JPH0831736B2 - Specular reflection beam antenna device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used for mounting a broadcasting satellite or the like, and individually arranges the positions of a plurality of divided face mirror parts in the radio wave transmission direction to form a desired radiation pattern. The present invention relates to a specular reflection beam antenna device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a broadcasting satellite of a flying body, it is necessary to radiate (transmit) broadcast radio waves to service areas throughout Japan in consideration of transmission outside the broadcasting area, so-called spillover.

A specular reflection beam antenna is used as a satellite-mounted antenna that obtains a high degree of shaped beam characteristics for this purpose. This specular reflection beam antenna is one in which an uneven portion is formed on a reflecting mirror surface and the phase distribution is changed to form a desired radiation pattern characteristic. As a proposal of this kind, for example, "Prototype of advanced shaped beam antenna for broadcasting satellite, Proposer," in the 1990 National Meeting of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, B-70, "Sogen, Toyama, NHK, Miyata, Miyatani, Obuchi, NEC" Can be mentioned.

Further, as other proposals, "Formed beam antenna for broadcasting satellite, proponent, Nishida, Masagen, Sotoyama, NHK" in 1991 Spring National Convention of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers B-82 and 1991 Electronic Information and Communication "Antenna for mirroring, mirror-repairing double reflector antenna for broadcasting satellite, proposer, Shogen, Nishida, Toyama, NHK" in the autumn meeting B-28 of the society can be mentioned.

[0005] Furthermore, a proposal of this kind antenna for satellite, Hei 2 - 312304 Patent disclosed in Japanese "specular shape control unit and population for Satellite reflector having the same", Patent 3 - 3502 No. disclosed in Japanese "specular fix antenna", JP-a 3 - 136 503 No. disclosed in Japanese a can be mentioned "space antennas".

[0006]

By the way, in the former mirror-finished double-reflecting mirror antenna for broadcasting satellites in the above-mentioned conventional example, in the radiation pattern for radiating (transmitting) radio waves to the service area corresponding to the purpose of the satellite, It is set in advance at the design stage. That is, the concavo-convex shape for obtaining a desired radiation pattern characteristic is previously formed on the specular reflector.
Therefore, the specular antenna using this specular reflector can obtain only one type of radiation pattern characteristic set in advance in the design stage.

For this reason, if the orbit of the satellite having the mirror antenna mounted thereon is changed after the satellite is launched, the irregular portion of the mirror reflector cannot be corrected, and the service area set in advance at the design stage may not be supported. . Moreover, even if the track is not displaced, it is not possible to deal with the change of the service area. Further, when the antennas shown in the latter publications also form a radiation pattern corresponding to a desired service area, the configuration thereof is relatively complicated, and the device scale can be increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the arrangement angle in the radiation (transmission) direction of the radio waves of the plurality of plane mirror portions is individually changed to partially reflect the reflection angle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a specular reflection beam antenna device that enables variable phase control and can easily obtain a desired radiation pattern.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, according to the Invention The specular bodies reflected beam antenna device of the present invention, configurations and feed horn, a plurality of mirror sites are supported by the back scan Torakucha (partial mirror) is the primary release morphism radio waves from the feed horn and reflected at a predetermined angle, and specular reflector that forms a desired radiation pattern provided corresponding to the plurality of mirror sites, independently of these mirror sites, respectively And a linear actuator that varies in a forward and backward direction with respect to the back structure, a command receiving unit that demodulates a radio wave received by a command receiving antenna and outputs a variable signal of the linear actuator through a driver, and a command receiving unit from this command receiving unit. The linear actuator, which receives a control signal and selectively sends the variable signal to a part or all of the linear actuator. A switch provided between the Chueta of the driver, a configuration equipped with.

Further, the specular reflection beam antenna apparatus according to claim 1 is mounted on a flying object, the variable signal and the control signal are transmitted from a ground control station, and the specular portion is remotely controlled from the ground. It is configured to be variable.

[0011]

In the specular reflection beam antenna apparatus of the present invention having the above structure, the arrangement position of the mirror surface portion in the transmission direction of the radio wave is individually changed in order to reflect the primary radiated radio wave at a predetermined angle. In this case, in order to partially reflect the primary radiated radio wave at a predetermined angle, a control signal that changes the arrangement position in the radio wave emission (transmission) direction is selectively sent to the actuator, and the mirror surface parts are individually variably driven. are doing.

The change of the mirror surface portion is performed by a remote control from a ground station with respect to a flying body equipped with the device, for example, a satellite. In this case, the reflection angle is partially changed to perform the phase control, and the desired radiation pattern is easily formed.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the specular reflection beam antenna apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a specular reflection beam antenna apparatus of the present invention. In Figure 1, the apparatus is obtained by reflecting the primary release morphism, predetermined service area, for example, the secondary radiation pattern for transmitting the whole of Japan when this device is mounted to the broadcasting satellite as a service area mirror It has a reflector 2.

This specular reflector 2 is composed of a plurality of mirror surface portions (partial mirror surfaces) 2a ... 2n forming a partial mirror surface , and the radio wave emission (transmission) direction of each mirror surface portion 2a. The arrangement position (arrow m or arrow n in the drawing) can be individually changed. Further, in this device, a feeding horn 4 for primarily radiating transmission power from a transmission system (not shown) in the direction of the specular reflector 2 and mirror surface portions 2a ... 2n are provided in front of a back structure 14 described later.
There is provided a drive unit 6 that is variable in the backward direction, that is, the direction of arrow m or arrow n.

Next, the structure shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration when the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a broadcasting satellite and the radiation pattern is remotely controlled. In FIG. 2, this example includes a satellite station 10 and a ground station 12. Then, the satellite station 10, a back scan Torakucha 14 constituting the specular reflector 2 in Fig. 1,
A mirror surface portion 16 corresponding to the mirror surface portions 2a ... 2n in FIG.
a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e are provided.

In this device, linear actuators 18a and 18b are connected to the mirror surface portions 16a to 16e, respectively, for changing the arrangement position (in the direction of arrow m or arrow n in the figure) in the radiation (transmission) direction of radio waves. , 18c, 1
8d and 18e and, for example, a helical command receiving antenna 20 for receiving radio waves from the ground station 12 are provided. In addition, the received signal from the command receiving antenna 20 is demodulated, and the divided face mirror parts 16a to 1 are divided.
The command receiving unit 22 for outputting the control signal Sa for varying the arrangement position in the radiation (transmission) direction of the radio wave of 6e individually and partially varying the reflection angle and the variable signal Sb to the linear actuators 18a to 18e. Have
In addition, this device, a driver 24 for performing predetermined signal processing for supplying a variable signal Sb to the linear actuator 18 a to 18 e, the variable signal Sb of the driver 2 4 or al, is switched by the control signal Sa selection The switch 26 for sending the drive signal Sc to the linear actuators 18a to 18e.

The ground station 12 transmits a command radio wave W for individually varying the arrangement positions of the mirror surface portions 16a to 16e in the satellite station 10 in the radio wave transmission (radiation) direction and partially varying the reflection angle. Command transmission unit 30
And an antenna 32 of parabolic type or the like is provided.

In addition to this, the ground station 12 is provided with a transmission system (not shown) for transmitting program radio waves for satellite broadcasting and radio waves for attitude control to the satellite station 10. Similarly, the satellite station 10 is also provided with a reception system (not shown) for receiving the program radio waves from the ground station 12, and a transmission system (not shown) for transmitting the received program radio waves to the ground.

Next, the operation of the specular reflection beam antenna device having this structure will be described. In FIG. 2, in the case where the orbit after the launch of a satellite equipped with this specular reflection beam antenna device is changed, the specular portions 16a to 16a-1 to radiate (transmit) broadcast radio waves to a predetermined service area.
Any one or a plurality of 6e is designated to change the arrangement position in the radio wave emission (transmission) direction (direction of arrow m or arrow n in the figure). The same applies when simply changing the service area.

In this case, the ground station 12 recognizes the shift from the satellite orbit through the attitude control system and the like. afterwards,
In order to correct the emission (transmission) direction of the radio wave deviated due to this transition to a normal predetermined service area, one or more of the mirror surface parts 16a to 16e are designated, and the emission of the radio wave is specified. A command radio wave W including information on the arrangement position in the (transmission) direction, that is, the amount of movement in the direction of the arrow m or the arrow n in the figure is transmitted through the command transmitting unit 30 and the antenna 32.

In the satellite station 10, the command radio wave W from the ground station 12 is received by the command receiving antenna 20, and the received signal is demodulated by the command receiving section 22. The command receiving unit 22 supplies the demodulated control signal Sa to the switch 26 to switch the movable contact 26a. For example, the mirror surface part 1
In order to move 6d and 16e to arrow m in FIG. 2, first, the linear actuator 18d is selected, and then the switch 26 is sequentially switched so as to select the linear actuator 18e. At the same time, the command receiving section 22 outputs the variable signal Sb to the driver 24. Predetermined signal processing for supplying the variable signal Sb to the linear actuators (18a to 18e) is performed, and the drive signal Sc is supplied to the movable contact 26a of the switch 26.

In this case, first, the switch 26 selects the linear actuator 18d by the control signal Sa and supplies the drive signal Sc to the linear actuator 18d.
The linear actuator 18d moves the mirror surface portion 16d in the direction of arrow m in the figure based on the amount of movement in the drive signal Sc. Then, the switch 26 selects the linear actuator 18e by the control signal Sa and supplies the drive signal Sc to the linear actuator 18e. The linear actuator 18e moves the mirror surface portion 16e in the direction of arrow m in the figure based on the amount of movement in the drive signal Sc. In addition, here, the mirror surface portions 16a to 16d
Does not move in the direction of arrow m. That is, it is arranged at the reference position set in advance at the design stage.

In this way, when the mirror surface portions 16d and 16e are moved in the direction of the arrow m, the mirror surface portions 16d and 16e are moved.
Due to e, a portion of the radio wave of the primary radiation from the feeding horn 4 shown in FIG. 1 differs from the original secondary radiation pattern of the specular reflector 2. That is, the incident and reflection angles are different. Such phase control forms a radiation pattern for radiating (transmitting) broadcast radio waves in a predetermined service area when a transition occurs in the orbit after the launch of a satellite equipped with this specular reflection beam antenna device. It Also,
Similarly, when simply changing the service area, the radiation pattern can be changed.

In this way, the mirror surface parts 16a to 16e are formed.
Are individually variably driven, and the reflection angle is partially changed to perform phase control, so that a desired radiation pattern can be easily obtained.
Therefore, when a shift occurs in the orbit after the satellite is launched, the broadcast radio waves are accurately emitted (transmitted) to a predetermined service area.

In place of the remote operation configuration of the satellite station 10 and the ground station 12 in this embodiment, it is possible to perform an operation at a relatively short distance using weak radio waves or infrared light. This relatively short-distance operation is used when performing a so-called ground test. In this case, it is composed of a controller and a reception processing unit. This controller emits a weak radio wave or infrared light, which is a modulated control signal, for individual mirror surface parts,
In addition, the operation is performed at a relatively short distance to change to a desired arrangement position in the radio wave emission (transmission) direction.
In addition, the reception processing unit receives a weak radio wave or infrared light from the controller and sends a control signal to an actuator that drives a mirror surface portion whose change is instructed to a desired arrangement position. Alternatively, the controller and the reception processing unit may be connected by a cable to directly transmit the control signal to the actuator.

In this embodiment, the rectangular mirror surface portions 16a to 16e are used when viewed from the opening surface, but the same effect can be obtained with a polygonal shape such as a triangular shape or a pentagonal shape. In this case, the areas of the mirror surface portions 16a to 16e viewed from the opening surface are not particularly limited. Further, as the mirror surface portions 16a to 16e, not only a parabolic mirror body but also a spherical mirror surface portion obtained by similarly dividing a spherical mirror surface body can obtain the same effect.

[0027]

As described above, in the specular reflection beam antenna apparatus of the present invention, the arrangement positions in the radio wave emission (transmission) direction of the plurality of divided surface mirror portions can be individually changed .
Therefore, there is an effect that the reflection angle is partially changed to perform the phase control , and a complicated radiation pattern other than the concentric circular shape can be easily obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a specular reflection beam antenna apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration when the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a broadcasting satellite and the radiation pattern is remotely controlled.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 satellite station 12 ground station 16a to 16e mirror surface portion 18a to 18e linear actuator 20 command receiving antenna 22 command receiving unit 24 driver 26 switch 30 command transmitting unit 32 antenna Sa control signal Sb variable signal Sc driving signal

Claims (2)

[Claims] And 1. A feed horn is composed of a plurality of mirror sites are supported by the back scan Torakucha, the primary release morphism radio waves from the feed horn and reflected at a predetermined angle, specular reflector that forms a desired radiation pattern A linear actuator that is provided in correspondence with the plurality of mirror surface portions and that independently changes the mirror surface portions in the forward and backward directions with respect to the back structure, demodulates the radio wave received by the command receiving antenna, and A command receiving unit that outputs a variable signal of an actuator via a driver, and a linear actuator that receives a control signal from the command receiving unit and selectively sends the variable signal to part or all of the linear actuator. And a switch provided between the drivers, and a specular reflection beam. Antenna equipment. 2. The specular reflection beam antenna apparatus according to claim 1 is mounted on a flying object, the variable signal and the control signal are transmitted from a ground control station, and the specular portion is remotely controlled from the ground. specular bodies reflected beam antenna device according to claim 1, wherein varying.