JP6272564B2 - Antenna device and antenna excitation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an antenna device and antenna excitation for calculating a time average of a received signal by switching in time division an excitation state at the time of signal transmission and an excitation state at the time of signal reception in a plurality of element antennas constituting an array antenna. It is about the method.

In a wireless system using a phased array antenna having a plurality of element antennas constituting an array antenna and a plurality of phase shifters connected to the element antennas, a phase shifter for controlling the plurality of phase shifters A control device is implemented.
When a digital phase shifter is used as the phase shifter, the phase shifter control device can easily control the phase shift state of a plurality of phase shifters. It becomes possible to control to. For this reason, phased array antennas are widely used as antennas for satellite communication systems and radar systems.

However, in a phased array antenna, it is not easy to freely control the excitation amplitude for each element antenna, and therefore usually only the excitation phase of the element antenna is controlled.
On the other hand, in order to suppress unnecessary interference waves, it is necessary to reduce the side lobe level in the direction in which the interference waves arrive. However, it is difficult to sufficiently reduce the side lobe level only by controlling the excitation phase. there were.

Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 1 below disclose a time-modulated array antenna that uses time-direction processing as a technique for controlling the excitation amplitude of a phased array antenna.
This technique has the same effect as a state in which a predetermined amplitude distribution is equivalently obtained by calculating a time average (time integration) of reception signals or transmission signals of a plurality of element antennas in a plurality of excitation states. That is, an antenna radiation pattern similar to that obtained when a predetermined amplitude distribution is given equivalently is obtained.
In Non-Patent Document 1 below, the excitation state is switched in a time-sharing manner by controlling ON / OFF of the switch. In Patent Document 1 below, the excitation state is switched in a time-sharing manner by controlling the amount of phase shift of the phase shifter.

JP 2013-219742 A (FIG. 1)

W. Kummer et al., Ultra-Low Sidelobes from Time-Modulated Arrays, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol.11, iss.6, pp.633-639, 1963.

  Since the conventional antenna apparatus is configured as described above, switching the excitation phase at the time of signal transmission switches the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission to reduce the sidelobe level or the excitation phase at the time of signal reception. Thus, the time modulation effect at the time of signal reception that reduces the side lobe level can be realized. However, Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 1 do not disclose a technique for simultaneously realizing the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission and the time modulation effect at the time of signal reception, and within the same time average interval. Even if the excitation phase is switched at the time of signal transmission and the excitation phase is switched at the time of signal reception, a phenomenon may occur in which the mutual time modulation effects are canceled. For this reason, within the same time average interval, there has been a problem that only one of the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission and the time modulation effect at the time of signal reception can be realized.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an antenna capable of simultaneously realizing a time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission and a time modulation effect at the time of signal reception within the same time average interval. An object is to obtain an apparatus and an antenna excitation method.

  An antenna apparatus according to the present invention includes a transmitter that generates a transmission signal, a plurality of element antennas constituting an array antenna, a plurality of phase shifters that adjust the phases of the transmission signal and the reception signal of the element antenna, A transmitter / distributor that distributes a transmission signal generated by a transmitter and outputs the distributed transmission signal to a plurality of phase shifters, and combines a reception signal whose phase is adjusted by a plurality of phase shifters. The receiver that detects the reception signal synthesized by the distributor and the phase of the transmission signal that is adjusted by the plurality of phase shifters are switched in the first switching period, while the reception signal that is adjusted by the plurality of phase shifters An excitation phase control unit that switches the phase at a second switching period different from the first switching period is provided, and the time average calculation unit calculates the time average of the received signal detected by the receiver. .

  According to the present invention, the phase of the transmission signal adjusted by the plurality of phase shifters is switched at the first switching period, while the phase of the reception signal adjusted by the plurality of phase shifters is different from the first switching period. Since the excitation phase control unit that switches at the second switching period is provided, and the time average calculation unit is configured to calculate the time average of the received signal detected by the receiver, the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission and signal reception There is an effect that the time modulation effect of time can be realized at the same time.

It is a block diagram which shows the antenna apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a hardware block diagram which shows the digital signal processing part 7 of the antenna apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a hardware block diagram in case the digital signal processing part 7 of an antenna apparatus is comprised with a computer. It is a flowchart which shows the antenna excitation method which is the processing content of the antenna apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention (the 1). It is a flowchart which shows the antenna excitation method which is the processing content of the antenna apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention (the 2). It is explanatory drawing which shows the digital reception data by which the transmission pulse in the element antenna 3-k in Embodiment 1 of this invention, the phase of a transmission pulse, the reception pulse, the phase of a reception pulse, and the time average were carried out. It is a flowchart which shows the antenna excitation method which is the processing content of the antenna apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention (the 1). It is a flowchart which shows the antenna excitation method which is the processing content of the antenna apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention (the 2). It is explanatory drawing which shows the digital reception data by which the transmission pulse in the element antenna 3-k in Embodiment 2 of this invention, the phase of a transmission pulse, the reception pulse, the phase of a reception pulse, and the time average were carried out. It is explanatory drawing which shows the digital reception data by which the transmission pulse in the element antenna 3-k in Embodiment 3 of this invention, the phase of a transmission pulse, the reception pulse, the phase of a reception pulse, and the time average were carried out. It is explanatory drawing which shows the digital reception data by which the transmission pulse in the element antenna 3-k in Embodiment 4 of this invention, the phase of a transmission pulse, the reception pulse, the phase of a reception pulse, and the time average were carried out.

  Hereinafter, in order to describe the present invention in more detail, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing an antenna apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram showing a digital signal processing unit 7 of the antenna apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The antenna device shown in FIG. 1 includes a transmitter 1, a phased array antenna 2, a receiver 6, and a digital signal processing unit 7.
1 and 2, the transmitter 1 generates a high-frequency signal that is a transmission signal, and outputs the high-frequency signal to the phased array antenna 2. In the first embodiment, an example in which a pulsed high-frequency signal is generated will be described.
The phased array antenna 2 is composed of K element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K, K phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K, and one combining / distributing device 5.

The K element antennas 3-1 to 3-K are arranged one-dimensionally, two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally, and radiate a high-frequency signal into the space, while being reflected by a target object to be observed and returned. Receive reflected waves of high frequency signals.
The phase shifter 4-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K) is supplied from the combiner / distributor 5 according to the phase shifter control signal output from the phase shifter control unit 14 of the excitation phase control unit 8. The phase of the distributed high-frequency signal (transmission pulse) is adjusted, and the phase-adjusted high-frequency signal is output to the element antenna 3-k, while the phase of the high-frequency signal (reception pulse) received by the element antenna 3-k And the phase adjusted high-frequency signal is output to the combiner / distributor 5.
The combiner / distributor 5 distributes the high-frequency signal output from the transmitter 1 and outputs the distributed high-frequency signal to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K, while from the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K. The output high frequency signals are combined, and the combined high frequency signals are output to the receiver 6.

The receiver 6 detects the combined high-frequency signal output from the combiner / distributor 5 and converts the high-frequency signal into, for example, a baseband digital signal (hereinafter referred to as “digital reception data”).
The digital signal processing unit 7 includes an excitation phase control unit 8 and a time average calculation unit 15. The excitation phase control unit 8 controls the timing synchronization unit 11, the excitation phase setting unit 12, the excitation phase switching unit 13, and the phase shifter control. The unit 14 is configured.
The excitation phase control unit 8 outputs a phase shifter control signal indicating the phase of the transmission pulse to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K, and outputs a phase shifter control signal indicating the phase of the reception pulse to the phase shifter 4-4. The process etc. which output to 1-4K are implemented.

The timing synchronization unit 11 includes, for example, a timing synchronization processing circuit 21 configured by a semiconductor integrated circuit mounted with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a one-chip microcomputer and a crystal oscillator that generates a reference clock signal. The high-frequency signal generated by the transmitter 1 and the high-frequency signal (transmission pulse, reception pulse) whose phase is adjusted by the phase shifter 4-k. In order to achieve synchronization, the control signal indicating the pulse generation timing is output to the transmitter 1 and the excitation phase switching unit 13, and the control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the transmission pulse and the reception pulse is output to the excitation phase switching unit. 13 is output.
Further, the timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the start timing of the time average processing of the digital reception data output from the receiver 6 to the time average calculation unit 15.

In the timing synchronization unit 11, a first switching cycle is set as a phase update timing for switching the phase of the transmission pulse, and a second switching cycle is set as a phase update timing for switching the phase of the reception pulse. .
The first switching period is a switching period in which the phase is switched between the sub-pulse (1) constituting the first half of the transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 and the sub-pulse (2) constituting the second half of the transmission pulse. It is.
Further, the second switching cycle is a switching cycle different from the first switching cycle, and the phase is switched between the reception pulse detected oddly by the receiver 6 and the reception pulse detected evenly. It is a switching cycle.

The excitation phase setting unit 12 is realized by an excitation phase setting processing circuit 22 including a man-machine interface device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, and a storage device such as a RAM and a hard disk. In order to obtain the radiation characteristics, the setting of the phase profile indicating the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K is received and the phase profile is stored.
In the first embodiment, the excitation state at the time of signal transmission in the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K is switched in a time division manner, and the excitation state at the time of signal reception is changed in a time division manner. A phase profile for the number of times of time modulation at the time of signal transmission and a phase profile for the number of times of time modulation at the time of signal reception are stored.

The excitation phase switching unit 13 is realized by, for example, an excitation phase switching processing circuit 23 configured by a semiconductor integrated circuit or a one-chip microcomputer on which a CPU is mounted. During transmission pulse signal processing, the excitation phase setting unit 12 reads out the phase profile for signal transmission and outputs the excitation phase indicated by the phase profile to the phase shifter control unit 14. When receiving the control signal indicating the phase update timing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the excitation phase Another phase profile for signal transmission is read from the setting unit 12 and the excitation phase indicated by the phase profile is output to the phase shifter control unit 14.
The excitation phase switching unit 13 reads the phase profile for signal reception from the excitation phase setting unit 12 and outputs the excitation phase indicated by the phase profile to the phase shifter control unit 14 when the received pulse signal is processed. When the control signal indicating the phase update timing is received from the timing synchronization unit 11, the phase profile for receiving another signal is read from the excitation phase setting unit 12, and the excitation phase indicated by the phase profile is transferred to the phase shifter control unit 14. Output to.

The phase shifter control unit 14 is realized by a phase shifter control circuit 24 configured by, for example, a semiconductor integrated circuit or a one-chip microcomputer on which a CPU is mounted, and the excitation output from the excitation phase switching unit 13. A process of outputting a phase shifter control signal indicating a phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K is performed.
The time average calculation unit 15 is realized by, for example, a time average calculation processing circuit 25 configured by a semiconductor integrated circuit on which a CPU is mounted, or a time average calculation processing circuit 25 configured by a one-chip microcomputer and a memory. Each time the reception pulse is detected by the receiver 6 and the digital reception data is output, the time average value of the digital reception data is calculated, and then the time average values of the plurality of calculated digital reception data are calculated. A process for calculating a time average is performed.

In the example of FIG. 1, it is assumed that each of the transmitter 1, the phased array antenna 2, the receiver 6, and the digital signal processing unit 7 that are components of the antenna device is configured by dedicated hardware. The digital signal processing unit 7 of the antenna device may be configured by a computer.
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram when the digital signal processing unit 7 of the antenna apparatus is configured by a computer.
When the digital signal processing unit 7 of the antenna apparatus is configured by a computer, the processing contents of the timing synchronization unit 11, the excitation phase setting unit 12, the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14, and the time average calculation unit 15 are described. The stored program may be stored in the memory 31 of the computer, and the processor 32 of the computer may execute the program stored in the memory 31.
4 and 5 are flowcharts showing an antenna excitation method which is a processing content of the antenna device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing transmission pulse, transmission pulse phase, reception pulse, reception pulse phase and time-averaged digital reception data at element antenna 3-k according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Before the antenna device starts transmission / reception of pulses, the excitation phase setting unit 12 accepts the user's operation, thereby accepting the setting of the phase profile indicating the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K. The phase profile is stored (step ST1 in FIG. 4).

In the first embodiment, as the first switching period, a sub-pulse (1) constituting the first half of the transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 and a sub-pulse (2) constituting the second half of the transmission pulse are used. Since the phase switching period for switching the phase between them is set in the timing synchronization unit 11, the setting of two phase profiles is accepted as a phase profile for signal transmission.
That is, as the phase profile for signal transmission, the setting of the phase profile related to the subpulse (1) and the phase profile related to the subpulse (2) is accepted.
FIG. 6 shows an example of the phase of the transmission pulse in the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K), and the phase of the subpulse (1) is φ _t1 and the subpulse (2). Is set to _φt2 .

Further, in the first embodiment, as the second switching cycle, the phase switching cycle for switching the phase between the reception pulse detected oddly by the receiver 6 and the reception pulse detected evenly is timing. Since it is set in the synchronizer 11, two phase profile settings are accepted as phase profiles for signal reception.
That is, as a phase profile for signal reception, settings of a phase profile related to an odd-numbered received pulse and a phase profile related to an even-numbered received pulse are accepted.
FIG. 6 shows an example of the phase of the received pulse at the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K), and the phase of the received pulse detected at odd number is φ _r1 , The phase of the received pulse detected even-numbered is set to _φr2 .

Here, the phase phi _t2 of the phase phi _t1 and sub-pulse (2) of the sub-pulse (1) is set to a phase having a conjugate relationship. That is, it is set to a phase where φ _t1 = −φ _t2 .
Further, the phase φ _r1 of the received pulse detected _oddly and the phase φ _{r2 of the} received pulse detected _evenly are set to phases having a conjugate relationship. That is, it is set to a phase where φ _r1 = −φ _r2 is established.
In this way, when φ _t1 = −φ _t2 is established and the phase is established such that φ _r1 = −φ _r2 is established, the time average calculation unit 15 described later calculates the time average of the digital reception data. In doing so, the amplitude component of the imaginary part is canceled and only the amplitude component of the real part is extracted.

  In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which two phase profile settings are accepted as a phase profile for signal transmission, and two phase profile settings are accepted as a phase profile for signal reception. This is only an example. For example, as a phase profile for signal transmission, setting of four or more even number of phase profiles is accepted, and as a phase profile for receiving signals, four or more even number of phase profiles are received. The setting of the phase profile may be accepted.

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing to the transmitter 1 and the excitation phase switching unit 13 after the phase profile setting by the user is received by the excitation phase setting unit 12.
When the transmitter 1 receives a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the transmitter 1 generates a high-frequency signal (transmission pulse) as a transmission signal using the control signal as a trigger, and the high-frequency signal is transmitted to the phased array antenna. 2 (step ST2 in FIG. 4).
When the synthesizer / distributor 5 of the phased array antenna 2 receives the high-frequency signal from the transmitter 1, it distributes the high-frequency signal and outputs the distributed high-frequency signal to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K.

When receiving the control signal indicating the pulse generation timing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the excitation phase switching unit 13 reads the phase profile related to the subpulse (1) from the excitation phase setting unit 12 as a phase profile for signal transmission. The excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile is output to the phase shifter control unit 14.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. Output to K (step ST3).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the transmission pulses that are high-frequency signals distributed by the combiner / distributor 5 according to the phase shifter control signal. The phase of the sub-pulse (1) is adjusted, and the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse after the phase adjustment is output to the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K (step ST4).
Thereby, the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse whose phase is adjusted by the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-K is radiated from the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K to the space (step ST5).
In the example of FIG. 6, the phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse is adjusted to φ _t1 by the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K), and the sub-pulse (1) Is radiated from the element antenna 3-k.

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the generation timing of the pulse, and then, when a first switching period, which is a time corresponding to the phase φ _t1 of the subpulse (1), has passed, phase update for switching the phase of the transmission pulse A control signal indicating the timing is output to the excitation phase switching unit 13.
When receiving the control signal indicating the phase update timing from the timing synchronization unit 11 (step ST6: YES), the excitation phase switching unit 13 reads another phase profile for signal transmission from the excitation phase setting unit 12, The excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile is output to the phase shifter control unit 14.
That is, the excitation phase switching unit 13 reads the phase profile related to the sub-pulse (2) from the excitation phase setting unit 12, and sets the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile to the phase shifter control unit. 14 for output.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. Output to K (step ST7).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the transmission pulses that are high-frequency signals distributed by the combiner / distributor 5 according to the phase shifter control signal. The phase of the sub-pulse (2) is adjusted, and the sub-pulse (2) of the transmission pulse after the phase adjustment is output to the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K (step ST8).
Thereby, the sub-pulse (2) of the transmission pulse whose phase is adjusted by the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-K is radiated from the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K to the space (step ST9).
In the example of FIG. 6, the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1,2,3, ···, K) is adjusted to phase phi _t2 sub-pulse (2) of the transmitted pulse by its sub-pulse (2) Is radiated from the element antenna 3-k.
A transmission pulse composed of the sub-pulse (1) and the sub-pulse (2) is radiated from the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K to the space and then reflected by the target object to be observed, and the reflected wave is received as the received pulse. Return to the antennas 3-1 to 3-K.

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the transmission pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13, and then transmits a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the reception pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13. Output.
When the excitation phase switching unit 13 receives the control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse from the timing synchronization unit 11 (in the case of step ST10 in FIG. 5: YES), the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K It is confirmed whether the received reception pulse is an odd-numbered reception pulse or an even-numbered reception pulse. Confirming whether the received pulse is an odd-numbered reception pulse or an even-numbered reception pulse by counting the number of control signals indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse output from the timing synchronization unit 11 Can do.
If the received pulse received by element antennas 3-1 to 3-K is an odd-numbered received pulse (in the case of YES at step ST11), excitation phase switching unit 13 receives signals from excitation phase setting unit 12. As the phase profile, the phase profile related to the odd-numbered received pulse is read, and the excitation phases of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K indicated by the phase profile are output to the phase shifter control unit 14.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. Output to K (step ST12).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the phases of the received pulses of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K according to the phase shifter control signal. And the received pulse after phase adjustment is output to the combiner / distributor 5 (step ST14).
In the example of FIG. 6, the phase of the odd-numbered received pulse composed of the subpulse (1) and the subpulse (2) is changed to φ _r1 by the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K). The received pulse is adjusted and output to the combiner / distributor 5.

When the combiner / distributor 5 receives the received pulses after phase adjustment from the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K, the combiner / distributor 5 combines the K received pulses and outputs the combined received pulses to the receiver 6.
When receiving the combined received pulse from combining distributor 5, receiver 6 detects the combined received pulse and converts the received pulse into digital received data, for example, a baseband digital signal (step ST15). .

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13, and then indicates the start timing of the time average processing of the digital reception data output from the receiver 6. The signal is output to the time average calculation unit 15.
When the time average calculation unit 15 receives the control signal indicating the start timing of the time average process from the timing synchronization unit 11, the time average calculation unit 15 calculates the time average of the signal value indicated by the digital reception data converted by the receiver 6. That is, the time average of signal values within one reception pulse is calculated (step ST16).
In the example of FIG. 6, since the time width of the received pulse is Tar, the time average of the signal values during the time width Tar is calculated.
When the time average of the signal value indicated by the digital reception data converted by the receiver 6 is calculated, the time average calculation unit 15 stores the time average value of the signal value in an internal memory.
Here, the time average calculator 15 calculates the time average value of the signal value, but an integral value (cumulative value) of the signal value may be calculated.

When the time average calculation unit 15 stores the time average value of the signal value in the internal memory, the timing synchronization unit 11 determines whether N (N is an even number of 2 or more) time average values are stored in the memory. If the N time average values are not stored in the memory (step ST17: NO), a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing is output to the transmitter 1 and the excitation phase switching unit 13.
At this stage, since the number of time average values stored in the memory is one, the timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing.

When the transmitter 1 receives a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the transmitter 1 generates a high-frequency signal (transmission pulse) as a transmission signal using the control signal as a trigger, and the high-frequency signal is transmitted to the phased array antenna. 2 (step ST2 in FIG. 4).
When the synthesizer / distributor 5 of the phased array antenna 2 receives the high-frequency signal from the transmitter 1, it distributes the high-frequency signal and outputs the distributed high-frequency signal to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K.

When receiving the control signal indicating the pulse generation timing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the excitation phase switching unit 13 reads the phase profile related to the subpulse (1) from the excitation phase setting unit 12 as a phase profile for signal transmission. The excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile is output to the phase shifter control unit 14.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. Output to K (step ST3).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the transmission pulses that are high-frequency signals distributed by the combiner / distributor 5 according to the phase shifter control signal. The phase of the sub-pulse (1) is adjusted, and the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse after the phase adjustment is output to the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K (step ST4).
Thereby, the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse whose phase is adjusted by the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-K is radiated from the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K to the space (step ST5).
In the example of FIG. 6, the phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse is adjusted to φ _t1 by the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K), and the sub-pulse (1) Is radiated from the element antenna 3-k.

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the generation timing of the pulse, and then, when a first switching period, which is a time corresponding to the phase φ _t1 of the subpulse (1), has passed, phase update for switching the phase of the transmission pulse A control signal indicating the timing is output to the excitation phase switching unit 13.
When receiving the control signal indicating the phase update timing from the timing synchronization unit 11 (step ST6: YES), the excitation phase switching unit 13 reads another phase profile for signal transmission from the excitation phase setting unit 12, The excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile is output to the phase shifter control unit 14.
That is, the excitation phase switching unit 13 reads the phase profile related to the sub-pulse (2) from the excitation phase setting unit 12, and sets the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile to the phase shifter control unit. 14 for output.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. Output to K (step ST7).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the transmission pulses that are high-frequency signals distributed by the combiner / distributor 5 according to the phase shifter control signal. The phase of the sub-pulse (2) is adjusted, and the sub-pulse (2) of the transmission pulse after the phase adjustment is output to the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K (step ST8).
Thereby, the sub-pulse (2) of the transmission pulse whose phase is adjusted by the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-K is radiated from the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K to the space (step ST9).
In the example of FIG. 6, the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1,2,3, ···, K) is adjusted to phase phi _t2 sub-pulse (2) of the transmitted pulse by its sub-pulse (2) Is radiated from the element antenna 3-k.
A transmission pulse composed of the sub-pulse (1) and the sub-pulse (2) is radiated from the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K to the space and then reflected by the target object to be observed, and the reflected wave is received as the received pulse. Return to the antennas 3-1 to 3-K.

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the transmission pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13, and then transmits a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the reception pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13. Output.
When the excitation phase switching unit 13 receives the control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse from the timing synchronization unit 11 (in the case of step ST10 in FIG. 5: YES), the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K It is confirmed whether the received reception pulse is an odd-numbered reception pulse or an even-numbered reception pulse.
If the received pulse received by the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K is an even-numbered received pulse (in the case of step ST11: NO), the excitation phase switching unit 13 receives signals from the excitation phase setting unit 12. As the phase profile, the phase profile associated with the even-numbered received pulse is read, and the excitation phases of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile are output to the phase shifter controller 14.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. To K (step ST13).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the phases of the received pulses of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K according to the phase shifter control signal. And the received pulse after phase adjustment is output to the combiner / distributor 5 (step ST14).
In the example of FIG. 6, the phase of the even-numbered received pulse consisting of the sub-pulse (1) and the sub-pulse (2) is changed to φ _r2 by the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K). The received pulse is adjusted and output to the combiner / distributor 5.

When the combiner / distributor 5 receives the received pulses after phase adjustment from the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K, the combiner / distributor 5 combines the K received pulses and outputs the combined received pulses to the receiver 6.
When receiving the combined received pulse from combining distributor 5, receiver 6 detects the combined received pulse and converts the received pulse into digital received data, for example, a baseband digital signal (step ST15). .

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13, and then indicates the start timing of the time average processing of the digital reception data output from the receiver 6. The signal is output to the time average calculation unit 15.
When the time average calculation unit 15 receives the control signal indicating the start timing of the time average process from the timing synchronization unit 11, the time average calculation unit 15 calculates the time average of the signal value indicated by the digital reception data converted by the receiver 6. That is, the time average of signal values within one reception pulse is calculated (step ST16).
In the example of FIG. 6, since the time width of the received pulse is Tar, the time average of the signal values during the time width Tar is calculated.
When the time average of the signal value indicated by the digital reception data converted by the receiver 6 is calculated, the time average calculation unit 15 stores the time average value of the signal value in an internal memory.
Here, the time average calculator 15 calculates the time average value of the signal value, but an integral value (cumulative value) of the signal value may be calculated.

When the time average calculation unit 15 stores the time average value of the signal value in the internal memory, the timing synchronization unit 11 determines whether N (N is an integer of 2 or more) time average values are stored in the memory. If the N time average values are not stored in the memory (step ST17: NO), a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing is output to the transmitter 1 and the excitation phase switching unit 13.
When the processes in steps ST2 to ST16 are repeatedly performed and N time average values are stored in the memory (step ST17: YES), the time average calculation unit 15 stores the N time average values from the internal memory. The value is read and the time average of N time average values is calculated. That is, a time average of signal values between N reception pulses is calculated (step ST18).
Here, the time average calculator 15 calculates the time average of the N time average values, but the integration of N integral values (cumulative values) may be calculated.

As is apparent from the above, according to the first embodiment, the phase of the transmission signal adjusted by the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K is switched at the first switching period, while the phase shifter 4-1. The excitation phase control unit 8 that switches the phase of the reception signal adjusted by ˜4-K at a second switching cycle different from the first switching cycle is provided, and the time average calculation unit 15 receives the signal detected by the receiver 6. Since the time average of the signal is calculated, the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission and the time modulation effect at the time of signal reception can be realized simultaneously within the same time average interval.
That is, according to the first embodiment, since the first switching period and the second switching period are different, the time modulation technique at the time of signal transmission and the time modulation technique at the time of signal reception are independently performed. Can be applied. For this reason, the phenomenon that the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission and the time modulation effect at the time of signal reception are canceled does not occur.
As a result, it is possible to perform amplitude phase control with higher performance than when realizing only the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission or realizing only the time modulation effect at the time of signal reception within the same time average interval An antenna device can be obtained.

  In the first embodiment, every time the receiver 6 converts a received pulse into digital received data, the time average calculating unit 15 calculates a time average of signal values within one received pulse and stores it in a memory. Although shown, every time the receiver 6 converts the received pulse into digital received data, the time average calculation unit 15 stores the digital received data in the memory and stores the N digital received data in the memory. In the stage, a time average of signal values within one received pulse may be calculated, and a time average of N time average values may be calculated.

  In the first embodiment, the receiver 6 converts the received pulse, which is a high-frequency signal, into digital received data. However, the signal by which the time average calculation unit 15 can calculate the time average of the signal value is shown. It is only necessary to convert the data into digital received data. For example, the receiver 6 may convert the high frequency signal into a signal in a low frequency band and output an analog signal in a low frequency band to the time average calculation unit 15.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the phase is switched between the sub-pulse (1) constituting the first half of the transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 and the sub-pulse (2) constituting the second half of the transmission pulse, and A description is given of switching the phase between a reception pulse detected oddly by the receiver 6 and a reception pulse detected evenly.
In the second embodiment, the phase is switched between an odd-numbered transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 and an even-numbered transmission pulse, and the first half of the received pulse detected by the receiver 6. Will be described in which the phase is switched between the sub-pulse (1) that constitutes the sub-pulse and the sub-pulse (2) that constitutes the latter half of the received pulse.
The configuration of the antenna device according to the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 as in the first embodiment.
7 and 8 are flowcharts showing an antenna excitation method which is a processing content of the antenna device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing transmission pulse, transmission pulse phase, reception pulse, reception pulse phase and time-averaged digital reception data at element antenna 3-k according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
Before the antenna device starts transmission / reception of pulses, the excitation phase setting unit 12 accepts the user's operation, thereby accepting the setting of the phase profile indicating the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K. The phase profile is stored (step ST21 in FIG. 7).

In the second embodiment, as the first switching period, the phase switching period for switching the phase between the transmission pulse generated oddly by the transmitter 1 and the transmission pulse generated evenly is the timing synchronization unit. Therefore, setting of two phase profiles is accepted as a phase profile for signal transmission.
That is, as a phase profile for signal transmission, settings of a phase profile related to an odd-numbered transmission pulse and a phase profile related to an even-numbered transmission pulse are accepted.
FIG. 9 shows an example of the phase of the transmission pulse in the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K), where the phase of the odd-numbered transmission pulse is φ _t1 , The phase of the even-numbered transmission pulse is set to _φt2 .

In the second embodiment, as the second switching period, the sub-pulse (1) constituting the front half of the received pulse detected by the receiver 6 and the sub-pulse (2) constituting the latter half of the received pulse are used. Since the switching period for switching the phase between the two is set in the timing synchronization unit 11, the setting of two phase profiles is accepted as a phase profile for signal reception.
That is, as the phase profile for signal reception, the setting of the phase profile related to the subpulse (1) and the phase profile related to the subpulse (2) is accepted.
FIG. 9 shows an example of the phase of the received pulse at the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K), where the phase of the subpulse (1) is φ _r1 and the subpulse (2). Is set to _φr2 .

Here, the phase phi _t2 of transmission pulses to be generated in the even-numbered and phase phi _t1 of transmission pulses to be generated in odd is set to a phase having a conjugate relationship. That is, it is set to a phase where φ _t1 = −φ _t2 .
Further, the phase φ _r1 of the subpulse (1) and the phase φ _r2 of the subpulse (2) are set to phases having a conjugate relationship. That is, it is set to a phase where φ _r1 = −φ _r2 is established.
In this way, when φ _t1 = −φ _t2 is established and the phase is established such that φ _r1 = −φ _r2 is established, the time average calculation unit 15 described later calculates the time average of the digital reception data. In doing so, the amplitude component of the imaginary part is canceled and only the amplitude component of the real part is extracted.

  In the second embodiment, an example is shown in which two phase profile settings are accepted as a phase profile for signal transmission, and two phase profile settings are accepted as a phase profile for signal reception. This is only an example. For example, three or more phase profile settings are accepted as a phase profile for signal transmission, and three or more phase profile settings are accepted as a phase profile for signal reception. May be used.

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing to the transmitter 1 and the excitation phase switching unit 13 after the phase profile setting by the user is received by the excitation phase setting unit 12.
When the transmitter 1 receives a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the transmitter 1 generates a high-frequency signal (transmission pulse) as a transmission signal using the control signal as a trigger, and the high-frequency signal is transmitted to the phased array antenna. 2 (step ST22 in FIG. 7).
When the synthesizer / distributor 5 of the phased array antenna 2 receives the high-frequency signal from the transmitter 1, it distributes the high-frequency signal and outputs the distributed high-frequency signal to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K.

When receiving the control signal indicating the pulse generation timing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the excitation phase switching unit 13 determines whether the transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 is an odd-numbered transmission pulse or an even-numbered transmission pulse. Check if By counting the number of control signals indicating the generation timing of the pulses output from the timing synchronization unit 11, it is possible to confirm whether the transmission pulse is an odd-numbered transmission pulse or an even-numbered transmission pulse.
If the transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 is an odd-numbered transmission pulse (in the case of YES at step ST23), the excitation phase switching unit 13 transmits the signal from the excitation phase setting unit 12 as a phase profile for signal transmission. The phase profile related to the transmission pulse generated oddly by the machine 1 is read, and the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile is output to the phase shifter control unit 14.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. To K (step ST24).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the transmission pulses that are high-frequency signals distributed by the combiner / distributor 5 according to the phase shifter control signal. And the transmission pulse after the phase adjustment is output to the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K (step ST26).
Thereby, the transmission pulse whose phase is adjusted by the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K is radiated from the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K to the space (step ST 27).
In the example of FIG. 9, the phase of the transmission pulse is adjusted to φ _t1 by the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K), and the transmission pulse is transmitted from the element antenna 3-k. Radiated.
The transmission pulse is radiated from the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K to the space and then reflected by the target object to be observed, and the reflected wave returns to the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K as a reception pulse. come.

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing, and then outputs a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13.
When receiving the control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse from the timing synchronization unit 11 (step ST28 in FIG. 8: YES), the excitation phase switching unit 13 receives the signal from the excitation phase setting unit 12 when receiving a signal. As the phase profile, the phase profile related to the sub-pulse (1) is read, and the excitation phases of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile are output to the phase shifter controller 14.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. Output to K (step ST29).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the phases of the received pulses of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K according to the phase shifter control signal. And the sub-pulse (1) of the received pulse after phase adjustment is output to the combiner / distributor 5 (step ST30).
In the example of FIG. 9, the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1,2,3, ···, K) phase sub-pulse (1) of the received pulse is adjusted to phi _r1 by its sub-pulse (1) Is output to the combiner / distributor 5.

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating a phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13 and then sets a second switching cycle that is a time corresponding to the phase φ _r1 of the subpulse (1). When the time has elapsed, a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse is output to the excitation phase switching unit 13.
When receiving the control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse from the timing synchronization unit 11 (step ST31: YES), the excitation phase switching unit 13 receives another signal from the excitation phase setting unit 12. The phase profile is read, and the excitation phases of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile are output to the phase shifter control unit.
That is, the excitation phase switching unit 13 reads the phase profile related to the sub-pulse (2) from the excitation phase setting unit 12, and sets the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile to the phase shifter control unit. 14 for output.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. Output to K (step ST32).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the sub-pulses of the received pulses of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K according to the phase shifter control signal. The phase of (2) is adjusted, and the subpulse (2) of the received pulse after phase adjustment is output to the combiner / distributor 5 (step ST33).
In the example of FIG. 9, the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1,2,3, ···, K) phase of the received pulse sub-pulse (2) is adjusted to phi _r2 by its sub-pulse (1) Is output to the combiner / distributor 5.

When the combiner / distributor 5 receives the received pulse composed of the subpulse (1) and the subpulse (2) after the phase adjustment from the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-K, the combiner / distributor 5 combines the K received pulses and combines them. The received pulse is output to the receiver 6.
Upon receiving the combined received pulse from combining distributor 5, receiver 6 detects the combined received pulse, and converts the received pulse into digital received data, for example, a baseband digital signal (step ST34). .

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13, and then indicates the start timing of the time average processing of the digital reception data output from the receiver 6. The signal is output to the time average calculation unit 15.
When the time average calculation unit 15 receives the control signal indicating the start timing of the time average processing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the time average calculation unit 15 obtains the signal value indicated by the digital reception data converted by the receiver 6 as in the first embodiment. Calculate the time average. That is, a time average of signal values within one reception pulse is calculated (step ST35).
In the example of FIG. 9, since the time width of the received pulse is Tar, the time average of the signal values during the time width Tar is calculated.
When the time average of the signal value indicated by the digital reception data converted by the receiver 6 is calculated, the time average calculation unit 15 stores the time average value of the signal value in an internal memory.

When the time average calculation unit 15 stores the time average value of the signal value in the internal memory, the timing synchronization unit 11 determines whether N (N is an integer of 2 or more) time average values are stored in the memory. If N time average values are not stored in the memory (step ST36: NO), a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing is output to the transmitter 1 and the excitation phase switching unit 13.
At this stage, since the number of time average values stored in the memory is one, the timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing.

When the transmitter 1 receives a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the transmitter 1 generates a high-frequency signal (transmission pulse) as a transmission signal using the control signal as a trigger, and the high-frequency signal is transmitted to the phased array antenna. 2 (step ST22 in FIG. 7).
When the synthesizer / distributor 5 of the phased array antenna 2 receives the high-frequency signal from the transmitter 1, it distributes the high-frequency signal and outputs the distributed high-frequency signal to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K.

When receiving the control signal indicating the pulse generation timing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the excitation phase switching unit 13 determines whether the transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 is an odd-numbered transmission pulse or an even-numbered transmission pulse. Check if
If the transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 is an even-numbered transmission pulse (step ST23: NO), the excitation phase switching unit 13 transmits the signal from the excitation phase setting unit 12 as a phase profile for signal transmission. The phase profile related to the even-numbered transmission pulse generated by the machine 1 is read, and the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K indicated by the phase profile is output to the phase shifter control unit 14.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. Output to K (step ST25).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the transmission pulses that are high-frequency signals distributed by the combiner / distributor 5 according to the phase shifter control signal. And the transmission pulse after the phase adjustment is output to the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K (step ST26).
Thereby, the transmission pulse whose phase is adjusted by the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K is radiated from the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K to the space (step ST 27).
In the example of FIG. 9, the phase of the transmission pulse is adjusted to _φt2 by the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K), and the transmission pulse is transmitted from the element antenna 3-k. Radiated.
The transmission pulse is radiated from the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K to the space and then reflected by the target object to be observed, and the reflected wave returns to the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K as a reception pulse. come.

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing, and then outputs a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13.
When receiving the control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse from the timing synchronization unit 11 (step ST28 in FIG. 8: YES), the excitation phase switching unit 13 receives the signal from the excitation phase setting unit 12 when receiving a signal. As the phase profile, the phase profile related to the sub-pulse (1) is read, and the excitation phases of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile are output to the phase shifter controller 14.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. Output to K (step ST29).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the phases of the received pulses of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K according to the phase shifter control signal. And the sub-pulse (1) of the received pulse after phase adjustment is output to the combiner / distributor 5 (step ST30).
In the example of FIG. 9, the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1,2,3, ···, K) phase sub-pulse (1) of the received pulse is adjusted to phi _r1 by its sub-pulse (1) Is output to the combiner / distributor 5.

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating a phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13 and then sets a second switching cycle that is a time corresponding to the phase φ _r1 of the subpulse (1). When the time has elapsed, a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse is output to the excitation phase switching unit 13.
When receiving the control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse from the timing synchronization unit 11 (step ST31: YES), the excitation phase switching unit 13 receives another signal from the excitation phase setting unit 12. The phase profile is read, and the excitation phases of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile are output to the phase shifter control unit.
That is, the excitation phase switching unit 13 reads the phase profile related to the sub-pulse (2) from the excitation phase setting unit 12, and sets the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3-K indicated by the phase profile to the phase shifter control unit. 14 for output.
When the phase shifter control unit 14 receives the excitation phase of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K from the excitation phase switching unit 13, the phase shifter control unit 14 sends phase shifter control signals indicating the excitation phase to the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-4. Output to K (step ST32).

When the phase shifters 4-1 to 4 -K receive the phase shifter control signal from the phase shifter control unit 14, the sub-pulses of the received pulses of the element antennas 3-1 to 3 -K according to the phase shifter control signal. The phase of (2) is adjusted, and the subpulse (2) of the received pulse after phase adjustment is output to the combiner / distributor 5 (step ST33).
In the example of FIG. 9, the phase shifter 4-k (k = 1,2,3, ···, K) phase of the received pulse sub-pulse (2) is adjusted to phi _r2 by its sub-pulse (1) Is output to the combiner / distributor 5.

When the combiner / distributor 5 receives the received pulse composed of the subpulse (1) and the subpulse (2) after the phase adjustment from the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-K, the combiner / distributor 5 combines the K received pulses and combines them. The received pulse is output to the receiver 6.
Upon receiving the combined received pulse from combining distributor 5, receiver 6 detects the combined received pulse, and converts the received pulse into digital received data, for example, a baseband digital signal (step ST34). .

The timing synchronization unit 11 outputs a control signal indicating the phase update timing for switching the phase of the received pulse to the excitation phase switching unit 13, and then indicates the start timing of the time average processing of the digital reception data output from the receiver 6. The signal is output to the time average calculation unit 15.
When the time average calculation unit 15 receives the control signal indicating the start timing of the time average processing from the timing synchronization unit 11, the time average calculation unit 15 obtains the signal value indicated by the digital reception data converted by the receiver 6 as in the first embodiment. Calculate the time average. That is, a time average of signal values within one reception pulse is calculated (step ST35).
In the example of FIG. 9, since the time width of the received pulse is Tar, the time average of the signal values during the time width Tar is calculated.
When the time average of the signal value indicated by the digital reception data converted by the receiver 6 is calculated, the time average calculation unit 15 stores the time average value of the signal value in an internal memory.

When the time average calculation unit 15 stores the time average value of the signal value in the internal memory, the timing synchronization unit 11 determines whether N (N is an integer of 2 or more) time average values are stored in the memory. If N time average values are not stored in the memory (step ST36: NO), a control signal indicating the pulse generation timing is output to the transmitter 1 and the excitation phase switching unit 13.
When the processing of steps ST22 to ST35 is repeatedly performed and N time average values are stored in the memory (in the case of YES at step ST36), the time average calculation unit 15 performs N time averages from the internal memory. The value is read and the time average of N time average values is calculated. That is, a time average of signal values between N reception pulses is calculated (step ST37).

In the case of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission and the time modulation effect at the time of signal reception can be realized at the same time.
That is, in the case of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the first switching cycle and the second switching cycle are different from each other. The time modulation technique of time can be applied independently. For this reason, the phenomenon that the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission and the time modulation effect at the time of signal reception are canceled does not occur.
As a result, an antenna device capable of performing amplitude phase control with higher performance than the case of realizing only the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission or the case of realizing only the time modulation effect at the time of signal reception can be obtained.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the first embodiment, the excitation phase control unit 8 uses the sub-pulses as the phases of the sub-pulses (1) and (2) of the transmission pulse in the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K). The phase of (1) is set to φ _t1 , the phase of the sub-pulse (2) is set to φ _t2, and the phase of the received pulse detected oddly by the receiver 6 is φ _r1 , and the received pulse detected _evenly of it showed that setting the phase to phi _r2, may be a period in which the first switching period and the second switching period is different, not limited to this configuration.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing transmission pulse, transmission pulse phase, reception pulse, reception pulse phase and time-averaged digital reception data at element antenna 3-k according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
In the third embodiment, the excitation phase control unit 8 includes the phase of the sub-pulse (2) of the transmission pulse generated oddly by the transmitter 1 and the phase of the reception pulse detected oddly by the receiver 6. The phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse generated evenly by the transmitter 1 is set to the same phase.
The excitation phase control unit 8 also includes the phase of the sub-pulse (2) of the transmission pulse generated evenly by the transmitter 1, the phase of the reception pulse detected evenly by the receiver 6, and the transmitter 1 The phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the odd-numbered transmission pulse is set to the same phase.

That is, the excitation phase control unit 8 performs an odd number (for example, the first) on the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K) by the transmitter 1 as shown in FIG. ), When the phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse generated is set to φ ₁ and the phase of the sub-pulse (2) of the transmission pulse is set to φ ₂ , the receiver 6 detects the odd-numbered (for example, the first) is the phase of the received pulses, odd by the transmitter 1 (e.g., 1 second) is set to the same phase as the phase phi ₂ the sub-pulses of the transmitted pulse to be generated (2).
Further, the excitation phase control unit 8 detects the phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse generated evenly (eg, second) by the transmitter 1 and is detected oddly (eg, first) by the receiver 6. set to the same phase as the phase phi ₂ of a received pulse, setting the phase of the sub-pulse (2) of the transmission pulses phi _1.
Then, the excitation phase control unit 8 determines the phase of the received pulse detected by the receiver 6 to the even number (for example, second), and the transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 to the even number (for example, second). set to the same phase as the phase phi ₁ the sub-pulse (2).
Further, the excitation phase control unit 8 detects the phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse generated at the odd number (for example, third) by the transmitter 1 to the even number (for example, second) by the receiver 6. is set to the phase phi ₁ the same phase of the received pulses, sets the phases of the sub-pulses of the transmitted pulse (2) to phi _2.
Note that the phase φ ₁ and the phase φ ₂ have a conjugate relationship. That is, it is a phase where φ ₁ = −φ ₂ is established.

In the example of FIG. 10 as well, since the first switching period and the second switching period are different periods, the time modulation technique at the time of signal transmission and the time modulation technique at the time of signal reception are the same as in the first embodiment. Can be applied independently.
In the third embodiment, the excitation phase control unit 8 determines the phase of the subpulse (2) of the transmission pulse generated oddly by the transmitter 1 and the phase of the reception pulse detected oddly by the receiver 6. The phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the even-numbered transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 is set to the same phase, and the phase of the sub-pulse (2) of the even-numbered transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 Since the phase of the reception pulse detected evenly by the receiver 6 and the phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the transmission pulse generated oddly by the transmitter 1 are set to the same phase, When switching from processing to received pulse processing, the phase of the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K) may be maintained, and processing for switching the phase becomes unnecessary. In addition, when switching from reception pulse processing to transmission pulse processing, the phase of the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K) may be maintained, and phase switching processing is performed. It becomes unnecessary.
Therefore, control over phase shifters 4-1 to 4-K is simplified as compared with the first embodiment. For this reason, the performance required for hardware can be relaxed.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the second embodiment, the excitation phase control unit 8 sets the phase of the odd-numbered transmission pulse generated in the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K) to φ _t1 and the even number. the phase of the transmission pulse generated set phi _t2 to th, and sets the phase of the sub-pulse (1) of a received pulse detected by the receiver 6 phi _r1, the phase of the sub-pulse (2) to phi _r2 Although the thing was shown, it should just be a period from which a 1st switching period and a 2nd switching period differ, and it is not restricted to this setting content.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing transmission pulse, transmission pulse phase, reception pulse, reception pulse phase and time-averaged digital reception data at element antenna 3-k according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
In the fourth embodiment, the excitation phase control unit 8 includes the phase of the transmission pulse generated oddly by the transmitter 1 and the phase of the subpulse (1) of the reception pulse detected oddly by the receiver 6. Are set to the same phase, and the phase of the sub-pulse (2) of the received pulse and the phase of the even-numbered transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 are set to the same phase.
In addition, the excitation phase control unit 8 sets the phase of the transmission pulse generated evenly by the transmitter 1 and the phase of the subpulse (1) of the reception pulse detected evenly by the receiver 6 to the same phase. Then, the phase of the sub-pulse (2) of the received pulse and the phase of the transmission pulse generated oddly by the transmitter 1 are set to the same phase.

That is, the excitation phase control unit 8 performs an odd number (for example, the first number) on the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K) by the transmitter 1 as shown in FIG. ) Is set to φ ₁ , the phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the received pulse detected at the odd number (for example, the first) by the receiver 6 is set to the odd number by the transmitter 1. (e.g., first) set to the same phase as the phase phi ₁ the transmission pulses to be generated, the phase of the odd-numbered by the receiver 6 (e.g., first) sub-pulses of the received pulse detected in (2) It is set to φ _2.
Further, the excitation phase control unit 8 detects the phase of the transmission pulse generated evenly (for example, second) by the transmitter 1 and the phase of the reception pulse detected by the receiver 6 to be odd (for example, first). set to the same phase as the phase φ ₂ of the sub-pulses (2).
Further, the excitation phase control unit 8 generates the phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the received pulse detected by the receiver 6 to the even number (for example, second), to the even number (for example, the second) by the transmitter 1. set to the same phase as the phase phi ₂ the transmission pulse, sets the even-numbered by the receiver 6 (e.g., second) phase of a received pulse detection to sub-pulse (2) to phi _1.
Then, the excitation phase control unit 8 detects the phase of the transmission pulse generated at the odd number (for example, the third) by the transmitter 1 and the reception pulse detected at the even number (for example, the second) by the receiver 6. set to the same phase as the phase phi ₁ the sub-pulse (2).
Note that the phase φ ₁ and the phase φ ₂ have a conjugate relationship. That is, it is a phase where φ ₁ = −φ ₂ is established.

In the example of FIG. 11 as well, since the first switching period and the second switching period are different periods, the time modulation technique at the time of signal transmission and the time modulation technique at the time of signal reception are the same as in the second embodiment. Can be applied independently.
In the fourth embodiment, the excitation phase control unit 8 includes the phase of the transmission pulse generated oddly by the transmitter 1 and the phase of the subpulse (1) of the reception pulse detected oddly by the receiver 6. Are set to the same phase, the phase of the sub-pulse (2) of the received pulse and the phase of the transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 are set to the same phase, and the even number is set by the transmitter 1 And the phase of the sub-pulse (1) of the received pulse detected evenly by the receiver 6 are set to the same phase, and the phase of the sub-pulse (2) of the received pulse, Since the phase of the odd-numbered transmission pulse generated by the transmitter 1 is set to the same phase, when switching from the processing of the transmission pulse to the processing of the reception pulse, the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3, ..., may be maintained the phase of K), the process of switching the phase is not required. In addition, when switching from reception pulse processing to transmission pulse processing, the phase of the element antenna 3-k (k = 1, 2, 3,..., K) may be maintained, and phase switching processing is performed. It becomes unnecessary.
Therefore, control over the phase shifters 4-1 to 4-K is simplified as compared with the second embodiment. For this reason, the performance required for hardware can be relaxed.

  In the present invention, within the scope of the invention, any combination of the embodiments, or any modification of any component in each embodiment, or omission of any component in each embodiment is possible. .

  The antenna device according to the present invention needs to implement high-performance amplitude phase control by simultaneously realizing the time modulation effect at the time of signal transmission and the time modulation effect at the time of signal reception within the same time average interval. Suitable for expensive ones.

  1 transmitter, 2 phased array antenna, 3-1 to 3-K element antenna, 4-1 to 4-K phase shifter, 5 combiner / distributor, 6 receiver, 7 digital signal processor, 8 excitation phase controller , 11 Timing synchronization unit, 12 excitation phase setting unit, 13 excitation phase switching unit, 14 phase shifter control unit, 15 time average calculation unit, 21 timing synchronization processing circuit, 22 excitation phase setting processing circuit, 23 excitation phase switching processing circuit 24 phase shifter control circuit, 25 hour average calculation processing circuit, 31 memory, 32 processor.

Claims (9)

A transmitter for generating a transmission signal;
A plurality of element antennas constituting an array antenna;
A plurality of phase shifters for adjusting the phase of the transmission signal and reception signal of the element antenna;
A combiner / distributor that distributes a transmission signal generated by the transmitter, outputs the distributed transmission signal to the plurality of phase shifters, and combines reception signals whose phases are adjusted by the plurality of phase shifters When,
A receiver for detecting the reception signal synthesized by the synthesis distributor;
The phase of the transmission signal adjusted by the plurality of phase shifters is switched in a first switching cycle, while the phase of the reception signal adjusted by the plurality of phase shifters is different from the first switching cycle. An excitation phase controller that switches at a switching period;
An antenna device comprising: a time average calculation unit that calculates a time average of a reception signal detected by the receiver. The transmitter generates a pulse as the transmission signal;
The excitation phase control unit, as the first switching period, includes a sub-pulse that constitutes the first half of the pulse generated by the transmitter and a sub-pulse that constitutes the second half of the pulse generated by the transmitter. The phase switching period for switching the phase at is set, and the phase of the subpulse constituting the front half and the phase of the subpulse constituting the rear half are set to different phases, while the second switching period is A phase switching period for switching a phase between a pulse that is an odd-numbered received signal detected by the receiver and a pulse that is an even-numbered received signal detected by the receiver is set, and the odd-numbered 2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the phase of the detected pulse and the phase of the even-numbered pulse are set to different phases.   The excitation phase control unit has a conjugate relationship between a phase of a sub-pulse constituting a first half of a pulse generated by the transmitter and a phase of a sub-pulse constituting a second half of a pulse generated by the transmitter. While the phase is set, the phase of the pulse detected oddly by the receiver and the phase of the pulse detected evenly by the receiver are set to have a conjugate relationship. The antenna device according to claim 2. The excitation phase controller is
The phase of sub-pulses constituting the second half of pulses generated oddly by the transmitter, the phase of pulses detected oddly by the receiver, and the first half of pulses evenly generated by the transmitter Set the phase of the sub-pulses that make up the minute to the same phase,
And the phase of the sub-pulse constituting the second half of the pulse generated evenly by the transmitter, the phase of the pulse detected evenly by the receiver, and the pulse generated oddly by the transmitter 4. The antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the phase of the sub-pulse constituting the front half of the antenna is set to the same phase. The transmitter generates a pulse as the transmission signal;
The excitation phase control unit, as the first switching period, a phase switching period for switching a phase between an odd-numbered pulse generated by the transmitter and an even-numbered pulse generated by the transmitter Setting and setting the phase of the odd-numbered pulse generated by the transmitter and the phase of the even-numbered pulse generated by the transmitter to be different phases, while the second switching period, A phase switching period for switching a phase between a sub-pulse constituting the first half of a pulse that is a received signal detected by the receiver and a sub-pulse constituting the second half of the pulse that is the received signal is set, and the first half 2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the phase of the sub-pulse constituting the minute and the phase of the sub-pulse constituting the latter half are set to different phases.   The excitation phase control unit sets a phase in which a phase of an odd-numbered pulse generated by the transmitter and a phase of an even-numbered pulse generated by the transmitter have a conjugate relationship, The phase of the sub-pulse constituting the first half of the pulse detected by the machine and the phase of the sub-pulse constituting the second half of the pulse detected by the receiver are set to a phase having a conjugate relationship. The antenna device according to claim 5. The excitation phase controller is
The phase of the odd-numbered pulse generated by the transmitter and the phase of the sub-pulse constituting the first half of the pulse detected odd-numbered by the receiver are set to the same phase, and the odd-numbered number is generated by the receiver. The phase of the sub-pulses constituting the latter half of the pulse detected by the transmitter and the phase of the even-numbered pulse generated by the transmitter are set to the same phase,
And the phase of the even-numbered pulse generated by the transmitter and the phase of the sub-pulse constituting the first half of the even-numbered pulse detected by the receiver are set to the same phase, and the receiver 7. The antenna device according to claim 6, wherein the phase of the sub-pulse constituting the latter half of the even-numbered pulse and the phase of the odd-numbered pulse generated by the transmitter are set to the same phase. .   The time average calculator calculates a time average of time average values of a plurality of received signals after calculating a time average value of the received signal every time a received signal is detected by the receiver. The antenna device according to claim 1. The transmitter generates a transmission signal,
A plurality of phase shifters adjust the phases of the transmission signals and reception signals of the element antennas constituting the array antenna,
The combiner / distributor distributes the transmission signal generated by the transmitter and outputs the distributed transmission signal to the plurality of phase shifters, while receiving the reception signal whose phase is adjusted by the plurality of phase shifters. Synthesize,
The receiver detects the reception signal synthesized by the synthesis distributor,
The excitation phase control unit switches the phase of the transmission signal adjusted by the plurality of phase shifters in a first switching period, while the phase of the reception signal adjusted by the plurality of phase shifters is the first switching Switching at a second switching cycle different from the cycle,
An antenna excitation method in which a time average calculation unit calculates a time average of a received signal detected by the receiver.

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