Embodiments of the present invention relate to a panel array antenna device for measuring an angle and distance of a target and an antenna unit which is used in this panel array antenna device.
A panel array antenna device includes a plurality of antenna units. Each antenna unit includes an antenna substrate on which an antenna element is formed, a transmitter module that performs transmission processing on a signal to be transmitted from the antenna element, and a receiver module that performs reception processing on a signal received by the antenna element.
A conventional antenna unit is of a vertical composite unit type in which an antenna substrate and a transmitter and receiver module are separately configured (see, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-332840). When a dipole antenna is formed on the antenna substrate, a reflective plate (a reflector) is disposed on the antenna substrate in such a manner as to cover the dipole antenna. The transmitter and receiver module is configured of a single circuit board on which parts respectively performing transmission processing and reception processing are mounted. The transmitter and receiver boards are arranged perpendicularly on one of two surfaces of the antenna substrate opposite to that on which the reflective plate is attached.
According to the requirements specifications of antenna elements, the antenna elements are arranged at certain intervals in a substrate surface direction of the antenna substrate of the panel array antenna device. For this reason, an allowable dimension of the antennal substrate in the board surface direction with respect to the transmitter and receiver board is fixed at a certain level. Thus, in the conventional array unit, the transmitter and receiver board needs to be extended in a direction perpendicular to the antenna substrate. Accordingly, there is a problem that downsizing of the antenna unit and downsizing of the antenna device are inhibited.
According to the embodiments, an antenna unit comprising: an antenna substrate having an antenna element forming surface in which an antenna element is formed; a reflective plate disposed on the antenna element forming surface of the antenna substrate; a receiver board disposed on a surface of the antenna substrate opposite to a surface facing the reflective plate of the antenna substrate, the receiver board having a receiver module formed therein and configured to process a signal received by the antenna element; a transmitter board disposed substantially parallel to a surface of the receiver board opposite to a surface facing the antenna substrate, the transmitter board having a transmitter module formed therein and configured to transmit a transmission signal from the antenna element of the antenna substrate; a cooling plate disposed on a surface of the transmitter board opposite to a surface facing the receiver board, and configured to cool down heat generated by the transmitter module; and a connection interface connecting the transmitter board and the receiver board and configured to transmit a signal therebetween, wherein the transmission signal generated by the transmitter module is sent to the antenna substrate via the connection interface and the receiver module.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The antenna units 10-1 to 10-16 which form the panel array antenna device will be described. The antenna units 10-1 to 10-16 have similar functions, and thus the antenna unit 10-1 is described below. The antenna unit 10-1 includes a reflective plate 11, an antenna substrate 12, a receiver board 13, a transmitter board 14, a cooling plate 15, and a circulator 16. Note that, a metal plate (a front panel) may be disposed between the antenna substrate 12 and the receiver board 13.
One antenna element is formed in the antenna substrate 12. The antenna element is a patch antenna, for example. A dipole antenna may be used as the antenna element.
The reflective plate 11 is disposed on a surface of the antenna substrate 12 on which the antenna element is formed so as to cover the antenna element 12.
A receiver module 130 to perform reception processing on a signal which is received by the antenna element is formed in the receiver board 13. The receiver board 13 is stacked on one of the surfaces of the antenna substrate 12 that is opposite to the surface on which the reflective plate 11 is disposed.
A transmission signal which is supplied from the transmitter board 14 via the circulator 16 is outputted to the antenna substrate 12 via the circulator 133, the coupler 132, and the low-pass filter 131. A received signal which is received by the antenna substrate 12 is outputted to the protector 134 via the low-pass filter 131, the coupler 132, and the circulator 133. The protector 134 protects the low noise amplifier 135 so as to prevent a high-power signal from being suddenly inputted to the low noise amplifier 135.
The low noise amplifier 135 amplifies the signal supplied via the protector 134 and outputs the amplified signal to the distributing unit 136. The distributing unit 136 distributes the signal from the low noise amplifier 135 into two, and outputs one to the first phase-shifting unit 137 and the other to the second phase-shifting unit 138.
The first phase-shifting unit 137 controls a phase of the signal from the distributing unit 136 and outputs the signal after the phase control to a subsequent stage. As shown in
The second phase-shifting unit 138 controls a phase of the signal from the distributing unit 136 and outputs the signal after the phase control to a subsequent stage. As shown in
A transmitter module 140 to perform transmission processing is formed in the transmitter board 14. The transmitter board 14 is disposed substantially parallel to a one of the surfaces of the receiver board 13 opposite to the surface stacked on the antenna substrate 12. The transmitter board 14 and the receiver board 13 are connected with each other via the circulator 16.
The phase-shifting unit 141 controls a phase of a signal which is supplied to the transmitter module 140. The phase-shifting unit 141 outputs a signal after the phase control to the buffer amplifier 142. The signal outputted from the phase-shifting unit 141 is amplified by the butter amplifier 142 and the high-power amplifier 143 and is outputted to the circulator 16.
As shown in
The circulator 16 is a connection interface which is disposed between the receiver board 13 and the transmitter board 14. The circulator 16 connects the receiver board 13 and the transmitter board 14.
The cooling plate 15 is stacked on one of surfaces of the transmitter board 14 opposite to the surface to be connected with the receiver board 13. The cooling plate 15 cools the heat generated by the transmitter module 140. Note that the cooling plate 15 may be entirely provided on the transmitter board 14 or may be partially provided on the transmitter board 14. In the transmitter module 140, the high-power amplifier 143 needs to be cooled. For this reason, the cooling plate 15 may be provided only on the rear surface of a portion on which the high-power amplifier 143 is formed.
The transmission signals outputted from the transmitter modules 140-1 to 140-16 are outputted to the receiver modules 130-1 to 130-16 via the circulators 16-1 to 16-16, respectively.
In the receiver modules 130-1 to 130-16, the transmission signals are transmitted to the antenna elements 121-1 to 121-16 which are respectively formed in the antenna substrates 12-1 to 12-16, via the circulators 133-1 to 133-16, the couplers 132-1 to 132-16, and the low-pass filters 131-1 to 131-16, and the transmission signals are transmitted from the antenna elements 121-1 to 121-16.
In the receiver modules 130-1 to 130-16, the received signals which are received by the antenna elements 121-1 to 121-16 are supplied to the low noise amplifiers 135-1 to 135-16 via the low-pass filters 131-1 to 131-16, the couplers 132-1 to 132-16, the circulators 133-1 to 133-16, and the protectors 134-1 to 134-16. The received signals are amplified by the low noise amplifiers 135-1 to 135-16 and distributed into two systems by the distributing units 136-1 to 136-16. The distributed received signals are subjected to the phase control performed by the first phase-shifting units 137-1 to 137-16 and the second phase-shifting units 138-1 to 138-16 and are outputted to the first combining unit 139 and the second combining unit 1310.
The first combining unit 139 combines the signals which are supplied from the first phase-shifting units 137-1 to 137-16, and creates the ΔEL signal of the antenna substrates 12-1 to 12-16. The second combining unit 1310 combines the signals which are supplied from the second phase-shifting units 138-1 to 138-16 to create the Σ signal and the ΔAZ signal of the antenna substrates 12-1 to 12-16.
As described above, in the first embodiment, the receiver module 130 and the transmitter module 140 are respectively formed in the receiver board 13 and the transmitter board 14. In addition, the receiver board 13 is stacked on the antenna substrate 12 and the transmitter board 14 is disposed substantially parallel to the receiver board 13.
In a conventional antenna unit as shown in
In contrast, in the antenna unit 10 according to the first embodiment, the transmitter module 140 and the receiver module 130 are completely separately configured. The receiver board 13 is stacked on the antenna board 12 and the transmitter board 14 is disposed substantially parallel to the receiver board 13. With this configuration, the size of the antenna unit 10 in the Z-axis direction can be reduced, and thus the antenna unit 10 can be downsized.
Moreover, in the conventional antenna unit shown in
In contrast, in the antenna unit 10 according to the first embodiment, the transmitter module 140 and the receiver module 130 are completely separately configured. Thus, when the transmitter module 140 breaks down, only the transmitter module 140 needs to be replaced. In other words, the antenna unit 10 according to the first embodiment has an advantageous effect even from a viewpoint of easier maintenance.
Accordingly, the antenna unit according to the first embodiment and the panel array antenna device including this antenna unit can be downsized without deteriorating its performance.
In addition, in the first embodiment, the transmitter module 140 has no circulator, and the circulator 16 connects the receiver board 13 and the transmitter board 14. With this configuration, a space in the transmitter board 14 on which a circulator is originally designed to be formed can be used for another usage. Thus, the transmitter board 14 can be more effectively utilized.
A transmitter module 210 to perform transmission processing is formed in the transmitter board 21. The transmitter board 21 is disposed substantially parallel to one of the surfaces of the receiver board 13 opposite to a surface to be stacked on the antenna substrate 12. The transmitter board 21 and the receiver board 13 are connected with each other via the connector 22.
Also, in a case where a plurality of antenna units are connected with each other to form a panel array antenna device, as shown in
The connector 22 is used as a connection interface between the receiver board 13 and the transmitter board 21. The connector 22 is, for example, an SMA connector.
The transmission signals outputted from the transmitter modules 210-1 to 210-16 are outputted to the receiver modules 130-1 to 130-16 via the connectors 22-1 to 22-16.
As described above, in the second embodiment, the receiver module 130 and the transmitter module 210 are respectively formed in the receiver board 13 and the transmitter board 21. Moreover, the receiver board 13 is stacked on the antenna substrate 12 and the transmitter board 21 is disposed substantially parallel to the receiver board 13. With this configuration, a space of the antenna unit 20 in the Z-axis direction can be reduced. In other words, the antenna unit 20 can be downsized.
In addition, in the antenna unit 20 according to the second embodiment, the transmitter module 210 and the receiver module 130 are completely separately configured. Thus, when the transmitter module 210 breaks down, only the transmitter module 210 needs to be replaced. In other words, the antenna unit 20 according to the second embodiment has an advantageous effect even from a viewpoint of easier maintenance.
Accordingly, the antenna unit according to the second embodiment and the panel array antenna device including this antenna unit can be downsized without deteriorating its performance.
A receiver module 310 to perform reception processing is formed in the receiver board 31. The receiver board 31 is stacked on one of the surfaces of the antenna substrate 12 opposite to a surface on which the reflective plate 11 is mounted.
The transmission signal which is supplied from the circulator 32 is outputted to the antenna substrate 12 via the coupler 132 and the low-pass filter 131. Also the received signal which is received by the antenna substrate 12 is outputted to the protector 134 via the low-pass filter 131, the coupler 132, and the circulator 32.
The circulator 32 is a connection interface which is disposed between the receiver board 31 and the transmitter board 21. The circulator 32 connects the receiver board 31 and the transmitter board 21.
The receiver modules 310-1 to 310-16 transmit the transmission signals through the antenna elements 121-1 to 121-16 via the couplers 132-1 to 132-16 and the low-pass filters 121-1 to 121-16.
In the receiver modules 310-1 to 310-16, the received signals which are received by the antenna elements 121-1 to 121-16 are supplied to the low noise amplifiers 135-1 to 135-16 via the low-pass filters 131-1 to 131-16, the couplers 132-1 to 132-16, the circulators 32-1 to 32-16, and the protectors 134-1 to 134-16. The received signals are amplified by the low noise amplifiers 135-1 to 135-16 and distributed into two systems by the distributing units 136-1 to 136-16. The distributed received signals are subjected to the phase control performed by the first phase-shifting units 137-1 to 137-16 and the second phase-shifting units 138-1 to 138-16 and are outputted to the first combining unit 139 and the second combining unit 1310.
As described above, in the third embodiment, the receiver module 310 and the transmitter module 210 are respectively formed in the receiver board 31 and the transmitter board 21. Moreover, the receiver board 31 is stacked on the antenna substrate 12 and the transmitter substrate 21 is disposed substantially parallel to the receiver board 31. With this configuration, a space of the antenna unit 30 in the Z-axis direction can be reduced. In other words, the antenna unit 30 can be downsized.
In the antenna unit 30 according to the third embodiment, the transmitter module 210 and the receiver module 310 are completely separately configured. Thus, when the transmitter module 210 breaks down, only the transmitter module 210 needs to be replaced. In other words, the antenna unit 30 according to the third embodiment has an advantageous effect even from a viewpoint of easier maintenance.
Accordingly, the antenna unit according to the third embodiment and the panel array antenna device including this antenna unit can be downsized without deteriorating its performance.
In addition, in the third embodiment, the receiver module 310 has no circulator, and the circulator 32 formed on the spacer substrate connects the receiver board 31 and the transmitter board 21. With this configuration, a space in the receiver board 31 on which a circulator is originally designed to be formed can be used for another usage. Thus, the receiver board 31 can be more effectively utilized.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011-126738 | Jun 2011 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation application of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 from U.S. Ser. No. 13/415,014 filed Mar. 8, 2012, and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-126738 filed Jun. 6, 2011, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13415014 | Mar 2012 | US |
Child | 14261069 | US |