JPH0553383B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a transmitting and receiving device that uses both radio waves and light waves.

[Conventional technology]

Transmitting/receiving devices that use both radio waves and light waves have been known for a long time, and can be widely used because they have both an all-weather target detection function using radio waves and a highly accurate target detection function using light waves. .

Therefore, such a device is characterized in that both functions can be used simultaneously or switched between them, and it is desirable that the device be configured to fully satisfy this feature.

For this reason, JP-A No. 53-15094
49554), the antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves has a space in the center, as shown in Figure 4, as a transmitting and receiving device suitable for simultaneous and switching use of radio wave systems and light wave systems. , and a configuration in which a plurality of antenna elements are arranged in a planar manner,
A format has been proposed in which an optical system is placed in the space.

Figure A is a block diagram of the transmitter/receiver, and Figure B is a diagram of the antenna in Figure A viewed from the front.

In FIG. 4, 31 is a plurality of antenna elements 41.
32 is a space part, 33 is an optical system, 34 is a light wave detector, 35
is a transmitter/receiver, 36 is a control unit, 37 is an antenna drive unit, 38 is an amplifier, and 39 is a signal processor. Accordingly, the optical system 33 and the antenna 31 can always be oriented in the same direction, and the radio wave system and the light wave system can be used simultaneously or switched.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional transmitting/receiving device as described above, in order to accommodate the antenna 31 and the optical system 33, a space 32 for arranging the optical system 33 is provided.
When provided at the center of the antenna 31, the degree of performance deterioration of the radiation pattern of the antenna 31 is greater than when provided at the periphery of the antenna 31. The reason is shown below. Figure 5 shows the optical system 33.
The position of the space 32 and the antenna 31 for providing
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the radiation characteristics of
The solid line shows the radiation pattern when the space 32 is provided at the periphery, and the broken line shows the radiation pattern when the space 32 is provided at the center. That is, the relationship between the excitation distribution F(x) of the antenna 31 and the radiation pattern E(θ) of the antenna 31 is expressed by the following formula: E(θ)=∫ ^a _-a F(x)ε ^jkxsin 〓dx−∫ ^b+w _bw F(
x)ε ^jkxsin 〓
dx (1), and the second term on the right side of this equation represents the deterioration of the radiation pattern of the antenna due to the space 32 provided in the antenna 31. Here, a is the radius of the antenna aperture, w is the radius of the space 32 provided in the antenna 31, b is the center position of the space 32, k is the wave number, x is the position on the antenna aperture, θ
is the angle measured from the axis perpendicular to the antenna aperture. Therefore, the degree of deterioration of the radiation pattern due to the space 32, expressed by the second term on the right side of equation (1), is such that when the dimensions of the space 32 are the same, the larger the amplitude value of the excitation distribution, the greater the deterioration. This indicates that the degree of performance deterioration of the radiation pattern of the antenna can be suppressed by providing the space 32 at the periphery of the antenna 31 rather than providing it at the center.

In addition, when the antenna 31 is faced head-on by the intended opponent, when the other party detects the antenna 31, the smaller the radar reflection cross section of the antenna 31 is, the more difficult it is for the other party to detect the antenna 31. Although this is advantageous, there are problems such as the need to take measures to reduce the radar reflection cross section of the antenna 31 as much as possible.

This invention has been made to solve such problems, and it is possible to suppress the degree of performance deterioration of the radiation pattern of the antenna, and to reduce the radar reflection cross-section static of the antenna. The purpose is to obtain a transmitting and receiving device that can be used together.

[Means to solve the problem]

The transmitting/receiving device according to the present invention has an optical system arranged adjacent to the antenna in a part of the periphery of the antenna constituted by radiating elements arranged in a curved shape.

Further, the transmitting/receiving device according to the present invention is provided with a dome that protects the antenna and optical system from the surrounding environment and has the property of transmitting radio waves and light waves, and a wideband receiving antenna is attached to the outer periphery of this dome. be.

[Effect]

In this invention, by arranging the optical system in a part of the periphery of the antenna, it is possible to suppress the effects on the radio wave system such as a decrease in antenna gain and sidelobe performance deterioration, and the optical system can also secure the field of view. Therefore, even if both radio wave and light wave systems are used in parallel, the functional deterioration of both systems can be suppressed, and
By adopting a curved antenna, the radar reflection cross section of the antenna is reduced.

Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, the present invention is also capable of receiving radio waves of a wide range of frequencies and locating the arrival direction of the received radio waves, which is effective in detecting targets that emit radio waves.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which A is a block diagram of a transmitter/receiver, and FIG. 1B is a diagram of the antenna in A seen from the front.

In the figure, 1 is an antenna composed of a plurality of radiating elements 11 and a feeding circuit 12, 2 is a transmitting/receiving switch,
3 is a transmitter, 4 is a receiver, 5 is a beam controller, 6
is an optical system, 7 is a light wave detector, 8 is an amplifier, 9
is a signal processor. Next, the operation of this invention will be explained. Radio waves such as radar signals generated by the transmitter 3 are supplied to the antenna 1 by the transmitter/receiver switch 2 and radiated into space. On the other hand, the reflected signal from the target passes through the opposite route to that during transmission, is sent to the receiver 4 by the transmitter/receiver switch 2, and is detected by the signal processor 9 as a target signal.

Further, the beam controller 5 can electronically scan the antenna beam and operate the antenna beam so that the direction of the antenna beam is directed toward the target azimuth.

On the other hand, light waves such as infrared rays radiated from the target are
The optical system 6 passes through the optical system 6 and is converted into an electrical signal by the light wave detector 7. However, as shown in FIG. , antenna 1
It is located around the area. Note that FIG. 1 shows the optical system 6.
An example is shown in which the antenna is placed adjacent to a curved antenna having the shape shown in the figure.

By configuring the light wave system and the radio wave system as shown in FIG. 1, deterioration in target detection performance of both systems can be suppressed. This is because when the optical system is placed around the antenna, as shown in Figure 5B, the performance deterioration of the radiation pattern of the antenna can be suppressed. Since the detector 7 can be located behind the radiating element 11, it is possible to prevent the light wave detector 7 from being burnt out by the transmission power of a radar etc., and the radio wave system and the light wave system function independently of each other. This is because mutual interference can be reduced, and the practical benefits are great. Furthermore, by employing a curved antenna, as shown in FIG. 2, the radar reflection cross section of the antenna can be reduced compared to a flat antenna. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the radar reflection cross section of a curved antenna and a flat antenna with respect to radio wave frequency, and it can be seen that the radar reflection cross section of a curved antenna is smaller than that of a flat antenna. Here, the light detected by the light wave detector 7 may be visible light, infrared rays, or ultraviolet rays, and in either case, optical information from the target can be detected. The light wave signal from the target detected by the light wave detector 7 and converted into an electric signal is amplified by the amplifier 8, and the target is detected by the signal processor 9. Note that if a two-dimensionally arranged element such as a charge-coupled device is adopted as the detection element used in the light wave detector 7,
Lightwave signals from the target can be used as image information.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the transmitting/receiving device of the present invention, which is equipped with a dome that protects the antenna and optical system from the surrounding environment and has the property of transmitting radio waves and light waves, where 21 is a dome and 22 is a dome. A light wave transmission window 23 is a broadband receiving antenna. When the transmitting/receiving device moves in an air fluid at a speed exceeding the speed of sound, a streamlined dome 21 similar to the shape of a shark's head is adopted as shown in FIG. Aerodynamic drag can be reduced.

In the dome 21, a light wave transmission window 22 is provided in front of the optical system 6, but if necessary,
A removable cover can be installed to prevent the temperature of the transparent window 22 from increasing.

Further, FIG. 3 shows an example in which a log-periodic antenna is employed as the antenna 23 attached to the dome 21 and having the function of receiving radio waves of a wide range of frequencies.

The transmitting/receiving device shown in FIG. 3 has a plurality of log periodic antennas 23 attached and molded on a dome 21.
For example, it is possible to receive radio waves such as radar signals in a wide band of frequencies from 1 to 20 GHz, and it is also possible to determine the arrival direction of the received radio waves, so it is effective in detecting targets that emit radio waves.

Further, according to this transmitter/receiver, a system for receiving broadband radio signals is added in addition to the radio wave system and the light wave system, so that various signal information such as radar information, image information, and electronic warfare information can be used.

Note that, by rolling the transmitting/receiving device of the present invention, the position of the optical system can be moved vertically and horizontally, so that the viewing range of the optical system can be changed or expanded.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, with a simple configuration including a radio wave antenna in which radiating elements are arranged in a curved shape and an optical system provided adjacent to the radio wave antenna,
This has the effect of providing a transmitting/receiving device that can reduce the radar reflection cross section of the antenna without degrading the functions of both the radio wave and light wave systems.

Furthermore, by providing a broadband receiving antenna on the outer periphery of the dome that protects the radio wave antenna and optical system, the present invention can receive radio waves such as radar signals with a wide band frequency, and can locate the direction of arrival of the received radio waves. Therefore, it is effective in detecting targets that emit radio waves.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the transmitting/receiving device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the radar reflection cross section of a curved antenna and a flat antenna and the frequency of radio waves, and FIG. A diagram showing another embodiment of the transmitting/receiving device, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional transmitting/receiving device,
Figure 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the position of the space for installing the optical system and the radiation characteristics of the antenna. Figure A is a diagram showing the excitation distribution of the antenna, and Figure B is a diagram showing the radiation pattern of the antenna. be. In the figure, 1 is an antenna, 2 is a transmitter/receiver switch, 3 is a transmitter, 4 is a receiver, 5 is a beam controller, 6 is an optical system, 7 is a light wave detector, 8 is an amplifier, and 9 is a signal processor. 11 is a radiating element, 12 is a feeding circuit, 21
2 is a dome, 22 is a light wave transmission window, 23 is a broadband receiving antenna, 31 is an antenna, 32 is a space part, 3
3 is an optical system, 34 is a light wave detector, 35 is a transceiver, 36 is a control unit, 37 is an antenna drive unit, 3
8 is an amplifier, 39 is a signal processor, 41 is an antenna element, and 42 is a duplexer. It should be noted that the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An antenna in which a plurality of radiating elements are arranged in a curved shape, a transceiver connected to this antenna and transmitting and receiving radio waves, an optical system provided adjacent to the antenna in the periphery of the antenna, and the antenna. and a dome that protects the optical system from the surrounding environment and has the property of transmitting radio waves and light waves, and a light wave transmitting window provided on the front surface of the optical system of the dome;
A transmitting/receiving device comprising the light transmitting window, a detector for detecting light waves received through the optical system, and a broadband receiving antenna mounted on the outer periphery of the dome.