JP2001308611A - Waveguide antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the accuracy of bonding between each member and get good electric characteristics in a wave guide antenna comprising a plurality of wave guides made by bonding a plurality of members. SOLUTION: In the top face 7a of a barrier 7, a recess 7c is formed in the center excepting side edges 7b which are wave-guiding sections facing to opening passages 9, and in bonding, the bottom 7d of the recess 7c is separated from a slot array radiation board 5. Since there is no mutual interference between the top face 7a in the recess 7c and the slot radiation board 5 and the fastening strength associated with bonding acts on the side edges 7b in the barrier 7 exclusively, the accuracy of bonding in the barrier 7 can be improved. In the barrier 7, the neighborhood of the side edges 7b facing the opening passages 9 acts as a waveguide exclusively, thereby a good electrical characteristic of bonding faces can be obtained by the improvement of bonding accuracy in the side edges 7b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waveguide antenna for feeding power using a waveguide, which is a three-dimensional circuit, and more particularly to a waveguide antenna formed by joining a plurality of members.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among conventional waveguide antennas, FIG.
As shown in (a), a plurality of air paths 79 forming a waveguide are arranged in parallel to form a flat plate shape, and a waveguide antenna 71 having a large number of slot elements 80 formed on one surface is a slot array antenna. It is mainly used as an antenna for ultra high frequency waves such as a millimeter wave band.

[0003] As shown in Fig. 5 (b), a slot element (not shown) is formed on the upper surface of a box-shaped antenna housing 73 having a large number of partitions 77 having the same height as shown in Fig. 5 (b). The flat plate-shaped slot array radiating plate 75 is joined. Further, even if the same shape is obtained at the time of completion, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the whole is vertically divided from substantially half the height, and a slot element (not shown) is formed. An upper block 87 is formed integrally with the slot array radiation plate 86 to form an upper block 85, and a lower partition 97 is formed integrally with a bottom plate 84 made of a conductor to form a lower block 83. There is one in which a block 85 and a lower block 83 are joined to face each other.

[0004] In any case, in order to obtain good electrical characteristics, it is necessary to join the members without gaps. For this purpose, the antenna housing 73, the upper block 85 and the lower block 83 are required. Is fastened with a large number of bolts (not shown).

[0005]

However, since the antenna housing 73 and the upper block 85 and the lower block 83 are usually manufactured by die-casting or extrusion, fine irregularities and burrs are generated on the joint surface. On the other hand, the slot array radiation plate is often formed of a thin plate such as 200 μm or 400 μm. Therefore, even if the peripheral edge of each member to be joined is tightened with a large number of bolts or the like, the slot array radiating plate is elastically deformed, so that the inner partition wall 77, the upper partition wall 87, and the lower partition wall 97 have sufficient bonding for bonding. Since no force is applied, it is difficult to accurately join the antenna housing 73 and the slot array radiating plate 75 or to join the upper block 85 and the lower block 83 to obtain good electrical characteristics. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the joining accuracy of each member in a waveguide antenna in which a plurality of waveguides are formed by joining a plurality of members. It is to obtain good electrical characteristics.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of air paths surrounded by a plurality of members are formed by joining a plurality of members, and a waveguide is formed around each of the plurality of air paths as a waveguide. A waveguide antenna, wherein a joining surface of the partition wall separating the plurality of air paths, the part other than the waveguide acting portion facing the air path is separated at the junction. It is a wave tube antenna.

[0008] In the first aspect of the present invention, since other portions except for the waveguide action portion facing the air path are separated from each other at the joining surface of the partition wall, the interference between the members at the other portion. Therefore, the fastening force related to the joint acts exclusively on the waveguide action portion in the partition. Therefore the first
According to the present invention, good electrical characteristics of the joint surface of each member in the partition can be easily obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waveguide antenna in which a plurality of air paths surrounded by the plurality of members are formed by joining a plurality of members, and each of the plurality of air paths forms a waveguide. A waveguide antenna comprising a connector for connecting the plurality of members to each other on a partition wall separating the plurality of air paths.

[0010] In the second aspect of the present invention, since the partition is provided with a connector for connecting a plurality of members to each other, it is possible to strongly join the partition regardless of whether or not each member is entirely deformed. As compared with the conventional structure in which the peripheral edge of the partition is fastened with a bolt or the like, good electrical characteristics of the joint surface of each member in the partition can be easily obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the waveguide antenna according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the partition has a connector for coupling the plurality of members to each other.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the second aspect of the present invention can be obtained since the partition is provided with a connector for coupling a plurality of members to each other.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In FIG. 1, a waveguide antenna 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is configured as a slot array antenna for a millimeter wave band. The antenna housing 3 is formed by forming a large number of partition walls 7 having the same height on the upper surface of a flat bottom plate 4 to form a box with an upper opening. The slot array radiating plate 5 has a flat plate shape, and is provided with a number of slot elements (not shown) similar to those of the above-mentioned conventional example (see FIG. 5A). The material of the antenna housing 3 and the slot array radiating plate 5 may be any conductor as long as the characteristics of the antenna can be obtained. For example, a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy is suitable.

Antenna housing 3 and slot array radiation plate 5
Are vertically joined, and are fixed at their outer edges by a number of bolts (not shown). Air route 9
Bottom plate 4, partition wall 7 and slot array radiation plate 5 surrounding
Act as a waveguide in use.

In the partition 7, a concave portion 7 c is formed at the center of the upper surface 7 a, which is the bonding surface for the bonding, except for a side edge portion 7 b which faces the air passage 9 and performs a waveguide function.

In the waveguide antenna 1 of the first embodiment configured as described above, on the upper surface 7a serving as the joint surface of the partition wall 7, the side edge portion 7b serving as the waveguide action portion facing the air path 9 is provided. A concave portion 7c is formed at the removed center, so that the bottom 7d of the concave portion 7c is separated from the slot array radiating plate 5 at the joining, so that the upper surface 7a of the concave portion 7c and the slot array radiating plate 5 And the fastening force related to the joint acts exclusively on the side edge 7b of the partition wall 7. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the joining at the partition wall 7 can be performed with high accuracy, and the vicinity of the side edge portion 7b facing the air path 9 exclusively acts as a waveguide in the partition wall 7, so that this side edge By improving the joining accuracy in the portion 7b, good electrical characteristics of the joining surface can be easily obtained.

Instead of the configuration in which the recess 7c is provided in the partition 7 as in the first embodiment, a recess is provided in the center of the lower surface of the slot array radiating plate 5 except for a side end portion of a portion joined to the partition 7. It may be configured.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. 2, the waveguide antenna 11 according to the second embodiment includes an upper block 15 and a lower block 13. The upper block 15 is formed by integrally forming an upper partition 17 on the lower surface of a flat plate portion 16 in which a number of slot elements (not shown) are formed.
Is formed by integrally forming a lower partition wall 27 on the upper surface of a flat bottom plate 14.

In the upper partition 17, a concave portion 17 c is formed in the center of the lower surface 17 a serving as a bonding surface, except for a side edge portion 17 b which faces the air path 19 and performs a waveguide function. Similarly, in the lower partition wall 27, a side edge portion 27 that faces the air passage 19 and performs a waveguide action is provided on an upper surface 27 a serving as a bonding surface.
A recess 27c is formed at the center excluding b.

In the second embodiment, however, the upper partition 17
And concave portions 17c, 27c are formed at the respective centers of the lower partition walls 27, whereby the bottom portions 17d,
Since the joints 27d are separated from each other in the joining, there is no mutual interference in the concave portions 17c, 27c, and the fastening force related to the joining is exclusively applied to the side edges 17b, 27b in the upper partition 17 and the lower partition 27. Works. Therefore, the joining can be performed with high accuracy, and air passages 19 are formed in the upper partition 17 and the lower partition 27.
Since the vicinity of the side edge portions 17b and 27b facing the surface exclusively acts as a waveguide, it is possible to easily obtain good electrical characteristics of the bonding surface by improving the bonding accuracy at the side edge portions 17b and 27b. Can be.

In the second embodiment, the recesses 17c and 27c are provided at the center of each of the upper partition 17 and the lower partition 27, but instead of such a configuration, the upper partition 1
7 and the lower wall 27 only in the concave portion 17c
(Or the recess 27c) may be provided.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG.
In the waveguide antenna 31 of the third embodiment, the screw 3 as a connector for connecting the upper block 35 and the lower block 33 at the upper partition 37 and the lower partition 47 is provided.
2 is provided.

That is, the upper block 35 is formed by integrally forming an upper partition 37 on the lower surface of a flat plate portion 36 in which a number of slot elements (not shown) are formed. The lower partition wall 47 is integrally formed on the upper surface of the flat bottom plate 34. Upper partition 3
In FIG. 7, a concave portion 37c is formed at the center of a lower surface 37a serving as a bonding surface, excluding a side edge portion 37b facing the air path 39 and performing a waveguide function.

In the third embodiment, the upper partition 37 and the lower partition 47 are fixed by screwing the screw 32 from the lower surface of the lower block 33 into a screw hole provided in the side edge 37b at the time of assembly.

In the third embodiment, however, the upper partition 37
A recess 37c is formed at the center of the
Since the bottom 37d is separated from the upper surface of the lower partition 47 in the joining, there is no mutual interference between the concave portion 37c and the upper surface of the lower partition 47, and the fastening force related to the joining is lower than the side in the upper partition 37. It acts exclusively on the edge 37b. Therefore, as in the first and second embodiments, the joining can be performed with high accuracy, and good electrical characteristics of the joining surface can be easily obtained.

In the third embodiment, the upper block 35
Since the screw 32 is used as a connector for connecting the upper block 35 and the lower block 33 to each other, the upper partition 37 and the lower partition 47 are strongly joined regardless of whether or not the entire upper block 35 and lower block 33 are deformed. As compared with the conventional structure in which the peripheral edges of the upper block 35 and the lower block 33 are fastened with bolts or the like, good electrical characteristics of the joint surface can be easily obtained.

In the third embodiment, the upper block 35
Although the concave portion 37c is provided in the upper partition 37 of the lower block, such a concave portion is not provided in the lower block. Conversely, a similar concave portion may be provided on the upper surface of the lower partition 47 of the lower block 33. Recesses may be provided in both the partition 37 and the lower partition 47. Further, in the third embodiment, the present invention is applied to a configuration in which the waveguide antenna 31 is vertically divided from substantially the center in the vertical direction.
As shown in FIG. 1, a configuration using a flat slot array radiation plate can also be executed. In addition, the third
In the embodiment, a screw hole is provided in the side edge portion 37b. However, a cylindrical hole may be simply provided, and a screw 32 may be screwed in while tapping.

Although the screw 32 is used in the third embodiment, the connector in the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, but may be a plurality of parts which are partition walls separating a plurality of air paths forming the waveguide. Any configuration may be adopted as long as the components are connected to each other, and such a configuration also belongs to the category of the present invention. For example, the upper block 55 and the lower block 53 are connected to each other by an upper partition 57 and a lower partition 67 as in a waveguide antenna 51 of a modification shown in FIG.
May be fastened by bolts 58 and nuts 68 as connectors, and the same effects as in the third embodiment can be obtained. Further, such coupling with bolts and nuts can also be executed for a configuration using a flat slot array radiation plate as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the bolt 58 in FIG.
Instead of using a rivet pin, the upper partition 57 and the lower partition 67 can be connected by caulking the tip.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a waveguide antenna according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a waveguide antenna according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a waveguide antenna according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a main part of a waveguide antenna according to a modification of the third embodiment.

5A and 5B show a conventional waveguide antenna, in which FIG. 5A is an overall perspective view, and FIGS. 5B and 5C are cross-sectional views showing an example of an internal configuration thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,11,31,51,71 Waveguide antenna, 3,7
3 antenna housing, 4, 14, 34, 84 bottom plate,
5, 75, 86 slot array radiation plate, 7, 77 partition, 7b, 17b, 27b, 37b side edge, 7c, 1
7c, 27c, 37c recess, 7d, 17d, 27d,
37d Bottom, 9, 19, 39, 79 Air, 13, 3
3,53,83 Lower block, 15,35,55,8
5 upper block, 16,36 flat plate part, 17,37,
57, 87 Upper partition, 27, 47, 67, 97 Lower partition, 32 screws, 58 bolts, 68 nuts, 80
Slot element.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A waveguide antenna in which a plurality of air paths surrounded by a plurality of members are formed by joining a plurality of members, and a waveguide is formed around each of the plurality of air paths. A joint surface of the partition wall that separates the gaps, except for the waveguide acting portion facing the air path, where the other portion is separated at the joint. 2. A waveguide antenna wherein a plurality of air paths surrounded by the plurality of members are formed by joining a plurality of members, and a waveguide is formed around each of the plurality of air paths. A waveguide antenna comprising: a connector for coupling a plurality of channels to a partition separating the plurality of air paths. 3. The waveguide antenna according to claim 1, wherein the partition has a connector for coupling the plurality of members to each other.