JP7056912B2 - Receiver - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a receiving device.

Research and development of technologies related to receivers that receive radio waves by antennas are being conducted.

In this regard, a receiving device including a phased array antenna in which a plurality of antennas are arranged at intervals from each other is known (see Patent Document 1).

U.S. Pat. No. 7,787,819

Two methods, ABF (Analog Beam Forming) and DBF (Digital Beam Forming), are known as a method in which a receiving device provided with a phased array antenna forms a beam.

In the ABF, a beam is formed based on an analog signal corresponding to each of the radio waves received by each of the plurality of antennas included in the phased array antenna. A receiving device that forms a beam by ABF may be able to shorten the time between receiving a radio wave arriving from within the beam and demodulating it, as compared with the case where the beam is formed by DBF. .. This is because the DBF needs to be processed according to the formation of the beam. However, it is known that the receiving device of ADF needs to be equipped with the same number of phased array antennas as the number of the artificial satellites in order to receive the radio waves transmitted from each of the plurality of artificial satellites at the same time. Has been done. Further, when the receiving device fails to receive the radio wave transmitted from the artificial satellite due to, for example, the estimation accuracy of the orbit of the target artificial satellite to which the radio wave is to be received is low, the reception fails from the time when the reception fails. In some cases, the information that should have been acquired during the time until it became receivable was lost, and it was difficult to restart the demodulation of the radio wave.

On the other hand, in the DBF, digital information indicating a digital signal corresponding to a radio wave received by each of a plurality of antennas included in the phased array antenna is stored, and a beam is formed based on the stored digital information. The receiving device forming the beam by the DBF can receive the radio waves transmitted from each of the plurality of artificial satellites passing over the receiving device at the same time by one phased array. Therefore, the receiving device capable of forming a beam by each of the ABF and the DBF is, for example, the radio wave transmitted from the artificial satellite because the estimation accuracy of the orbit of the target artificial satellite to which the radio wave is to be received is low. Even if reception fails, it is possible to reshape a beam that can receive the radio wave based on the stored digital information, and as a result, demodulation of the radio wave without losing the information of the radio wave. Can be easily restarted. However, the receiving device that forms the beam by the DBF takes a longer time from receiving the radio wave arriving from within the formed beam to demodulating it, as compared with the case where the beam is formed by the ABF. As a result, the receiving device may not be able to provide the information desired by the user at the timing desired by the user.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is possible to shorten the time between receiving a radio wave arriving from within the beam and demodulating it, and at the same time, it is possible to demodulate the radio wave. Provided is a receiving device capable of restarting demodulation without losing the information of the radio wave even if it fails.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention corresponds to a phased array antenna in which a plurality of antennas are arranged at intervals from each other and a received radio wave received for each of the plurality of antennas. A phase-shifting unit that shifts the phase of the analog signal, a first demodulation unit that demodulates radio waves coming from within the beam based on the phases of the analog signals shifted by the phase-shifting unit as target radio waves, and the above-mentioned For each of the received radio waves received by each of the plurality of antennas, a conversion unit that converts the analog signal corresponding to the received radio waves into a digital signal and the plurality of digital signals converted by the conversion unit are shown. When the storage unit that stores digital information in a manner capable of synchronizing the reception time and the first demodulation unit fails to demodulate the target radio wave, the target is based on the digital information stored in the storage unit. It is a receiving device including a second demodulation unit that demodulates radio waves.

According to the present invention, the time from receiving the radio wave arriving from the beam to demodulating can be shortened, and even if the demodulation of the radio wave fails, the information of the radio wave is lost. It is possible to provide a receiving device capable of restarting demodulation without doing so.

It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the receiving device 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional structure of the reception control device 20. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional structure of the reception control part 21. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of the process which the reception control apparatus 20 stores digital information in a storage unit 214. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of the process which changes the phase-shifting amount set in the phase-shifting device 215B by the phase-shifting control unit 215A. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of the process which changes the phase shift amount of an analog signal by a phase shifter 215B. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of the process which a reception control apparatus 20 demodulates a target radio wave. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of the process which the error information generation part 216 generates error information.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Overview of receiver>
First, the outline of the receiving device 1 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the receiving device 1.

The receiving device 1 receives radio waves transmitted from one or more sources that transmit radio waves. In FIG. 1, as an example, a case where one or more transmission sources are three artificial satellites S will be described.

The three artificial satellites S transmit radio waves modulated according to various information to the receiving device 1. The artificial satellite S1, the artificial satellite S2, and the artificial satellite S3 shown in FIG. 1 are examples of the three artificial satellites S. In addition, a part or all of the artificial satellite S1, the artificial satellite S2, and the artificial satellite S3 may have different configurations or may have the same configuration.

The receiving device 1 includes a phased array antenna 10 and a receiving control device 20.

The phased array antenna 10 includes a plurality of antennas 11. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the phased array antenna 10 includes antennas 11-1 to 11-N as N antennas 11. Here, N is an integer of 2 or more.

Further, in the phased array antenna 10, the N antennas 11 are arranged so as to have a predetermined positional relationship at intervals from each other.

Each of the N antennas 11 receives radio waves arriving toward the phased array antenna 10. That is, each of the N antennas 11 is an antenna element of the phased array antenna 10. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the radio waves received by each of the N antennas 11 will be referred to as received radio waves. Each of the N antennas 11 outputs an analog signal corresponding to the received received radio wave to the reception control device 20 each time the received radio wave is received.

The reception control device 20 forms a beam by ABF (Analog Beam Forming), and demodulates a radio wave arriving from within the formed beam as a target radio wave.

More specifically, the reception control device 20 acquires an analog signal corresponding to the received radio wave received by the antenna 11 from the antenna 11 for each of the plurality of antennas 11 included in the phased array antenna 10. The reception control device 20 shifts the phase of each of the acquired analog signals to form a beam. The reception control device 20 demodulates the radio wave arriving from the formed beam as the above-mentioned target radio wave.

Further, the reception control device 20 forms one or more beams at the same time by DBF (Digital Beam Forming), and demodulates the radio waves arriving from the formed beams as the target radio waves.

More specifically, the reception control device 20 converts an analog signal corresponding to the received radio wave into a digital signal for each of the received radio waves received for each of the plurality of antennas 11. The reception control device 20 stores digital information indicating each of the converted digital signals in a manner capable of synchronizing the reception time. The mode in which reception time synchronization is possible is, for example, a mode in which digital information indicating digital signals corresponding to received radio waves having the same reception time is associated with each other. The reception control device 20 virtually forms one or more beams based on the stored digital information. The reception control device 20 identifies the beam to which the target radio wave arrives from among the formed one or more beams. Then, the reception control device 20 demodulates the radio wave arriving from within the specified beam as the target radio wave.

Further, when the reception control device 20 fails to demodulate the target radio wave based on the beam formed by the ABF, the reception control device 20 virtually forms one or more beams based on the stored digital information. The reception control device 20 demodulates radio waves arriving from within one or more of the formed beams. The reception control device 20 identifies a target radio wave from one or more demodulated radio waves. Even if the demodulation of the radio wave fails by the first demodulation unit 22 described later, the demodulation of the radio wave can be restarted based on the stored digital information.

Hereinafter, each of the functional configuration of the reception control device 20 and the various processes performed by the reception control device 20 will be described in detail.

<Functional configuration of reception control device>
Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the reception control device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the reception control device 20. The reception control device 20 includes a reception control unit 21, a first demodulation unit 22, a first information processing device 23, and a second information processing device 24. Further, the second information processing apparatus 24 includes a second demodulation unit 241.

The reception control unit 21 acquires an analog signal corresponding to the received radio wave received by the antenna 11 from the antenna 11 for each of the plurality of antennas 11 included in the phased array antenna 10. Further, the reception control unit 21 converts the acquired analog signal into a digital signal. The reception control unit 21 stores digital information indicating each of the converted digital signals in a manner capable of synchronizing the reception time. Further, the reception control unit 21 shifts the phase of the analog signal for each of the acquired analog signals. At this time, the reception control unit 21 identifies the position of the artificial satellite S transmitting the target radio wave based on the forecast value indicated by the forecast value information stored in advance, and from the phased array antenna 10 to the specified position. Calculate the direction as the arrival direction. The reception control unit 21 shifts the phase of each of the acquired analog signals to a phase in which the direction of the beam is directed in the calculated arrival direction and a phase in which the shape of the beam becomes a desired shape. The reception control unit 21 outputs each of the plurality of phase-shifted analog signals to the first demodulation unit 22. Further, the reception control unit 21 outputs the stored digital information to the second demodulation unit 241 in response to a request from the second demodulation unit 241 included in the second information processing device 24.

Here, the functional configuration of the reception control unit 21 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the reception control unit 21. The reception control unit 21 includes a low noise amplifier 211, a down converter 212, an AD conversion unit 213, and a storage unit 214 as hardware function units for connecting each of the plurality of antennas 11 to the antenna 11. In FIG. 3, one antenna 11 represents N antennas 11 in order to prevent the figure from becoming complicated. Therefore, in FIG. 3, one low noise amplifier 211 represents N low noise amplifiers 211, one down converter 212 represents N down converters 212, and one AD conversion unit 213 represents N. The AD conversion unit 213 is represented, and the storage unit 214 represents N storage units 214.

Further, in the following, as an example, in the phased array antenna 10, N antennas 11 belong to two or more antennas 11 belonging to the first group as two or more first antennas, and two antennas 11 in a second group different from the first group. A case where the antenna 11 is divided into two or more antennas belonging to the second antenna will be described. Here, the two or more first antennas are antennas that receive the received radio waves used for demodulating the above-mentioned target radio waves. Further, the two or more second antennas are antennas that receive received radio waves used by the error information generation unit 216, which will be described later, to demodulate the error radio waves. In the phased array antenna 10, there may be only one second group or a plurality of second groups. In the following, as an example, in the phased array antenna 10, N antennas 11 are divided into a first group and four second groups of 21st group, 22nd group, 23rd group, and 24th group. The case where there is is explained. In this case, two or more antennas 11 belong to the 21st group as two or more 21st antennas. Further, in this case, two or more antennas 11 belong to the 22nd group as two or more 22nd antennas. Further, in this case, two or more antennas 11 belong to the 23rd group as two or more 23rd antennas. Further, in this case, two or more antennas 11 belong to the 24th group as two or more 24th antennas. Here, for convenience of explanation, the 21st group, the 22nd group, the 23rd group, and the 24th group will be collectively referred to as the second group unless it is necessary to distinguish them. Further, in the following, for convenience of explanation, unless it is necessary to distinguish between the first antenna and the second antenna, the antenna 11 will be collectively referred to as an antenna 11. Further, in the phased array antenna 10, a part or all of the two or more antennas 11 belonging to the first group may be configured to behave as the antenna 11 belonging to the second group. That is, the plurality of antennas 11 included in the phased array antenna 10 may each belong to one or both of the first group and the second group.

The low noise amplifier 211 amplifies the analog signal acquired from the antenna 11 to which the low noise amplifier 211 is connected. The low noise amplifier 211 outputs the amplified analog signal to the down converter 212.

The down converter 212 acquires an analog signal amplified by the low noise amplifier 211 to which the down converter 212 is connected from the low noise amplifier 211. Here, the down converter 212 includes a frequency conversion unit 212A and a branch unit 212B.

The frequency conversion unit 212A converts the frequency of the analog signal acquired by the down converter 212 from the low noise amplifier 211 into a predetermined frequency. The frequency conversion unit 212A outputs the frequency-converted analog signal to the branch unit 212B.
The branch unit 212B acquires an analog signal whose frequency has been converted by the frequency conversion unit 212A from the frequency conversion unit 212A. The branch section 212B outputs the acquired analog signal to the AD conversion section 213 and outputs the acquired analog signal to the phase shift section 215.

The AD conversion unit 213 acquires an analog signal from the branch unit 212B of the down converter 212 to which the AD conversion unit 213 is connected. The AD conversion unit 213 converts the acquired analog signal into a digital signal. The AD conversion unit 213 outputs the converted digital signal to the storage unit 214 as digital information indicating the digital signal, and stores the converted digital signal in the storage unit 214.

The storage unit 214 includes an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, and the like. The storage unit 214 stores the digital information output from the AD conversion unit 213 to which the storage unit 214 is connected.

The phase shift unit 215 includes a phase shift control unit 215A. Further, the phase shift unit 215 includes a phase shifter 215B as a hardware functional unit connected to the branch portion 212B for each of the plurality of branch portions 212B. In FIG. 3, one phase shifter 215B represents N phase shifters 215B in order to prevent the figure from becoming complicated.

The phase shift control unit 215A controls the phase shift amount for each of the N phase shifters 215B to shift the phase of the analog signal acquired by the phase shifter 215B from the branch portion 212B. Specifically, the phase shift control unit 215A identifies the position of the artificial satellite S transmitting the target radio wave based on the forecast value indicated by the forecast value information stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown), and the specified position. The direction from the phased array antenna 10 to is calculated as the above-mentioned arrival direction. Further, the phase shift control unit 215A acquires error information from the error information generation unit 216, which will be described later. The phase shift control unit 215A corrects the calculated arrival direction based on the error information. The details of the process in which the phase shift control unit 215A corrects the arrival direction based on the error information will be described later.

The phase shift control unit 215A controls the first phase shifter so that the phase of the analog signal acquired by the first phase shifter is shifted to the desired first phase. The first phase is a phase in which the direction of the beam is directed in the corrected arrival direction, and the shape of the beam is a desired shape. The first phase shifter is a phase shifter 215B connected to each of two or more first antennas. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the beam directed in the arrival direction will be referred to as a first beam.

Further, the phase shift control unit 215A controls the 21st phase shifter so that the phase of the analog signal acquired by the 21st phase shifter is shifted to the desired 21st phase. The 21st phase is a phase in which the direction of the beam is directed in a direction deviated by an angle θ, which is a predetermined angle in the positive direction of the azimuth direction from the calculated arrival direction, and the shape of the beam is a desired shape. The phase. The 21st phase shifter is a phase shifter 215B connected to each of two or more 21st antennas.

Further, the phase shift control unit 215A controls the 22nd phase shifter so that the phase of the analog signal acquired by the 22nd phase shifter is shifted to the desired 22nd phase. The 22nd phase is a phase in which the direction of the beam is directed in a direction deviated by an angle θ in the negative direction of the azimuth direction from the calculated arrival direction, and the shape of the beam is a desired shape. The 22nd phase shifter is a phase shifter 215B connected to each of two or more 22nd antennas.

Further, the phase shift control unit 215A controls the 23rd phase shifter so that the phase of the analog signal acquired by the 23rd phase shifter is shifted to the desired 23rd phase. The 23rd phase is a phase in which the direction of the beam is directed in a direction deviated by an angle θ in the positive direction of the elevation direction from the calculated arrival direction, and the shape of the beam is a desired shape. The 23rd phase shifter is a phase shifter 215B connected to each of two or more 23rd antennas.

Further, the phase shift control unit 215A controls the 24th phase shifter so that the phase of the analog signal acquired by the 24th phase shifter is shifted to the desired 24th phase. The 24th phase is a phase in which the direction of the beam is directed in a direction deviated by an angle θ in the negative direction of the elevation direction from the calculated arrival direction, and the shape of the beam is a desired shape. The 24th phase shifter is a phase shifter 215B connected to each of two or more 24th antennas.

The phase shifter 215B acquires an analog signal from the branch portion 212B to which the phase shifter 215B is connected. The phase shifter 215B shifts the phase of the acquired analog signal by the phase amount specified by the phase shift control unit 215A. Then, the phase shifter 215B outputs the phase-shifted analog signal to the first demodulation unit 22, and outputs the analog signal to the error information generation unit 216.

The error information generation unit 216 acquires an analog signal from two or more 21st phase shifters as the two or more 21st analog signals. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires an analog signal from two or more 22nd phase shifters as the two or more 22nd analog signals. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires an analog signal from two or more 23rd phase shifters as the two or more 23rd analog signals. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires an analog signal from two or more 24th phase shifters as the two or more 24th analog signals. The error information generation unit 216 demodulates the radio wave arriving from within the 21st beam based on the phase of each of the two or more acquired 21st analog signals as the 21st error radio wave. Further, the error information generation unit 216 demodulates the radio wave arriving from the 22nd beam based on the phase of each of the two or more acquired 22nd analog signals as the 22nd error radio wave. Further, the error information generation unit 216 demodulates the radio wave arriving from within the 23rd beam based on the phase of each of the two or more acquired 23rd analog signals as the 23rd error radio wave. Further, the error information generation unit 216 demodulates the radio wave arriving from the 24th beam based on the phase of each of the two or more acquired 24th analog signals as the 24th error radio wave. The error information generation unit 216 has the strengths of the demodulated 21st error radio wave, 22nd error radio wave, 23rd error radio wave, and 24th error radio wave, and the 21st beam, 22nd beam, 23rd beam, and 24th beam, respectively. Information indicating each of the directions is generated as the above-mentioned error information, and the generated error information is output to the phase shift control unit 215A.

At the timing before the phase shift control unit 215A controls each phase shifter 215B for the first time, the error information generation unit 216 is configured to output error information indicating that there is no error to the phase shift control unit 215A. However, the error information may not be output. If the error information is not output at the timing, the phase shift control unit 215A determines that there is no error.
Further, the reception control unit 21 may be configured not to include the error information generation unit 216. In this case, the N antennas 11 are all first antennas belonging to the first group.

The first demodulation unit 22 acquires an analog signal from two or more first phase shifters 215B as the two or more first analog signals. The first demodulation unit 22 arrives from within the first beam formed by combining the two or more first analog signals, that is, the first beam based on the phase of each of the two or more acquired first analog signals. The radio wave to be demodulated as the target radio wave. The first demodulation unit 22 outputs the target radio wave information indicating the demodulated target radio wave to the first information processing device 23. The combined wave of the first analog signal may be performed by a known method or may be performed by a method to be developed in the future, and further description thereof will be omitted. Further, the function of combining the first analog signal may be configured separately from the first demodulation unit 22.

The first information processing device 23 includes a processor (not shown) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the processor executes various programs to realize various functional units.

The first information processing device 23 acquires the target radio wave information from the first demodulation unit 22. Further, the first information processing device 23 receives an operation from the user. The first information processing device 23 performs processing based on the acquired target radio wave information according to the operation received from the user. For example, the process is a process of storing the target radio wave information.

The second information processing device 24 includes a second demodulation unit 241.

The second information processing device 24 includes a processor (not shown) such as a CPU, and the processor executes various programs to realize various functional units such as the second demodulation unit 241.

The second demodulation unit 241 reads out the digital information stored in the storage unit 214 from the storage unit 214 in response to the operation received from the user by the second information processing device 24. The second demodulation unit 241 virtually forms one or more beams based on the read digital information. The second demodulation unit 241 identifies a target radio wave from one or more demodulated radio waves. The second demodulation unit 241 may further include the error information generation unit 216 described above.

<Processing in which the reception control device stores digital information in the storage unit>
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, a process in which the reception control device 20 stores digital information in the storage unit 214 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of processing in which the reception control device 20 stores digital information in the storage unit 214. Here, the combination of the frequency conversion unit 212A, the branch unit 212B, the AD conversion unit 213, and the storage unit 214 connected to one of the N antennas 11 is the frequency conversion unit connected to the other antenna 11. The same processing as the combination of the 212A, the branching unit 212B, the AD conversion unit 213, and the storage unit 214 is performed. Therefore, in the following, each of the frequency conversion unit 212A, the branch unit 212B, the AD conversion unit 213, and the storage unit 214 connected to the target antenna, which is one antenna 11, is converted into a target frequency conversion unit, a target branch unit, and a target AD conversion. About the process of storing digital information in the storage unit 214 by the reception control device 20 by taking as an example the processing performed by the target frequency conversion unit, the target branch unit, the target AD conversion unit, and the target storage unit, which is referred to as a unit and a target storage unit. explain. That is, the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is a processing performed by each of the target frequency conversion unit, the target branch unit, the target AD conversion unit, and the target storage unit. The target frequency conversion unit, the target branch unit, the target AD conversion unit, and the target storage unit repeat the processes of steps S110 to S160 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 every time the target antenna receives the received radio wave.

The target low noise amplifier acquires an analog signal according to the received radio wave received by the target antenna (step S110).

Next, the target low noise amplifier amplifies the acquired analog signal (step S120). Then, the target low noise amplifier outputs the amplified analog signal to the target frequency conversion unit.

Next, the target frequency conversion unit acquires the amplified analog signal. The target frequency conversion unit converts the frequency of the acquired analog signal into a predetermined frequency (step S130). Then, the target frequency conversion unit outputs the frequency-converted analog signal to the target branch unit.

Next, the target branch unit outputs the acquired analog signal to the phase shifter 215B connected to the target branch unit, and outputs the analog signal to the target AD conversion unit (step S140). The process performed by the phase shifter 215B that has acquired the analog signal output from the target branch portion in step S140 will be described in the flowchart shown in FIG.

Next, the target AD conversion unit converts the acquired analog signal into a digital signal (step S150).

Next, the target AD conversion unit generates digital information indicating the converted digital signal, stores the generated digital information in the target storage unit (step S160), and ends the process.

Here, each of the frequency conversion unit 212A, the branch unit 212B, the AD conversion unit 213, and the storage unit 214 connected to each of the plurality of antennas 11 performs the processes of steps S110 to S160. That is, the reception control unit 21 repeats the processes of steps S110 to S160 each time each of the N antennas 11 included in the phased array antenna 10 receives the received radio wave. As a result, the reception control unit 21 can store the digital information indicating the digital signal corresponding to the received radio wave in each of the N antennas 11 included in the phased array antenna 10 in the storage unit 214.

<Process in which the phase shift control unit changes the phase shift amount set in the phase shifter>
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 5, a process in which the phase shift control unit 215A changes the phase shift amount set in the phase shifter 215B will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow in which the phase shift control unit 215A changes the phase shift amount set in the phase shift device 215B. The phase shift control unit 215A performs the processes of steps S210 to S230 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 at the timing before the phase shifter 215B acquires the analog signal from the branch portion 212B, and sets the phase shifter 215B in each phase shifter 215B. The amount of phase shift is changed. Further, the phase shift control unit 215A repeats the processes of steps S210 to S230 every time a predetermined cycle elapses.

The phase shift control unit 215A reads out the forecast value information stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown) from the storage unit. Further, the phase shift control unit 215A acquires error information from the error information generation unit 216 (step S210).

Next, the phase shift control unit 215A identifies the position of the artificial satellite S transmitting the target radio wave based on the forecast value indicated by the read forecast value information, and from the phased array antenna 10 to the specified position. The direction is calculated as the arrival direction (step S220).

Next, the phase shift control unit 215A changes the phase shift amount set in each phase shifter 215B based on the calculated arrival direction (step S230), and ends the process.

Here, the process of step S230 will be described. The phase shift control unit 215A corrects the arrival direction calculated in step S230 based on the error information acquired in step S210. For example, the phase shift control unit 215A has the strengths of the 21st error radio wave, the 22nd error radio wave, the 23rd error radio wave, and the 24th error radio wave indicated by the error information, and the 21st beam, the 22nd beam, the 23rd beam, and the second beam. Each of the 24 beams is specified in each direction. The phase shift control unit 215A calculates the average value of the strengths of the specified 21st error radio wave, 22nd error radio wave, 23rd error radio wave, and 24th error radio wave as the average strength. Then, the phase shift control unit 215A states that the radio wave of the average intensity has arrived based on the calculated average intensity and the directions of the specified 21st beam, 22nd beam, 23rd beam, and 24th beam. Calculate the estimated direction. When the phase shift control unit 215A determines that the difference between the calculated direction and the calculated arrival direction is less than a predetermined allowable value, the phase shift control unit 215A does not correct the arrival direction. On the other hand, when the phase shift control unit 215A determines that the difference is equal to or greater than the allowable value, the phase shift control unit 215A corrects the arrival direction and calculates the direction between the direction and the arrival direction as a new arrival direction. The phase shift control unit 215A is set in the two or more first phase shifters so that the phases of the analog signals acquired by the two or more first phase shifters are shifted to the first phase described above. The amount of phase shift is changed. Further, the phase shift control unit 215A calculates the directions of the 21st beam, the 22nd beam, the 23rd beam, and the 24th beam based on the corrected arrival direction. The phase shift control unit 215A is set to the two or more 21st phase shifters so that the phase of each analog signal acquired by the two or more 21st phase shifters is shifted to the 21st phase. Change the phase amount. Further, the phase shift control unit 215A is set in the two or more 22nd phase shifters so that the phases of the analog signals acquired by the two or more 22nd phase shifters are shifted to the 22nd phase. The amount of phase shift is changed. Further, the phase shift control unit 215A is set in the two or more 23rd phase shifters so that the phases of the analog signals acquired by the two or more 23rd phase shifters are shifted to the 23rd phase. The amount of phase shift is changed. Further, the phase shift control unit 215A is set in the two or more 24th phase shifters so that the phases of the analog signals acquired by the two or more 24th phase shifters are shifted to the 24th phase. The amount of phase shift is changed.

As described above, the phase shift control unit 215A sets the phase shift amount for each of the N phase shifters 215B based on the forecast value information read in step S210 and the error information acquired in step S210. Change. As a result, the receiving device 1 can form the first beam in a direction in which the intensity of the target radio wave demodulated by the receiving control device 20 becomes stronger. That is, the receiving device 1 can follow the temporal position change of the incoming target radio wave.

<Processing by the phase shifter to change the phase shift amount of the analog signal>
Hereinafter, the process of changing the phase shift amount of the analog signal by the phase shifter 215B will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow in which the phase shifter 215B changes the phase shift amount of the analog signal. Each phase shifter 215B repeats the processes of steps S250 to S260 each time an analog signal is output from each branch portion 212B. Further, since each of the N phase shifters 215B performs the same processing, the processing performed by one phase shifter 215B is taken as an example below, and the phase shifter 215B connected to the antenna 11-1 is used. A process in which a phase shifter 215B-1 changes the phase shift amount of an analog signal will be described.

The phase shifter 215B-1 acquires an analog signal from the branch portion 212B to which the phase shifter 215B-1 is connected (step S250). Here, the analog signal acquired by the phase shifter 215B-1 from the branch portion 212B is an analog signal output from the branch portion 212B to the phase shifter 215B-1 in step S140 of the flowchart shown in FIG. Is.

Next, the phase shifter 215B-1 shifts the phase of the analog signal acquired in step S250 based on the phase shift amount set in the phase shifter 215B-1 (step S260). Here, the phase shift amount is the phase shift amount changed (that is, set) by the phase shift control unit 215A in step S230 of the flowchart shown in FIG. After shifting the phase, when the phase shifter 215B-1 is the first antenna, the phase shifter 215B-1 outputs the phase-shifted analog signal to the first demodulation unit 22, and ends the process. On the other hand, when the phase shifter 215B-1 is the second antenna after shifting the phase, the phase shifter 215B-1 outputs the phase-shifted analog signal to the error information generation unit 216 and ends the process. do.

<Processing by the reception control device to change the phase shift amount of the analog signal>
Hereinafter, the process of demodulating the target radio wave by the reception control device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of processing in which the reception control device 20 demodulates the target radio wave. The reception control device 20 repeats the processes of steps S310 to S340 each time an analog signal is output from two or more first phase shifters.

The first demodulation unit 22 acquires an analog signal from two or more first phase shifters as the two or more first analog signals. The first demodulation unit 22 demodulates a radio wave arriving from within the first beam based on the phase of each of the two or more acquired first analog signals as a target radio wave (step S310). The process of step S310 performed by the first demodulation unit 22 may be a process based on a known method or a process based on a method to be developed.

Next, the first demodulation unit 22 determines whether or not the demodulation of the target radio wave has failed in step S310 (step S320). Here, for example, when the intensity of the target radio wave demodulated in step S310 is less than the above-mentioned predetermined threshold value, the first demodulation unit 22 determines that the demodulation of the target radio wave has failed. On the other hand, when the intensity of the target radio wave is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold value, the first demodulation unit 22 determines that the target radio wave has been successfully demodulated. When it is determined that the demodulation of the target radio wave is successful (step S320-NO), the first demodulation unit 22 generates the target radio wave information indicating the target radio wave, and the generated target radio wave information is used as the first information processing device 23. Output to. The first information processing device 23 acquires the target radio wave information and performs processing based on the acquired target radio wave information. The process is, for example, a process of outputting the target radio wave information to another device, a process of storing the target radio wave information, and the like. Then, the first demodulation unit 22 ends the process. On the other hand, when it is determined that the demodulation of the target radio wave has failed (step S320-YES), the first demodulation unit 22 outputs information indicating the failure of the demodulation of the target radio wave to the second information processing device 24. When the second information processing device 24 acquires the information, the second demographic unit 241 included in the second information processing device 24 has, for example, the latest time after the demodulation failure among the digital information stored in the storage unit 214. The digital information associated with is read from the storage unit 214 (step S330).

Next, the second demodulation unit 241 demodulates the radio waves arriving from within one or more of the formed beams based on the phase of the digital signal indicated by each of the read digital information. The second demodulation unit 241 identifies a target radio wave from one or more demodulated radio waves (step S340). Then, the second demodulation unit 241 generates the target radio wave information indicating the specified target radio wave, and performs processing based on the generated target radio wave information. The process is, for example, a process of outputting the target radio wave information to another device, a process of storing the target radio wave information, and the like. Further, the second demodulation unit 241 outputs beam direction information indicating the direction of the beam including the arrival direction of the target radio wave specified in step S340 to the phase shift control unit 215A. Then, the second demodulation unit 241 ends the process. When the phase shift control unit 215A acquires the beam direction information, the phase shift control unit 215A obtains the beam direction information in step S220 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 based on the beam direction information when the target radio wave is successfully demodulated. Correct the arrival direction calculated in. For example, the phase shift control unit 215A replaces the arrival direction with the direction indicated by the beam direction information. As a result, the reception control device 20 can restart the demodulation of the target radio wave by the first demodulation unit 22 even if the demodulation of the target radio wave by the first demodulation unit 22 fails. For example, when the tracking of the artificial satellite S is continued by the DBF, the second information processing apparatus 24 may be configured to perform the same processing as the processing performed by the error information generation unit 216.

<Process in which the error information generator generates error information>
Hereinafter, the process of generating the error information by the error information generation unit 216 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of processing in which the error information generation unit 216 generates error information. The error information generation unit 216 outputs analog signals from each of two or more 21st phase shifters, two or more 22nd phase shifters, two or more 23rd phase shifters, and two or more 24th phase shifters. Each time, the processes of steps S410 to S430 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 are repeated.

The error information generation unit 216 acquires an analog signal from each phase shifter 215B connected to the second antenna (step S410). Specifically, the error information generation unit 216 acquires two or more 21st analog signals from two or more 21st phase shifters. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires two or more 22nd analog signals from two or more 22nd phase shifters. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires two or more 23rd analog signals from two or more 23rd phase shifters. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires two or more 24th analog signals from two or more 24th phase shifters.

Next, the error information generation unit 216 described above based on each of the acquired two or more 21st analog signals, two or more 22nd analog signals, two or more 23rd analog signals, and two or more 24th analog signals. Each of the 21st error radio wave to the 24th error radio wave is demodulated (step S420).

Next, the error information generation unit 216 has the strengths of the demodulated 21st error radio wave, 22nd error radio wave, 23rd error radio wave, and 24th error radio wave, and the 21st beam, 22nd beam, and 23rd beam described above. Information indicating each direction of the 24th beam is generated as error information, and the generated error information is output to the phase shift control unit 215A (step S430). Then, the error information generation unit 216 ends the process.

As described above, the error information generation unit 216 generates error information. As a result, the reception control device 20 can form the first beam in a direction in which the intensity of the target radio wave demodulated by the reception control device 20 becomes stronger.

In the phase shift control unit 215A described above, the shape of the beam based on the phase of each analog signal phase-shifted by the phase shifter 215B, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam are associated with each other. The phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received for each of the plurality of antennas 11 may be phase-shifted based on the machine learning algorithm in which the information including the obtained information is learned. Here, the algorithm may be, for example, an algorithm for deep learning or another algorithm in machine learning. As a result, the receiving device 1 can more reliably and accurately demodulate the target radio wave by the first demodulation unit.

Further, the second demodulation unit 241 described above contains information including information in which the shape of the beam formed by the second demodulation unit 241, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam are associated with each other. One or more beams are formed based on the learned machine learning algorithm and the digital information stored in the storage unit 214. Here, the algorithm may be, for example, an algorithm for deep learning or another algorithm in machine learning. As a result, the receiving device 1 can more reliably and accurately demodulate the target radio wave by the second demodulation unit 241.

Further, the second information processing apparatus 24 described above receives digital information indicating a digital signal corresponding to the received radio wave received at the time corresponding to the operation from the storage unit 214 based on the operation received from the user. 2 The configuration may be such that the demodulation unit 241 reads out. In this case, the second demodulation unit 241 performs the processes of steps S330 and S340 based on the read digital information. As a result, the user can demodulate the target radio wave received by the phased array antenna 10 at a desired time to the reception control device 20 at a timing desired by the user by operating the reception control device 20. Further, as a result, the reception control device 20 can demodulate each of the target radio waves received at the same time from each of the plurality of artificial satellites S by the phased array antenna 10. This indicates that, for example, even if the reception control device 20 cannot acquire the forecast value information in advance, the reception control device 20 can demodulate the target radio wave. Further, since the reception control device 20 can demodulate the target radio wave received by the phased array antenna 10 at a desired time to the reception control device 20 at a timing desired by the user, the operation of the plurality of artificial satellites S can be performed. This can be done using one phased array antenna 10. That is, the reception control device 20 can also be suitably applied to a constellation in which observations are performed by forming a formation of a plurality of artificial satellites S in the same time zone. Further, the reception control device 20 can be suitably applied to high-frequency reception of the target radio wave transmitted from the artificial satellite S in the earth station at a high latitude. Further, the reception control device 20 uses digital information by demodulating the target radio wave by the first demodulation unit 22 when there is only one artificial satellite S that transmits the target radio wave to the reception device 1 at a certain time. In comparison, the time from reception of the target radio wave to demodulation can be shortened. Further, since the receiving device 1 can demolish the target radio wave received by the phased array antenna 10 at a desired time to the receiving control device 20 at a timing desired by the user, for example, in an antenna such as a parabolic antenna. There is no singular point of tracking due to the generated mechanical drive, and it is not necessary to secure the time for pointing the antenna in the initial capture direction of the target radio wave, that is, the initial capture direction of the artificial satellite S. From the above, the receiving device 1 can reduce the operating cost in the artificial satellite operation, improve the operating capacity with limited resources, and optimize the beam shape according to the elevation angle. It is possible to reliably capture the artificial satellite S, stabilize the reception gain, and the like.

Further, the shape of a part or all of the first beam, the 21st beam, the 22nd beam, the 23rd beam, and the 24th beam described above may be changed for each of the plurality of artificial satellites S. .. In this case, the reception control device 20 sets the shape received from the user in the phase shift control unit 215A.

Further, at least one of the AD conversion unit 213 and the storage unit 214 described above may be provided in the second information processing apparatus 24.

The AD conversion unit 213 described above is an example of the conversion unit.

As described above, the receiving device 1 includes a phased array antenna (in this example, the phased array antenna 10) in which a plurality of antennas (antenna 11 in this example) are arranged at intervals from each other, and a plurality of antennas, respectively. A beam based on the phase of each of the phase shift section (in this example, the phase shift section 215) that shifts the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each received radio wave received and the phase shift section of the analog signal. For each of the first demodulation unit (in this example, the first demodulation unit 22) that demodulates the radio waves arriving from the inside as the target radio waves and the received radio waves received by each of the plurality of antennas, analog signals corresponding to the received radio waves are transmitted. A conversion unit that converts to a digital signal (AD conversion unit 213 in this example) and a storage unit that stores digital information indicating a plurality of digital signals converted by the conversion unit in a manner capable of synchronizing the reception time (this example). In the storage unit 214) and the second demodulation unit that demodulates the target radio wave based on the digital information stored in the storage unit when the first demodulation unit fails to demodulate the target radio wave (in this example, the second demodulation unit). It includes a demodulation unit 241). As a result, the receiving device 1 can shorten the time from receiving the radio wave arriving from the beam to demodulating the radio wave, and even if the demodulation of the radio wave fails, the radio wave can be demodulated. Demodulation of the radio wave can be resumed without losing information.

Further, the receiving device 1 includes a branch section (in this example, the branch section 212B) that outputs each of the plurality of analog signals to the conversion section and outputs the phase shift section. Further, in the receiving device 1, the conversion unit converts each of the plurality of analog signals acquired from the branch unit into a digital signal, and the phase shift unit shifts the phase of each of the plurality of analog signals acquired from the branch unit. .. As a result, the receiving device 1 can efficiently demodulate the target radio wave by the ABF and demodulate the target radio wave by the DBF.

Further, in the receiving device 1, the plurality of antennas included in the phased array antenna belong to either one or both of the first group and the second group, respectively, and the first demodulating unit is phase-shifted by the phase-shifting unit. Radio waves arriving from within the first beam, which is a beam based on the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received antennas received by the antenna belonging to the first group (in this example, the first antenna) among the plurality of received radio waves. Analog corresponding to each of the received radio waves received by the antennas belonging to the second group (in this example, the 21st antenna to the 24th antenna) among the plurality of received radio waves demodrated as the target radio waves and phase-shifted by the phase shift unit. Radio waves arriving from within the second beam (21st beam to 24th beam in this example), which is a beam based on the phase of the signal, are regarded as error radio waves (in this example, the 21st error radio wave to the 24th error radio wave, respectively). Error information generation unit that is demodulated, generates error information indicating the strength of the demolished radio wave and the direction of the second beam, and outputs the generated error information to the phase shift unit (in this example, the error information generation unit). 216), the phase shift unit shifts the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each received radio wave received for each of the antennas belonging to the first group based on the error information acquired from the error information generation unit. .. As a result, the receiving device 1 can form the first beam in the direction in which the intensity of the demodulated target radio wave becomes stronger.

Further, in the receiving device 1, the second demodulation unit further includes an error information generation unit. As a result, the receiving device 1 can maintain the intensity of the target radio wave demodulated by the DBF.

Further, in the receiving device 1, when the first demodulation unit fails to demodulate the target radio wave, the second demodulation unit outputs beam direction information indicating the direction of the formed beam to the phase shift unit, and the phase shift unit outputs the beam direction information. , The phase of the received radio wave is shifted to the phase forming the beam in the direction indicated by the beam direction information acquired from the second demodulation unit. As a result, even if the first demodulation unit 22 fails to demodulate the target radio wave, the receiving device 1 can easily restart the demodulation of the target radio wave by the first demodulation unit.

Further, in the receiving device 1, the phase-shifting unit is associated with the shape of the beam based on the phase of each analog signal phase-shifted by the phase-shifting unit, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam. Based on the machine learning algorithm in which the information including the information is learned, the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each received radio wave received for each of the plurality of antennas is phase-shifted. As a result, the receiving device 1 can more reliably and accurately demodulate the target radio wave by the first demodulation unit.

Further, in the receiving device 1, the second demodulation unit learns information including information in which the shape of the beam formed by the second demodulation unit, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam are associated with each other. One or more beams are formed based on the machine learning algorithm and the digital information stored in the storage unit. As a result, the receiving device 1 can more reliably and accurately demodulate the target radio wave by the second demodulation unit.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and changes, substitutions, deletions, etc. are made as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated. May be done.

Further, a program for realizing the function of an arbitrary component in the device (for example, the reception control device 20) described above is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program is read and executed by the computer system. You may try to do it. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an OS (Operating System) and peripheral devices. The "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD (Compact Disk) -ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. .. Furthermore, a "computer-readable recording medium" is a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system that serves as a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, it shall include those that hold the program for a certain period of time.

Further, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system in which this program is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting a program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
Further, the above program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions. Further, the above program may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

1 ... Receiver, 10 ... Phased array antenna, 11, 11-1 to 11-N ... Antenna, 20 ... Reception control device, 21 ... Reception control unit, 22 ... First demodulator, 23 ... First information processing device, 24 ... Second information processing device, 211 ... Low noise amplifier, 212 ... Down converter, 212A ... Frequency conversion unit, 212B ... Branch unit, 213 ... Conversion unit, 214 ... Storage unit, 215 ... Phase shift unit, 215A ... Phase shift unit Control unit, 215B, 215B-1 ... Phase shifter, 216 ... Error information generation unit, 241 ... Second demodulation unit, S, S1, S2, S3 ... Artificial satellite

Claims (7)

Phased array antennas with multiple antennas spaced apart from each other,
A phase-shifting unit that shifts the phase of an analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received for each of the plurality of antennas.
A first demodulation unit that demodulates a radio wave arriving from within a beam based on the phase of each of the analog signals phase-shifted by the phase shift unit as a target radio wave, and a first demodulation unit.
For each of the received radio waves received by each of the plurality of antennas, a conversion unit that converts the analog signal corresponding to the received radio wave into a digital signal, and
A storage unit that stores digital information indicating the plurality of digital signals converted by the conversion unit in a manner capable of synchronizing the reception time, and a storage unit.
When the first demodulation unit fails to demodulate the target radio wave, the second demodulation unit that demodulates the target radio wave based on the digital information stored in the storage unit, and the second demodulation unit.
A receiver equipped with. A branch portion is provided which outputs each of the plurality of analog signals to the conversion unit and outputs the phase shift unit.
The conversion unit converts each of the plurality of analog signals acquired from the branch unit into the digital signal.
The phase shift section shifts the phase of each of the plurality of analog signals acquired from the branch section.
The receiving device according to claim 1. The plurality of the antennas included in the phased array antenna belong to either one or both of the first group and the second group, respectively.
The first demodulation unit is based on the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received by the antenna belonging to the first group among the plurality of received radio waves phase-shifted by the phase shift unit. The radio wave arriving from within the first beam, which is a beam, is demodulated as the target radio wave, and the radio wave is demodulated.
Within the second beam, which is a beam based on the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received by the antenna belonging to the second group among the plurality of received radio waves phase-shifted by the phase shift unit. An error that demodulates the radio wave arriving from the above as an error radio wave, generates error information indicating each of the strength of the demodulated error radio wave and the direction of the second beam, and outputs the generated error information to the phase shift unit. Equipped with an information generator
The phase shift unit shifts the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each received radio wave received for each of the antennas belonging to the first group based on the error information acquired from the error information generation unit. To match
The receiving device according to claim 1 or 2. The second demodulation unit further includes the error information generation unit.
The receiving device according to claim 3. When the first demodulation unit fails to demodulate the target radio wave,
The second demodulation unit outputs beam direction information indicating the direction of the formed beam to the phase shift unit.
The phase shift unit shifts the phase of the received radio wave to the phase forming the beam in the direction indicated by the beam direction information acquired from the second demodulation unit.
The receiving device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The phase shift unit includes information in which the shape of the beam based on the phase of each of the analog signals phase-shifted by the phase shift unit, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam are associated with each other. Based on the machine learning algorithm in which the information is learned, the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received for each of the plurality of antennas is phase-shifted.
The receiving device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The second demodulation unit is machine learning in which information including information in which the shape of the beam formed by the second demodulation unit, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam are associated with each other is learned. And the digital information stored in the storage unit to form one or more beams.
The receiving device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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