JPH02104104A - Antenna measurement method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention measures the amplitude and phase of each element antenna of a phased array antenna consisting of a plurality of element antennas and a phase shifter connected to each element antenna. The present invention relates to an antenna device that can be used.

[Conventional technology]

Figure S shows the configuration of a conventional phased array antenna.

(2) is an element antenna, and (3) is a pickup antenna.

(4) is a power distribution/synthesis circuit, (5) is a control circuit, (6)
is a transmitter, (n is a receiver, and (81 is a computer that controls the module (1) and processes the received signal of the receiver (71).

Figure 6 shows an example of the configuration of the pendulum.

In the figure, (IL) is a high power amplifier, (1b
) is a low noise amplifier, (10) is a phase shifter, (1d
) is a transmitter/receiver switch.

Next, the operation will be explained. Figure 5 shows an example of transmission, in which the signal power generated by the transmitter (6) is transferred to the power distribution/synthesis circuit (4).
distributed to the desired distribution ratio by each module fl)
sent to. Then, in the module (engineering), the calculator (
The multiple phases are changed by the phase shifter (1c) K controlled to a desired phase shift amount by 81, further amplified by a high output amplifier (1b), and radiated from the element antenna to obtain desired antenna characteristics. In the case of reception, it is the same as in the case of transmission, just by replacing the transmitter and receiver and amplifying each module with a low-noise amplifier.

Now, let's talk about the above phased array antenna.

Since there are variations in characteristics in each configuration, desired antenna characteristics cannot be achieved. Therefore, JP-A-5L-93
By the method shown in Publication No. 266T, the phase of the phase shifter of each element is changed, the combined power of the phased array antenna is measured, and the maximum to minimum ratio r2 of the change in power level is calculated.
The amount of phase change Δ0 that gives the maximum value is determined, and the optimum phase and amplitude given to each element are determined as follows.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional measurement method using an antenna device, it is necessary to install the pickup antennas facing each other and separated by a certain distance. In some cases, measurements could not be taken because the far field conditions for antenna measurement could not be satisfied.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even when the phased array antenna is attached to a moving object or when the pickup antenna cannot be placed at a certain distance, the phased array antenna can be used. The purpose is to be able to determine the amplitude and phase of each element.

[Means to solve the problem]

The measurement method for the antenna device according to the present invention is based on the conventional method of changing the phase of the phase shifter and measuring the change in the combined power of the phased array antenna at that time to determine the amplitude and phase of each element antenna. Multiple pickup antennas that were placed facing each other are incorporated into a phased array antenna.

It is possible to measure by combining the signals using a distribution and combining circuit.

[Effect]

The antenna device according to the present invention can measure the amplitude and phase of each element without arranging the pickup antennas at opposing positions, so it can be easily measured at any location.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the antenna device of the present invention. In Fig. 1, (9) is the pickup antenna #qo incorporated in the phased array antenna.
is a byte module that has the same external structure as module (1) and transfers RP double signals. + is a distribution/synthesis circuit that distributes or combines RF flaw signals. First, the measurement method in the transmitting state will be described. Signal power generated by the transmitter (6) is distributed by a power distribution/synthesis circuit (4) and sent to each module (1). and.

A phase shifter (1C) is controlled by a computer (8), amplified by a high output amplifier ae, radiated from an element antenna, received by n number of pickup antennas (9), and transmitted to a bite module a. The signals are combined by a distribution/synthesis circuit and sent to the receiver (7). At this time, by the method shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57132887,
Combined power of a phased array antenna by changing the phase of each element's phase shifter? It is received by a pickup antenna (9). Then, the maximum-to-minimum ratio r2 of the power level change and the amount of phase change Δ0 that gives the maximum value are determined, and the optimum phase and amplitude to be given to each element are determined. Here, the obtained amplitude and phase are all, a12′”−・−・−a tn
-(1) Pll, PI3----kawa'p
ln-+2). Here, n is the number of elements.

In addition, the amplitude and phase obtained by the conventional method, that is, the method using opposing pickup antennas, are aol a0
2 -==-= aon -(31Po1
PO2------Pon-t4
).

(a) (1)) (Q) (d) and AD these differences.
l, An2-1-ADn, PDI, FD2
・-PDn becomes.

Next, state 9 when the environment changes, for example, module (
When some of 1) are replaced, similar measurements are made using the pickup antenna built into the phased array antenna. The amplitude and phase obtained at that time are 1L2) ・ a22 ...... a2n
-171P2) - P22 ・-・-
-P2n -Ta2.

Find (-), @), (f), etc.). Aj A2...An obtained in this way
.

I'm P2...Pn are the amplitude and phase of each element in the state at that time.

Ac=aoc-(ale-a2c)-QDpc only for locations where modules have been replaced using methods other than the above correction method
=POc-(Plo-P2c) -111 α2 can also be performed. C is the element at the replaced location. In this case, compared to the above, it will have all the data of (a)(bX(ri) (d), so the amount of data will be double.

By doing this, the amplitude and phase of each element can be found from now on only by measurement using the pickup antenna in the phased array antenna.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. In fig.

a3 is a monopulse comparator, and a3 is a switch.

The measurement method is the same, but the measurement is repeated by switching the number of times with a switch for the sum signal terminal and difference signal terminal of the monopulse comparator. From the results, the amplitude measured at each terminal and the sum signal terminal corresponding to the phase: xll, X12...X1n: 7
11t 712°-7In difference signal terminal (11: X2)
．． X22...X2n; 72). 722゛-y
'n difference signal terminal (2): X51. X52-X! l:
]C51,X52 ・X! 5n. By averaging these.

seek. The correction method after this averaging process is the same as described above.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. In fig.

The terminal A is a phase shifter, which changes the electrical length.

This operation can be either electrical or mechanical. Case 1: Combination of electrical lengths corresponding to the amplitude and phase measured by the above method when changing the electrical length: :clt x12
...X 1n;711)'M2...71n Electrical length combination case 2: X2)
・・X2n near 2) 722...72n Electrical length combination case L: xtt xt2・
...x payment; It17t2...7tn. By averaging these.

(m=1.7...n)? demand. The correction method after this averaging process is the same as described above.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. In Figure 4.

α9 is a matrix power supply circuit. This circuit is, for example, a Patra matrix circuit. This allows the combination of signals from multiple pickup antennas with different electrical lengths to be output by changing the electrical length as shown in Figure 3. will be measured. Corresponding to the amplitude and phase measured at each terminal of the matrix feeding circuit, terminal 1: xtl x12...Xjfi: 71
1712...71n terminal 2: X2) X22...
・X2n: 72) 722...72n terminal t:
xtl"tx-"tn: yt1712-yzn. By averaging these.

(ffl=1.2...n) is found. The correction method after this averaging process is the same as in 9 above.

By the way, in this invention, transmission is taken as an example, but it goes without saying that the same applies to reception. In addition, we also provide information on the configuration of phased array antennas, pickup antenna configurations, distribution/synthesis circuits, etc.
It goes without saying that the IJ power supply circuit may have any configuration.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of pickup antennas are incorporated into a phased array antenna,
By using a configuration that performs various types of synthesis, the amplitude and phase of each element can be measured with high accuracy in any location, and the 7-point array antenna can always be kept in the optimal condition.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an antenna device showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an antenna device showing another embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an antenna device showing another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional measurement system, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a module. In the figure, (1) is a module, (2) is an element antenna, and (3) is a pickup antenna at an opposing position. (4) is a power distribution/synthesis circuit j (5) is a control circuit, (6)
is the transmitter, (71 is the receiver, (81 is the computer, (91 is the pickup antenna incorporated in the phased array antenna, a and byte module jU is the distribution and synthesis circuit. The return is the monopulse comparator, and 0 is the switch. , negative 4 is a phase shifter, a9 is a matrix feeding circuit, (1a) is a Fi high output amplifier circuit, (1b) is a low noise amplifier circuit, (1c) is a phase shifter, and (jd) is a transmission/reception switch. In Figure 1, the same symbols indicate the same or equivalent parts 0 1111!1 @ 2-l Figure 3 Figure 4 Δ Figure 5

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) As a method for measuring the amplitude and phase of each element antenna of a phased array antenna consisting of a plurality of element antennas and a phase shifter connected to each element antenna, a pickup is placed opposite the phased array antenna. Install the antenna, change the phase of the phase shifter, measure the combined power of the phased array antenna, and calculate the maximum to minimum ratio r^2 of the power level change and the amount of phase change Δ_0 that gives the maximum value. In an antenna device that can calculate the amplitude and phase of an element antenna from these r and Δ_0, a plurality of element antennas identical to the element antennas in the phased array antenna are arranged as the pickup antenna, and The amplitude and phase of each element antenna are measured by the method described above by combining them in a distribution/synthesizing circuit, and by mutual coupling using the combined power. Then, the amplitude and phase of each element antenna measured using the pickup antenna in the phased array antenna are corrected by the difference,
An antenna device characterized in that the amplitude and phase of each element can be determined. (2) As a method for measuring the amplitude and phase of each element antenna of a phased array antenna consisting of a plurality of element antennas and a phase shifter connected to each element antenna, a pick-up device facing the phased array antenna is used. Install the antenna, change the phase of the phase shifter, measure the combined power of the phased array antenna, and calculate the maximum to minimum ratio r^2 of the power level change and the amount of phase change Δ_0 that gives the maximum value. In an antenna device that can calculate the amplitude and phase of an element antenna from these r and Δ_0, a plurality of pick-up antennas that are the same as the element antennas are arranged in the phased array antenna, and they are Combine the distribution and synthesis circuit with a monopulse comparator, connect it to the receiver via a switch, and measure the amplitude and phase of each element using the method described above by mutually coupling each output terminal of the monopulse comparator. Then, calculate the amplitude and phase of each element antenna by averaging when switching each terminal, calculate the difference between the amplitude and phase of each element calculated by the above-mentioned opposing pickup antenna, and then calculate the above-mentioned phased antenna. An antenna device characterized in that the amplitude and phase of each element can be determined by correcting the amplitude and phase measured using a pickup antenna in an array antenna using the above-mentioned difference. (3) As a method for measuring the amplitude and phase of each element antenna of a phased array antenna consisting of a plurality of element antennas and a phase shifter connected to each element antenna, a pick-up is carried out opposite to the phased array antenna. Install the antenna, change the phase of the phase shifter, measure the combined power of the phased array antenna, and calculate the maximum to minimum ratio r^2 of the power level change and the amount of phase change Δ_0 that gives the maximum value. In an antenna device that can calculate the amplitude and phase of an element antenna from these r and Δ_0, a plurality of the same element antennas as the element antenna are arranged in the phased array antenna as the pickup antenna, and In the above method, by mutual coupling in response to changing the electrical length of the phase shifter between each pickup antenna and the above-mentioned distribution and combination circuit by coupling in a distribution and combination circuit via a phase shifter, Measure the amplitude and phase of each element antenna, and calculate the amplitude and phase of each element antenna by averaging when the electrical length is changed, and compare the amplitude and phase of each element determined by the above-mentioned opposing pickup antennas. The method is characterized in that the amplitude and phase of each element can be determined by determining the difference from the phase, and then correcting the amplitude and phase measured using the pickup antenna in the phased array antenna with the difference. antenna device. (4) As a method for measuring the amplitude and phase of each element antenna of a phased array antenna consisting of a plurality of element antennas and a phase shifter connected to each element antenna, a pick-up is carried out opposite to the phased array antenna. Install the antenna, change the phase of the phase shifter, measure the combined power of the phased array antenna, and calculate the maximum to minimum ratio r^2 of the power level change and the amount of phase change Δ_0 that gives the maximum value. In an antenna device that can calculate the amplitude and phase of an element antenna from these r and Δ_0, a plurality of the same element antennas as the element antenna are arranged in the phased array antenna as the pickup antenna, and coupled by a matrix feeding circuit and connected to a receiver via a switch, and measuring the amplitude and phase of each element in the above method by mutual coupling in correspondence with the output terminal of the matrix feeding circuit; and,
The amplitude and phase of each element antenna are determined by averaging when each output terminal of the matrix feeding circuit is switched, and the difference between the amplitude and phase of each element determined by the above-mentioned opposing pickup antennas is determined. An antenna device characterized in that the amplitude and phase of each element can be determined by correcting the amplitude and phase of each element determined by the phased array antenna using the above-mentioned difference.