuit to the amplifying element 12, and the control unit 14 stores in advance corresponding to the voltage level. Since the attenuation value being set is set to the attenuator 11 to perform the attenuation operation, it is possible to suppress the level fluctuation of the transmission output based on the fluctuation of the power supply voltage, and stabilize the transmission output level. There is an effect that can be done.
  • the transmission output level can be further stabilized by combining with the configuration of the first and second power amplifiers.
  • the present invention is suitable for a power amplifier capable of suppressing the influence of ringing in a transmission intermittent period and stabilizing the transmission output.
  • Attenuator ATT
  • 12 amplification element
  • 13 power detector
  • 14 control unit
  • DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 41 ... Transformer part, 42 ... Diode part, 43 ... Choke coil, 44 ... Capacitor, 50 ... FMCW radar apparatus, 51 ... Signal generation part, 52 ... Power amplifier (transmission side), 53 ... Transmission antenna, 54 ... Reception antenna, 55: Power amplifier (reception side) 56: Mixer circuit 57: Output terminal

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Amplifiers (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
  • Control Of Amplification And Gain Control (AREA)

Abstract

Provided are a power amplifier and a transmission output correcting method, which can suppress the effects of ringing in a transmission intermittent section and limit a transmission output to a specified level or less, and thereby achieve stable observation. The power amplifier and the transmission output correcting method are configured such that, when a prohibited frequency band is included in a chirp signal, an amplification element 12 amplifies the chirp signal attenuated by an attenuator 11 and transmits the amplified chirp signal as a transmission signal; a power detection unit 13 detects transmission output power; when detecting, on the basis of the detected power, an intermittent section in which the transmission output stops, a control unit 14 sets, for the attenuator 11, a first attenuation value greater than the attenuation value during initiation of radar observation; and an attenuation operation is performed using a first attenuation quantity until a first period of time elapses.

Description

電力増幅器及び送信出力補正方法Power amplifier and transmission output correction method
　本発明は、ドップラレーダ用の電力増幅器に係り、特に送信間欠区間におけるリンギングの影響を抑制し、送信出力を規定レベル内に抑えて安定した観測を実現することができる高出力の電力増幅器及び送信出力補正方法に関する。 The present invention relates to a power amplifier for Doppler radar, and in particular, a high-power power amplifier and transmission capable of realizing stable observation by suppressing the influence of ringing in a transmission intermittent section and suppressing the transmission output to within a prescribed level. The present invention relates to an output correction method.
〔先行技術の説明〕
　ドップラレーダは、送信信号と受信信号の周波数差に基づいて、対象物までの距離や移動速度を測定するものである。
　短波帯ドップラレーダには、ＦＭＣＷ（Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave；周波数変調連続波）変調された連続波を用いるものがある。 Description of the Prior Art
The Doppler radar measures the distance to the object and the moving speed based on the frequency difference between the transmission signal and the reception signal.
Some short-wave band Doppler radars use a continuous wave modulated by an FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave).
〔ＦＭＣＷレーダ装置の概略構成：図６〕
　ＦＭＣＷ方式のレーダ（ＦＭＣＷレーダ装置）装置の概略構成について図６を用いて説明する。図６は、ＦＭＣＷレーダ装置の概略構成図である。
　図６に示すように、ＦＭＣＷレーダ装置５０は、信号生成部５１と、送信側の電力増幅器５２と、送信アンテナ５３と、受信アンテナ５４と、受信側の電力増幅器５５と、ミキサ回路５６と、出力端子５７とを備えている。 [Schematic configuration of FMCW radar device: FIG. 6]
A schematic configuration of a FMCW type radar (FMCW radar apparatus) apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of the FMCW radar device.
As shown in FIG. 6, the FMCW radar device 50 includes a signal generation unit 51, a transmission power amplifier 52, a transmission antenna 53, a reception antenna 54, a reception power amplifier 55, and a mixer circuit 56. And an output terminal 57.
　図６に示すＦＭＣＷレーダ装置では、信号生成部５１で、所定のチャープ信号（掃引信号）が繰り返し生成され、電力増幅器５２で、チャープ信号が所定の送信出力まで増幅され、送信アンテナ５３から増幅された信号が出力される。 In the FMCW radar device shown in FIG. 6, a predetermined chirp signal (sweep signal) is repeatedly generated by the signal generation unit 51, and the power amplifier 52 amplifies the chirp signal to a predetermined transmission output and amplified from the transmission antenna 53. Signal is output.
　そして、受信アンテナ５４で、対象物によって反射された信号が受信され、受信側の電力増幅器５５で増幅されてミキサ回路５６に入力され、増幅された受信信号と、信号生成部５１からのチャープ信号が乗算されて、対象物までの距離に応じた周波数の信号が生成され、出力端子５７からレーダ出力として出力される。 Then, the signal reflected by the object is received by the receiving antenna 54, amplified by the power amplifier 55 on the receiving side, input to the mixer circuit 56, and amplified, and the chirp signal from the signal generation unit 51. Is multiplied to generate a signal of a frequency according to the distance to the object, and is output from the output terminal 57 as a radar output.
〔電源回路：図７〕
　送信信号を増幅する増幅素子及び送信部に電力を供給する電源回路の構成について図７を用いて説明する。図７は、電源回路の概略構成図である。
　図７に示すように、電源回路は、電源部に接続するトランス部４１と、ダイオード部４２と、チョークコイル４３と、コンデンサ４４とを備えている。
　電源回路は、トランス部４１で電圧を変換し、ダイオード部４２、チョークコイル４３、コンデンサ４４で整流及び平滑化を行って図６に示した電力増幅器５２の増幅素子に電力を出力する。 [Power supply circuit: Fig. 7]
The configuration of a power supply circuit that supplies power to an amplification element that amplifies a transmission signal and a transmission unit will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a power supply circuit.
As shown in FIG. 7, the power supply circuit includes a transformer unit 41 connected to the power supply unit, a diode unit 42, a choke coil 43, and a capacitor 44.
The power supply circuit converts a voltage by the transformer unit 41, performs rectification and smoothing with the diode unit 42, the choke coil 43, and the capacitor 44, and outputs power to the amplification element of the power amplifier 52 shown in FIG.
〔送信出力のリンギング：図８〕
　ここで、送信信号のチャープ帯域に禁止周波数帯域が含まれている場合には、図６に示したＦＭＣＷレーダ装置５０はその区間において送信を停止するため、チャープの途中で瞬間的な送信間欠区間が生じる。
　このとき、送信部（送信側の電力増幅器５２）に電力を供給する電源回路のチョークコイルの揺れによって、送信出力にリンギングが発生する。 [Ringing of transmission output: FIG. 8]
Here, when the forbidden frequency band is included in the chirp band of the transmission signal, the FMCW radar device 50 shown in FIG. Will occur.
At this time, ringing occurs in the transmission output due to the fluctuation of the choke coil of the power supply circuit that supplies power to the transmission unit (power amplifier 52 on the transmission side).
　ここで、従来の電力増幅器の出力信号におけるリンギングについて図８を用いて説明する。図８は、従来の電力増幅器における送信出力を示す説明図であり、（ａ）は送信動作のオン／オフ、（ｂ）は送信出力波形、（ｃ）は送信信号の周波数と送信状態を示している。
　図８（ａ）（ｃ）に示すように、チャープ信号の帯域に禁止周波数帯域が含まれている場合、信号生成部５１の出力が当該区間においてオフとなる。
　これにより、（ｃ）に示すように、禁止周波数帯域は送信されず、間欠区間となる。 Here, the ringing in the output signal of the conventional power amplifier will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a transmission output in a conventional power amplifier, where (a) shows transmission operation on / off, (b) shows a transmission output waveform, and (c) shows a transmission signal frequency and transmission state. ing.
As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C, when the band of the chirp signal includes the forbidden frequency band, the output of the signal generation unit 51 is turned off in the section.
As a result, as shown in (c), the prohibited frequency band is not transmitted, and becomes an intermittent section.
　このように送信区間中に間欠的に送信動作を停止した場合、電源回路に含まれるチョークコイル４３の揺れによって、送信出力にリンギングが発生する。
　そして、図８（ｂ）に示すように、送信再開のタイミングが揺れのピークに重なった場合には、送信出力が瞬間的に規定値をオーバーしてしまう。 As described above, when the transmission operation is intermittently stopped during the transmission period, ringing occurs in the transmission output due to the fluctuation of the choke coil 43 included in the power supply circuit.
Then, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), when the timing of the transmission resumption overlaps the peak of the fluctuation, the transmission output instantaneously exceeds the specified value.
　電力増幅器を用いる一般的なシステム（例えば無線機等）の場合、通常、ＡＬＣ（Auto matic Level Control；自動レベル制御）機能が搭載されており、送信電力を検出器によって検出し、検出値に応じて、信号入力段に実装された減衰器（ＡＴＴ：Attenuator）の減衰量を調整することで、送信出力を常に一定に保っている。 In the case of a general system (for example, a radio) using a power amplifier, an ALC (Automatic Level Control) function is usually installed, and the transmission power is detected by a detector, and the detected value is By adjusting the attenuation amount of an attenuator (ATT: Attenuator) mounted in the signal input stage, the transmission output is always kept constant.
　しかし、ＡＬＣを動作させると、常に入力信号レベルに変化を与えることになるため、レーダシステムにおいては、信号解析に悪影響を及ぼす危険性がある。
　そのため、レーダ観測中はＡＬＣを動作させず、ＡＴＴには固定値を設定しておくのが一般的であり、観測中に発生した送信出力の変動については、ＡＬＣで補正を行うことはできない。 However, operating the ALC always changes the input signal level, which may adversely affect signal analysis in the radar system.
Therefore, during radar observation, it is general not to operate ALC, but to set a fixed value to ATT, and it is not possible to correct by ALC the fluctuation of transmission output generated during observation.
　また、電源回路側で対応しようとすると、ドップラレーダの送信信号が１０ｋＷを超えるクラスの電力増幅器の場合には、大容量の安定化電源を特注しなければならず、コストが増大してしまう。 In addition, when trying to cope with the power supply circuit side, in the case of a power amplifier of a class in which the Doppler radar transmission signal exceeds 10 kW, a large capacity stabilized power supply must be customized, resulting in an increase in cost.
〔関連技術〕
　尚、レーダ装置や電源装置に関する従来技術としては、特開２０１１－１２７９２３号公報「レーダシステム」（特許文献１）、特開２００６－５０５１０号公報「情報処理装置、無線モジュール、電子制御装置、電子制御方法、電子制御プログラム及び記録媒体」（特許文献２）、特開２００９－１４１９０１号公報「無線装置、無線通信システム、制御方法及び制御プログラム」（特許文献３）がある。 [Related technology]
In addition, as a prior art regarding a radar apparatus or a power supply apparatus, Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2011-127923 "radar system" (patent document 1), Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2006-50510 "information processing apparatus, wireless module, electronic control apparatus, electronic There is a control method, an electronic control program and a recording medium (Patent Document 2), and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-141901 "radio apparatus, radio communication system, control method and control program" (patent document 3).
　特許文献１には、ＦＭＣＷレーダシステムにおいて、電圧制御発振器の周波数非線形性や周波数偏差を補正することが記載されている。
　特許文献２には、通信装置における消費電力を低減する情報処理装置が記載されており、通信装置はパワーアンプを備え、周期的に送信や受信を行うことが記載されている。
　特許文献３には、マルチホップ環境におけるAd-Hocモードでレーダとの干渉回避を考慮したＤＦＳ機能を実現する通信装置が記載されている。 Patent Document 1 describes correction of frequency non-linearity and frequency deviation of a voltage control oscillator in an FMCW radar system.
Patent Document 2 describes an information processing apparatus for reducing power consumption in a communication apparatus, and describes that the communication apparatus includes a power amplifier and periodically performs transmission and reception.
Patent Document 3 describes a communication apparatus that realizes a DFS function in consideration of interference avoidance with a radar in an Ad-Hoc mode in a multi-hop environment.
特開２０１１－１２７９２３号公報JP, 2011-127923, A 特開２００６－５０５１０号公報JP, 2006-50510, A 特開２００９－１４１９０１号公報JP, 2009-141901, A
　上述したように、従来の電力増幅器では、チャープ信号の送信動作を中断する間欠区間においてリンギングが生じ、送信再開時に、送信出力が規定値を超えてしまい、観測が中断してしまうという問題点があった。 As described above, in the conventional power amplifier, ringing occurs in the intermittent section in which the transmission operation of the chirp signal is interrupted, and the transmission output exceeds the specified value at the time of transmission resumption, which causes a problem that the observation is interrupted. there were.
　本発明は上記実状に鑑みて為されたもので、送信間欠区間におけるリンギングの影響を抑制し、送信出力を規定レベル内に抑えて、安定した観測を行うことができる電力増幅器及び送信出力補正方法を提供することを目的とする。 The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and a power amplifier and transmission output correction method capable of performing stable observation by suppressing the influence of ringing in a transmission intermittent interval and suppressing the transmission output within a prescribed level. Intended to provide.
　上記従来例の問題点を解決するための本発明は、短波帯ドップラレーダ用の電力増幅器であって、周波数変調連続波の入力信号を、設定された減衰値に基づいて減衰する減衰器と、減衰された信号を増幅する増幅素子と、増幅された信号の電力を検出すると共に、信号を送信出力する電力検出器と、検出された電力に基づいて特定の減衰値により減衰器を制御する制御部とを備え、減衰器は、レーダ観測開始時には減衰値として特定の値が設定され、制御部は、入力信号の帯域に禁止帯域が含まれる場合、検出した電力から送信出力が停止する送信間欠区間を検出すると、減衰器に前記特定の値よりも大きい第１の減衰値を設定して、予め定めた第１の期間において、第１の減衰値に基づいて減衰動作を行うよう減衰器を制御することを特徴としている。 The present invention for solving the problems of the prior art is a power amplifier for a short wave band Doppler radar, which attenuates an input signal of a frequency modulated continuous wave based on a set attenuation value; Amplifying element for amplifying the attenuated signal, a power detector for detecting the power of the amplified signal and transmitting and outputting the signal, and control for controlling the attenuator with a specific attenuation value based on the detected power The attenuator is set to a specific value as an attenuation value at the start of radar observation, and the control unit is configured to stop transmission output from detected power when the band of the input signal includes a prohibited band. When a section is detected, the attenuator is set to a first attenuation value larger than the specific value, and the attenuator is operated to perform attenuation operation based on the first attenuation value in a first predetermined period. To control It is set to.
　また、本発明は、上記電力増幅器において、制御部は、第１の期間に続く第２の期間において、電力検出器により検出された電力に応じて電力の変動を抑制する減衰値を減衰器に設定して、電力に応じた減衰動作を行うよう減衰器を制御することを特徴としている。 Further, according to the present invention, in the above-described power amplifier, the control unit reduces the attenuation value for suppressing the fluctuation of the power according to the power detected by the power detector in the second period following the first period. It is characterized by setting and controlling the attenuator to perform the attenuation operation according to the power.
　また、本発明は、上記電力増幅器において、制御部は、第２の期間において、設定されたサンプリング間隔で検出された電力に応じた減衰値を減衰器に設定することを特徴としている。 Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the power amplifier, the control unit sets an attenuation value corresponding to the power detected at the set sampling interval in the second period in the attenuator.
　また、本発明は、周波数変調連続波の入力信号を増幅する電力増幅器における送信出力補正方法であって、入力信号の帯域に禁止帯域が含まれる場合に、制御部では、レーダ観測開始時に、減衰器に減衰値として特定の値を設定し、電力検出器で検出した電力から送信出力が停止する送信間欠区間を検出すると、減衰器に特定の値よりも大きい第１の減衰値を設定して、予め定めた第１の期間において、第１の減衰値に基づいて減衰動作を行うよう減衰器を制御することを特徴としている。 Further, the present invention is a transmission output correction method in a power amplifier for amplifying an input signal of a frequency modulated continuous wave, and when the band of the input signal includes a prohibited band, the control unit attenuates at the start of radar observation. When a specific value is set as an attenuation value in the transmission unit and a transmission intermittent interval in which transmission output is stopped is detected from the power detected by the power detector, a first attenuation value larger than the specific value is set in the attenuator. The attenuator is controlled to perform the attenuation operation based on the first attenuation value in a first predetermined period.
　また、本発明は、上記送信出力補正方法において、制御部では、第１の期間に続く第２の期間において、電力検出器により検出された電力に応じて電力の変動を抑制する減衰値を減衰器に設定して、電力に応じた減衰動作を行うよう減衰器を制御することを特徴としている。 Further, according to the present invention, in the transmission output correction method, the control unit attenuates the attenuation value for suppressing the fluctuation of the power according to the power detected by the power detector in the second period following the first period. And control the attenuator to perform the attenuation operation according to the power.
　本発明によれば、短波帯ドップラレーダ用の電力増幅器であって、周波数変調連続波の入力信号を、設定された減衰値に基づいて減衰する減衰器と、減衰された信号を増幅する増幅素子と、増幅された信号の電力を検出すると共に、信号を送信出力する電力検出器と、検出された電力に基づいて特定の減衰値により減衰器を制御する制御部とを備え、減衰器は、レーダ観測開始時には減衰値として特定の値が設定され、制御部は、入力信号の帯域に禁止帯域が含まれる場合、検出した電力から送信出力が停止する送信間欠区間を検出すると、減衰器に前記特定の値よりも大きい第１の減衰値を設定して、予め定めた第１の期間において、第１の減衰値に基づいて減衰動作を行うよう減衰器を制御する電力増幅器としているので、送信間欠区間後の送信再開時に電源回路のリンギングの影響によって送信出力が規定値を超えてしまうのを防ぐことができ、送信出力を安定させて、良好なレーダ観測を行わせることができる効果がある。 According to the present invention, there is provided a power amplifier for short wave band Doppler radar, comprising: an attenuator for attenuating a frequency-modulated continuous wave input signal based on a set attenuation value; and an amplification element for amplifying the attenuated signal And a power detector that detects the power of the amplified signal and transmits the signal, and a controller that controls the attenuator with a specific attenuation value based on the detected power. When radar observation is started, a specific value is set as an attenuation value, and when the band of the input signal includes a prohibited band, when the transmission intermittent period in which the transmission output is stopped is detected from the detected power, the attenuator Since the power amplifier is configured to control the attenuator to set the first attenuation value larger than the specific value and perform the attenuation operation based on the first attenuation value in the first predetermined period, the transmission Intermittent zone Transmission output due to the effect of the ringing in the power supply circuit at the time of transmission resumption after it is possible to prevent the exceeding the specified value, to stabilize the transmission output, there is an effect that it is possible to perform good radar observations.
　また、本発明によれば、制御部は、第１の期間に続く第２の期間において、電力検出器により検出された電力に応じて電力の変動を抑制する減衰値を減衰器に設定して、電力に応じた減衰動作を行うよう減衰器を制御する上記電力増幅器としているので、送信出力を一層安定させることができる効果がある。 Further, according to the present invention, in the second period following the first period, the control unit sets, in the attenuator, an attenuation value that suppresses variation of the power according to the power detected by the power detector. Since the above power amplifier controls the attenuator to perform the attenuation operation according to the power, the transmission output can be further stabilized.
　また、本発明によれば、制御部は、第２の期間において、設定されたサンプリング間隔で検出された電力に応じた減衰値を減衰器に設定する上記電力増幅器としているので、サンプリング間隔を短く設定すれば、きめ細かく電力を検出して、送信電力を更に安定させることができる効果がある。 Further, according to the present invention, since the control unit sets the attenuation value corresponding to the power detected at the set sampling interval in the second period as the attenuator, the sampling interval is short. If set, it is possible to finely detect the power and further stabilize the transmission power.
　また、本発明によれば、周波数変調連続波の入力信号を増幅する電力増幅器における送信出力補正方法であって、入力信号の帯域に禁止帯域が含まれる場合に、制御部では、レーダ観測開始時に、減衰器に減衰値として特定の値を設定し、電力検出器で検出した電力から送信出力が停止する送信間欠区間を検出すると、減衰器に特定の値よりも大きい第１の減衰値を設定して、予め定めた第１の期間において、第１の減衰値に基づいて減衰動作を行うよう減衰器を制御する送信出力補正方法としているので、送信間欠区間後の送信再開時に電源回路のリンギングの影響によって送信出力が規定値を超えてしまうのを防ぐことができ、送信出力を安定させて、良好なレーダ観測を行わせることができる効果がある。 Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a transmission output correction method in a power amplifier for amplifying an input signal of a frequency modulated continuous wave, wherein when the band of the input signal includes a prohibited band, the control unit starts radar observation. When a specific value is set to the attenuator as an attenuation value, and a transmission intermittent interval in which the transmission output is stopped is detected from the power detected by the power detector, a first attenuation value larger than the specific value is set to the attenuator. And the transmission output correction method of controlling the attenuator so as to perform the attenuation operation based on the first attenuation value in the first predetermined period. Therefore, the transmission output can be prevented from exceeding the specified value due to the influence of the above, and the transmission output can be stabilized and good radar observation can be performed.
　また、本発明によれば、制御部では、第１の期間に続く第２の期間において、電力検出器により検出された電力に応じて電力の変動を抑制する減衰値を減衰器に設定して、電力に応じた減衰動作を行うよう減衰器を制御する上記送信出力補正方法としているので、送信出力を一層安定させることができる効果がある。 Further, according to the present invention, in the control unit, in the second period following the first period, the attenuation value for suppressing the fluctuation of the power is set in the attenuator according to the power detected by the power detector. Since the transmission output correction method of controlling the attenuator so as to perform the attenuation operation according to the power, the transmission output can be further stabilized.
第１の電力増幅器の概略構成ブロック図である。It is a schematic block diagram of a 1st power amplifier. 第１の電力増幅器における送信出力を示す説明図である。It is explanatory drawing which shows the transmission output in a 1st power amplifier. 第２の電力増幅器の動作を示す説明図である。It is an explanatory view showing operation of the 2nd power amplifier. 応用例の送信出力波形を示す説明図である。It is explanatory drawing which shows the transmission output waveform of an application example. 第３の電力増幅器における減衰量の制御を示す説明図であるIt is an explanatory view showing control of the amount of attenuation in the 3rd power amplifier. ＦＭＣＷレーダ装置の概略構成図である。It is a schematic block diagram of a FMCW radar installation. 電源回路の概略構成図である。It is a schematic block diagram of a power supply circuit. 従来の電力増幅器における送信出力を示す説明図である。It is explanatory drawing which shows the transmission output in the conventional power amplifier.
　本発明の実施の形態について図面を参照しながら説明する。
〔実施の形態の概要〕
　本発明の第１の実施の形態に係る電力増幅器（第１の電力増幅器）は、送信出力の電力を検出する電力検出器と、検出された電力に基づいて減衰器を制御する制御部とを備え、制御部が、検出された電力に基づいて送信出力の停止を検知すると、リンギングによる送信出力の増大を相殺する特定の減衰値で減衰器を一定時間強制的に動作させるようにしており、送信禁止周波数でチャープ信号の送信を中断した後の、送信再開時における出力オーバーを防ぎ、送信出力を規定レベル内に抑えて、安定した観測を実現できるものである。 Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Outline of Embodiment]
A power amplifier (a first power amplifier) according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a power detector that detects power of a transmission output, and a control unit that controls an attenuator based on the detected power. The controller is configured to forcibly operate the attenuator for a certain period of time with a specific attenuation value that cancels an increase in the transmission output due to ringing when the control unit detects the stop of the transmission output based on the detected power. After stopping transmission of the chirp signal at the transmission prohibited frequency, it is possible to prevent an output over at the time of transmission resumption, suppress the transmission output to within a specified level, and realize stable observation.
　また、本発明の第２の実施の形態に係る電力増幅器（第２の電力増幅器）は、制御部が、送信出力の停止を検知すると、リンギングによる送信出力の増大を相殺する特定の値で減衰器を一定時間強制的に動作させ、更にその後、特定時間に亘って、減衰器を送信出力電力に応じた減衰値で動作するＡＬＣ動作を行わせるようにしており、送信再開時の出力オーバーを防ぐと共に、送信出力の落ち込みを抑え、更にその後の送信出力を安定させることができるものである。 Further, the power amplifier (second power amplifier) according to the second embodiment of the present invention is attenuated by a specific value that cancels out the increase of the transmission output due to ringing when the control unit detects the stop of the transmission output. The unit is forced to operate for a fixed period of time, and then the attenuator is made to perform an ALC operation that operates with an attenuation value according to the transmission output power for a specific period of time. It is possible to prevent the drop of the transmission output and to stabilize the transmission output thereafter.
〔第１の実施の形態に係る電力増幅器の構成：図１〕
　第１の電力増幅器の構成について図１を用いて説明する。図１は、第１の電力増幅器の概略構成ブロック図である。
　第１の電力増幅器は、図６に示したようなＦＭＣＷ方式の短波帯ドップラレーダの送信側で用いられる電力増幅器であり、図１に示すように、減衰器（ＡＴＴ）１１と、増幅素子１２と、電力検出器１３と、制御部１４とを備えている。 [Configuration of Power Amplifier According to First Embodiment: FIG. 1]
The configuration of the first power amplifier will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a first power amplifier.
The first power amplifier is a power amplifier used on the transmission side of the FMCW type shortwave band Doppler radar as shown in FIG. 6, and as shown in FIG. 1, an attenuator (ATT) 11 and an amplification element 12 , A power detector 13, and a control unit 14.
　第１の電力増幅器及び後述する第２、第３の電力増幅器は、禁止周波数帯域が含まれるチャープ信号を増幅するものであり、禁止周波数帯域においては信号生成部からの出力が停止され、この区間では送信出力はオフとなる。 The first power amplifier and the second and third power amplifiers described later amplify a chirp signal including the forbidden frequency band, and the output from the signal generation unit is stopped in the forbidden frequency band, and this section Then the transmission output is turned off.
　減衰器１１は、入力されたチャープ信号を、制御部１４から設定された減衰値に基づいて減衰する。通常、チャープ信号の送信時（レーダ観測時）には、減衰値は予め設定された固定値となっている。固定値は、請求項に記載した特定の減衰値に相当する。 The attenuator 11 attenuates the input chirp signal based on the attenuation value set from the control unit 14. Usually, when transmitting a chirp signal (during radar observation), the attenuation value is a preset fixed value. The fixed value corresponds to the specific attenuation value stated in the claims.
　増幅素子１２は、入力されたチャープ信号を増幅し、送信信号として出力する。
　電力検出器１３は、方向性結合器等で構成され、増幅素子１２で増幅された信号を送信アンテナに出力すると共に、送信出力の電力を検出して制御部１４に出力する。 The amplification element 12 amplifies the input chirp signal and outputs it as a transmission signal.
The power detector 13 is configured of a directional coupler or the like, and outputs the signal amplified by the amplification element 12 to the transmission antenna, and also detects the power of the transmission output and outputs it to the control unit 14.
　制御部１４は、第１の電力増幅器の特徴部分であり、電力検出器１３で検出された電力に基づいて、減衰器１１の減衰量を制御する。
　具体的には、第１の電力増幅器の制御部１４は、レーダ観測時には、ＡＬＣ機能をオフとして、減衰器１１の減衰値を従来と同様の固定値に設定するが、電力検出器１３からの電力に基づいて、送信出力が停止したことを検知すると、送信再開時に出力オーバーとならないよう、減衰器１１に固定値よりも大きい減衰値を設定し、予め設定された特定時間が経過するまで当該減衰値に基づく減衰量で強制的に動作させる。当該減衰値は、送信電力の変動を抑制する値が設定される。
　制御部１４の動作については、後述する。 The control unit 14 is a feature of the first power amplifier, and controls the attenuation amount of the attenuator 11 based on the power detected by the power detector 13.
Specifically, the controller 14 of the first power amplifier sets the attenuation value of the attenuator 11 to the same fixed value as the conventional one while turning off the ALC function at the time of radar observation, but from the power detector 13 If it detects that the transmission output has stopped based on the power, an attenuation value larger than the fixed value is set in the attenuator 11 so that the output does not become over at the time of transmission resumption. Forced operation with the amount of attenuation based on the attenuation value. The attenuation value is set to a value that suppresses fluctuations in transmission power.
The operation of the control unit 14 will be described later.
〔第１の電力増幅器の動作：図２〕
　次に、第１の電力増幅器の動作について図２を用いて説明する。図２は、第１の電力増幅器における送信出力を示す説明図であり、（ａ）は送信動作のオン／オフ、（ｂ）は送信出力波形、（ｃ）は送信信号の周波数と送信状態を示している。
　図２（ａ）及び（ｃ）は、上述した図８と同様であり、チャープ信号を生成する信号生成部からの出力が、帯域に含まれる禁止周波数の帯域でオフとなって送信出力がオフとなり、禁止周波数帯域が終わると、チャープ信号の送信が再開される。
　禁止周波数帯域は、送信動作が行われない間欠区間となる。 [Operation of First Power Amplifier: FIG. 2]
Next, the operation of the first power amplifier will be described using FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the transmission output in the first power amplifier, where (a) is the transmission operation ON / OFF, (b) is the transmission output waveform, and (c) is the transmission signal frequency and transmission state. It shows.
2 (a) and 2 (c) are the same as FIG. 8 described above, and the output from the signal generation unit for generating the chirp signal is off in the band of the prohibited frequency included in the band and the transmission output is off. When the forbidden frequency band ends, transmission of the chirp signal is resumed.
The prohibited frequency band is an intermittent section in which the transmission operation is not performed.
　図２（ｂ）に示すように、第１の電力増幅器では、レーダ観測時に、チャープ信号の送信開始（レーダ観測開始）から間欠区間に入るまでは、減衰器１１には固定値が設定されているため、減衰器１１は常に一定の減衰量で減衰動作を行うようになっている（固定ＡＬＣと称するものとする）。固定ＡＬＣ区間では、送信出力はほぼ一定となる。 As shown in FIG. 2B, in the first power amplifier, a fixed value is set in the attenuator 11 from the transmission start of the chirp signal (the radar observation start) to the start of the intermittent section at the radar observation. Therefore, the attenuator 11 always performs attenuation operation with a fixed amount of attenuation (referred to as fixed ALC). In the fixed ALC period, the transmission output is almost constant.
　そして、禁止周波数帯域に入って送信動作がオフになると、電力検出器１３で検出される送信電力が０（ゼロ）となり、制御部１４は、それに基づいて、送信動作の停止（間欠区間の開始）を検知する。
　制御部１４は、送信動作の停止を検知すると、減衰器１１に、予め記憶している特定の減衰値（第１の減衰値）を設定し、予め記憶している特定時間（第１の時間、第１の期間）が経過するまで第１の減衰値に基づく減衰量（第１の減衰量）で入力信号を減衰するよう制御する。 Then, when the transmission operation is turned off by entering the prohibited frequency band, the transmission power detected by the power detector 13 becomes 0 (zero), and based on that, the control unit 14 stops the transmission operation (start of intermittent interval ) To detect.
When detecting the stop of the transmission operation, the control unit 14 sets a specific attenuation value (first attenuation value) stored in advance in the attenuator 11, and stores the specific time (first time) stored in advance. Control to attenuate the input signal with an amount of attenuation (first amount of attenuation) based on the first attenuation value until a first period of time elapses.
　ここで、第１の減衰値は、固定ＡＬＣにおける減衰値（固定値）よりも大きい値であり、送信動作の間欠区間において電源回路のチョークコイルで発生するリンギングの影響をできるだけ相殺する値に設定される。つまり、第１の減衰値は、電源の揺れのピークが送信再開のタイミングと重なった場合にも、送信出力が規定値を超えないような値に設定されている。
　第１の減衰値は、予め実験的に求められて、制御部１４に記憶されるものであり、電源回路の特性や間欠区間の長さ等に応じて最適な減衰値が記憶されている。 Here, the first attenuation value is a value larger than the attenuation value (fixed value) in fixed ALC, and is set to a value that cancels out the influence of ringing generated in the choke coil of the power supply circuit in the intermittent interval of transmission operation as much as possible. Be done. That is, the first attenuation value is set to a value such that the transmission output does not exceed the specified value even when the peak of the fluctuation of the power supply overlaps with the timing of resuming transmission.
The first attenuation value is experimentally obtained in advance and stored in the control unit 14, and an optimum attenuation value is stored according to the characteristics of the power supply circuit, the length of the intermittent section, and the like.
　第１の減衰値は、リンギングの影響を完全に相殺する値が最適ではあるが、不完全であっても送信電力の変動を抑制できれば効果が得られるものであり、送信電力が若干規定値をオーバーしても、下回ってもよい。 Although the first attenuation value is optimum to completely cancel out the ringing effect, it is effective if it can suppress the fluctuation of the transmission power even if it is incomplete, so the transmission power may be slightly specified. It may be over or under.
　同様に、第１の減衰値に基づく減衰動作を行わせる第１の期間の長さも、予め実験的に求められ、制御部１４に記憶されているものである。
　第１の期間は、リンギングの影響を十分吸収できると共に、送信出力が極度に低下しない程度の時間に設定されるものである。 Similarly, the length of the first period in which the damping operation based on the first damping value is performed is also experimentally obtained in advance and stored in the control unit 14.
The first period is set to a time that can sufficiently absorb the effect of ringing and that the transmission output does not extremely decrease.
　第１の減衰値に基づいて減衰を行う動作を強制ＡＬＣと称する。
　図２（ｂ）に示すように、減衰器１１は、間欠区間に入るまでは固定ＡＬＣで動作し、間欠区間に入って送信出力が停止すると、強制ＡＬＣで動作を行う。但し、強制ＡＬＣ期間の内、チャープ信号が入力されない間欠区間は、送信信号は出力されず、送信間欠区間となる。
　図２（ｂ）では、減衰器１１に設定される減衰値に対応して、固定ＡＬＣ、強制ＡＬＣの期間を示している。 The operation of performing attenuation based on the first attenuation value is referred to as forced ALC.
As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the attenuator 11 operates at a fixed ALC until entering an intermittent interval, and performs an operation at a forced ALC when transmission output is stopped after entering an intermittent interval. However, within the forced ALC period, the transmission signal is not output in the intermittent interval where the chirp signal is not input, and it becomes the transmission intermittent interval.
In FIG. 2 (b), the periods of fixed ALC and forced ALC are shown corresponding to the attenuation value set in the attenuator 11.
　図２（ｂ）において破線で示すように、従来は、送信再開時にリンギングの影響で送信出力電力が規定値を超えてしまっていたが、第１の電力増幅器では、間欠区間に入ると、制御部１４が、減衰器１１に、固定ＡＬＣの減衰量よりも大きい第１の減衰量で、強制的に入力信号を減衰させる強制ＡＬＣの動作を第１の期間に亘って行わせることにより、送信再開時に送信出力が規定値を超えないように制御することができるものである。
　これにより、送信出力オーバーによる観測中断を防ぐことができる。 Conventionally, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2B, although the transmission output power has exceeded the specified value due to the effect of ringing at the time of transmission resumption, in the first power amplifier, control is performed when entering the intermittent section. The transmission is performed by the unit 14 causing the attenuator 11 to perform the operation of the forced ALC for forcibly attenuating the input signal with the first attenuation amount larger than the attenuation amount of the fixed ALC for the first period. Control can be performed so that the transmission output does not exceed the specified value at the time of resumption.
This makes it possible to prevent observation interruption due to transmission output over.
　そして、第１の期間が終了すると（第１の時間が経過すると）、制御部１４は、再び固定ＡＬＣの減衰値を減衰器１１に設定して、固定値での減衰動作（固定ＡＬＣ）を行わせる。
　図２（ｂ）に示すように、第１の期間終了直後はリンギングの影響は少し残っているものの、送信出力電力が規定値を大幅に超えたり、極端に下回ったりすることはなく、概ね安定している。
　このようにして、第１の電力増幅器の動作が行われるものである。尚、第１の電力増幅器の動作は、第１の電力増幅器における送信出力補正方法に相当している。 Then, when the first period ends (when the first time elapses), the control unit 14 sets the attenuation value of the fixed ALC to the attenuator 11 again to perform the attenuation operation (fixed ALC) at the fixed value. Let it go.
As shown in FIG. 2 (b), although the ringing effect remains a little after the end of the first period, the transmission output power does not greatly exceed or extremely fall below the specified value, and is generally stable. doing.
Thus, the operation of the first power amplifier is performed. The operation of the first power amplifier corresponds to the transmission output correction method in the first power amplifier.
〔第１の電力増幅器の効果〕
　第１の電力増幅器及び送信出力補正方法によれば、ＦＭＣＷ信号のチャープ信号を送信するドップラレーダ装置で用いられる電力増幅器であって、チャープ信号が入力されない禁止周波数帯がある場合に、増幅素子１２が、減衰器１１で減衰されたチャープ信号を増幅して送信信号として出力し、電力検出部１３が送信出力電力を検出し、制御部１４が、検出された電力に基づいて送信出力の停止（間欠区間）を検知すると、減衰器１１に送信開始時に設定されている減衰値より大きい第１の減衰値を設定して、第１の時間が経過するまで第１の減衰値に基づいて減衰動作を行わせるようにしているので、電源回路によるリンギングの影響を抑制することができ、送信を再開した際に、送信出力が規定値を超えるのを防ぎ、安定した観測を行うことができる効果がある。 [Effect of the First Power Amplifier]
According to the first power amplifier and the transmission output correction method, the power amplifier is a power amplifier used in a Doppler radar device that transmits a chirp signal of an FMCW signal, and when there is an forbidden frequency band where the chirp signal is not input, the amplification element 12 However, the chirp signal attenuated by the attenuator 11 is amplified and output as a transmission signal, and the power detection unit 13 detects transmission output power, and the control unit 14 stops transmission output based on the detected power ( When an intermittent interval is detected, the attenuator 11 is set to a first attenuation value larger than the attenuation value set at the start of transmission, and the attenuation operation is performed based on the first attenuation value until the first time has elapsed. It is possible to suppress the effect of ringing due to the power supply circuit, and prevent transmission output from exceeding the specified value when transmission is resumed, and perform stable observation. There is an effect that can be.
〔第２の電力増幅器〕
　次に、本発明の第２の実施の形態に係る電力増幅器（第２の電力増幅器）について説明する。
　第２の電力増幅器では、強制ＡＬＣ動作に続いて、検出された送信電力に基づく減衰量で減衰動作を行う連続ＡＬＣ動作を行うものであり、送信出力電力を一層安定させるものである。
　第２の電力増幅器の構成は、図１に示した第１の電力増幅器の構成と同様であるが、制御部１４における制御が一部異なっている。 [Second power amplifier]
Next, a power amplifier (second power amplifier) according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The second power amplifier performs continuous ALC operation in which attenuation operation is performed with an attenuation amount based on the detected transmission power subsequent to forced ALC operation to further stabilize transmission output power.
The configuration of the second power amplifier is the same as the configuration of the first power amplifier shown in FIG. 1, but the control in the control unit 14 is partially different.
〔第２の電力増幅器の動作：図３〕
　次に、第２の電力増幅器の動作について図３を用いて説明する。図３は、第２の電力増幅器の動作を示す説明図であり、（ａ）は送信動作のオン／オフ、（ｂ）は送信出力波形、（ｃ）は送信信号の周波数と送信状態を示している。第２の電力増幅器の動作が、第２の電力増幅器における送信出力補正方法である。 [Operation of Second Power Amplifier: FIG. 3]
Next, the operation of the second power amplifier will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the second power amplifier, in which (a) shows the transmission operation on / off, (b) shows the transmission output waveform, and (c) shows the frequency and transmission state of the transmission signal. ing. The operation of the second power amplifier is a method of correcting the transmission output in the second power amplifier.
　図３（ａ）及び（ｃ）は、図２、図８と同様であるため、説明は省略する。
　図３（ｂ）に示すように、制御部１４は、チャープ信号の送信開始から間欠区間になるまでは、第１の電力増幅器と同様に、減衰器１１に固定値を設定して、固定ＡＬＣ動作を行うよう制御する。 Since FIG. 3 (a) and (c) is the same as that of FIG. 2, FIG. 8, description is abbreviate | omitted.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the control unit 14 sets a fixed value to the attenuator 11 and sets a fixed ALC, as in the first power amplifier, from the transmission start of the chirp signal to the intermittent interval. Control to perform an action.
　そして、制御部１４は、電力検出器１３からの検出電力に基づいて、間欠区間の開始を検知すると、第１の電力増幅器と同様に、第１の減衰量で強制ＡＬＣ動作を行わせる。
　但し、第２の電力増幅器の特徴として、強制ＡＬＣ動作を行わせる時間は、第１の電力増幅器における第１の期間より短い期間としている。 Then, when detecting the start of the intermittent section based on the detected power from the power detector 13, the control unit 14 causes the forced ALC operation to be performed with the first attenuation amount, as in the first power amplifier.
However, as a feature of the second power amplifier, the time for which the forced ALC operation is performed is a period shorter than the first period in the first power amplifier.
　更に、第２の電力増幅器の特徴として、第１の期間が終了すると、制御部１４は、電力検出器１３からの検出電力に基づいて減衰値を減衰器１１に設定して、減衰動作を行わせる動作（連続ＡＬＣ動作）を第２の期間に亘って行わせる。
　制御部１４には、予め電力に対応する減衰値が記憶されている。
　連続ＡＬＣ動作では、制御部１４は、検出された電力に基づいて減衰値を設定する動作を連続して行う。 Furthermore, as a feature of the second power amplifier, when the first period ends, the control unit 14 sets the attenuation value to the attenuator 11 based on the detected power from the power detector 13 and performs the attenuation operation. The operation (continuous ALC operation) is performed over the second period.
The controller 14 stores in advance attenuation values corresponding to the power.
In the continuous ALC operation, the control unit 14 continuously performs the operation of setting the attenuation value based on the detected power.
　上述した第１の電力増幅器では、強制ＡＬＣ動作を行う第１の期間の終了が近くなると、送信出力がかなり低下してしまう。
　第２の電力増幅器は、強制ＡＬＣ後の電力の落ち込みを抑え、出力電力を一層安定させることができるものである。 In the first power amplifier described above, when the end of the first period in which the forced ALC operation is performed approaches, the transmission output is considerably reduced.
The second power amplifier can suppress the drop in power after forced ALC, and can further stabilize the output power.
　図３（ｂ）に示すように、第２の電力増幅器の動作では、制御部１４は、間欠区間の開始を検知すると、まず、第１の期間において、固定値よりも大きい第１の減衰量で減衰動作を行わせる強制ＡＬＣ動作を行わせ、第１の期間が終了すると、それに続く第２の期間において、連続ＡＬＣ動作を行わせる。第１の期間は、第１の増幅器よりも短い。
　図３（ｂ）における破線は、強制ＡＬＣ動作を行わない場合の送信出力であり、点線は、連続ＡＬＣにおける電力検出のサンプリングのタイミングを示している。 As shown in FIG. 3B, in the operation of the second power amplifier, when the control unit 14 detects the start of the intermittent section, first, in the first period, the first attenuation amount larger than the fixed value in the first period. The forced ALC operation for causing the damping operation is performed, and when the first period ends, the continuous ALC operation is performed in the subsequent second period. The first period is shorter than the first amplifier.
The broken line in FIG. 3B is the transmission output when the forced ALC operation is not performed, and the dotted line shows the timing of sampling of power detection in the continuous ALC.
　これにより、強制ＡＬＣ動作の第１の期間における送信出力電力は、規定値内に収まると共に、図２に示した第１の電力増幅器における送信電力と比べて、落ち込みが小さくなっている。 As a result, the transmission output power in the first period of the forced ALC operation falls within the specified value, and the drop is smaller compared to the transmission power in the first power amplifier shown in FIG.
　そして、第１の期間に続く第２の期間において、検出された送信電力に応じた減衰量を設定する連続ＡＬＣ動作を行わせることにより、一層規定値に近い送信出力が得られるようになっている。 Then, in the second period following the first period, the transmission output closer to the specified value can be obtained by performing the continuous ALC operation to set the attenuation amount according to the detected transmission power. There is.
　第２の期間は、送信出力がほぼ安定するまでの期間とし、必要以上に長い時間に亘って連続ＡＬＣ動作を行わないようにしている。これにより、レーダ観測への影響を最低限に留めるものである。第２の期間の長さは、予め実験により最適な時間を求めて制御部１４に設定する。 The second period is a period until the transmission output is almost stabilized, so that continuous ALC operation is not performed for a longer time than necessary. This minimizes the impact on radar observation. The length of the second period is set in the control unit 14 in advance by obtaining an optimum time through experiments.
　第２の電力増幅器では、第１の電力増幅器に比べて、大きい減衰量で動作させる強制ＡＬＣ動作の時間を短縮して、送信電力の落ち込みを少なくすると共に、強制ＡＬＣに続いて、送信電力に応じた減衰量で減衰動作を行う連続ＡＬＣ動作をすることにより、間欠時のリンギングの影響を低減すると共に、送信電力を更に安定させ、安定した観測を行うことができるものである。 In the second power amplifier, compared to the first power amplifier, the time for the forced ALC operation to operate with a large attenuation amount is shortened to reduce the drop of the transmission power, and the forced ALC is followed by the transmission power. By performing the continuous ALC operation in which the attenuation operation is performed with the corresponding attenuation amount, the influence of ringing at the time of intermittent operation can be reduced, and the transmission power can be further stabilized and stable observation can be performed.
〔第２の電力増幅器の応用例：図４〕
　次に、第２の電力増幅器の応用例について図４を用いて説明する。図４は、応用例の送信出力波形を示す説明図である。
　第２の電力増幅器の応用例は、連続ＡＬＣ動作におけるサンプリング間隔を狭くするものである。
　具体的には、図４に示すように、強制ＡＬＣを特定期間行った後、電力検出器１３が短いサンプリング周期で送信電力を検出して制御部１４に出力し、制御部１４が送信電力に応じた減衰値を減衰器１１に設定する。
　図４の点線は、ＡＬＣ用のサンプリングタイミングを示している。 [Example of application of second power amplifier: FIG. 4]
Next, an application example of the second power amplifier will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a transmission output waveform of the application example.
A second power amplifier application is to narrow the sampling interval in continuous ALC operation.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, after performing a forced ALC for a specific period, the power detector 13 detects transmission power in a short sampling cycle and outputs it to the control unit 14, and the control unit 14 sets transmission power as transmission power. The corresponding attenuation value is set in the attenuator 11.
The dotted lines in FIG. 4 indicate sampling timings for ALC.
　これにより、連続ＡＬＣ動作における送信電力の調整をきめ細かく行うことができ、送信電力を一層安定させることができるものである。
　尚、図４では、図３（ｂ）に比べて固定ＡＬＣ動作の時間を短くしており、これによっても送信出力の落ち込みを防いでいる。 By this, it is possible to finely adjust the transmission power in the continuous ALC operation, and it is possible to further stabilize the transmission power.
In addition, in FIG. 4, the time of fixed ALC operation is shortened compared with FIG. 3 (b), and the fall of transmission output is also prevented by this.
〔第２の電力増幅器の効果〕
　第２の電力増幅器及び送信出力補正方法によれば、電力検出部１３が送信出力電力を検出し、制御部１４が、検出された電力に基づいて増幅素子１２における増幅動作の停止（間欠区間の開始）を検知すると、減衰器１１に予め設定された第１の減衰値を設定して、第２の時間が経過するまで第１の減衰量で減衰動作を行わせると共に、第２の期間に続く第２の期間において、検出された電力に基づく減衰値を減衰器１１に設定して、出力電力に応じた減衰動作を行う連続ＡＬＣ動作を行わせるようにしているので、電源回路によるリンギングの影響を抑制して、送信再開時に送信出力が規定値を超えるのを防ぐと共に、強制ＡＬＣ動作による送信電力の落ち込みを抑えることができ、送信出力を安定させることができる効果がある。 [Effect of Second Power Amplifier]
According to the second power amplifier and the transmission output correction method, the power detection unit 13 detects the transmission output power, and the control unit 14 stops the amplification operation in the amplification element 12 based on the detected power (in the intermittent interval When the start is detected, the attenuator 11 is set to a preset first attenuation value, and the attenuation operation is performed with the first attenuation amount until the second time elapses, and the second period is In the subsequent second period, the attenuation value based on the detected power is set in the attenuator 11 to perform the continuous ALC operation that performs the attenuation operation according to the output power, so ringing by the power supply circuit is The influence can be suppressed to prevent the transmission output from exceeding the specified value at the time of transmission resumption, and it is possible to suppress the drop of the transmission power due to the forced ALC operation, and it is possible to stabilize the transmission output.
　また、第２の電力増幅器の応用例によれば、連続ＡＬＣ動作における電力検出のサンプリング間隔を短くしているので、出力信号にきめ細かく追随してＡＬＣを行うことができ、送信出力を一層安定させることができる効果がある。 Further, according to the application example of the second power amplifier, since the sampling interval of power detection in the continuous ALC operation is shortened, the ALC can be performed finely following the output signal, and the transmission output is further stabilized. There is an effect that can be done.
〔第３の電力増幅器：図５〕
　次に、本発明の第３の実施の形態に係る電力増幅器（第３の電力増幅器）について説明する。
　第３の電力増幅器は、送信出力の検出に加えて、電源電圧を検出し、電圧レベルによって減衰器を制御するものである。
　第３の電力増幅器は、送信用電源回路から増幅素子１２に供給される電源電圧の電圧レベルを検出する電源電圧監視部（図示省略）を備えており、電源電圧監視部は、検出した電圧レベルを制御部１４に出力する。 [Third power amplifier: FIG. 5]
Next, a power amplifier (third power amplifier) according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The third power amplifier detects the power supply voltage and controls the attenuator by the voltage level in addition to the detection of the transmission output.
The third power amplifier includes a power supply voltage monitoring unit (not shown) that detects the voltage level of the power supply voltage supplied from the transmission power supply circuit to the amplification element 12, and the power supply voltage monitoring unit detects the detected voltage level Are output to the control unit 14.
　ここで、電源電圧の変動に応じた減衰量の制御について図５を用いて説明する。図５は、第３の電力増幅器における減衰量の制御を示す説明図である。
　図５に示すように、電源電圧が何らかの原因で変動した場合、制御部１４はそれに応じて減衰器１１の減衰量を調整する。
　具体的には、電源電圧が大きくなると、送信出力が大きくなるため、減衰量を大きくするように制御し、電源電圧が小さくなると減衰量を小さくするよう制御する。 Here, the control of the attenuation amount according to the fluctuation of the power supply voltage will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing control of attenuation amount in the third power amplifier.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the power supply voltage fluctuates for some reason, the control unit 14 adjusts the attenuation amount of the attenuator 11 accordingly.
Specifically, since the transmission output increases as the power supply voltage increases, control is performed to increase the attenuation amount, and control is performed to decrease the attenuation amount when the power supply voltage decreases.
　制御部１４には、電源電圧の電圧レベルに対応する減衰値が予め記憶されており、電源電圧監視部から入力された電圧レベルに基づいて、対応する減衰値を減衰器１１に設定し、適切な減衰量を実現する。
　これにより、例えば、間欠区間中に電源電圧の変動を検出して、減衰器に減衰値を設定することができ、送信を再開する前に減衰器１１における減衰量を制御できるため、より安定した送信出力を得ることができる効果がある。 An attenuation value corresponding to the voltage level of the power supply voltage is stored in advance in the control unit 14, and a corresponding attenuation value is set in the attenuator 11 based on the voltage level input from the power supply voltage monitoring unit. Achieve a good amount of attenuation.
Thereby, for example, the fluctuation of the power supply voltage can be detected during the intermittent section, and the attenuation value can be set to the attenuator, and the attenuation amount in the attenuator 11 can be controlled before resuming transmission. There is an effect that transmission output can be obtained.
　つまり、第３の電力増幅器では、送信出力ではなく電源電圧を監視して、送信出力前に減衰量を決定できるものであり、固定値で減衰動作を行う連続ＡＬＣのまま動作を続けても送信再開時の過出力を防ぐことができる。すなわち、強制ＡＬＣが不要となる。
　但し、第３の電力増幅器においては、電源電圧監視のみとすると、電源電圧以外に起因する送信出力の変動に対応できないため、送信出力監視でＡＬＣを行って出力を安定に保つようにしている。 That is, in the third power amplifier, the power supply voltage is monitored instead of the transmission output, and the attenuation amount can be determined before transmission output, and transmission is performed even if operation continues with continuous ALC performing attenuation operation with a fixed value. It is possible to prevent overpowering at the time of resumption. That is, no forced ALC is required.
However, in the third power amplifier, if only the power supply voltage monitoring is performed, the fluctuation of the transmission output caused by other than the power supply voltage can not be coped with. Therefore, ALC is performed in the transmission output monitoring to keep the output stable.
〔第３の電力増幅器の効果〕
　第３の電力増幅器によれば、電源電圧監視部が、送信用電源回路から増幅素子１２に供給される電源電圧の電圧レベルを検出し、制御部１４が、当該電圧レベルに対応して予め記憶されている減衰値を減衰器１１に設定して減衰動作を行わせるようにしているので、電源電圧の揺れに基づく送信出力のレベル変動を抑制することができ、送信出力レベルを安定させることができる効果がある。 [Effect of the third power amplifier]
According to the third power amplifier, the power supply voltage monitoring unit detects the voltage level of the power supply voltage supplied from the transmission power supply circuit to the amplifying element 12, and the control unit 14 stores in advance corresponding to the voltage level. Since the attenuation value being set is set to the attenuator 11 to perform the attenuation operation, it is possible to suppress the level fluctuation of the transmission output based on the fluctuation of the power supply voltage, and stabilize the transmission output level. There is an effect that can be done.
　また、第３の電力増幅器によれば、第１、第２の電力増幅器の構成と組み合わせることにより、送信出力レベルを一層安定させることができる効果がある。 Also, according to the third power amplifier, there is an effect that the transmission output level can be further stabilized by combining with the configuration of the first and second power amplifiers.
　本発明は、送信間欠区間におけるリンギングの影響を抑制し、送信出力を安定させることができる電力増幅器に適している。この出願は、２０１７年８月２日に出願された日本出願特願２０１７－１４９９７９を基礎として優先権の利益を主張するものであり、その開示の全てを引用によってここに取り込む。 The present invention is suitable for a power amplifier capable of suppressing the influence of ringing in a transmission intermittent period and stabilizing the transmission output. This application claims the benefit of priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 201-149979 filed on Aug. 2, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
　１１…減衰器（ＡＴＴ）、　１２…増幅素子、　１３…電力検出器、　１４…制御部、
　４１…トランス部、　４２…ダイオード部、　４３…チョークコイル、　４４…コンデンサ、　５０…ＦＭＣＷレーダ装置、　５１…信号生成部、　５２…電力増幅器（送信側）、　５３…送信アンテナ、　５４…受信アンテナ、　５５…電力増幅器（受信側）、　５６…ミキサ回路、　５７…出力端子 11: Attenuator (ATT), 12: amplification element, 13: power detector, 14: control unit,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 41 ... Transformer part, 42 ... Diode part, 43 ... Choke coil, 44 ... Capacitor, 50 ... FMCW radar apparatus, 51 ... Signal generation part, 52 ... Power amplifier (transmission side), 53 ... Transmission antenna, 54 ... Reception antenna, 55: Power amplifier (reception side) 56: Mixer circuit 57: Output terminal

Claims (5)

  1. 　短波帯ドップラレーダ用の電力増幅器であって、
    　周波数変調連続波の入力信号を、設定された減衰値に基づいて減衰する減衰器と、
    　前記減衰された信号を増幅する増幅素子と、
    　前記増幅された信号の電力を検出すると共に、前記信号を送信出力する電力検出器と、
    　前記検出された電力に基づいて特定の減衰値により前記減衰器を制御する制御部とを備え、
    　前記減衰器は、レーダ観測開始時には減衰値として特定の値が設定され、
    　前記制御部は、前記入力信号の帯域に禁止帯域が含まれる場合、前記検出した電力から送信出力が停止する送信間欠区間を検出すると、前記減衰器に前記特定の値よりも大きい第１の減衰値を設定して、予め定めた第１の期間において、前記第１の減衰値に基づいて減衰動作を行うよう前記減衰器を制御することを特徴とする電力増幅器。     A power amplifier for a short wave band Doppler radar,
    An attenuator that attenuates an input signal of a frequency modulated continuous wave based on a set attenuation value;
    An amplification element for amplifying the attenuated signal;
    A power detector that detects the power of the amplified signal and transmits the signal;
    And a controller configured to control the attenuator according to a specific attenuation value based on the detected power.
    The attenuator is set to a specific value as an attenuation value at the start of radar observation.
    When the band of the input signal includes a prohibited band, the control unit detects, from the detected power, a transmission intermittent section in which transmission output is stopped, a first attenuation larger than the specific value in the attenuator. A power amplifier, wherein a value is set to control the attenuator to perform an attenuation operation based on the first attenuation value in a first predetermined period.
  2. 　制御部は、第１の期間に続く第２の期間において、電力検出器により検出された電力に応じて電力の変動を抑制する減衰値を減衰器に設定して、前記電力に応じた減衰動作を行うよう前記減衰器を制御することを特徴とする請求項１記載の電力増幅器。 The control unit sets, in the attenuator, an attenuation value for suppressing fluctuation of the power according to the power detected by the power detector in the second period following the first period, and performs the attenuation operation according to the power The power amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the attenuator is controlled to perform.
  3. 　制御部は、第２の期間において、設定されたサンプリング間隔で検出された電力に応じた減衰値を減衰器に設定することを特徴とする請求項２記載の電力増幅器。 The power amplifier according to claim 2, wherein the control unit sets an attenuation value corresponding to the power detected at the set sampling interval in the attenuator during the second period.
  4. 　周波数変調連続波の入力信号を増幅する電力増幅器における送信出力補正方法であって、
    　前記入力信号の帯域に禁止帯域が含まれる場合に、
    　制御部では、レーダ観測開始時に、減衰器に減衰値として特定の値を設定し、電力検出器で検出した電力から送信出力が停止する送信間欠区間を検出すると、前記減衰器に前記特定の値よりも大きい第１の減衰値を設定して、予め定めた第１の期間において、前記第１の減衰値に基づいて減衰動作を行うよう前記減衰器を制御することを特徴とする送信出力補正方法。     A transmission output correction method for a power amplifier for amplifying an input signal of a frequency modulated continuous wave, comprising:
    When the band of the input signal includes a forbidden band,
    The control unit sets a specific value as an attenuation value to the attenuator at the start of radar observation, and detects a transmission intermittent section in which the transmission output is stopped from the power detected by the power detector. A transmission output correction characterized by setting a first attenuation value larger than the first attenuation value, and performing the attenuation operation based on the first attenuation value in a predetermined first period. Method.
  5. 　制御部では、第１の期間に続く第２の期間において、電力検出器により検出された電力に応じて電力の変動を抑制する減衰値を減衰器に設定して、前記電力に応じた減衰動作を行うよう前記減衰器を制御することを特徴とする請求項４記載の送信出力補正方法。 In the control unit, in the second period following the first period, the attenuation value for suppressing the fluctuation of the electric power is set in the attenuator according to the electric power detected by the electric power detector, and the attenuation operation according to the electric power 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said attenuator is controlled to perform.
PCT/JP2018/028122 2017-08-02 2018-07-26 Power amplifier and transmission output correcting method WO2019026769A1 (en)

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Citations (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2000312119A (en) * 1999-04-27 2000-11-07 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Alc circuit
US20020097093A1 (en) * 2000-12-14 2002-07-25 Stmicroelectronics S.A. Compact variable gain amplifier
WO2006051948A1 (en) * 2004-11-15 2006-05-18 Anritsu Corporation High-frequency electronic switch, bust wave generation device using the same, and short pulse radar using the same
JP2006304367A (en) * 2006-07-28 2006-11-02 Sony Corp Modulation circuit and transmitter
JP2012173209A (en) * 2011-02-23 2012-09-10 Nippon Hoso Kyokai <Nhk> Fmcw radar system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2000312119A (en) * 1999-04-27 2000-11-07 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Alc circuit
US20020097093A1 (en) * 2000-12-14 2002-07-25 Stmicroelectronics S.A. Compact variable gain amplifier
WO2006051948A1 (en) * 2004-11-15 2006-05-18 Anritsu Corporation High-frequency electronic switch, bust wave generation device using the same, and short pulse radar using the same
JP2006304367A (en) * 2006-07-28 2006-11-02 Sony Corp Modulation circuit and transmitter
JP2012173209A (en) * 2011-02-23 2012-09-10 Nippon Hoso Kyokai <Nhk> Fmcw radar system

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