Array antenna apparatus and array antenna control method

The present invention relates to an on-board array antenna device and an array antenna control method that can respond to changes in the operating environment.

A conventional on-board array antenna device includes an antenna unit composed of a plurality of antenna elements and an antenna controller that controls the formation of an antenna wave surface by changing the phase of a control signal input to each antenna element. Specifically, the antenna controller calculates and outputs phase code information for changing the phase of the control signal input to each antenna element. Further, the antenna unit has an antenna control module that reads the phase amount (angle) of each antenna element based on the phase code information calculated by the antenna controller and changes the phase of the control signal for each antenna element. The plurality of antenna elements emit radio waves based on the phase amount of the input control signal, and irradiate the spatially synthesized radio waves in a predetermined direction.

The antenna controller has an antenna element coordinate storage circuit inside, and stores the antenna element coordinate information in advance before the start of operation. As a result, the antenna controller calculates the phase code for controlling the antenna element by using the information of the desired radio wave irradiation direction and the antenna element coordinate information stored in advance at the time of operation, and obtains the calculation result. Based on the phase code information can be output.

Patent Document 1 describes a phased array antenna in which the antenna performance does not deteriorate due to deformation of the antenna itself. This phased array antenna includes a plurality of element antennas, a phase shifter connected to the element antenna, a feeding circuit for supplying power to the plurality of phase shifters, and a shift set to form a desired beam in the phase shifter. A phase calculator that calculates the phase amount, a signal output element that is placed on the antenna surface and outputs a signal according to the distortion amount on the antenna surface, and a distortion detection device that detects the distortion amount based on the signal from the signal output element. It includes an element coordinate error detector that obtains the deviation amount of the element antenna coordinates from the distortion amount, and an element coordinate correction circuit that corrects the element antenna coordinate deviation amount obtained by the element coordinate error detector.

In this phased array antenna, when the antenna is deformed, a signal corresponding to the amount of deformation is output to the distortion detection device by the piezoelectric element built in the antenna, and the distortion detection device detects the amount of deformation of the antenna. The amount of deformation of the antenna is data-interpolated by the element coordinate error detecting device based on the relative positional relationship between the piezoelectric element and each element antenna, and is obtained as the element coordinate error in the individual element antenna coordinates. This element coordinate error is input to the phase calculator, added by the element coordinate data and the element coordinate correction circuit, input to the phase shift amount calculation circuit set in each phase shifter, and based on the corrected element coordinate data. Calculate the amount of phase shift to be set for each phase shifter.

Therefore, according to this phased array antenna, desired antenna performance can be obtained even when the antenna is deformed.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-124817</text></patcit>

<p> It is conceivable that the array antenna composed of a plurality of antenna elements is deformed due to changes in the surrounding environment, and the coordinates of each antenna element change. For example, when an array antenna device in which a plurality of antenna elements are installed on a substrate is mounted on an aircraft or the like, the substrate is deformed due to changes in the environment such as temperature and atmospheric pressure around the antenna elements, and the coordinates of each antenna element are changed. , It deviates from the original coordinate position.</p><p> As described above, the antenna controller included in the array antenna device calculates the phase code for controlling the antenna element based on the information of the desired radio wave irradiation direction and the antenna element coordinate information stored in advance. When the coordinates of the antenna element change due to changes in the operating environment (temperature, pressure, etc.), there is a gap between the antenna element coordinate information stored in advance and the actual antenna element coordinates, and the calculation result of the phase code is incorrect. Will be included.</p><p> Therefore, the conventional array antenna device has a problem that the antenna wave plane of the radio wave to be irradiated is deviated from the antenna wave plane previously assumed due to the change in the operating environment, and as a result, the antenna characteristics are deteriorated. Further, the phased array antenna described in Patent Document 1 needs to directly mount a piezoelectric element for detection on the surface or inside of the antenna in order to detect distortion of the antenna shape, which is realized when space is limited. There is a problem that it is difficult. In particular, in order to detect in detail the influence of the distortion of the antenna shape on each antenna element, many piezoelectric elements for distortion detection and the wiring associated therewith are required, which takes up space and hinders the miniaturization of the device. It ends up.</p><p> The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an array antenna device that can be easily miniaturized while preventing deterioration of antenna characteristics due to environmental changes.</p>

<p> In order to solve the above problems, the array antenna device according to the present invention includes a plurality of antenna elements, a sensor that detects environmental information in a place where the plurality of antenna elements are provided, and environmental information detected by the sensors. A correction unit that selects and outputs a correction value for each coordinate of the plurality of antenna elements based on the above, and a coordinate that calculates the coordinates of each of the plurality of antenna elements based on the correction value output by the correction unit. A calculation unit and a control unit that calculates and outputs a phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of the plurality of antenna elements based on the coordinates of each of the plurality of antenna elements calculated by the coordinate calculation unit. It is characterized by having.</p><p> In order to solve the above problems, the array antenna control method according to the present invention is based on a detection step of detecting environmental information in a place where a plurality of antenna elements are provided and environmental information detected by the detection step. A correction step of selecting and outputting a correction value for each coordinate of a plurality of antenna elements, a coordinate calculation step of calculating the coordinates of each of the plurality of antenna elements based on the correction value output by the correction step, and a coordinate calculation step. A control step for calculating and outputting a phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of the plurality of antenna elements based on the coordinates of each of the plurality of antenna elements calculated by the coordinate calculation step is provided. It is a feature.</p>

<p> According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent deterioration of antenna characteristics due to environmental changes and easily realize miniaturization.</p>

Hereinafter, embodiments of the array antenna device and the array antenna control method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the array antenna device 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an array antenna device 11 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the array antenna device 11 of the present invention includes an antenna unit 21, an environment change detection sensor 31, a database 41, an antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51, and an antenna controller 61. ..

The antenna unit 21 is composed of a plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n. That is, the antenna portion 21 of FIG. 1 is configured to have n antenna elements, but n may be any number. Each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is installed on, for example, one substrate and is connected to the antenna controller 61 described later. The array antenna device 11 transmits and receives radio waves using the antenna unit 21.

The environmental change detection sensor 31 corresponds to the sensor of the present invention and detects environmental information in a place where a plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n are provided. .. Specifically, the environmental change detection sensor 31 uses the temperature or atmospheric pressure at a place where a plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n are provided as environmental information. , Or both are detected. If there are other environmental factors that affect the shape of the antenna unit 21, the environmental change detection sensor 31 may detect the environmental factors.

Further, since the environmental change detection sensor 31 only needs to be able to detect environmental information at the place where the antenna unit 21 is installed, it is not always necessary to install an element or the like used for detection / measurement close to the antenna unit 21. It is also possible to install them apart to the extent that there is no problem.

Database 41 holds information on changes in antenna shape when the operating environment changes. Here, the database 41 corresponds to the correction unit of the present invention, and based on the environmental information detected by the environmental change detection sensor 31, a plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ... Select and output the correction value for each coordinate of, 22-n. Specifically, the database 41 stores the correction values corresponding to the environmental information in advance, and reads out and outputs the correction values corresponding to the environmental information detected by the environmental change detection sensor 31. This correction value is stored in the database 41 after investigating in advance how much the coordinates of each antenna element change due to the shape of the antenna unit 21 changing in response to environmental changes such as temperature and atmospheric pressure. Remember in advance. The coordinates of each antenna element may be represented by two dimensions of X and Y coordinates, or may be represented by three dimensions of X, Y and Z coordinates.

The database 41 can be considered in various modes as a correspondence relationship between the environmental information stored in advance and the correction value. For example, the environmental information is related to temperature, and the coordinates of each antenna element are represented by two dimensions of X and Y coordinates. The first is the case where the temperature T measured this time is used as the environmental information and the correction value corresponding to the current temperature T is used as the correction value. The second is the temperature T that was measured last time as environmental information.₁And the temperature T measured this time₂Change between and ΔT (= T)₂-T₁) Is used, and the correction value corresponding to the temperature change ΔT is used as the correction value. Thirdly, it is conceivable that the temperature T measured this time is used as the environmental information, and the antenna element coordinates calculated by the correction value corresponding to the temperature T measured this time are used as the correction value.

Strictly speaking, when using the third method, the database 41 stores the corrected antenna element coordinates instead of the corrected values, but the corrected antenna element coordinates are used in advance using the corrected values. It can be said that it is a modified version of the first method because it is calculated and stored.

The antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 corresponds to the coordinate calculation unit of the present invention, and a plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., Based on the correction values output by the database 41. Calculate the coordinates of each of 22-n. Specifically, the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 reads out the antenna element coordinates stored as the current values from the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 described later, and uses the correction value output by the database 41 as the antenna element coordinates. By adding, the coordinates of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n are calculated. After that, the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 transmits the calculation result to the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62, and overwrites the antenna element coordinates stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.

The exact operation of the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 differs depending on the three storage modes of the database 41 described above, but the exact operation will be described later.

The antenna controller 61 corresponds to the control unit of the present invention, and each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n calculated by the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51. Based on the coordinates of, the phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is calculated and output. Specifically, the antenna controller 61 stores the coordinates of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n calculated by the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51. The antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 is provided, and a plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 are provided. Based on each coordinate, a phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is calculated and output.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a coordinate system of an antenna substrate 70 used for the antenna portion 21 of the array antenna device 11 of the first embodiment of the present invention. It is assumed that each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is arranged on the antenna substrate 70.

Assuming that each antenna element coordinate is represented by two dimensions of X and Y coordinates when the antenna substrate 70 of FIG. 2 is an XY plane, the phase code is represented by, for example, the following equation.

φ (i) = 2πf / C × (cos (θEL) × sin (θAZ) × X (i) + sin (θEL) × Y (i)) ... (1) Further, assuming that the coordinates of each antenna element are represented by the three dimensions of the X, Y, and Z coordinates, the phase code is represented by, for example, the following equation.

φ (i) = 2πf / C × (X (i) × cos (θEL) × sin (θAZ) + Y (i) × sin (θEL) + Z (i) × cos (θEL) × cos (θAZ)) ... (2) Here, φ (i) is the phase code of the antenna element i. f is the frequency. C is the speed of light. θEL is the radio wave irradiation angle in the EL direction. θAZ is the radio wave irradiation angle in the AZ direction. X (i) is the X coordinate of the antenna element i. Y (i) is the Y coordinate of the antenna element i. Z (i) is the Z coordinate of the antenna element i.

The antenna controller 61 outputs the calculated phase code to the antenna unit 21 as phase code information (bit information). The antenna control module (not shown) inside the antenna unit 21 reads the phase amount (angle) of each antenna element with respect to the radio wave irradiation direction based on the input phase code information, and sets the phase amount for each antenna element. Each antenna element emits a radio wave based on a set phase amount, and irradiates the spatially synthesized radio wave in a predetermined direction (radio wave irradiation direction).

The antenna controller 61 is connected to, for example, an external device (not shown), and the radio wave irradiation direction is determined based on an external operation by an operator, an arbitrary program, or the like.

Further, the novel configuration in the array antenna device 11 of the present embodiment is the environment change detection sensor 31, the database 41, and the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51, which are the points of the present invention. The antenna unit 21 and the antenna controller 61 have a conventional configuration and are not a new configuration.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the environmental change detection sensor 31 detects environmental information at a place where a plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n are provided at predetermined time intervals. This corresponds to the detection step of the present invention. Here, the environmental change detection sensor 31 detects the temperature at a place where a plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n are provided as environmental information. To do.

The database 41 is based on the environmental information (temperature) detected by the environmental change detection sensor 31 for each coordinate of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n. Select the correction value and output it. This corresponds to the correction step of the present invention. Here, the correspondence between the environmental information (temperature) stored in advance in the database 41 and the correction value can have various modes as described above. Therefore, the operation in each of the three modes given as an example is performed. explain.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between the environmental information stored in advance in the database 41 of the array antenna device 11 of the first embodiment of the present invention and the correction value. In the first case, as shown in FIG. 3A, the database 41 stores the temperature T as environmental information and the correction values for each of the X and Y axes corresponding to the temperature T. And. The temperature around each antenna element at the beginning is 20 ° C, and the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 in the antenna controller 61 has (X) as the coordinates of the antenna element i at 20 ° C.₁₁(i), Y₁₁It is assumed that (i)) is stored.

It is assumed that the ambient temperature drops as the aircraft equipped with the array antenna device 11 raises its altitude, and the temperature T as environmental information detected by the environmental change detection sensor 31 is 0 ° C. In this case, the database 41 uses (ΔX) as the correction value.₂(i), ΔY₂(i)) is output.

The antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 calculates the coordinates of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n based on the correction values output by the database 41. .. This corresponds to the coordinate calculation step of the present invention. Specifically, the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 has the antenna element coordinates (X) stored as the current value from the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.₁₁(i), Y₁₁(i)) is read and the correction value (ΔX) output by the database 41 is read.₂(i), ΔY₂(i)) is added to the coordinates of the antenna element. The antenna coordinate calculation circuit 51 describes the coordinates (X) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n calculated in this way.₁₁(i) + ΔX₂(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₂(i)) is transmitted to the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 to overwrite the antenna element coordinates stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62. Therefore, the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 is (X).₁₁(i) + ΔX₂(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₂(i)) is stored as the coordinates of the current antenna element i.

The antenna controller 61 includes a plurality of antenna elements based on the respective coordinates of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n calculated by the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51. The phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is calculated and output. This corresponds to the control steps of the present invention. Specifically, the antenna controller 61 has the coordinates (X) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.₁₁(i) + ΔX₂(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₂Based on (i)), the phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is calculated and output. The calculation of the phase code is as described above.

The antenna controller 61 outputs the calculated phase code to the antenna unit 21 as phase code information (bit information). The antenna control module (not shown) inside the antenna unit 21 reads the phase amount (angle) of each antenna element with respect to the radio wave irradiation direction based on the input phase code information, and sets the phase amount for each antenna element. Each antenna element emits a radio wave based on a set phase amount, and irradiates the spatially synthesized radio wave in a predetermined direction (radio wave irradiation direction).

Further, it is assumed that the aircraft equipped with the array antenna device 11 raises the altitude and the temperature T as the environmental information detected by the environmental change detection sensor 31 is -20 ° C. In this case, the database 41 uses (-ΔX) as the correction value.₂(i) + ΔX₄(i), -ΔY₂(i) + ΔY₄(i)) is output. That is, in the database 41, the correction value corresponding to the temperature at the time of the previous measurement is subtracted, and the value obtained by adding the correction value corresponding to the temperature at the time of the current measurement is used as the final correction value in the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51. Output to.

The antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 is the antenna element coordinate (X) stored as the current value from the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.₁₁(i) + ΔX₂(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₂The correction value (-ΔX) output by the database 41 after reading (i))₂(i) + ΔX₄(i), -ΔY₂(i) + ΔY₄(i)) is added to the coordinates of the antenna element. The antenna coordinate calculation circuit 51 describes the coordinates (X) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n calculated in this way.₁₁(i) + ΔX₄(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₄(i)) is transmitted to the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 to overwrite the antenna element coordinates stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62. Therefore, the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 is (X).₁₁(i) + ΔX₄(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₄(i)) is stored as the coordinates of the current antenna element i.

The antenna controller 61 has the coordinates (X) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.₁₁(i) + ΔX₄(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₄Based on (i)), the phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is calculated and output. Hereinafter, the array antenna device 11 of the present invention repeats the same operation.

The database 41 shall select the optimum value when selecting the correction value. Therefore, for example, when the temperature detected by the environmental change detection sensor 31 is 3 ° C, the database 41 selects the correction value corresponding to 0 ° C, which is the closest value to 3 ° C. And.

Next, as the second case, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the database 41 corrects for each of the temperature change ΔT as environmental information and the X and Y axes corresponding to the temperature change ΔT. It is assumed that the value and the value are memorized. In the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 in the antenna controller 61, as before, the coordinates of the antenna element i at 20 ° C are set to (X).₁₁(i), Y₁₁It is assumed that (i)) is stored.

It is assumed that the ambient temperature drops as the aircraft equipped with the array antenna device 11 raises its altitude, and the temperature T as environmental information detected by the environmental change detection sensor 31 is 0 ° C. In this case, since the change in temperature is -20 ° C, the database 41 uses (ΔX) as the correction value.₉(i), ΔY₉(i)) is output. In calculating the temperature change, it is necessary to store the previous temperature, but the environmental change detection sensor 31 may store it or the database 41 may store it.

The antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 calculates the coordinates of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n based on the correction values output by the database 41. .. Specifically, the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 has the antenna element coordinates (X) stored as the current value from the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.₁₁(i), Y₁₁(i)) is read and the correction value (ΔX) output by the database 41 is read.₉(i), ΔY₉(i)) is added to the coordinates of the antenna element. The antenna coordinate calculation circuit 51 describes the coordinates (X) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n calculated in this way.₁₁(i) + ΔX₉(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₉(i)) is transmitted to the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 to overwrite the antenna element coordinates stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62. Therefore, the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 is (X).₁₁(i) + ΔX₉(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₉(i)) is stored as the coordinates of the current antenna element i.

The antenna controller 61 has the coordinates (X) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.₁₁(i) + ΔX₉(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₉Based on (i)), the phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is calculated and output.

Further, it is assumed that the aircraft equipped with the array antenna device 11 raises the altitude and the temperature T as the environmental information detected by the environmental change detection sensor 31 is -20 ° C. In this case, since the change in temperature is -20 ° C, the database 41 uses (ΔX) as the correction value.₉(i), ΔY₉(i)) is output.

The antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 is the antenna element coordinate (X) stored as the current value from the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.₁₁(i) + ΔX₉(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₉(i)) is read and the correction value (ΔX) output by the database 41 is read.₉(i), ΔY₉(i)) is added to the coordinates of the antenna element. The antenna coordinate calculation circuit 51 describes the coordinates (X) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n calculated in this way.₁₁(i) + ΔX₉(i) + ΔX₉(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₉(i) + ΔY₉(i)) is transmitted to the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 to overwrite the antenna element coordinates stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62. Therefore, the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 is (X).₁₁(i) + ΔX₉(i) + ΔX₉(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₉(i) + ΔY₉(i)) is stored as the coordinates of the current antenna element i.

The antenna controller 61 has the coordinates (X) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.₁₁(i) + ΔX₉(i) + ΔX₉(i), Y₁₁(i) + ΔY₉(i) + ΔY₉Based on (i)), the phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is calculated and output. Hereinafter, the array antenna device 11 of the present invention repeats the same operation.

Next, as a third case, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the database 41 sets the temperature T as environmental information and the corrected coordinates for each of the X and Y axes corresponding to the temperature T. Suppose you remember. In the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 in the antenna controller 61, as before, the coordinates of the antenna element i at 20 ° C are set to (X).₁₁(i), Y₁₁It is assumed that (i)) is stored.

It is assumed that the ambient temperature drops as the aircraft equipped with the array antenna device 11 raises its altitude, and the temperature T as environmental information detected by the environmental change detection sensor 31 is 0 ° C. In this case, database 41 will have the corrected coordinates (X).₁₃(i), Y₁₃(i)) is output.

The antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 calculates the coordinates of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n based on the correction values output by the database 41. .. Specifically, the antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 uses the corrected coordinates (X) output by the database 41.₁₃(i), Y₁₃(i)) is output. That is, the antenna coordinate calculation circuit 51 does not need to read the current value from the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62, and the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ... Each coordinate of, 22-n (X₁₃(i), Y₁₃(i)) is transmitted to the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 to overwrite the antenna element coordinates stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62. Therefore, the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 is (X).₁₃(i), Y₁₃(i)) is stored as the coordinates of the current antenna element i.

The antenna controller 61 has the coordinates (X) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.₁₃(i), Y₁₃Based on (i)), the phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is calculated and output.

Further, it is assumed that the aircraft equipped with the array antenna device 11 raises the altitude and the temperature T as the environmental information detected by the environmental change detection sensor 31 is -20 ° C. In this case, the database 41 will have the corrected coordinates (ΔX).₁₅(i), ΔY₁₅(i)) is output.

The antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 uses the corrected coordinates (ΔX) output by the database 41.₁₅(i), ΔY₁₅(i)) is output. The antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 51 uses the coordinates (ΔX) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n calculated in this way.₁₅(i), ΔY₁₅(i)) is transmitted to the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 to overwrite the antenna element coordinates stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62. Therefore, the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 is (ΔX).₁₅(i), ΔY₁₅(i)) is stored as the coordinates of the current antenna element i.

The antenna controller 61 has the coordinates (ΔX) of each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62.₁₅(i), ΔY₁₅Based on (i)), the phase code for controlling the phase amount for each of the plurality of antenna elements 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, ..., 22-n is calculated and output. Hereinafter, the array antenna device 11 of the present invention repeats the same operation.

As described above, according to the array antenna device 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to realize the array antenna device 11 which can prevent deterioration of the antenna characteristics due to environmental changes and can be easily miniaturized.

That is, the conventional array antenna device has a problem that the antenna wave surface of the radio wave to be irradiated is deviated from the antenna wave surface previously assumed due to a change in the operating environment, and as a result, the antenna characteristics are deteriorated. However, when the operating environment changes, the array antenna device 11 of the present invention stores the antenna element coordinate information stored in the antenna element coordinate storage circuit 62 before the start of operation based on the information on the environmental change in its own device. Since it can be rewritten to the latest one, the antenna controller 61 recalculates the phase code for controlling the antenna element using the latest antenna element coordinate information. As a result, the error of the calculation result of the phase code is reduced and the deviation of the antenna wave surface is reduced. Therefore, the array antenna device 11 of the present invention is not affected by the mounting environment of the device and can maintain the characteristics as an antenna. it can.

Further, in the array antenna device 11 of the present invention, the sensor 31 for detecting an environmental change may be installed within a distance necessary for examining the environment around the antenna portion 21, and therefore, the phased array antenna described in Patent Document 1 can be installed. As described above, in order to detect the distortion of the antenna shape, it is not necessary to directly attach the detection piezoelectric element to the surface or the inside of the antenna, and a large number of wirings associated therewith are not required. Therefore, the array antenna device 11 of the present invention can be easily miniaturized.

The array antenna device according to the present invention can be used for an array antenna device mounted on an aircraft or the like in which changes in the environment are expected.

<figref num="1">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the array antenna apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a figure which shows the coordinate system of the antenna substrate used for the antenna part of the array antenna apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a figure which shows the correspondence relationship between the environmental information and the correction value stored in advance in the database of the array antenna apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention.</figref>

Code description

11 Array antenna device 21 Antenna part 22 Antenna element 31 Environmental change detection sensor 41 database 51 Antenna element coordinate calculation circuit 61 Antenna controller 62 Antenna element coordinate storage circuit 70 Antenna board