JP3974082B2 - Antenna equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an antenna device such as an active phased array radar, and more particularly to an improvement of an antenna device mounted on the antenna device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An antenna device, for example, an active phased array radar, includes a plurality of antenna elements.
[0003]
And in order to process the signal which an antenna element transmits / receives, the transmission / reception module is connected to each antenna element.
[0004]
An element such as a microwave semiconductor element is incorporated in the transmission / reception module, and a signal to be transmitted / received is amplified or a phase is adjusted.
[0005]
In the case of the antenna apparatus having such a configuration, the characteristics of the microwave semiconductor element incorporated in the transmission / reception module change depending on the temperature.
[0006]
For this reason, each transceiver module is cooled to have a uniform temperature so that the microwave semiconductor element operates with uniform characteristics.
[0007]
As this kind of antenna device, there is one shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-53541 (see Patent Document 1).
[0008]
According to Patent Document 1, an active phased array radar is shown.
[0009]
This conventional antenna apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
[0010]
The antenna device 1 includes a plurality of antenna elements 2 and is arranged in two rows in the vertical direction.
[0011]
In addition, a transmission / reception module 3 is connected to each antenna element 2.
[0012]
An element (not shown) such as a microwave semiconductor element is incorporated in the transmission / reception module 3, and a signal transmitted / received by the antenna element 2 is amplified or a phase is adjusted.
[0013]
The transmission / reception module 3 is attached to outer wall surfaces on both sides of a frame-like plate 4 having rectangular openings formed at both ends.
[0014]
The transmission / reception module 3 self-heats while the active phased array radar is operating.
[0015]
Due to the abnormal temperature rise due to the self-heating, the transmission / reception module 3 itself deteriorates in performance and causes a failure.
[0016]
In order to solve this, a cooling device (not shown) is provided.
[0017]
This cooling device is provided with a cooling pipe 5, and a plurality of cooling pipes 5 for flowing a cooling liquid for cooling the transmission / reception module 3 are arranged in parallel on the wall surface of the frame-like plate 4.
[0018]
In order to supply the cooling liquid to the cooling pipe 5 and to recover the cooling liquid that has flowed through the cooling pipe 5, a supply / recovery mechanism having a Bedder structure is provided at the upper and lower parts of the cooling pipe 5, respectively.
[0019]
The header structure supply and recovery mechanism includes, for example, a main pipe 6 through which a cooling liquid flows, a plurality of header-like intermediate pipes 7 branched from the main pipe 6, a plurality of cooling pipes 5 connected to the intermediate pipe 7, and each cooling An intermediate pipe 8 that collects the cooling liquid that has come out of the pipe 5, a main pipe 9 that collects the cooling liquid collected in the intermediate pipe 8, and the like.
[0020]
The antenna device 1 is composed of a plurality of antenna elements.
[0021]
For this reason, the antenna device 1 is configured by combining a plurality of frame-like plates 4 having the above-described structure, to which a plurality of antenna elements 2 and a plurality of transmission / reception modules 3 are respectively attached.
[0022]
In this case, a plurality of frame-like plates 4 having the same structure, to which a plurality of antenna elements 2 and transmission / reception modules 3 are attached, are housed in one housing 10 to constitute an antenna apparatus.
[0023]
According to such a configuration, by cooling the transmission / reception module 3, for example, each semiconductor element is maintained at a substantially constant temperature and operates with uniform characteristics.
[0024]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-53541 (the third column, the right column, line 31 to the fourth page, the left column, line 19 and FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0025]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The cooling device provided in the conventional antenna device is provided for the purpose of uniform cooling on the transmission / reception module side. When the array antenna device is installed in a limited space or the device as a whole is mounted with high density If this is the case, countermeasures for heat generation (measures against failures and malfunctions) for devices such as various control devices and power supply devices that are integrated with the transceiver module side are not sufficient, and this also increases the size of the cooling device as a countermeasure. Alternatively, a cooling device for equipment such as various control equipment and power supply equipment must be prepared separately.
[0026]
Further, in the case where such a separate cooling device is provided, there is a limitation in installation space, which is not practical.
[0027]
Furthermore, a cooling device is provided only for the purpose of cooling various devices such as various control devices and power supply system devices. However, when the ambient temperature is cold, not only the transmission / reception module but also other various control devices and power supplies. It may be assumed that malfunction such as system equipment or countermeasures against freezing are required.
[0028]
Therefore, depending on the operating temperature conditions, not only a cooling device but also a heating device is required.
[0029]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an antenna apparatus that efficiently cools or heats devices such as a transmission / reception module, various control devices, and power supply system devices by a cooling device disposed in a limited space. The main purpose is to provide an antenna apparatus capable of maintaining and improving the performance as a whole.
[0030]
Another object of the present invention is that when various control devices and power supply system devices constituting the antenna device malfunction or malfunction due to abnormal temperature rise due to, for example, the cooling device not operating. An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna apparatus capable of responding to an emergency such as replacement.
[0031]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a frame-shaped frame constituting the frame of the antenna apparatus, and the frame-shaped frame and the heat conductive frame in the frame of the frame-shaped frame. A transmission / reception module assembly attached to the frame, a heat exchanger provided in the frame-shaped frame body in a thermally conductive manner with the transmission / reception module assembly and the frame-shaped frame body, and heat conduction to an outer peripheral edge of the frame-shaped frame body The antenna apparatus is provided with an antenna apparatus attached to the apparatus.
[0032]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of an antenna apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0033]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an antenna apparatus 20 according to the present invention.
[0034]
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna apparatus 20 shown in FIG.
[0035]
The antenna apparatus of the present invention can be applied to the active phased array radar 20, for example.
[0036]
The active phased array radar 20 is configured, for example, in a rectangular shape, a frame-like frame body 21 constituting a frame of the antenna apparatus, and a transmission / reception module assembly configured in a rectangular shape housed in the frame-like frame body 21. 22, the transmission / reception module assembly 22 and the frame-like frame body 21, and a heat exchanger 23 provided in the frame-like frame body 21 in a heat conductive manner, and an antenna device attached to the outer peripheral edge of the frame-like frame body 21 The device 24 is configured.
[0037]
The frame-like frame body 21 is configured in a shape suitable for the rectangular transmission / reception module assembly 22 to be efficiently stored, for example, a square shape.
[0038]
The frame-like frame body 21 is made of, for example, aluminum having good thermal conductivity, for example.
[0039]
The outer peripheral edge 25 of the frame-like frame body 21 has a frame edge 25a having a predetermined depth, a flange 25b formed extending on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the frame edge 25a, and the flange 25b. A plurality of partition portions 25c are provided between them.
[0040]
Each partition portion 25c is provided as a reinforcing rib at a substantially equal pitch in the longitudinal direction of the flange portion 25b, and a space between these bridges is configured as a storage space for the antenna device accessory device 24.
[0041]
Further, a plurality of box-shaped space portions a are formed by providing shielding lids 27 so as to close the openings of the spaces defined by the frame edge portions 25a and the flange portions 25b.
[0042]
The plurality of box-shaped spaces a are formed on the entire outer peripheral edge 25 of the frame-like frame body 21.
[0043]
The plurality of box-shaped spaces a formed on the entire periphery of the outer peripheral edge 25 of the frame-like frame 21 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 on the upper edge side and both sides of the outer peripheral edge 25 of the frame-like frame 21. Only a plurality of formed box-shaped spaces a are shown.
[0044]
Although the illustration of the other lower edge side is omitted, a plurality of box-shaped spaces a are formed in the same manner as the upper edge side.
[0045]
In the box-shaped space a thus formed, the inside of the box-shaped space a is also added with a heat exchange action by the partition part 26, and the heat exchange action efficiency by the heat exchanger 24 can be improved.
[0046]
Further, when the active phased array radar 20 is mounted on a flying object such as an aircraft, the frame-like frame body 21 needs to be stored in a limited space, and particularly the vertical width of the frame-like frame body 21. And the width dimension has restrictions.
[0047]
Depending on this restriction condition, the frame-like frame body 21 can be configured in a polygonal shape such as an octagonal shape.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission / reception module assembly 22 has a plurality of transmission / reception modules 28 in the frame of the frame-like frame body 21 and arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction.
[0049]
The transmission / reception module 28 includes a large number of semiconductor elements (not shown), and when the antenna device 20 is operated, electric energy is converted into heat energy to generate heat.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 23 is connected to a heat exchange device (not shown), for example, a cooling cycle, and circulates the refrigerant to a degree necessary to prevent an abnormal temperature rise of the antenna device accessory 23. It is for cooling.
[0051]
The heat exchanger 23 includes a refrigerant inlet 33 that introduces a refrigerant supplied from a heat exchange device, and a refrigerant (not shown) that is arranged so that heat can be exchanged between the refrigerant introduced from the refrigerant inlet 33 and the transceiver module assembly 22. A flow path, for example, a refrigerant pipe and a refrigerant outlet 34 for introducing the refrigerant are provided.
[0052]
The antenna device accessory device 24 includes devices such as a radar control device 30 such as an antenna control device for controlling the direction of an array antenna (not shown) of the antenna device 20 and a radar power source 31 on the power source side. .
[0053]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the radar control device 30 is accommodated in a box-shaped space a formed in the outer peripheral edge 25 of the frame-like frame body 21.
[0054]
The box-shaped space a in which the radar control device 30 is accommodated is provided on the refrigerant inlet 33 side of the active phased array radar 20, and the radar control device 30 is thermally conductive to the outer peripheral edge 25 of the box-shaped space a. It is attached.
[0055]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the radar power source 31 is housed in a box-shaped space a formed at the outer peripheral edge 25 of the frame-like frame body 21.
[0056]
The box-shaped space a in which the radar power source 31 is housed is provided on the refrigerant outlet 34 side of the active phased array radar 20, and the radar power source 31 is thermally conductive to the outer peripheral edge 25 of the frame-like frame 21. It is attached.
[0057]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the radar power source 31 is housed in a box-shaped space a provided on the refrigerant outlet 34 side located at the outer peripheral edge 25 of the frame-like frame 21, and is thermally conductive. It is attached.
[0058]
Reference numeral 35 denotes a radar apparatus back plate that shields the back side opening of the active phased array radar 20.
[0059]
Next, the operation of the heat exchanger 23 in the active phased array radar 20 will be described.
[0060]
When the active phased array radar 20 is started, the antenna device accessory device 24 and the transmission / reception module assembly 22 are activated to start the radar function.
[0061]
With the start of the radar function, heat energy is released from the antenna device accessory device 24 and the transmission / reception module assembly 22.
[0062]
Simultaneously with the operation of the active phased array radar 20, the heat exchange device is operated, and the refrigerant is introduced into the heat exchanger 23 from the refrigerant inlet 33 side of the frame frame 21.
[0063]
The refrigerant introduced into the heat exchanger 23 is led out from the refrigerant outlet 34 side while flowing through a refrigerant flow path (not shown) in the transmission / reception module assembly 22.
[0064]
While the refrigerant flows through the refrigerant flow path, it absorbs heat radiation from the plurality of transmission / reception modules 28 and absorbs heat radiation from the antenna device accessory device 24.
[0065]
The transmission / reception module 28 and the antenna device accessory 23 are cooled by the heat exchange action of the refrigerant.
[0066]
About this cooling degree, the capability of a heat exchange apparatus is predetermined according to the emitted-heat amount from the transmission / reception module 28 and the antenna apparatus attachment 24 assumed.
[0067]
Of the antenna device attached devices 24 attached to the outer peripheral edge 25 of the frame-like frame body 21, the radar control device 30 is attached to the refrigerant inlet 33 side.
[0068]
The radar control device 30 is cooled with respect to the radar control device 30 under a good endothermic effect of the refrigerant immediately after being introduced from the refrigerant introduction port 33 side.
[0069]
The operating characteristics of the radar control device 30 include, for example, a characteristic in which a malfunction or failure state appears remarkably in a high temperature state where the ambient temperature is 85 ° C. or higher, and it is necessary to prevent this situation as much as possible. It is provided so as to be arranged at a site with good cooling action.
[0070]
A radar power supply 31 is attached to the refrigerant outlet 34 side of the outer peripheral edge 25 of the frame-like frame 21.
[0071]
The radar power supply unit 31 has an operational characteristic such that, for example, in a high temperature state where the ambient temperature is around 85 ° C., a malfunction or failure state does not appear, and therefore the refrigerant has absorbed heat from the transmission / reception module 28 or the radar control device 30 side. Cooling is performed under a state where the endothermic effect is slightly lowered by the vaporized refrigerant.
[0072]
As described above, the active phased array radar 20 efficiently cools the transmission / reception module, various control devices, power supply system devices, and the like by the heat exchange device arranged in a limited space. It is possible to maintain and improve performance.
[0073]
Further, according to the active phased array radar 20, when an abnormal temperature rise occurs due to malfunction of the heat exchange device or the like, and the antenna device accessory device 24 breaks down or malfunctions, it can be dealt with promptly by replacing parts or devices. be able to.
[0074]
In other words, in the storage space on the aircraft side where the active phased array radar 20 is mounted, for example, an operator can attach and detach between the storage space wall surface and the front outer peripheral edge of the frame-like frame 21. A working clearance is provided.
[0075]
When a failure or malfunction occurs in the antenna device accessory device 24, the part (device) replacement operation can be performed relatively easily using this gap.
[0076]
That is, this part (device) replacement operation uses only the parts (devices) that need to be replaced among the antenna device attachments 24 attached to the outer peripheral edge 25 side of the frame-like frame body 21 using the gap portion. The frame 21 is designed so that it can be attached and detached.
[0077]
For example, the front flange 25b of the active phased array radar 20 can be removed on the outer peripheral edge 25 side of the frame-like frame body 21.
[0078]
By adopting this configuration, the antenna device accessory device 24 can be attached and detached from the front side of the active phased array radar 20 more easily.
[0079]
Note that, according to the antenna apparatus of the present invention, for example, the active phased array radar 20, the transmission / reception module assembly 22 and the antenna apparatus accessory device 24 are prevented from radiating heat from the transmission / reception module assembly 22 and the antenna apparatus accessory apparatus 24. However, depending on the usage conditions such as cold districts, not only the transmission / reception module assembly 22 but also the antenna device accessory device 24 is abnormally freezing or the like. To avoid the situation, it becomes a situation that must be heated.
[0080]
Assuming this case, for example, a heat cycle capable of heat pumping may be employed as the heat exchange device.
[0081]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, an antenna that can efficiently cool or heat a transmission / reception module or an antenna device accessory and maintain and improve the performance of the entire antenna device by a heat exchange device arranged in a limited space. An apparatus can be provided.
[0082]
In addition, according to the present invention, when various devices such as various control devices and power supply system devices constituting the antenna device malfunction or malfunction due to an abnormal temperature rise due to a malfunction of the cooling device, for example, replacement of parts and devices, etc. It is possible to provide an antenna apparatus that can respond urgently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an antenna apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a conventional antenna apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Active Phased Array Radar 21 Frame-Shaped Frame 22 Transmitter / Receiver Module Assembly 23 Heat Exchanger 24 Antenna Equipment 25 Outer Peripheral Edge 25a Frame Edge 25b Hedge 25c Partition 27 Shielding Cover 28 Transmit / Receive Module 30 Radar Control Equipment 31 Radar Power source 33 Refrigerant inlet 34 Refrigerant outlet 35 Radar device back plate a Box-shaped space

Claims (4)

A frame-shaped frame constituting the framework of the antenna apparatus;
In the frame of the frame-like frame, a transmission / reception module assembly that is thermally conductively attached to the frame-like frame,
A heat exchanger provided in the frame-shaped frame body in thermal conduction with the transmission / reception module assembly and the frame-shaped frame body;
An antenna apparatus comprising an antenna apparatus attached to the outer peripheral edge of the frame-like frame body in a thermally conductive manner. 2. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame-shaped frame body is provided with a partition portion for forming a space for storing the antenna apparatus accessory equipment on an outer peripheral edge portion thereof. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger includes a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet so as to circulate the refrigerant from one side to the other side. The antenna apparatus attached device that is thermally conductively attached to the outer peripheral edge of the frame-like frame body is disposed on the side closer to the refrigerant outlet and the antenna control device disposed on the side closer to the refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger. The antenna apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the antenna apparatus is an antenna power supply unit.

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