JPS62224102A - Array antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an array antenna without gain reduction by using a single unidirectional antenna radiating a wave in two different directions as the element antenna and using a variable power distributor to control the ratio of signal power fed to the two unidirectional antennas. CONSTITUTION:The combination of two unidirectional antennas radiating a wave in different directions is used as element antennas 2a-2i, the two unidirectional antennas are fed via the variable power distributor 5 and the direction of the combined directivity of the two unidirectional antennas is made variable. Thus, the direction of the irradiated beam of the array antenna and the maximum irradiating direction of the signal power irradiated from each element antenna into space are made coincident so as to prevent the gain of the array antenna from being decreased.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an array antenna that does not cause a decrease in gain even when a radiation beam is directed in any direction within the array plane of element antennas. .

[Conventional technology]

Figure 7 shows, for example, Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Communication Engineers, Vol. 8, J66-B.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional array antenna of this type shown in No. 1A, pages 43 to 1050.

In the figure, (1) is a curved reflector, (21 to (2 is this reflector + 1) above, element antennas arranged in a line at a height H, (31 to (3 is the above element antenna ( 21
~(Feed line connected to 2, (4a)~(4 is a variable phase shifter connected to this feed line (3B)~(31), (5) is the variable phase shifter (41~ (a power divider that is connected to the
(6) is a transmission source connected to this power divider.

(7) is the direction of the radiation beam radiated into space from this array antenna. FIG. 8 is a detailed configuration diagram of each of the element antennas (21 to (2) shown in FIG. (8) is a plate-shaped feed line placed parallel to the reflector (1) at a distance H from the reflector (1) in the 7Z plane perpendicular to the reflector (1). dipole, (9) is a line for the balanced feed connected to the dipole (8), (II is a balanced-unbalanced converter that fully connects the feed line (3) and the balanced feed group (9), +I
l+ is the maximum radiation direction of the dipole indicating the maximum direction of the signal radiated into space from the dipole (8),
The direction of the arrow is perpendicular to the first reflecting plate (1).

Next, the operation will be explained. The signal transmitted from the transmission source (6) is distributed by the power divider (5) and sent to each variable phase shifter (41 to (4).
In step 4, a preset phase is given to this signal. Next, this signal is sent to the element antennas (2a) to (2) via feed lines (3a) to (5). The signal passes through the balanced-unbalanced converter aa, the balanced feed line (9), and is fed to the dipole (8).
8) radiates this signal into space.

The reflector (1) converts the maximum direction of the signal radiated into space from this dipole (8) into the maximum radiation direction aD of the dipole.
It is for the purpose of In addition, each variable phase shifter (4a) ~
(The magnitude of the phase that 4 gives to this signal is.

The direction of the signal obtained by combining the signals radiated into space from each element antenna (21 to 2), that is, the direction of the radiation beam of this array antenna is the direction of the radiation beam (7
).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Since the conventional array antenna is configured as described above, each element antenna (21 to (maximum radiation direction u1 of two radiated signals) is not in the same direction.

There are element antennas (21 to 2) in which the radiation beam direction (7) of this array antenna and the maximum radiation direction Cu1l of the element antennas do not match. Therefore, the radiation beam direction (7) and all the element antennas (2a )～(2li
There is a problem in that the gain of the array antenna is lower than when the maximum radiation directions aυ of the antennas are the same.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an array antenna that does not cause a decrease in gain even when the radiation beam is directed in any direction on the array surface of the element antenna. Objective O [Means for solving the problem] The array antenna according to the present invention uses a combination of two unidirectional antennas that radiate in different directions as element antennas. A unidirectional antenna is fed with power via a variable power divider, and the direction of the combined directivity of these two unidirectional antennas can be varied. When using two dipole antennas as element antennas, a waveguide and a reflector are attached to form a Yagi antenna.

This is to obtain two unidirectional antennas with different maximum radiation directions.

[Effect]

The array antenna of the present invention uses a variable power divider to change the power distribution ratio of the signal power fed to two unidirectional antennas, which are element antennas, which radiate in different directions, and the direction of the radiation beam of the array antenna. ,
By matching the maximum radiation direction of the signal power radiated into space from each element antenna, the gain of the array antenna is prevented from decreasing.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure is a configuration diagram of this embodiment, and in figure 1, flll,
(2a) - (2s, (31 - (+i), (4s) - (4s, (5) - (7) are the same as the above conventional device, (1) is a curved reflecting plate , (2a) ~ (2
Element antennas (3a) to (3a) are arranged in a row at a height H in the 7Z plane above this reflector (1).
31) is the power supply path d, (4a) ~ (4 is this power supply t
A variable phase shifter (5) connected to the WA path (31-(31)
) is the variable phase shifter mentioned above.

(4) is a power divider connected to 4, (6) is a transmission source connected to the power divider (5), and (7) is a radiation beam radiated into space from the array antenna of this embodiment. (+2a) to (12) are the above element antennas (
28) to (2) and the above-mentioned feed line (button) to (3) is a variable power divider connected between them.

This is a detailed configuration diagram of each element antenna (2fi) to (2) and each variable power divider (+2a) to (12) in FIG.

In the figure, (1) is a reflector, (3) is a feed line corresponding to feed lines (3a) to (5) in Fig.
ab) are plate-shaped dipoles arranged in a 7Z plane perpendicular to the reflector (1) at a height H from the reflector (1), intersecting each other at an angle α so as not to touch each other.

(9s, (9b) is this dipole (8s, (9b)
81)) Balanced feed line connected to (+Oa)
, (tab) is this equilibrium supply 'tILs path (9s, (
9b) a balanced-unbalanced converter connected to Q2, Q2 is a variable power divider connected to the feed line (3) corresponding to the variable power dividers (+2a) to (12i) in FIG.
(13s, (+3b) is the above dipole (8a)
, (8b) is a dipole placed at a distance H5 from the dipole (8b) in parallel with the dipole (8b) so as not to touch each other. , the above dipole (8a)
and the above waveguide (+58), and the above dipole (8b)
and the waveguide (+3b) each constitute a Yagi antenna. (14th, (+4b) td, unbalanced feed line connecting the balanced-unbalanced converter (10th, (tab)) and the variable power divider σ2, (+5a)
, (+5b) are the above dipoles (8a), (8b
) and the waveguide (13a).

This is the maximum radiation direction of the Yagi antenna, which indicates the maximum direction of the signal radiated into space from the two Yagi antennas consisting of vertical direction.ati
is the maximum radiation direction of this element antenna (21~(2).

The operation of the array antenna configured as described above will be explained first starting with the operation of the element antenna. In FIG. 2, the signal input from the feed line (3) to the a terminal of the variable power divider riz is distributed by the variable power divider aZ and output from the A and B terminals, and is connected to the unbalanced feed line tlEi (14, (+4
b) i to the balanced-to-unbalanced converter. The balanced-unbalanced converter (14, (+4b)) converts the signal sent in an unchanging state into a balanced state, and sends the signal to the balanced feed lines (9a) and (9b).

The signal passing through the balanced feed line (9th, (91)) is input to the dipole (88), (8b), and each dipole (8th).

It is radiated into space from (8b). At this time, the waveguide (13
and (+sb) are dipoles (8a) and (8
The directivity of the signal radiated from b) becomes unidirectional.

The maximum direction of the signal is the maximum radiation direction of the Yagi antenna (45a
), (+5b).

The power distribution ratio of the variable power divider aZ, that is, the ratio of signal power output to the A terminal and the B terminal of the variable power divider α2, can be set arbitrarily. By changing this power distribution ratio, dipoles (8ri and (8b)
), i.e., the maximum radiation direction tu of the element antenna; +1
- Maximum radiation direction of Yagi antenna (+5a) and (+sb)
It can change in any direction between. In the array antenna with the above configuration, in FIG. 1, the signal transmitted from the transmission source (61) is distributed by the power divider (5) and the variable phase shifter (
4s) to (41). Each variable phase shifter C41))
-C4i), the phases of the signals are set so that the phases radiated into space from each element antenna (2a) to (2L) are common in the direction of the radiation beam (7). The phase-set signal is sent to the variable power divider (12a) through the feed line (3IS)-<31)e.

In each of the variable power dividers (121 to 12), the maximum radiation direction tt1G of the signal radiated from each element antenna (28) to (21) coincides with the direction (7) of the radiation beam.

Furthermore, when the direction of the radiation beam (7) is outside the variable range of the maximum radiation direction a[il of the element antenna, the signal power is distributed so that the maximum radiation direction ae of the element antenna is closest to the direction of the radiation beam (7). and send the signal to each element antenna (21~
(Send to 2.Each element antenna (2a) to (2) is
This signal is radiated into space. With this array antenna,
Even if the radiation beam direction (71f) is set to any direction within the yz plane, each element antenna (2a) to (2 maximum radiation direction tt61
'l Direction of the radiation beam (7) or Direction of the radiation beam (7)
), it is possible to obtain an array antenna whose gain does not decrease even when the radiation beam is scanned over a wide angular range.

In this embodiment, each element antenna (21 to (2 liters/l/(aa), (8t)) and a waveguide (+58).

Although a plate-shaped element is used as (13b), a rod-shaped dipole or an n-shaped waveguide may also be used.

In addition, the balanced-unbalanced converter (10s,
As for (tab), its format does not matter at all.

Furthermore, as the element antennas (21 to 2), those etched on a printed circuit board as shown in FIG. 3 can also be used.

aD is a printed circuit board, (18), (+8b) are dipoles etched on the front and back sides of this printed circuit board aη.

(19th, (+9b) are the waveguides etched on the front and back sides of the fins of the printed circuit board, (20th, (20t+
) is a line with a balanced feed 1 etched to connect to the dipoles (+8a) and (+8'b) etched on the front and back sides of the printed circuit board αη, (21B
), (2b) are through-hole plating connecting the front and back surfaces of the printed circuit board aη, and (22b) is the etched balanced feed line (20B).

(20b) is a microstrip line connected, and (c) is a ground conductor on the back surface of the printed circuit board αη.

Waveguide (13a), (+3b) c7) in Figure 2
Alternatively, a reflector (24a) as shown in FIG.
(24t)).

Dipole (8s, (8b) and its reflection i (24B)
), (24b) may constitute a Yagi antenna which is a unidirectional antenna. In addition, the waveguide (13a)
, (+5b) and reflectors (24a), (24b)
Similar behavior can be expected when 't' is used in combination.

Figure 5 shows element antennas (2a) to (2 as t7z
This is a case using two pyramidal horns (25, 25b) arranged alternately in a plane.
The maximum radiation directions of 5s and (251) are respectively the maximum radiation directions of the pyramidal horns (26a) and (26b), and by changing the distribution ratio of the variable power divider σ2, the maximum radiation direction ue' of the element antenna can be changed. The maximum radiation direction of the hexagonal pyramidal horn can be changed between (26a) and (26b), and the dipole (8a) and (8
b) We can expect the same operation as when using a Yagi antenna with waveguides (+3a) and (+3b).

Figure 6 shows element antennas (2a) to (2 as t7z
Two punch antennas (28a) and (28b) on a rectangular electric substrate (27s, (27t)) arranged in the shape of an angle α in a plane are used.

Maximum radiation direction of punch antenna (29a), (29
b) Each punch antenna (28a), (28m
)) in the vertical direction, and two batch antennas (28a) are connected by a variable power divider α2.

By changing the ratio of the signals input to (28b), cylinder-like operation can be expected.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the number of element antennas is nine, but the number of element antennas and the element arrangement interval are not limited at all. Furthermore, variable phase shifter, power divider, type 1 of variable power divider
There is no question about the building type.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the array antenna of this invention.

Two unidirectional antennas that radiate in different directions are used as one element antenna, and a variable power divider is used to control the ratio of signal power fed to these two unidirectional antennas. The maximum radiation direction of is made to match the direction of the radiation beam of the array antenna.

This has the advantage that the gain does not decrease even when the beam is scanned over a wide angle.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a 1) diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of an element antenna and a variable power divider. Figure 3 is a configuration diagram of an element antenna etched on a printed board, Figure 4 is a configuration diagram when a Yagi antenna with a reflector is used as an element antenna, and Figure 5 is a configuration diagram when a pyramidal horn is used as an element antenna. figure. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram when the batch antenna is used as an element antenna, FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a conventional array antenna, and FIG. 8 is a detailed configuration diagram of a conventional element antenna. In the figure, (1) is a reflector, (21~(2 is an element antenna, +31. (31~(3 is a feed line,
(4a) to (4) is a variable phase shifter, (5) is a power divider, (61 is a transmission source, (7) is the direction of the radiation beam, +s
), (8a), (8b) are dipoles,
f9), (9a), (91)) are balanced feed lines. Q(1, (+oa), (+ob) is a balanced-unbalanced converter, 0υ is the maximum radiation direction of the dipole, 02. (
+2a) to (121) are variable power dividers, (13a
), (+3b) are waveguides. (+4a), (14b)/i unbalanced feed line, (15
(+5b) is the maximum radiation direction of Yagi antenna, αe
is the maximum radiation direction of the element antenna, (Iη is the printed circuit board * (18a) * (+8b) is the etched dipole /L/, (19a). (+91)) is the etched waveguide, (20s, (2
0b) is the etched balanced feed line, (21s, (
21b) is through-hole plating, (22s, (221)
)) is a microstrip line, Gd ground conductor,
(24g), (24b) are reflectors, (25s, (
25t)) is a pyramidal horn, (26B) (261
)) is the maximum radiation direction of the pyramidal horn, (27S. (271)) is the dielectric substrate, (28a), (281
)) are patch antennas, (29a), (29b
) is the maximum radiation direction of the patch antenna. In addition, in FIG. 9, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts. -・9 ・ψ ”Q
b4′-shōrei t, ship sweetfish 10α, 1ot)
14b 4 moves (binding the correction j do z4a, 24b:
Ltt & Figure 3 Procedural Amendment 8 (Voluntary) Showa 61 6F, 41) 0 ↑-? Commissioner of the License Agency 3 Name of the person making the amendment (601) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Representative Moriya Shiki 4 Agent 5 Column for detailed explanation of the invention in the specification to be amended. , . ! '+1. rc+ 12' 6, Contents of amendment (1) In the 5th line of page 3 of the specification, the phrase "in Fig. 6" is amended to read "in Fig. 7." (2) In the 4th page, line 1), the text ``in Figure 6'' is corrected to ``in Figure 7''. (3) In the second line of page 8, the phrase "it is a dipole" is corrected to "it is a waveguide." (4) In the second line of page 9, the phrase ``in an unbalanced position'' is amended to read ``in an unbalanced position.''that's all

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In an array antenna consisting of multiple element antennas arranged in a curved shape, a variable phase shifter connected to each element antenna, and a power divider, the element antennas have two unidirectional elements that radiate in different directions. It is characterized by using a combination of unidirectional antennas, feeding these two unidirectional antennas via a variable power divider, and making the combined directivity of these two unidirectional antennas variable. array antenna. (2) A patent claim characterized in that a Yagi antenna composed of a rod-shaped or plate-shaped dipole and one or both of a rod-shaped or plate-shaped waveguide and a reflector is used as a unidirectional antenna. The array antenna according to the range (1) above. (3) The array antenna according to claim (1), characterized in that a pyramidal horn is used as the unidirectional antenna. (4) The array antenna according to claim (1), wherein a patch antenna formed on a dielectric substrate is used as the unidirectional antenna.