JP6762217B2 - Antenna device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an antenna device including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmission modules or transmission / reception modules, each of which is connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements.

The following Patent Document 1 discloses an antenna device using a phased array antenna (Phased Array Antenna) formed by arranging a plurality of antenna elements to form an aperture array. In the antenna device of Patent Document 1, the transmission / reception module is divided into a plurality of groups, a desired delay is added to a reference trigger for transmission / reception switching to control the transmission / reception timing of the transmission / reception module, and the DC power supply to the transmission / reception module is turned on / off. Disclosed is a method in which only one of the transmission / reception module groups is set to the transmission state by controlling the timing. By this method, the antenna device of Patent Document 1 reduces the average value of the power consumption in the transmission / reception module. Although Patent Document 1 exemplifies a transmission / reception module, the transmission / reception module may be a transmission module.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-236011

As described above, in the conventional antenna device represented by Patent Document 1, the transmission module is divided into a plurality of groups, a desired delay is added to the reference trigger signal for transmission / reception switching, and the DC power supply of the transmission module is turned on / off. , The effect of reducing the average value of the current consumption is obtained. However, the method of dividing the transmission module into a plurality of groups focuses only on the number of transmission modules and does not consider the fluctuation of the phase center position at the antenna aperture. Therefore, in the technique of Patent Document 1, when information is superimposed on a transmission signal and transmitted to a missile like a missile illuminator, when a transmission module divided into a plurality of groups is switched to time division in a group unit. , There is a problem that the phase of the transmission signal fluctuates and the transmission signal cannot be transmitted correctly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and even when a transmission signal in which information is superimposed is transmitted while switching a transmission module divided into a plurality of groups into time division in group units. The purpose is to obtain an antenna device capable of correctly transmitting the information to a transmission target.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention is an antenna device including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmission modules each connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements. The antenna device is configured to be operable in continuous wave transmission mode. In the continuous wave transmission mode, the operation and non-operation of the amplifier connected to the transmission module divided into a plurality of groups is switched at different timings for each group.

According to the present invention, even when a transmission signal in which information is superimposed is transmitted while switching a transmission module divided into a plurality of groups into time division in group units, the information is correctly transmitted to a transmission target. It has the effect of being able to do it.

Block diagram showing the configuration of the antenna device according to the first embodiment The figure which shows the example of grouping of the transmission module at the time of continuous wave transmission in Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the operation state of the transmission module in the continuous wave transmission mode based on the example of FIG. Time chart showing the transition of the operating state of the transmission module in the continuous wave transmission mode and the pulse wave transmission mode Block diagram showing the configuration of the antenna device according to the second embodiment Time chart showing the transition of the operating state of the transmission module in the third embodiment Block diagram showing the configuration of the antenna device according to the fourth embodiment Block diagram showing the configuration of the antenna device according to the fifth embodiment. Time chart showing the transition of the operating state of the transmission module in the sixth embodiment

Hereinafter, the antenna device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an antenna device according to a first embodiment. The antenna device according to the first embodiment is an antenna device that transmits a transmission signal while switching transmission modules divided into a plurality of groups into time divisions in group units. As shown in FIG. 1, the antenna device 100 according to the first embodiment includes an active phased array antenna (Active Phased Array Antenna: hereinafter abbreviated as “APAA”) 1, an RF input terminal 2, and a control signal input terminal 3. Has. The APAA1 inputs RF to a plurality of antenna elements 6 that radiate a transmission signal as radio waves in space, a plurality of transmission modules 5 each connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements 6, and a plurality of transmission modules 5. A distributor 4 for distributing the RF signal input from the terminal 2 is provided. In the first embodiment, the number of transmission modules 5, that is, the number of transmission modules is Nm.

The transmission module 5 has a phase shifter 7 and an amplifier 8. The amplifier 8 is connected to the antenna element 6. The phase shifter 7 is connected to the amplifier 8. The RF signal distributed by the distributor 4 is input to the phase shifter 7.

APAA1 further has a control unit 9. The control unit 9 has a storage area 10. Data 11 is stored in the storage area 10. The control unit 9 receives the control signal input to the control signal input terminal 3. The control unit 9 controls the phase shifter 7 and the amplifier 8. In FIG. 1, the signal line from the control unit 9 is shown only to the transmission module 5 at the bottom, and the signal line to the other transmission module 5 is omitted.

Next, the operation of the antenna device 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. An RF signal is input to the APAA1 from the RF input terminal 2. The RF signal input to APAA1 is distributed by the distributor 4 and then transmitted to the transmission module 5. The RF signal transmitted to the transmission module 5 is phase-modulated by the phase shifter 7 and further amplified by the amplifier 8. At this time, the control unit 9 controls the phase modulation in the phase shifter 7 in each transmission module 5 based on the control signal from the control signal input terminal 3. Here, the phase modulation in the phase shifter 7 will be described. In other words, the control unit 9 so that the RF signal radiated from the antenna element 6 into space by the control signal from the control signal input terminal 3 forms a wave surface in the instructed direction. The phase shifter 7 is controlled so that the RF signal is directed to. The formed wave surface includes cases other than the equiphase wave surface. In addition, the indicated direction includes a plurality of cases.

The control unit 9 controls switching of the operating state of the amplifier 8 in each transmission module 5 based on the control signal from the control signal input terminal 3 and the data 11 stored in the storage area 10. When the amplifier 8 is in the operating state, signal amplification is performed on the phase-modulated signal, and the amplified RF signal is radiated into space via the antenna element 6. On the other hand, when the amplifier 8 is in the non-operating state, the RF signal is not amplified by the amplifier 8 and is not radiated from the antenna element 6 into space.

Here, it is assumed that the transmission module 5 in the first embodiment is a module that cannot continuously transmit a transmission signal. In a module that cannot be transmitted continuously, it is necessary to provide a non-transmission time during which the transmission signal is not transmitted. Here, the sum of the transmission time and the non-transmission time in the transmission module is defined as the "transmission cycle", and the ratio of the transmission time to the transmission cycle is defined as the "transmission duty". The transmission duty can be changed. When the maximum value of the transmission duty is expressed by Dmax, Dmax takes a value less than 1. Using this definition, the transmission module 5 in the first embodiment can be rephrased as a module having a limited transmission duty. In the first embodiment, it does not matter whether the transmission module 5 cannot continuously transmit the transmission signal whether it is always or temporary. This assumption is the same for other embodiments.

In the control unit 9, the transmission mode is specified by the control signal input to the control signal input terminal 3. The antenna device 100 according to the first embodiment has at least two types of transmission modes, a pulse wave transmission mode and a continuous wave transmission mode.

The pulse wave transmission mode is a mode in which switching between operation and non-operation of the amplifier 8 in the transmission module 5 is transmitted at the same timing in the entire APAA1. This is the same as the transmission method in the conventional pulse radar.

On the other hand, the continuous wave transmission mode is a mode in which the transmission module 5 in the APAA1 is divided into a plurality of groups in advance, and the operation and non-operation of the amplifier 8 connected to the transmission module is switched at different timings for each group. ..

When the transmission module 5 is divided into a plurality of groups, the total of the transmission RF signal outputs, which are the output values of the transmission RF signals in each group of the transmission module 5, is set to be the same value or close to the same value. Therefore, when the transmission RF signal output is different between the transmission modules 5, the number of transmission modules included in each group may be different in order to make the total transmission RF signal output the same.

Further, when the transmission module 5 is divided into a plurality of groups, the antenna element 6 connected to the transmission module 5 is also grouped in the same manner as the transmission module 5. Each of the antenna element groups composed of the grouped antenna elements 6 becomes a sub-array antenna which is a part of the array antenna composed of all the antenna elements 6. At this time, the positions of the phase centers of all the sub-array antennas should be the same or close to the same.

Further, when the transmission module 5 is divided into a plurality of groups, the positions of the antenna elements 6 connected to the transmission module 5 are not biased in the array antenna composed of all the antenna elements 6.

When the transmission module 5 is divided into a plurality of groups, a transmission module that does not belong to any of the groups may be set so that the transmission module is not operated in the continuous wave transmission mode.

Let Ng be the number of groups of the grouped transmission modules 5, and Nt be the number of simultaneous transmission groups in the continuous wave transmission mode. The number of simultaneous transmission groups is the number of transmission groups transmitted at the same timing. The number of groups Ng and the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt are integers. Further, the number of groups Ng and the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt are set so as to have the relationship shown by the following equation (1).

2 ≦ Nt ≦ Dmax ・ Ng… (1)

When the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt becomes small, the transmission RF signal output from APAA1 becomes small. Therefore, basically, for the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt, the maximum value among the integers satisfying the above equation (1) is selected. However, this does not apply when it is desired to reduce the transmission RF signal output.

In the transmission module 5, the maximum time that can be continuously transmitted is Tm. In the continuous wave transmission mode, the transmission state and the non-transmission state are periodically switched for each group while maintaining the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt. As a result, continuous transmission is maintained when viewed from the entire APAA1. Further, the cycle in which the simultaneous transmission group is changed is Tc. This cycle Tc is called a group alternation cycle. The group change cycle Tc is set so as to have the relationship shown by the following equation (2).

Tc ≤ Tm / Nt ... (2)

Information about the number of transmission module groups Ng, the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt, the group alternation cycle Tc, and the allotted groups in all transmission modules 5 in the continuous wave transmission mode is stored as data 11 in the storage area 10.

The information regarding the continuous wave transmission mode is not limited to one, and a plurality of pieces may be set and stored in the storage area 10. In this case, which information to use among the information related to the plurality of set continuous wave transmission modes can be specified by the control signal from the control signal input terminal 3. Further, in case the transmission module 5 cannot transmit a continuous wave temporarily and the transmission module 5 can transmit a continuous wave, the data group of the data 11 related to the continuous wave transmission mode to be set in plurality is set. One may be set so that all transmission modules 5 are continuous wave transmissions.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of grouping of transmission modules 5 at the time of continuous wave transmission in the first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 2, the number of transmission modules Nm is 512, the number of groups of transmission modules 5 is 8, and the transmission RF signal outputs of each transmission module 5 are the same. Further, in the example of FIG. 2, the group names of the transmission modules 5 are G1 to G8.

In FIG. 2, black circles and white circles indicate the arrangement positions of the antenna element 6 connected to the transmission module 5. Black circles indicate that the transmission module 5 connected to the antenna element 6 is included in the group. Further, in FIG. 2, the phase center of each group at the antenna aperture is indicated by a cross, but the phase centers of each group are grouped so as to be the same in all groups. Further, in the grouping of the transmission modules 5 shown in FIG. 2, the arrangement of the transmission modules 5 is not biased in each group.

Next, the operation of the transmission module 5 in the continuous wave transmission mode will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operating state of the transmission module in the continuous wave transmission mode based on the example of FIG. In FIG. 3, the alphabets “A” to “H” indicate transmission control state names. Further, FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the transition of the operating state of the transmission module in the continuous wave transmission mode and the pulse wave transmission mode. In the following, a case where the maximum value Dmax of the transmission duty is 0.4 will be described as an example.

First, when the maximum value Dmax of the transmission duty is 0.4, the value of “Dmax · Ng” described on the right side of the above equation (1) is calculated as 0.4 × 8 = 3.2. Therefore, the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt in the continuous wave transmission mode is set to "3" according to the equation (1).

In FIG. 3, in the transmission control state A, the transmission module groups G1, G2, and G3 are in the transmission state. In this case, the portion indicated by the black circle in the groups G1, G2, and G3 of FIG. 2 is also indicated by the black circle in FIG. Needless to say, when the groups G1, G2, and G3 are in the transmission state, the other groups G4, G5, G6, G7, and G8 are in the non-transmission state.

After the transmission control state A, the process shifts to the transmission control state B. In the transmission control state B, the groups G2, G3, and G4 are set to the transmission state. After that, the transmission control states change in the order of transmission control states C, D, E, F, G, and H, and the transmission state and non-transmission state groups are shifted one by one. After the transmission control state H, the process returns to the transmission control state A.

As described with reference to FIG. 2, the phase centers in each group are grouped so as to be the same in all the groups. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the phase center does not change even when a plurality of groups simultaneously transmit. That is, in the example of FIG. 3, the phase centers are the same in all transmission control states.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 2, the arrangement of the transmission modules 5 is selected so as not to be biased in each group. Therefore, in FIG. 3, the arrangement of the antenna elements 6 connected to the transmission module 5 is set so as not to be biased in each transmission control state.

On the left side of FIG. 4, the transmission state in the continuous wave transmission mode is shown. The continuous wave transmission mode is designated by the control signal input from the control signal input terminal 3. The “transmission RF signal G1” indicates the transmission timing of the transmission RF signal transmitted from the transmission module 5 belonging to the group G1 shown in FIG. The same applies to other groups. Further, "transmission RF signal APAA" indicates a transmission RF signal viewed from the entire APAA1, and the alphabet in the frame indicates a transmission control state name shown in FIG.

As described above, the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt in the continuous wave transmission mode is 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, among the groups G1 to G8 in the transmission module 5, three groups are controlled to the transmission state, and one group is set to the transmission state for each cycle Tc. It is taking turns. As described with reference to FIG. 3, in the transmission control state A, the groups G1, G2, and G3 are in the transmission state, and in the transmission control state B, the groups G2, G3, and G4 are in the transmission state. They are taking turns one by one. As a result, although each transmission module 5 transmits a pulse signal, it means that a continuous wave is radiated into space when viewed from the entire APAA1.

Further, on the right side of FIG. 4, the transmission state in the pulse wave transmission mode is shown. As shown in FIG. 4, in the pulse wave transmission mode, all the groups G1 to G8 repeat transmission and non-transmission at the same timing. As a result, APAA1 radiates a pulse wave into space when viewed from the entire APAA1. In the pulse wave transmission mode, all the groups G1 to G8 transmit the transmission RF signal at the same timing. Therefore, if the amplitude of the transmission RF signal output from one group is the same, the entire APAA1 is transmitted. The amplitude of the transmitted RF signal seen from the above is larger in the pulse wave transmission mode than in the continuous wave transmission mode.

According to the configuration and operation described above, the antenna device 100 can arbitrarily switch between continuous wave transmission and pulse wave transmission while maintaining the same hardware configuration.

Further, by making the total of the transmission RF signal outputs in each group of the transmission module 5 the same value or close to the same value, the transmission RF signal output in APAA1 when switching the group to be in the transmission state in the continuous wave transmission mode. Fluctuations can be suppressed.

Further, by grouping the sub-array antennas composed of the antenna elements 6 corresponding to each group of the transmission module 5 so that the phase centers are the same or close to the same, the phase centers at the time of continuous wave transmission are also the same or the same. Since they can be brought close to each other, it is possible to suppress the phase fluctuation of the transmission RF signal output in APAA1 that may occur when switching the transmission group.

Further, by grouping the antenna elements 6 connected to the transmission module 5 so that the positions of the antenna elements 6 are not biased in each group, the beam width and the side can be switched even when the group to be in the transmission state is switched in the continuous wave transmission mode. The influence of beam shape fluctuations such as lobe level can be suppressed.

Further, by setting the number of groups Ng and the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt of the transmission module 5 so as to satisfy the above equation (1), the maximum value Dmax of the transmission duty in the transmission module 5 is not exceeded, and the continuous wave transmission mode is used. APAA1 can be operated.

Further, by setting the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt to 2 or more, even when the transmission group is switched, the transmission group of 1 or more continues the transmission. Therefore, even when the transmission group is switched, the amplitude fluctuation and the phase fluctuation of the transmission RF signal output in APAA1 can be suppressed, and the influence of unnecessary frequencies that may occur at the rise or fall of the pulse can be suppressed. Can be suppressed.

Further, if the group shift cycle Tc is set so as to satisfy the above equation (2), the maximum transmission time Nt × Tc of the transmission module 5 exceeds the maximum time Tm that can be continuously transmitted by the transmission module 5. The situation can be avoided.

Embodiment 2.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the antenna device according to the second embodiment. The antenna device 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a storage area 10 inside the control unit 9, but the antenna device 100A according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has a storage area 10. The difference is that the storage device 12 is provided outside the device 12 and the data 11 is stored in the storage device 12. The storage device 12 is connected to the control unit 9. Other configurations are the same or equivalent to the configurations shown in FIG. 1, and the same or equivalent components are designated by the same reference numerals and duplicate description will be omitted.

According to the antenna device 100A according to the second embodiment, since the storage device 12 is provided outside the control unit 9, the storage device 12 has the effect of the first embodiment, and it is easy to deal with the case where the data 11 is changed. The effect of becoming, and the effect of facilitating the response to the increase in the size of the storage device 12 can be obtained.

Embodiment 3.
FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the transition of the operating state of the transmission module according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 6, similarly to the time chart shown in FIG. 4, the transmission mode specified by the control signal input from the control signal input terminal 3, the transmission RF signal by the transmission modules belonging to the groups G1 to G8, and the transmission as seen from the entire APAA1. It shows an RF signal.

In the operations of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, there is a group in which the pulse width is (Nt-1) × Tc or less, which is the set value, at the start and end of the continuous wave transmission mode. A group having a pulse width of (Nt-1) × Tc or less may be rephrased as a group having a pulse width of less than Nt × Tc.

Here, in the first embodiment, the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt is set to "3". Therefore, in the example of FIG. 4, the group G1 having the first pulse width of Tc and the group G2 having the first pulse width of 2 Tc correspond to the group having the pulse width of 2 Tc or less. Further, at the end of the continuous wave transmission mode, the group G1 having the last pulse width of 2 Tc and the group G2 having the last pulse width of Tc correspond to the groups having the pulse width of 2 Tc or less.

During the period in which the pulse width is shortened, the influence of the amplitude fluctuation and the phase fluctuation due to the rise and fall of the pulse, and the influence of the unnecessary frequency generated at the rise of the pulse or the fall of the pulse become large.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, during the period in which the pulse width of (Nt-1) × Tc or less described above is generated, the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt is increased while generating the transmission RF signal of Nt × Tc. During the unsatisfied period, the amplifier is controlled so as not to be in the transmission state. In FIG. 6, the portion indicated by hatching corresponds to the period during which the amplifier is not in the transmission state.

According to the third embodiment, the APAA1 is controlled so as not to be in the transmission state during the period when the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt is not satisfied. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the first and second embodiments, the pulse width is short. It is possible to obtain the effect that the amplitude fluctuation and the phase fluctuation that may occur due to the above can be suppressed. Further, since the amplitude fluctuation and the phase fluctuation can be suppressed, it is also possible to suppress the generation of elements such as unnecessary frequencies that adversely affect the antenna device.

In the example of FIG. 6, at the start and end of the continuous wave transmission mode, the group whose pulse width is (Nt-1) × Tc or less is set not to be in the transmission state, but the pulse width is ( It may be set so that only the group having Nt-2) × Tc or less or only the group having Nt-2) × Tc or less is not set to the transmission state.

Embodiment 4.
Although the first to third embodiments so far have been described for continuous wave transmission in APAA1 having a transmission-only function, continuous wave transmission in APAA1 having a reception function can also be carried out.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the antenna device according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the antenna device 100B according to the fourth embodiment has an APAA 1, an RF input terminal 2, and a control signal input terminal 3. The APAA1 includes a plurality of antenna elements 6 that radiate a transmission signal as radio waves into space and receive reflected waves from an object, and a plurality of transmission / reception modules 15 that are connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements 6. A synthetic distributor 14 that distributes the RF signal input from the RF input terminal 2 to the plurality of transmission / reception modules 15 and synthesizes the RF signals received from the plurality of transmission / reception modules 15 is provided. Also in the fourth embodiment, the number of transmission / reception modules 15, that is, the number of transmission / reception modules is Nm.

The transmission / reception module 15 includes a phase shifter 7, amplifiers 8a and 8b, and transmission / reception switching devices 16a and 16b. The phase shifter 7 is connected to the composite distributor 14 and the transmission / reception switch 16a. The transmission / reception switch 16a is connected to each of the amplifiers 8a and 8b. Each of the amplifiers 8a and 8b is connected to the transmission / reception switch 16b. The transmission / reception switch 16b is connected to the antenna element 6.

APAA1 further has a control unit 9. The control unit 9 has a storage area 10. Data 11 is stored in the storage area 10. The control unit 9 receives the control signal input to the control signal input terminal 3. The control unit 9 controls the phase shifter 7, the amplifiers 8a and 8b, and the transmission / reception switching devices 16a and 16b. In FIG. 7, the signal line from the control unit 9 is shown only to the transmission / reception module 15 at the bottom, and the signal line to the other transmission / reception module 15 is omitted.

The difference between the antenna device 100B according to the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment is that the distributor 4 in the APAA1 is replaced by the composite distributor 14, the transmission module 5 is replaced by the transmission / reception module 15, and the transmission system. The number of amplifiers 8 is increased to the transmission system amplifier 8a and the reception system amplifier 8b, and the control unit 9 controls the transmission / reception switches 16a and 16b in addition to the amplifiers 8a and 8b in the transmission / reception module 15. .. However, the operation when transmitting a continuous wave is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Embodiment 5.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the antenna device according to the fifth embodiment. The antenna device 100C according to the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the temperature sensor 18 is provided in the APAA1. Other configurations are the same or equivalent to the configurations shown in FIG. 1, and the same or equivalent components are designated by the same reference numerals and duplicate description will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, a method of setting a plurality of continuous wave transmission modes and storing them in the storage area 10 is described. Further, the selection of the continuous wave transmission mode in which a plurality of settings are set is based on the control signal from the control signal input terminal 3. On the other hand, in the antenna device 100C according to the fifth embodiment, a plurality of variations of grouping in the continuous wave transmission mode are set and stored in the storage area 10. Then, the selection of grouping in the continuous wave transmission mode is performed by the control unit 9 based on the temperature information from the temperature sensor 18 mounted in the APAA1.

It is conceivable that the maximum value Dmax of the transmission duty changes depending on the temperature of the transmission module 5. Therefore, a temperature sensor 18 for measuring the temperature of the transmission module 5 is mounted in APAA1, connected to the control unit 9, and the continuous wave transmission mode is set in the control unit 9 based on the temperature information from the temperature sensor 18. The choice is the preferred embodiment.

According to the antenna device according to the fifth embodiment, since the continuous wave transmission mode is selected based on the temperature information from the temperature sensor 18, the maximum value Dmax of the transmission duty that can be changed depending on the temperature of the transmission module 5 is set. Since the temperature information can be used for selection, the transmission RF signal output can be made as large as possible as compared with other embodiments in which the maximum value Dmax of the transmission duty is fixed. Obtainable.

Embodiment 6.
The transmission modes in APAA1 shown in the first to fifth embodiments up to this point are two types, a pulse wave transmission mode and a continuous wave transmission mode. On the other hand, in the sixth embodiment, in addition to these two types of transmission modes, the high pulse wave transmission mode in which the APAA1 transmits a pulse wave which is not a continuous wave but has a higher duty than the maximum transmission duty value Dmax. It is characterized by having a duty pulse transmission mode.

Similar to the first embodiment, the number of groups of the transmission module 5 is Ng, and the number of simultaneous transmission groups in the continuous wave transmission mode is Nt. Further, the set value of the transmission duty set to a desired value is set to Dreq. Dreq may be rephrased as a set value of the transmission duty seen from the entire APAA1. Here, the number of groups Ng and the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt are integers, and the transmission duty set value Dreq is a positive real number less than 1. When the transmission duty set value Dreq is set, the number of groups Ng and the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt are set so as to have the relationship shown by the following equation (3).

2 ≦ Nt ≦ Dmax / Dreq ・ Ng… (3)

When the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt becomes small, the transmission RF output from APAA1 becomes small. Therefore, for the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt, basically, the maximum value among the integers satisfying the above equation (3) is selected. However, this does not apply when it is desired to reduce the transmission RF output.

In the transmission module 5, in the continuous wave transmission mode, the transmission state and the non-transmission state are periodically switched one by one while maintaining the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt. As a result, continuous transmission is maintained when viewed from the entire APAA1. Further, the group change cycle Tc for changing the simultaneous transmission groups is set so as to satisfy the above equation (2) based on the maximum time Tm that can be continuously transmitted and the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt.

Information about the transmission duty set value Dreq, the number of groups Ng, the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt, the group alternation cycle Tc, and the allotted groups in all transmission modules 5 in the high-duty pulse wave transmission mode is stored in the storage device 12 as data 11. It is stored.

The information regarding the high-duty pulse wave transmission mode is not limited to one, and a plurality of pieces may be set and stored in the storage device 12 according to the type of transmission duty set value Dreq. In this case, which of the information regarding the plurality of set high-duty pulse wave transmission modes is used can be specified by the control signal from the control signal input terminal 3.

In the high-duty pulse wave transmission mode, a continuous wave is transmitted from APAA1 in the same manner as in the continuous wave transmission mode, and then a period is provided in which all groups of the transmission module 5 are not transmitted. By repeating these transmission and non-transmission, a pulse wave is transmitted with the transmission duty set from APAA1.

Here, when viewed from the entire APAA1, the time for transmitting continuous waves is set to Ton, and the time for non-transmitting all transmission module groups is set to Toff. Ton is called continuous wave transmission time, and Toff is called non-transmission time. The continuous wave transmission time Ton is an integral multiple of the group alternation cycle Tc. The continuous wave transmission time Ton and the non-transmission time Toff are set so as to have the relationship shown by the following equation (4).

Ton / (Ton + Toff) = Dreq ... (4)

Further, for the transmission module 5, when the number of groups is Ng and the number of simultaneous transmission groups is Nt, the maximum time for continuous transmission is Tn. This Tn is called the maximum continuous transmission time. At this time, the continuous wave transmission time Ton in APAA1 is set so as to have the relationship shown by the following equation (5).

Ton ≤ Tn ... (5)

Here, a case where the maximum value Dmax of the transmission duty is 0.4, the set value Dreq of the transmission duty is 0.75, and the number of groups Ng is 8 will be described as an example.

First, when the maximum value Dmax of the transmission duty is 0.4, the value of "Dmax / Dreq · Ng" described on the right side of the above equation (3) is 0.4 / 0.75 × 8 = 4.266. ... is calculated. Therefore, the number of simultaneous transmission groups Nt in the high-duty pulse wave transmission mode is set to "4" according to the equation (3).

Therefore, from the above equation (4), Toff / Ton = 1/3, and since the number of groups is Ng = 8, the continuous wave transmission time Ton in APAA1 is set to "12 × Tc", and the non-transmission time Toff is set. It is set to "4 x Tc".

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the transition of the operating state of the transmission module according to the sixth embodiment. In FIG. 9, as in the time charts shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the transmission mode specified by the control signal input from the control signal input terminal 3, the transmission RF signal by the transmission module belonging to the groups G1 to G8, and the entire APAA1 It shows the transmitted RF signal seen.

On the left side of FIG. 9, the transmission state in the high duty pulse wave transmission mode is shown. In the high-duty pulse wave transmission mode, among the groups G1 to G8 of the transmission module 5, four groups are controlled to the transmission state, and the group to be in the transmission state alternates one by one for each cycle Tc. ing. As a result, although each transmission module 5 transmits a pulse signal, it means that a continuous wave is radiated into space when viewed from the entire APAA1.

Further, in the high-duty pulse wave transmission mode, when viewed from the entire APAA1, after transmitting only the continuous wave transmission time Ton, the non-transmission state is set for the non-transmission time Toff. By repeating these transmissions and non-transmissions, a pulse wave is transmitted at the transmission duty set value Dreq.

According to the configuration and operation described above, the antenna device according to the sixth embodiment can transmit a pulse wave with a transmission duty larger than the maximum transmission duty Dmax in the transmission module 5 while keeping the same hardware configuration. It will be possible.

The configuration shown in the above-described embodiment shows an example of the content of the present invention, can be combined with another known technique, and is configured without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is also possible to omit or change a part of.

1 APAA, 2 RF input terminal, 3 control signal input terminal, 4 distributor, 5 transmission module, 6 antenna element, 7 phase shifter, 8, 8a, 8b amplifier, 9 control unit, 10 storage area, 11 data, 12 Storage device, 14 synthesis distributor, 15 transmission / reception module, 16a, 16b transmission / reception switch, 18 temperature sensor, 100, 100A, 100B, 100C antenna device.

Claims (11)

An antenna device including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmission modules each connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements.
The antenna device is configured to be operable in a continuous wave transmission mode in which the operation and non-operation of the amplifier connected to the transmission module divided into a plurality of groups are switched at different timings for each group.
When dividing the transmission module to the plurality of groups, it sets the transmission module that does not belong to any group, the transmission module, you said controlled is that so as not to operate in the continuous wave transmission mode antenna equipment. An antenna device including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmission modules each connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements.
The antenna device is configured to be operable in a continuous wave transmission mode in which the operation and non-operation of the amplifier connected to the transmission module divided into a plurality of groups are switched at different timings for each group.
The information regarding the continuous wave transmission mode includes the number of transmission module groups in the continuous wave transmission mode, the number of simultaneous transmission groups which are the transmission groups transmitted at the same timing, the number of simultaneous transmission groups, and the simultaneous transmission group. group alternation period is a period for, and features and to luer antenna device that contains information about a group that has been allocated in the transmitting module. The antenna device according to claim 2 , wherein the number of simultaneous transmission groups is determined by using the number of groups and the maximum value of the transmission duty in the transmission module. The antenna device according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein in the continuous wave transmission mode, the amplifier is controlled so as not to be in the transmission state during the period when the number of simultaneous transmission groups is not satisfied. An antenna device including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmission modules each connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements.
The antenna device is configured to be operable in a continuous wave transmission mode in which the operation and non-operation of the amplifier connected to the transmission module divided into a plurality of groups are switched at different timings for each group.
It said information on the continuous wave transmission mode, the transmission module characteristics and to luer antenna device that is stored in the storage area in the control unit for controlling the operation of. An antenna device including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmission modules each connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements.
The antenna device is configured to be operable in a continuous wave transmission mode in which the operation and non-operation of the amplifier connected to the transmission module divided into a plurality of groups are switched at different timings for each group.
The antenna device includes a storage device, wherein the information relates to a continuous-wave transmission mode, it features a to luer antenna apparatus stored in the storage device. A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the transmission module is provided.
A plurality of grouping variations in the continuous wave transmission mode are set and stored in the storage area or the storage device.
The antenna device according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein the selection of grouping in the continuous wave transmission mode is performed based on the temperature information from the temperature sensor. An antenna device including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmission modules each connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements.
The antenna device is configured to be operable in a continuous wave transmission mode in which the operation and non-operation of the amplifier connected to the transmission module divided into a plurality of groups are switched at different timings for each group.
The antenna device transmits a continuous wave in the continuous wave transmission mode, provides a period during which all groups of the transmission modules are not transmitted, and repeats transmission and non-transmission to obtain a pulse wave with a set transmission duty. features and to luer antenna device to transmit. The transmission module is a transmission module having a limited transmission duty.
The antenna device according to claim 8 , wherein the set transmission duty is larger than the maximum value of the transmission duty in the transmission module defined by the restrictions of the transmission module. An antenna device including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmission modules each connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements.
The antenna device is configured to be operable in a continuous wave transmission mode in which the operation and non-operation of the amplifier connected to the transmission module divided into a plurality of groups are switched at different timings for each group.
An antenna device characterized in that a plurality of transmission modules in a transmission state in the continuous wave transmission mode do not switch to a non-transmission state at the same time . The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the transmitting module has a receiving function.

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