[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a phased array antenna, and more particularly to the inspection of its transmitting / receiving module.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional phased array antenna. In the figure, 1 is a plurality of element antennas arranged in a plane or curved opening surface, and 2 is provided corresponding to each of these element antennas 1 to amplify a transmission signal and a reception signal. Is a transmission / reception module incorporating a phase shifter for shifting the transmission / reception phase of the corresponding element antenna 1. Reference numeral 3 is an exciter that generates a transmission signal, and 4 is a receiver that performs reception detection of a reception signal. Reference numeral 5 denotes a distributor that distributes the transmission signal from the exciter 3 to each transmitting / receiving module 2, and a distributor / combiner that functions as a combiner that combines the received signals from each transmitter / receiver module 2 and sends the combined signal to the receiver 4. A circulator 6 is arranged between the distributor / combiner 5 and the exciter 3 and the receiver 4, and switches between a transmission signal and a reception signal. Reference numeral 7 is a controller that performs overall control of the phased array antenna, including control of the amount of phase shift of the phase shifter in each transmission / reception module 2. Reference numeral 8 denotes an inspection module that connects one of the element antennas 1 as an inspection element antenna 9 to the inspection element antenna 9 and supplies the inspection transmission signal generated by the exciter 3 to the inspection element antenna 9. is there.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the structure of the transmitting / receiving module 2. In the figure, 31 is a phase shifter for shifting the transmission / reception phase of the element antenna 1 to which the transmission / reception module 2 is connected, 32 is a circulator for switching between a transmission signal and a reception signal, and 33 is an amplification of the transmission signal. It is a transmission amplifier that performs. Reference numeral 34 is a transmission detector that detects a transmission signal for inspection, and 35 is a circulator that switches between a transmission signal to the element antenna 1 and a reception signal from the element antenna 1. 36 is the element antenna 1
Is a limiter for the received signal from the device, 37 is an isolator for absorbing the reflected signal from the limiter 36, and 38 is a low noise amplifier for amplifying the received signal. 39 is a reception detector that detects a reception signal for inspection, 40 is an isolator that absorbs the reception signal at the time of reception system inspection, 41 is a changeover switch for not transmitting the reception signal of the reception system inspection to the next stage is there. Reference numeral 42 is a control circuit that operates based on the control data from the controller 7 and controls the transmission / reception module 2 as a whole.

Next, the operation will be described. Here, only the inspection of the operation of the transmission / reception module 2 will be described, and the description of the normal operation will be omitted. First, FIG.
The inspection of the transmission system of the transmission / reception module 2 configured as shown in will be described. When inspecting the transmission system, the exciter 3
The transmission signal generated by is input to the distribution / combiner 5 via the circulator 6, distributed by the distribution / combiner 5, and supplied to each transmission / reception module 2. In each transmission / reception module 2, the input transmission signal is phase-shifted by the phase shifter 31 and input to the transmission amplifier 33 via the circulator 32. The transmission signal amplified by this transmission amplifier 33 is circulator 3
It is radiated as a radio wave from the element antenna 1 via 5.
At this time, the transmission signal amplified by the transmission amplifier 33 is detected by the transmission detector 34 to determine whether the transmission system is normal or abnormal.

Next, the inspection of the reception system of the transmission / reception module 2 will be described. When inspecting the receiving system, the exciter 3 generates an inspection transmission signal and supplies it to the inspection module 8. The inspection module 8 amplifies the received transmission signal for inspection and radiates it as a radio wave from the inspection element antenna 9. This radio wave is received by each element antenna 1 and input to the transmission / reception module 2 corresponding to each. In each transmission / reception module 2, the reception signal for inspection is circulator 35, isolator 37, limiter 36.
It is input to the low noise amplifier 38 via the amplifier, amplified, and sent to the next stage. At this time, since the changeover switch 41 is switched to the dummy side, the inspection reception signal amplified by the low noise amplifier 38 is reflected and absorbed by the isolator 40. The reception signal for inspection amplified by the low noise amplifier 38 is detected by the reception detector 39 to determine whether the reception system is normal or abnormal.

[0006] In addition, as a document in which a technique related to such a conventional phased array antenna is described, there is, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-202706.

[0007]

Since the conventional phased array antenna is constructed as described above, the transmission detection circuit 34 for inspecting the transmission system and the reception detector for inspecting the reception system are provided. It is necessary to provide each of the transmitter / receiver modules 2 with 39, which has been a problem in that the transmitter / receiver module 2 is hindered from being reduced in size and weight.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and miniaturizes the transmission / reception module,
An object of the present invention is to obtain a phased array antenna which can be easily reduced in weight, further reduced in price, and improved in reliability.

[0009]

A phased array antenna according to the invention described in claim 1 uses one of the element antennas for inspection, and supplies an inspection transmission signal from an exciter to the inspection element antenna. The inspection module is installed, and the transmission / reception module connected to each element antenna that receives the radio waves radiated from this inspection element antenna is selected in order, and the inspection reception signal from the transmission / reception module is sent to the receiver. The controller has the function of inputting.

Further, in the phased array antenna according to the invention as defined in claim 2, the inspection module is further provided with a function of inputting the inspection reception signal based on the reception radio wave of the inspection element antenna to the receiver, The controller is further provided with a function of sequentially selecting transmission / reception modules and supplying an inspection transmission signal from the exciter.

In the phased array antenna according to a third aspect of the present invention, the controller is further provided with a function of changing the phase data of the phase shifter in the selected transceiver module.

Further, in the phased array antenna according to the invention described in claim 4, the control circuit of each transmission / reception module is provided with a feedback function of the control data for inspection received, and the controller has each transmission / reception module for inspection. It is provided with an echo back function for transmitting control data and checking the operation of the control circuit of the transmission / reception module based on the returned data.

[0013]

In the controller according to the first aspect of the present invention, the transmission / reception modules connected to the respective element antennas receiving the radio waves radiated from the inspection element antennas connected to the inspection module are sequentially selected. By inputting the inspection reception signal from the transceiver module to the receiver, the receiver system of each transceiver module can be intensively inspected by the receiver, and it is necessary to provide a reception detector for each transceiver module. To realize a phased array antenna without

The inspection module according to the second aspect of the invention receives the inspection reception signal based on the radio wave received by the inspection element antenna from the element antenna connected to the transmission / reception module selected by the controller in order. By inputting data to the transmitter and receiver, the transmitter system of each transmitter and receiver module can be intensively inspected by the receiver, and the transmitter detector in each transmitter and receiver module is unnecessary.

Further, the controller in the invention described in claim 3 changes the phase data of the phase shifter at the time of checking the transmission system or the reception system of the transmission / reception module,
Allows inspection of the phase shifter in the transceiver module.

Further, the controller in the invention according to claim 4 is provided with an echo back function, and the transmission / reception module receiving the sent inspection control data detects the data returned by the feedback function,
Check the operation of the control circuit in each transceiver module.

[0017]

EXAMPLES Example 1. Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1. In the figure, 1 is an element antenna, 3 is an exciter, 5 is a distributor / combiner acting as a distributor and a combiner, 6 is a circulator, 8 is an inspection module, and 9 is an inspection element antenna. Since they are the same as or equivalent to those of the conventional ones denoted by the reference numerals, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Reference numeral 10 denotes a transmission / reception module which will be described later with reference to FIG. 2. Reference numeral 11 detects an inspection reception signal sent from the distributor / combiner 5 via the circulator 6, and detects whether the reception system of each transmission / reception module 10 is normal / normal. This is a receiver different from the one denoted by reference numeral 4 in FIG. 9 in that it has a function of determining an abnormality. Reference numeral 12 selects each transmission / reception module 10 in order and receives the inspection reception signal from each transmission / reception module 10 by the receiver 11
It is a controller different from the one denoted by reference numeral 7 in FIG. 9 in that it has a function of inspecting the reception system of the transmission / reception module 10 one by one.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the transmission / reception module 10. In the figure, 31 is a phase shifter, 32 is a circulator, 33 is a transmission amplifier, 34 is a transmission detector, 35 is a circulator, 36 is a limiter,
Reference numeral 37 is an isolator, 38 is a low noise amplifier, 40 is an isolator, and 42 is a control circuit, all of which are the same as or equivalent to those of the conventional one denoted by the same reference numeral in FIG. The transmission / reception module 10 differs from the conventional transmission / reception module 2 shown in FIG. 10 in that the reception detection unit 39 for checking the reception system and the changeover switch 41 are omitted.

Next, the operation will be described. Here, since the inspection of the transmission system is performed in the same manner as in the conventional case, the description thereof will be omitted and only the inspection of the reception system will be described. When inspecting the receiving system, the inspection transmission signal generated by the exciter 3 is amplified by the inspection module 8 and radiated as a radio wave from the inspection element antenna 9. This radio wave is sent to each element antenna 1
The transmission / reception module 1 corresponding to each of the
It is input to 0 as a reception signal for inspection. Here, at the time of inspection of the receiving system, one of the transmission / reception modules 10 is sequentially selected by the control of the controller 12, and the reception signal for inspection causes the circulator 35, the isolator 37, and the limiter 36 to be selected in the selected transmission / reception module 10. The signal is input to the low noise amplifier 38 via and is amplified. The inspection reception signal amplified by the low noise amplifier 38 is output via the isolator 40, the circulator 32, and the phase shifter 31.

The inspection reception signal output from the selected transmission / reception module 10 is input to the receiver 11 via the distributor / combiner 5 and the circulator 6. The receiver 11 determines the normality / abnormality of the reception system of the transmission / reception module 10 by detecting the inspection reception signal from the selected transmission / reception module 10. Less than,
Under the control of the controller 12, the transmission / reception modules 10 are sequentially switched and the same processing is performed to inspect the reception systems of all the transmission / reception modules 10. This eliminates the need to separately provide the reception detector 39 in each transmission / reception module 10.

Example 2. In the first embodiment described above, only the inspection of the receiving system is intensively performed by the receiver, but the inspection of the transmitting system may be intensively performed.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of such an invention described in claim 2. Corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 and their explanations are omitted.

In the figure, 13 is a transmission / reception module which will be described later with reference to FIG. 4, and 14 has a function of inputting an inspection reception signal based on the radio wave received by the inspection element antenna 9 to a receiver described later. In this respect, the inspection module is different from the one indicated by reference numeral 8 in FIG. The reference numeral 15 also has a function of detecting the inspection reception signal sent from the inspection module 14 and determining the normality / abnormality of the transmission system of each transmission / reception module 13.
A receiver different from that denoted by reference numeral 11 in FIG.
Reference numeral 16 is a circulator for switching between the inspection reception signal to the receiver 15 and the inspection transmission signal from the exciter 3. Reference numeral 12 in FIG. 1 indicates that 17 also has a function of sequentially selecting each transmission / reception module 13 and sequentially supplying the inspection transmission signal from the exciter 3 to the selected transmission / reception module 13. Is a different controller.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the transmission / reception module 13. In the figure, each part is given the same reference numeral as the corresponding part in FIG. 1 and its explanation is omitted. It should be noted that the transmission / reception module 13 does not include the reception detection unit 34 for inspecting the transmission system, and thus the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The transceiver module 10 in FIG.

Next, the operation will be described. Here, since the inspection of the reception system is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted and only the inspection of the transmission system will be described.
When inspecting the transmission system, the inspection transmission signal generated by the exciter 3 is sent to the distribution / combiner 5 via the circulator 6, where it is distributed and input to each transmission / reception module 13. Here, even when the transmission signal system is inspected, one of the transmission / reception modules 13 is sequentially selected by the control of the controller 17, and only the selected transmission / reception module 13 transmits the inspection transmission signal to the phase shifter 31 and the circulator. Three
It is input to the transmission amplifier 33 via 2 and amplified, and is radiated as a radio wave from the element antenna 1.

This radio wave is received by the inspection element antenna 9, and the inspection reception signal transmitted by the inspection module 14 based on the received radio wave is transmitted through the circulator 16 to the receiver 15.
Entered in. The receiver 15 is the inspection module 14
The normal / abnormal of the transmission system of the transmission / reception module 13 selected by the controller 17 is determined by detecting the inspection reception signal from. Hereinafter, under the control of the controller 17, the transmission / reception modules 13 are sequentially switched and the same processing is performed to inspect the transmission systems of all the transmission / reception modules 13. As a result, each transmitting / receiving module 1
It is not necessary to separately provide the transmission detector 34 shown in FIG.

Example 3. Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the transmission system and the reception system of the transmission / reception module 13 are inspected for normality / abnormality has been described, but the phase shifter 31 in the transmission / reception module 13 may be inspected. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of such an invention described in claim 3. Corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 and their explanations are omitted. In the figure, reference numeral 18 is a controller different from that designated by reference numeral 17 in FIG. 3 in that it further has a function of changing the phase data of the phase shifter 31 in the selected transmission / reception module 13. Reference numeral 19 is a transmission / reception module 13 in which the phase shift amount of the phase shifter 31 is controlled by the controller 18.
Alternatively, the receiver is different from the one denoted by reference numeral 15 in FIG. 3 in that it has a function of phase-detecting the inspection reception signal from the inspection module 14.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of the transmission / reception module 13. In the figure, each part is assigned the same reference numeral as the corresponding part in FIG. 1 and its explanation is omitted. The transmitting / receiving module 13 is basically the same as the transmitting / receiving module in the second embodiment shown in FIG.

Next, the operation will be described. The control unit 18 changes the phase data given to the phase shifter 31 of the selected transmission / reception module 13 at the time of checking the transmission system or the reception system. This phase data is input to the control circuit 32 of the transmission / reception module 13, and the control circuit 32 controls the amount of phase shift of the phase shifter 31 according to the phase data. While controlling the amount of phase shift in this way, Example 1 or Example 2
Check the reception system or the transmission system described in. That is, at the time of checking the reception system, the transceiver module 1 selected by the controller 18 and the phase shift amount of the phase shifter 31 is controlled.
The reception signal for inspection from 3 is input to the receiver 19, and at the time of inspection of the transmission system, the transceiver module 1 selected by the controller 18 and the phase shift amount of the phase shifter 31 is controlled.
The reception signal for inspection from the inspection module 14 in which the radio wave radiated by the element antenna 1 of No. 3 is received by the inspection element antenna 9 is input to the receiver 19. The receiver 19 phase-detects the input inspection reception signal, and thereby the phase shifter 31 in the transmission / reception module 13 selected by the controller 18 is detected.
Check.

Example 4. Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention described in claim 4. Corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 5 and their explanations are omitted. In the figure, 20 is a transmission / reception module different from the one denoted by reference numeral 13 in FIG. 5 in that it has a feedback function of the received inspection control data, and 21 is each of the transmission / reception modules 20 for inspection control data. Is provided and an echo back function for checking the operation of the control circuit of the transmission / reception module 20 based on the returned data is provided. .

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transmission / reception module 20. In the figure, 43 is a control circuit different from that shown by reference numeral 42 in FIG. 6 in that it has the feedback function. The other parts are given the same reference numerals as the corresponding parts in FIG. 6 and their explanations are omitted.

Next, the operation will be described. When inspecting the control circuit 43 in the transmission / reception module 20, the controller 21 selects one of the transmission / reception modules 20 and sends out inspection control data to it. The control circuit 43 of the transmission / reception module 20 that has received this inspection control data
Controls the data by its feedback function.
Return to 1. The controller 21 determines that the control circuit 43 of the transmission / reception module 20 is normal when the data is normally returned from the transmission / reception module 20, and controls the transmission / reception module 20 when the data is not normally returned. The circuit 43 determines that it is abnormal.

Example 5. In each of the above embodiments, a distributor / combiner that integrates a distributor that distributes the transmission signal from the exciter to each transmission / reception module and a combiner that combines the reception signals from each transmission / reception module and sends it to the receiver. However, they may be arranged as an independent distributor and combiner, and the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0033]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the inspection element antenna of the inspection module radiates the radio wave by the inspection transmission signal and the element antenna receives the radio wave. Since the transceiver modules are selected in sequence under the control of the controller and the inspection reception signals output from them are input to the receiver, the inspection of the reception system of each transceiver module is centralized at the receiver. The phased array antenna can reduce the size and weight of the transmitting and receiving modules in each transmitting and receiving module, can be easily reduced in size, and can be improved in reliability. There is an effect that can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the controller radiates a radio wave according to the inspection transmission signal from the element antennas of the transmission / reception modules selected in order, and receives the radio wave by the inspection element antenna for inspection. Since the inspection reception signal output from the module is configured to be input to the receiver, the transmission system of each transceiver module can be centrally inspected by the receiver, and the transmission detector in each transceiver module can be It becomes possible to delete, downsizing, weight saving,
There is an effect that a phased array antenna that can be easily reduced in cost and improved in reliability can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the phase data of the phase shifter is changed by the control of the controller when the transmission system or the reception system of the transmission / reception module is inspected, the transmission / reception is performed. The effect is that the phase shifter in the module can be inspected.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, an echo back function for sending out the inspection control data and detecting the data returned by the feedback function of the transmitting and receiving module is added to the controller. Since it is configured, there is an effect that the operation check of the control circuit in the transmission / reception module can be performed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a phased array antenna according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a transmission / reception module in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a phased array antenna according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a transmission / reception module in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a phased array antenna according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a transmission / reception module in the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a phased array antenna according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a transmission / reception module in the above embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional phased array antenna.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the transmission / reception module.

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 element antenna 3 exciter 5 distribution synthesizer (distributor, synthesizer) 8 inspection module 9 inspection element antenna 10 transmission / reception module 11 receiver 12 controller 13 transmission / reception module 14 inspection module 15 receiver 17 controller 18 control 19 receiver 20 transmitter / receiver module 21 controller 31 phase shifter 43 control circuit