JPH11251819A - Antenna device and radar module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize beam scanning over a wide range by allowing a first distance from the circular motion center shaft of a second dielectric line and a primary radiator to the connection part of the first and second dielectric lines and a second distance from the circular motion center shaft to the radiation position of the primary radiator to differ. SOLUTION: When a motor 16 turn a rotor 14, the radiation position of a primary radiator changes in the direction of an arrow, and beams are scanned in a direction perpendicular to a paper face and in a vertical direction following the paper face. A distance r1 from the circular motion center shaft of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator to the connection part S of the first and second dielectric lines is set shorter than a distance r2 from the center shaft to the radiation position of the primary radiator. Thus, the radiation position of the primary radiator can be changed, while the connection state of the first and second dielectric lines is kept long. Even if single second dielectric line and single primary radiator are used, the scanning of the becomes possible only by the turning of the rotor 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an antenna device and a radar module using a dielectric line that propagates electromagnetic waves in, for example, a millimeter wave band.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle-mounted radar module which has been conventionally developed, a beam antenna having a sharp directivity is used so that a high gain is obtained and interference with a vehicle traveling in an adjacent lane is reduced. . However, when the traveling lane of the own vehicle is curved, a vehicle in an adjacent lane is erroneously detected as if the vehicle is traveling ahead of the traveling lane of the own vehicle. In order to solve this problem, not only information on the distance and the relative speed to the vehicle in front but also azimuth information is required.

There are two methods of obtaining azimuth information: a method of scanning the radiation direction of a radio wave beam within an appropriate angle, such as a scanning radar, and a method of overlapping a part of the radiation pattern, such as a monopulse radar. There is a method using a sum signal and a difference signal of the signals from the above antennas.

However, in the case of a scanning type radar, a method of mechanically rotating the entire radar module by a motor or the like to scan the radar beam in a fan shape is conceivable. However, it is difficult to perform high-speed scanning, and the entire apparatus is difficult. Increase in size. In the case of a monopulse radar, an antenna having a wide beam width is used to cover the azimuth range to be detected, and the gain is reduced accordingly.

[0005] The applicant of the present invention has applied for an apparatus for scanning a beam by moving a dielectric line and a primary radiator coupled thereto relative to a fixed dielectric line. The application is filed in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 9-291208.

[0006]

FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 show examples of the configuration of the antenna device according to the above-mentioned application. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the primary radiator and the dielectric lens and a configuration of a rotating body provided with the primary radiator. In this example,
A dielectric line is formed by disposing a dielectric strip between each side surface of a rotating body formed of a regular pentagonal prism-shaped metal block and a conductor plate parallel to the side surface. Also, a primary radiator is formed by providing a dielectric resonator between each side surface of the rotating body and a conductor plate parallel thereto.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the dielectric lens and the primary radiator. In the figure, each side surface of the rotating body is developed and shown side by side on a plane. By providing the primary radiators at slightly different positions in the left-right direction in the figure, the beam directing direction changes in five steps in the left-right direction with the rotation of the rotating body.

However, in the case of an antenna device having such a structure, a new problem to be solved arises as described below depending on the purpose of use.

That is, in the antenna device shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the dielectric line coupled to the primary radiator is arranged in parallel with the central axis of the rotating body in the circular motion. The relationship between the connection time between the two and the movement amount of the primary radiator is uniquely determined. For this reason, a structure in which the connection time between the dielectric line that moves together with the primary radiator and the fixed dielectric line cannot be set to a length or a short length according to the purpose cannot be achieved. Similarly, 1
It has not been possible to set the angle range over which the beam can be scanned by one primary radiator as wide as necessary, or conversely, as narrow as possible. Also, since a beam in one direction is basically formed by one primary radiator, the number of primary radiators increases as the beam scanning range is increased, so that the overall size and cost are increased. turn into.

An object of the present invention is to provide a degree of design freedom to the relationship between the connection time of the primary radiator or the movable-side dielectric line and the fixed-side dielectric line and the amount of movement of the primary radiator,
An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna device and a radar module that solve the above-mentioned various problems.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a fixed first dielectric line and a circularly movable state connected to the first dielectric line and coupled to the primary radiator. An antenna device comprising a second dielectric line and a dielectric lens, the connecting portion between the first and second dielectric lines based on the central axis of circular motion of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator. From the first distance up to and the central axis of the circular motion
The second distance to the emission position of the next radiator is made different.

[0012] For example, the line connecting the connecting portion between the first and second dielectric lines and the radiation position of the primary radiator is positioned so as to draw a conical side surface by the circular motion. A plurality of sets of lines and the primary radiators are provided, and the second dielectric line connected to the first dielectric line is sequentially switched by the circular motion. With this structure, the relationship between the connection time between the first and second dielectric lines and the amount of movement of the primary radiator when the second dielectric line and the primary radiator make a circular motion is determined. be able to.

That is, if the first distance is shorter than the second distance, even if the primary radiator is displaced relatively large due to the circular motion between the second dielectric line and the primary radiator. , First
・ Because the displacement of the connection between the second dielectric lines is small,
The connection between them can be kept long. Therefore, for example, by using a single primary radiator and making it circularly move in a predetermined range together with the second dielectric line, it is possible to scan a beam over a wide range while being a single primary radiator. Become. Further, even when a plurality of sets of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator coupled to the second dielectric line are provided, the scanning range of each primary radiator can be widened. It becomes possible.

Conversely, if the first distance is longer than the second distance, the connection time between the first and second dielectric lines with respect to the amount of movement of the primary radiator becomes shorter due to the circular motion. .
Therefore, a plurality of sets of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator coupled to the second dielectric line are provided, and the beam directing direction of each primary radiator is not largely changed (the beam in an unnecessary range is blocked). Then, it is possible to sequentially switch the beam directing direction.

Further, if the first and second dielectric lines are connected on the axis of the circular motion center axis, the primary radiator can be extended over a wide area while the first and second dielectric lines are connected. The beam scanning angle range can be widened while using a single primary radiator.

If the central axis of the circular motion is disposed at a position substantially perpendicular to the axis of the dielectric lens, the beam is moved to a predetermined position by the circular motion of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator. It will be scanned along a plane.

Further, the present invention provides the above antenna device,
An oscillator for generating a transmission signal to the antenna device and a mixer for mixing a local signal with a signal received by the antenna device are provided to constitute a radar module.

In the present invention, "circular motion" is 1
It is a concept that includes not only a rotational motion equal to or more than a rotation but also a motion in which a movable part swings and draws a part of a circle, that is, an arc.

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a partially cutaway front view showing the internal structure, and FIG. 1B is a top view with the dielectric lens removed. In FIG.
Denotes a first dielectric line, which is constituted by providing a dielectric strip 3 between two conductor plates 1 and 2. The distance between the two conductor plates 1 and 2 is set to be equal to or less than half the guide wavelength of the transmission line, and only the dielectric strip portion is used as the electromagnetic wave propagation region, and the space on both sides is used as the cutoff region. With this structure, a non-radiative dielectric line (NRD guide) that does not radiate electromagnetic waves to the outside is configured. The portion indicated by reference numeral 12 in the figure is a second dielectric line. A dielectric strip 6 is provided between the two conductor plates 4 and 5 to form an NRD guide in the same manner as the first dielectric line. I have. The first dielectric line 11 and the second dielectric line 12 are arranged such that the dielectric strips 3 and 6 are coaxially arranged at the connection portion S, and in this state, the first and second dielectric lines are arranged. Connection between the tracks is performed.

A cylindrical dielectric resonator 40 is provided between the conductor plates 4 and 5 near the end of the dielectric strip 6 opposite to the connecting portion S. This dielectric resonator 40
Is a HE111-mode dielectric resonator, and a horn-shaped window is provided in a part of the conductor plate 5 so that electromagnetic waves are emitted and incident in the upper direction (direction of the conductor plate 5) in the figure. ing. A slit plate having a slit-shaped opening is disposed between the window and the dielectric resonator 40, and the radiation pattern is controlled by the slit plate.

A dielectric lens 17 is arranged on the radiation side or incident side of the electromagnetic wave with respect to the primary radiator 13 so that the position of the primary radiator 13 is substantially at the focal plane.

In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 14 denotes a rotating body, which is integrated with the second dielectric line 12 and the primary radiator 13. The center axis of the circular motion of the rotating body 14 is a distance r1 from the center axis to the connection portion S between the first and second dielectric lines and a distance r2 from the center axis to the radiation position of the primary radiator 13. (In this example, r1 <r
2), it is inclined with respect to a line connecting the connection portion S and the position of the primary radiator.

The motor 16 rotates the rotating body 14 in a predetermined angle range around the center axis of the circular movement. Note that the rotating body 14 includes the second dielectric line 12 and the primary radiator 1.
A balance weight 15 is provided to balance the weight with the three parts.

When the rotating body 14 is rotated by the motor 16, the radiation position of the primary radiator 13 is displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. As a result, the beam is scanned in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1A, and in a vertical direction along the paper surface in FIG.

As described above, the distance r1 from the central axis of the circular motion of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator to the connecting portion S between the first and second dielectric lines is determined by the distance from the central axis to the primary radiator. Is shorter than the distance r2 to the radiation position of
While maintaining the connection state between the second dielectric line and the second dielectric line long.
The radiation position of the secondary radiator can be displaced, and even if a single second dielectric line and a single primary radiator are used, beam scanning can be performed only by rotating the rotating body 14. .

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part according to the second embodiment. In this example, contrary to the case of FIG. 1, the mounting position of the motor 16 is provided so as to be inclined on the side having the dielectric lens and toward the first dielectric line 11. Also in this case, the second dielectric line 12 and the primary radiator 1
The distance r1 from the central axis of circular motion 3 to the connection point S between the first and second dielectric lines is smaller than the distance r2 from the central axis of circular motion to the radiation position of the primary radiator 13. According to the structure shown in FIG. 2, the motor is arranged in the dead space, so that the overall size can be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the antenna device according to the third embodiment. In the example shown in FIG.
Although a single second dielectric line and a primary radiator are provided on the rotating body 14, in the example of FIG. 3, a plurality of sets of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator are provided on the rotating body 14. ing. In this example, the dielectric line 12b and the primary radiator 1a are positioned symmetrically with respect to the center axis of the circular motion.
3b is provided. The motor 16 rotates the rotating body 14 about the center axis of the circular motion. According to this configuration, when the motor 16 rotates in one direction, beam scanning is performed in a state where the second dielectric line is connected to the first dielectric line, and the second dielectric line is connected to the second dielectric line. After the connection state between the line and the first dielectric line is interrupted, the connection between the next second dielectric line and the first dielectric line starts at the connection portion S, and beam scanning is performed. become. Therefore, the beam is sequentially and repeatedly scanned in the same direction by the rotation of the motor 16 in one direction.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a main part of an antenna device according to a fourth embodiment.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, when a plurality of sets of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator are provided on the rotating body 14,
Although the line lengths of the dielectric lines are equal to each other, the line lengths are made different as shown in FIG. The position where the next radiator 13 passes will change. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 4, since the line length of the second dielectric line 12a is relatively long, the primary radiator 13a is connected to the first dielectric line with respect to the center axis of the dielectric lens 17 in the connection state with the first dielectric line. Located on the right side of the figure, the beam swings to the left of the figure as shown by a. After that, the rotating body 14 rotates, and the second dielectric line 12b is connected to the first dielectric line 1
When the first radiator 13b is connected to the first radiator 13b, since the second dielectric line 12b is relatively short, the primary radiator 13b is located on the left side of the central axis of the dielectric lens 17, and the beam at that time is b Tilt to the right in the figure as shown. As described above, the beam is scanned in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper as the rotating body 14 rotates, and the pair of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator to be used is switched, so that the horizontal direction in the plane of the paper is changed. The beam will swing. Thus, for example, when used in an in-vehicle millimeter-wave radar, the beam is scanned in the left-right direction in front of the vehicle parallel to the ground with the rotation of the rotating body 14, and the second dielectric line and the primary radiator are used. The height direction of the beam can be switched by switching the set of.

Next, the configuration of an antenna device according to a fifth embodiment is shown in FIG. (A) is a partially broken front view showing the internal structure, and (B) is a left side view in a state where the first dielectric line 11 is removed.

In FIG. 5A, reference numeral 11 denotes a first dielectric line, and a dielectric strip 3 is provided between the two conductor plates 1 and 2 to form an NRD guide. 12 in FIG.
The portion indicated by is a second dielectric line, and a dielectric strip 6 is provided between the two conductor plates 4 and 5 to form an NRD guide. The end surface of the first dielectric line 11 and the end surface of the second dielectric line 12 are arranged so that the dielectric strips 3 and 6 face each other at the connection portion S. Therefore, the first and second dielectric lines are always connected.

Between the conductor plates 4 and 5, the HE 111 is located near the end of the dielectric strip 6 opposite to the connecting portion S.
A mode dielectric resonator 40 is provided. A horn-shaped window is provided in a part of the conductor plate 5, and a slit plate having a slit-shaped opening is disposed between the window and the dielectric resonator 40. .

Reference numeral 30 denotes a bearing for the rotating body 14. Unlike the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the center axis of the circular motion of the rotating body 14 is provided at a position passing through the connection S between the first and second dielectric lines. A movable element 18 is provided on the rotating body 14, and a fixed element 19 is provided at a fixed position on the housing side. The stator 19 and the mover 18 constitute a so-called voice coil motor, and the rotating body 14 is rocked by its drive.

According to this structure, since the distance from the central axis of the circular motion of the rotating body 14 to the connecting portion S between the first and second dielectric lines is 0, the first and second dielectric lines are formed. 11,1
2 while being connected at the connection S.
Will be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper, allowing a single primary radiator to scan the beam over a wide area.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the antenna device shown in FIG. In FIG. 6A, one shaft of the rotating body 14 is rotated by the motor 16. In the example of (B), the motor 16 is provided at a position on the back side (back side) of the primary radiator 13 to rotate the rotating body 14.

FIG. 6C is a modification of FIG. 3 in which a plurality of sets of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator are provided on the rotating body 14. However, the center axis of the circular motion of the rotating body 14 by the motor 16 is shifted from the connecting portion S between the first dielectric line 11 and the second dielectric line, and the electromagnetic radiation of each primary radiator is performed. It is provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction. According to this structure, since the outer dimensions of the rotating body portion are made compact, the overall size can be easily reduced.

Further, FIG. 6D shows a connection portion S between the first and second dielectric lines from the central axis of the circular movement of the second dielectric lines 12a and 12b and the primary radiators 13a and 13b.
Distance from the central axis of the circular motion to the primary radiators 13a, 1
3b is larger than the distance to the radiation position. According to this structure, the connection time between the first and second dielectric lines with respect to the moving amount of the primary radiator can be shortened due to the above-mentioned circular motion, and the beam directing directions of the respective primary radiators are not significantly changed. It is possible to sequentially switch the direction of the beam without causing the beam to diverge.

Next, the configuration of the antenna device according to the seventh embodiment is shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, a portion indicated by reference numeral 11 is a first dielectric line in which a dielectric strip 3 is provided between conductor plates 1 and 2, and a portion indicated by reference numeral 12 is provided with a dielectric strip 6 between conductor plates 4 and 5. This is a second dielectric line.
The upper and lower conductor plates 4 and 5 of the second dielectric line 12 are actually the upper and lower surfaces of a box-shaped integrated conductor plate,
On the right side in the figure, this is used as a waveguide. The dielectric strip 6 has a portion denoted by 6 'in the waveguide which is tapered to form a rod antenna. The rod antenna converts the line between the dielectric line and the waveguide. The waveguide is bent upward by 90 ° in the figure, and the tip portion 20 is formed in a horn shape, and that portion is used as a horn antenna. The whole body including the waveguide portion and the second dielectric line 12 is the rotating body 14, and the motor 16 rotates the rotating body 14. The center axis of the circular motion passes through the connection S between the first and second dielectric lines. Therefore, the distance (r1) from the central axis to the connection between the first and second dielectric lines is 0, and the distance r2 from the central axis to the radiation position of the primary radiator 13 (the opening surface of the horn 20). To r1
Is larger.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the antenna device shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, after the conversion between the dielectric line and the waveguide is performed on a straight line, the direction is changed by 90 ° bend by the waveguide. In the example of FIG. 8, the straight line having the horn 20 at the end is used. A waveguide is provided, and the dielectric strip 6 is made to protrude in a direction perpendicular to the electromagnetic wave propagation direction of the waveguide. In this part, line conversion between the dielectric line and the waveguide is performed.

The whole body including the waveguide portion and the second dielectric line 12 is the rotating body 14, and the motor 16 rotates the rotating body 14. As in the example of FIG. 7, the center axis of the circular motion passes through the connection S between the first and second dielectric lines. Therefore, the distance (r1) from the central axis to the connection between the first and second dielectric lines is 0, and the distance r2 from the central axis to the radiation position of the primary radiator 13 (the opening surface of the horn 20). Is larger than r1.

Thus, the radiation position of the primary radiator can be relatively largely displaced while maintaining the connection state between the first and second dielectric lines, and a single primary radiator can be used. This allows scanning of the beam over a wide range.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the opposing surface of the connecting portion S between the first and second dielectric lines is the first.
Although the relationship is perpendicular to the transmission direction of the electromagnetic wave by the second dielectric line, as shown in FIG. 9, the opposing surfaces of the first and second dielectric lines are obliquely inclined with respect to the transmission direction. You may. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the first and second dielectric lines are opposed to each other on a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the circular motion of the rotating body 14.

Next, the relationship between the angle formed between the opposing surfaces of the first and second dielectric lines and the transmission direction and the transmission loss of the dielectric lines will be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an angular relationship when the opposing surfaces of two dielectric lines are inclined. here,
(B) shows the rotation angle θ of the other dielectric line with respect to one dielectric line, and (C) shows the angle φ between the central axis of the circular motion and the transmission direction.

FIG. 11 shows the transmission loss S21 when the rotation angle θ is changed using φ as a parameter.
As described above, even if the rotation angle θ is relatively large as 20 °, S2
1 is equal to or less than -1 dB, which means that it can be used.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the transmission loss S21 when the rotation angle θ is changed for two dielectric lines of different types. Here, "Hyper" means that the distance between the conductor plates in the cut-off region without the dielectric strip is larger than the distance between the conductor plates in the dielectric strip portion so that the single mode of the LSM01 mode propagates through the dielectric strip portion. It is narrow. In this example, a groove is formed in the dielectric strip portion, and the dielectric strip is disposed in the groove. “Normal” does not provide such a groove, but keeps the interval between the conductor plates constant. As shown in these figures, the rotation angle θ is set to 20 ° for both “Hyper” and “Normal”.
Even if it is relatively large, S21 becomes -1 dB or less,
It turns out that it can be used.

As described above, even if the opposing surfaces of the first and second dielectric lines are inclined obliquely with respect to the transmission direction, the transmission loss does not increase, and the production of the dielectric lines becomes difficult. The processing of the opposing surface becomes easy.

In the above-described antenna device, an example has been shown in which the dielectric lens is fixed and the primary radiator is displaced substantially at the focal position, but the dielectric lens may be displaced together with the primary radiator. Good. An example is shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the antenna device.
The configuration of the first and second dielectric lines 12 is the same as that of the antenna device shown in FIG. The second dielectric line 12, the primary radiator 13, and the dielectric lens 17 form a rotating body 14 as an integrated unit. The motor 16 is
The rotating body 14 is rotated around an axis passing through the connection position between the dielectric line 11 and the second dielectric line 12. As a result, the beam is scanned by displacing the direction of the axis of the dielectric lens 17 (a straight line connecting the center of the dielectric lens and the radiation position of the primary radiator 13). In the example illustrated in FIG. 14, the dielectric lines are connected to each other between the fixed portion and the rotating portion. However, the primary radiation on the rotating body 14 side with respect to the fixed-side dielectric line 11. The vessels may be directly coupled.

Next, an example of a millimeter wave radar module is shown in FIG.
5 and FIG. FIG. 15 is a diagram viewed from the dielectric lens mounting surface with the dielectric lens removed. However, each dielectric line is shown in a state where the upper conductive plate is removed. In the figure, reference numeral 60 denotes a substrate, on which dielectric strips having the same pattern are arranged on upper and lower surfaces. In the figure, 41 is a substrate 60
An oscillator provided on the upper side, a conductor line is provided in a direction orthogonal to the dielectric strip 21, a conductor pattern for RF choke is provided, a Gunn diode is connected to the conductor line, and the conductor line is connected to the conductor line. A varactor diode is connected between the RF choke conductor pattern. Then, by applying a bias voltage to the gun diode to the bias terminal 24 and inputting a modulation signal to the VCO-IN terminal 25, the capacitance of the varactor diode is changed and the oscillation frequency of the gun diode is modulated. The configuration of this oscillator 1 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No.
This is the same as the configuration of the nonradiative dielectric line device used as the oscillator or the oscillator included in the FM-CW front-end section described in the embodiment of 169949.
In FIG. 15, reference numeral 42 denotes a circulator in which two upper and lower disc-shaped ferrites are arranged at the center, and permanent magnets are arranged vertically so as to sandwich the ferrite. Also,
At the end of the dielectric strip 22, which is one port of the circulator 42, a terminator 9 made by mixing a resistive material into a dielectric material is provided. Thus, the circulator and the terminator constitute an isolator. The transmission signal propagating through the dielectric strip 21 propagates through the circulator 42 to the dielectric strip 51. Although the figure shows an example in which a straight path and a curved path (bend) portion are respectively composed of different components, the dielectric strips that are continuously arranged are collectively referred to as one for explanation.
It is indicated by two symbols. Reference numeral 40 denotes a dielectric resonator of the primary radiator portion, which radiates a signal propagated from the dielectric strip 3 in the axial direction. Further, the dielectric resonator 40 resonates with a signal received from the dielectric lens, and the received signal propagates from the dielectric strip 12 to the dielectric strip 3.
In the figure, reference numeral 23 denotes a dielectric strip for forming couplers 43 and 44 with the dielectric strips 43 and 53 and connecting the two couplers. The terminator 8 is connected to one end of the dielectric strip 23. A mixer 45 is provided at the other end of the dielectric strip 23 and at the end of the dielectric strip 53. The mixer 45 is a balanced mixer circuit, and includes a Schottky barrier diode that couples to electromagnetic waves propagating through the two dielectric strips 23 and 53, respectively, and a substrate 60 connecting both ends of the Schottky barrier diode. The terminal 26 and 27 are grounded, and the terminal 28 outputs an IF signal. The coupler 44 constitutes a 3 dB directional coupler, and converts the Lo signal transmitted from the dielectric strip 23 by 90 °.
, And equally distributes the received signal transmitted from the dielectric strip 53 to the two dielectric strips for the mixer 45 with a phase difference of 90 °.

In this example, the whole circuit is constituted by the dielectric line sandwiching the substrate, but the oscillator 41 and the mixer 4
The portion other than 5 may be constituted by a dielectric line that does not sandwich the substrate.

In FIG. 15, a portion indicated by reference numeral 14 is a rotating body, and like the antenna device having the structure shown in FIG.
A motor is arranged behind the next radiator portion, and the rotating body 14 is rotated (oscillated) in the same manner as that shown in FIG. By configuring the radar module in this manner, it is possible to direct the detection direction to a predetermined direction or to periodically scan the detection direction.

FIG. 16 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the radar module shown in FIG. In the figure, a signal from an oscillator 41 propagates through a circulator 42, a coupler 43, and a circulator 52 to a dielectric resonator 40, and is radiated outside through the dielectric resonator 40 and the dielectric lens 17. On the other hand, the received signal is
2. It is supplied to the mixer 45 via the coupler 44.
The mixer 45 outputs a difference component between the RF signal and the LO signal as an IF signal as a balanced mixer.

[0053]

According to the present invention, when the second dielectric line and the primary radiator make a circular motion, the connection time between the first dielectric line and the movement amount of the primary radiator is determined. Since the degree of design freedom can be given to the relationship, for example, even if the primary radiator is relatively displaced by the circular motion of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator, the first and second radiators are displaced. If the connection state between the dielectric lines is kept long, it is possible to scan a beam over a wide range even though it is a single primary radiator. Further, even when a plurality of sets of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator coupled to the second dielectric line are provided, the scanning range of each primary radiator can be widened. It becomes possible.

Conversely, if the connection time between the first and second dielectric lines is shortened with respect to the movement amount of the primary radiator, the second dielectric line and the primary radiator coupled to the second dielectric line can be shortened. By providing a plurality of sets, it is possible to sequentially switch the beam directing directions without significantly changing the beam directing directions of the respective primary radiators (by blocking beams in unnecessary ranges).

In particular, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first
The primary radiator can be displaced over a wide range while the first and second dielectric lines are connected to each other, so that the beam scanning angle range can be made wider while using a single primary radiator.

According to the invention, the beam can be scanned along a predetermined plane.

Further, the present invention provides the above antenna device,
Since a radar module including an oscillator for generating a transmission signal to the antenna device and a mixer for mixing a local signal with a signal received by the antenna device is configured, a primary radiator or a movable dielectric line is provided. In addition, it is possible to configure a radar module having a degree of freedom in designing the relationship between the moving amount of the primary radiator and the connection time with the fixed-side dielectric line.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an internal structure of an antenna device according to a first embodiment, and a top view with a dielectric lens removed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an antenna device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an antenna device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an antenna device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway front view showing an internal structure of an antenna device according to a fifth embodiment, and a left side view with a first dielectric line 11 removed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing four configuration examples of a main part of an antenna device according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an internal structure of an antenna device according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an antenna device according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an antenna device according to a ninth embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an angular relationship when the facing surfaces of two dielectric lines are inclined.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a transmission loss and a rotation angle.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a rotation angle on two opposing surfaces of two different types of dielectric waveguides;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a transmission angle and a rotation angle.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of an antenna device according to a tenth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of a radar module according to an eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the radar module.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional antenna device.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a state of beam scanning based on a relative positional relationship between a dielectric lens and a primary radiator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,2,4,5-conductor plate 3,6-dielectric strip 8,9-terminator 11-first dielectric line 12-second dielectric line 13-primary radiator 14-rotator 15 -Balance weight 16-motor 17-dielectric lens 18-mover 19-stator 20-horn 21-23-dielectric strip 24-bias terminal 25-VCO-IN terminal 26, 27-ground terminal 28-IF-OUT Terminal 30-bearing 40-dielectric resonator 41-oscillator 42-circulator 43,44-coupler 45-mixer 51,53-dielectric strip 52-circulator 60-substrate S-connection

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toru Tanizaki 2-26-10 Tenjin, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto Inside Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Hideaki Yamada 2-26-10 Tenjin, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto Stock Company Inside Murata Manufacturing (72) Inventor Taiyo Nishiyama 2-26-10 Tenjin, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto, Japan Inside Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Yasuhiro Kondo 2-26-10 Tenjin, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto Prefecture Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A fixed first dielectric line, and a second dielectric line connected to the first dielectric line and held in a circularly movable state to be coupled with a primary radiator. And a dielectric lens, comprising: a first distance from a center axis of circular motion of the second dielectric line and the primary radiator to a connection portion between the first and second dielectric lines; An antenna device, wherein a second distance from a center axis of a circular motion to a radiation position of the primary radiator is different. 2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the first distance is shorter than the second distance. 3. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the first distance is longer than the second distance. 4. The second dielectric member is located at a position where a line connecting a connecting portion between the first and second dielectric lines and a radiation position of the primary radiator draws a conical side surface by the circular motion. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pairs of the line and the primary radiator are provided, and the second dielectric line connected to the first dielectric line is sequentially switched by the circular motion. The antenna device as described in the above. 5. The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein the first and second dielectric lines are connected on the axis of the circular motion center axis. 6. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the center axis of the circular motion is disposed at a position substantially perpendicular to the axis of the dielectric lens. 7. Directly coupled to a fixed dielectric line,
Or a primary radiator coupled through another dielectric line,
A unit including a dielectric lens having the position of the primary radiator substantially as a focal position, and displacing the axial direction of the dielectric lens while maintaining the coupling state with the fixed dielectric line. An antenna device characterized by being held. 8. An antenna device according to claim 1, an oscillator for generating a transmission signal for the antenna device, and a mixer for mixing a local signal with a signal received by the antenna device. A radar module comprising: