JPH0513581B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a phased array antenna that electronically scans a beam by controlling the phase of a phase shifter of a module connected to a plurality of elements. It concerns a measurement method for checking failures in each module.

[Conventional technology]

Figure 2 shows the configuration of a conventional phased array antenna. In the figure, 1 is a module, 2 is an element antenna, 3 is a test antenna,
4 is a power distribution and synthesis circuit, 5 is a control circuit, 6 is a transmitter, 7 is a receiver, and 8 is a computer that controls the module 11 and processes the received signal of the receiver 7.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the module. In the figure, 1a is a high output amplifier, 1b is a low noise amplifier, 1c is a phase shifter, and 1d is a transmission/reception switch.

Next, the operation will be explained. FIG. 2 shows an example of transmission, in which the signal power generated by the transmitter 6 is distributed to a desired distribution ratio by the power divider 4 and sent to each module 1. Then, in the module 1, a phase shifter 1c controlled to a desired phase shift amount by a computer 8 further increases the high output amplification 1b.
is amplified and radiated into space from the element antenna 2 to obtain desired antenna characteristics. In the case of reception, it is the same as in the case of transmission, just by replacing the transmitter and receiver and amplifying each module with a low-noise amplifier.

Now, in the above phased array antenna, if the high-output amplifier 1a, low-noise amplifier 1b, phase shifter 1c, etc. of module 1 fails, the desired antenna characteristics cannot be obtained, so it is necessary to investigate the failed module. . This method is
In FIG. 2, one module is in an operating state and the other modules are in an inoperative state, and the test antenna 3 receives radio waves radiated from one module to know the operating state of that module. Repeat this for each element to check for failed modules.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the conventional method, one module is in the operating state and the other module is in the non-operating state. Therefore, the problem is the isolation between the operating state and the non-operating state of each element. In a bad case, or when the number of elements is large and the combination of the wet power from the non-operating elements is equal to or higher than the electric power of the active elements, there is a problem that the failure determination becomes ambiguous.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to improve the accuracy of failure determination of the module 1 and to provide a measurement method that automatically performs the determination.

[Means for solving problems]

The antenna measurement method according to the present invention changes the phase of the phase shifter and measures the change in the combined power of the phased array antenna at that time, determines the amplitude of each element antenna, and uses the average value to determine the amplitude below a specified level. This is a method of determining that something is a module failure.

[Effect]

The antenna measurement method in this invention improves the accuracy of module failure determination and automates the determination.

[Example] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the antenna measurement method of the present invention.

First, by changing the phase of the phase shifter of each element using the method shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-932667, the combined power of the phased array antenna is measured, and the maximum versus minimum change in power level is measured. The phase change amount Δ ₀ that gives the ratio r ² and the maximum value is determined, and the amplitude of each element antenna is calculated.

Next, the average value a ₀ =1/N _N 〓 ⁿ⁼¹ A _o is determined from the amplitude A _o of each element. Here, a ₀ is the average value, and N is the number of elements. Find the difference a ₀ =A _o −a ₀ from the average value of each element antenna.

Next, they are arranged in descending order of _ao , that is, in descending order of amplitude level. Then, find the element number below a certain specified level from _ao . This is determined to be a failed module.

As mentioned above, the amplitude of each element is determined from the change in the combined power of the phased array antenna by changing the phase of the phase shifter of each element with all elements in the operating state. The amplitude of each element can be measured without being affected by isolation or wet power due to the large number of elements. Then, instead of performing the above processing using the amplitude and making an intuitive judgment, we quantitatively grasp the amount of decrease in the amplitude level, arrange them in order, and automatically find those below the specified level. By doing so, it becomes possible to make a determination without ambiguity in a short time.

Incidentally, although the present invention is explained using an example of transmission, it goes without saying that the same applies to reception. Furthermore, it goes without saying that any configuration of the phased array antenna, its positional relationship with the test antenna, etc. may be used as long as the phase can be controlled.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when determining the failure of a module, the amplitude level of each element is determined using the change in the combined power, and the determination is made based on the deviation from the overall average, so that the accuracy of failure determination is improved and Since this is done automatically, it has the effect of providing a determination in a short time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a measurement method according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a phased array antenna, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a module. In the figure, 1 is a module, 2 is an element antenna, 3 is a test antenna, 4 is a power distribution/synthesis circuit, 5 is a control circuit, 6 is a transmitter, 7 is a receiver, 8 is a computer, 1a is a high output amplifier, 1b is a low noise amplifier, 1c is a phase shifter, and 1d is a transmission/reception switch. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A module consisting of a phase shifter, a high-output amplifier, a low-noise amplifier, and a transmission/reception switch is connected to a plurality of element antennas and corresponding to each element antenna. A phased array antenna to which a power distribution/synthesis circuit for distributing the signals of the module and a control circuit for controlling the phase shifter of the module are connected, and a test antenna and a test antenna provided opposite to the phased array antenna. In the antenna measurement method for investigating the failure of the module described above, a failure of the module is determined by the following procedure using a connected receiver and a computer that controls the control circuit and takes in and processes the received signal of the receiver. An antenna measurement method characterized by: (a) Determine the combined power of the phased array antenna by changing the phase of the phase shifter, and find the maximum-to-minimum ratio r ² of the power level change and the amount of phase change Δ ₀ that gives the maximum value. , the amplitude A _o of each element antenna is calculated from these r and Δ ₀ . (b) Find the average value a ₀ from the amplitude A _o of each element antenna. (c) Difference a _o ( _{a o}
= A _o − a ₀ ). (d) Arrange in descending order of difference a _o . (e) Find the element number below the specified level from the difference a _o , and determine the module with that element number to be faulty.