EP1231673A1 - Mikrowellenreflektorpaneel - Google Patents

Mikrowellenreflektorpaneel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1231673A1
EP1231673A1 EP02290320A EP02290320A EP1231673A1 EP 1231673 A1 EP1231673 A1 EP 1231673A1 EP 02290320 A EP02290320 A EP 02290320A EP 02290320 A EP02290320 A EP 02290320A EP 1231673 A1 EP1231673 A1 EP 1231673A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
microwave
panel according
grid
blades
phase
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP02290320A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Joel Thales Intellectual Property Herault
Xavier Thales Intellectual Property Delestre
Daniel Thales Intellectual Property Cailleret
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Thales SA
Original Assignee
Thales SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thales SA filed Critical Thales SA
Publication of EP1231673A1 publication Critical patent/EP1231673A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/44—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element
    • H01Q3/46—Active lenses or reflecting arrays
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q15/00—Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices
    • H01Q15/02—Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism
    • H01Q15/04—Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism comprising wave-guiding channel or channels bounded by effective conductive surfaces substantially perpendicular to the electric vector of the wave, e.g. parallel-plate waveguide lens

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a reflective panel electronically scanned microwave. It also concerns a antenna formed by the panel illuminated by a microwave source.
  • the invention is particularly applicable to the spatial listening of signals radar, it also applies to radars and communications.
  • Listening to space presupposes the boarding of an antenna microwave on a satellite.
  • the antenna must meet requirements particular, it must in particular operate in very wide band and present a reduced mass and consumption while ensuring a angular coverage in an extended volume in three dimensions.
  • a active microwave antenna provides angular coverage specified but its mass and consumption are very high. Otherwise, a microwave antenna with mechanical scanning is less suitable for listening to space because its functioning leads to a destabilization of the platform satellite whose compensation is costly.
  • Antennas known microwave do not allow to respond in a way satisfies the need for spatial listening.
  • One of the objects of the invention consists in producing an antenna with electronic scanning for spatial listening.
  • the invention is a scanning reflective panel electronics in two planes comprising phase shifters having a unidirectional structure.
  • the panel illuminated by an elementary source microwave forms a microwave antenna.
  • the network of phase shifters are of the type with blades with parallel faces. The faces are parallel to one of the scanning planes.
  • the network of phase shifters includes a microwave phase shifting printed circuit between a lower grid and an upper grid, the two grids are metallic and have partitions with parallel faces. The spaces between the partitions are preferably filled with materials of low permittivity to ensure the mechanical strength while reducing coupling between phase shifters elements of the network.
  • the lower grid has a metallic background reflector behind which is placed a low control circuit frequency to polarize the diodes of the microwave phase shifting circuit. The electrical connection between the control circuit and the diodes is coaxial type preference made in the partitions of the lower grid.
  • the main advantages of the invention are that it allows a low-mass, low-mass electronic scanning antenna consumption and bandwidth greater than one octave.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a known example of realization of an electronic scanning antenna with reflective panel in look of an orthonormal reference mark Oxyz.
  • the antenna has a source primary 1, for example a horn 2.
  • Primary source 1 emits waves microwave 3 towards the active reflector panel 4, arranged in the plane Oxy.
  • the reflector panel 4, called “reflect array” in the literature Anglo-Saxon has a set of distributed elementary cells according to a bidirectional structure in the Oxy plane.
  • the cells are generally arranged in a regular mesh in the two directions Ox and Oy whose pitch is preferably close to half a length wave and they realize the reflection and phase shift of the waves they receive.
  • the phase shifts applied to the received wave by each cell it is possible as is known, to form a beam microwave in the desired direction.
  • the reflector panel 4 allows to carry out a scan in two planes Oyz and Oxz.
  • the functions of phase shift and reflection of the reflector panel are for example carried out by electronically controlled elementary phase shifters which form a network located in relation to the primary source in front of a reflective plane metallic.
  • Figure 2 illustrates schematically in a plan view Oxy an example of a phase shift circuit of the invention.
  • the phase shifting circuit and the panel reflector are planes.
  • the field of the invention also covers non-planar geometries for these elements and their associated elements.
  • the whole of the reflective panel can be conformed to a surface left such as a cylinder or a spherical surface.
  • the circuit Figure 2 phase shifter is planar, it includes a microwave substrate 5 thin on the front face of which a microwave printed circuit is made where the patterns 6, 7 of the phase shifters are engraved and on which are placed semiconductors, for example diodes 8, 9.
  • the microwave substrate 5 preferably has a low thickness from 0.1 to 0.2 millimeter. It is for example made of epoxy glass.
  • the diodes 8, 9 are preferably PIN diodes, they are fixed to the phase shifting circuit for example by welding, by wiring or by bonding.
  • the microwave printed circuit of the invention includes bands 10-12, parallel for example to the direction Oy. Each band has patterns 6, 7 located on either side of the strip.
  • an elementary phase shifter 13 has two different patterns 14, 15 on either side of a strip 10, each pattern comprising at least one diode 8, 9.
  • An elementary phase shifter comprising two diodes has four phase states defining four predetermined values of phase shift which it can apply on command to the microwave wave received and these phase shift values are represented on two bits of quantification.
  • An elementary phase shifter has at least two diodes for quantization on two bits; it has at least four diodes for four-bit quantization.
  • the phase shifter elementary preferably includes a two-bit quantization which has the advantage of low consumption.
  • Each strip allows the control of a constant potential the along the strip, for example by means of a connection point to each from its ends 18, 19.
  • the phase shifting circuit presents between each strip of connection points 16-17 aligned in a direction Oy parallel to that of the bands.
  • the connection points are connected to the diodes and allow individual polarization of each of the diodes of the circuit.
  • the elementary phase shifters are adjacent.
  • the patterns are preferably regularly distributed along a bandaged.
  • the pitch ⁇ y between phase shifters of a band is chosen to allow unambiguous scanning of the angular domain covered by the reflector antenna.
  • phase of an elementary phase shifter defined by polarization of its diodes is controlled by a low frequency control circuit in the form of a low frequency printed circuit multilayers.
  • This circuit is placed opposite the rear face of the circuit microwave print. It is equipped with control components, called “drivers” in Anglo-Saxon literature and means of connection to the diodes.
  • the low frequency printed circuit is flat. This circuit presents a thickness of 1 to 2 millimeters, which is equal to 1.6 millimeters in the example of embodiment described.
  • the microwave printed circuit is preferably two-layer, it has decoupling capacities engraved on the opposite side to that carrying the diodes.
  • the advantage of the dual-layer microwave circuit isolate the microwave circuit from the low frequency control circuit.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates by an exploded view in the Oxyz space a exemplary embodiment of a network of phase shifters according to the invention.
  • a 30-phase printed phase shifting circuit of the type of that of FIG. 2, is placed between a lower grid 31 and an upper grid 32. Each of the grids is extended in a plane parallel to the Oxy plane.
  • the phase shifting circuit 30 and the low frequency control circuit 33 are placed on either side of the lower grid 31.
  • Each of the lower grids 31 and upper 32 is a example of a means of decoupling elementary phase shifters from the network of the invention.
  • Other means can be used in the context of the invention such as for example a plate having lines of holes metallized, whose alignments correspond to the partitions of a grid.
  • the lower grid 31 has partitions in the form of blades 34-36.
  • Each blade has two faces parallel to the direction Oy and substantially perpendicular to the Oxy plane of the grid. Both sides are parallel to the Oyz plane. The distance between these two faces of a blade represents the thickness of the blade.
  • the different blades preferably have a same thickness. The thickness of the blades is determined according to the mechanical properties of the grid.
  • a blade has a height in the Oz direction perpendicular to the plane of the grid. All blades have the same height.
  • the grid blades are for example held together by their ends by means of two edges 39 perpendicular to the blades and in the plane of the grid. These edges have a height equal to that of the blades and preferably a thickness common to that of the blades. Of preferably the height is about a quarter of the wavelength corresponding to the center frequency of the frequency band of desired operation. This height makes it possible to obtain a strip of effective operation extended around the central frequency.
  • the free space between two consecutive and parallel blades 34, 35 is a channel.
  • the channel has a width measured in the direction Ox.
  • the phase shifting circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 is placed on the lower grid and each parallel strip 10-12 of the circuit faces a grid channel. Each line of connection points parallel to a strip faces a grid blade.
  • phase shifters of the invention have a structure unidirectional.
  • the structure is parallel to a first direction Oy.
  • network of phase shifters presents an architecture in structures unidirectional adjacent along a second direction Ox.
  • the phase shifter network thus comprises a network of parallel channels.
  • the channels are parallel in the Oyz plan.
  • the periodicity ⁇ x of the blades is the step of the network of channel phase shifters. Blades with parallel faces allow to obtain phase shifters whose operating band is extended over about an octave.
  • a channel can be limited in direction Oy to a length less than that of the strip 10-12 of the phase-shifting circuit, a channel grouping together several phase-shifters adjacent in the direction Oy.
  • a channel has a length along Oy significantly greater than its width according to Ox.
  • the cavities between the louvre blades are filled with air or a low permittivity material allowing for example to ensure a protection or mechanical resistance.
  • the reflective panel of the invention thus allows to present low coupling losses between phase shifters.
  • the lower grid 31 has in the blades 34-36 insulated bushings 37 which allow ensuring the electrical supply link between the low frequency circuit 33 control and the phase shifter network.
  • the lower grid presents in its blades openings each crossing a blade between the face lower of the grid and its upper face, the piercing being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the grid, that is to say parallel to the direction Oz.
  • the electrical connection between the control circuit and a diode of a phase shifter is equivalent to a coaxial link whose sheath is produced by the wall of hole 37 in the grid and the core of which is a wire conductor passing through this hole 37 and electrically connecting, for example by solder, one end to the control circuit and the other end to the phase shifter circuit.
  • the ratio of the diameter of the conductive wire of polarization on the diameter of the hole is preferably small.
  • the link coaxial then advantageously has a high impedance which improves decoupling between the low frequency circuit and the microwave circuit.
  • the impedance is for example greater than 50 Ohms.
  • the blade 34-36 of the grid lower is a multilayer circuit with a track buried between them layers, called “stripline” in Anglo-Saxon literature, including one end is connected to the low frequency control circuit, the other end being connected to the phase shifting circuit to ensure the connection between the two circuits.
  • the blade comprises a circuit monolayer on the surface of which a track, called "microstrip” in Anglo-Saxon literature is applied to ensure conduction electric allowing the polarization of the diode to be controlled.
  • the lower grid 31 has a metal bottom 38 which serves as ground plane with phase shifters. Blades 34-36 have continuity electric with the bottom 38.
  • the microwave phase shifting circuit is preferably glued to the lower grid with a conductive adhesive which allows to ensure electrical continuity.
  • the lower grid 31 is preferably metallic, but it can also have a surface equivalent to a metal surface like for example a metallic plastic grid or a printed circuit double sided.
  • the lower grid 31 is produced by means adapted to constituent materials, it can thus be produced for example by machining, molding or engraving.
  • the grid is metallic and all the blades 34-36 and the bottom 38 and holes 37 is preferably machined from the same block of metal.
  • the thickness of the grid is represented by the height of the blades. Of preferably a thickness of about a quarter of the center wavelength of the operating strip separates the metal bottom 38 from the circuit phase shifter 30.
  • the upper grid 32 shown in Figure 3 shows like the lower grid, a structure with slats 40, 41 with faces parallel to the Oyz plan.
  • the blade spacing and thickness are similar to that of the lower grid 31.
  • the blades of the two grids are parallel to each other and overlap.
  • the blades of the upper grid are located in line with those of the lower grid.
  • the upper grid is for example precisely placed on the lower grid by means of centering studs.
  • the upper grid 32 has no background.
  • Each blade of the upper grid has a height according to direction Oz.
  • the blades 40, 41 of the upper grid have the same height, this is the thickness of this grid.
  • the thickness of the upper grid is for example of the same order of magnitude as that of the lower grid.
  • the lower and upper grids have for example substantially equal thicknesses.
  • the upper grid is metallic, it is produced by machining, molding or engraving.
  • the continuity electric between the lower and upper grids is provided by the circuit microwave printed with preferably metallic hole connections and conductive
  • the network of phase shifters of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises an adaptation radome 42. It is preferably made from a foam of low dielectric constant, for example equal to 1.2. The density of the foam is approximately 150 kg / m 3 .
  • the radome of Figure 3 has a flat plate shape parallel to the Oxy plane of the grids having grooves allowing it to be embedded between the blades of the upper grid. The radome makes it possible to reduce the coupling coefficient between the phase-shifting patterns.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates in an exploded view an embodiment of a electronic scanning antenna with reflecting array according to the invention.
  • the antenna comprises a reflective network 43 of phase shifters of the type of that described using FIGS. 2 and 3 with an integrated control circuit 44, a lower grid 45, a phase shift circuit 46, an upper grid 47 and a radome 48.
  • the antenna comprises a primary microwave source comprising for example a horn 49 mounted on an arm 50 by means of a horn holder 51.
  • the horn is a broadband monopulse two horn planes, it directly forms the sum path ⁇ and the difference paths of the two plans in ⁇ g deposit and in ⁇ s site.
  • the primary source is an active bipolarization broadband mini-grid with a wired formation of the sum channel ⁇ and of the difference channels ⁇ g and ⁇ s in the two perpendicular directions of the network.
  • Source directivity primary determines the level of the secondary lobes near the antenna.
  • the arm 50 provides fine adjustment of the position of the primary source relative to to the reflecting network 43 while having a reduced mass. The arm has the advantage of allowing the optimization of the level of the diffuse lobes.
  • a polarizer 52 is placed between the reflector 43 and the primary source for achieve circular polarization.
  • the polarizer 52 preferably comprises a multilayer assembly of at least three skins separated by dielectrics such as honeycomb or foam. The stacking of the reflector elements with the polarizer allows the construction of an antenna whose thickness class is from 2 to 25 millimeters for an operating frequency band covering C-X bands.
  • the electronic scanning antenna can be controlled from a computer console.
  • the primary source microwave is a circularly polarized antenna and the reflector 43 is not supplemented by a polarizer.

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  • Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
EP02290320A 2001-02-13 2002-02-08 Mikrowellenreflektorpaneel Withdrawn EP1231673A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0101939A FR2820886A1 (fr) 2001-02-13 2001-02-13 Panneau reflecteur hyperfrequence
FR0101939 2001-02-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1231673A1 true EP1231673A1 (de) 2002-08-14

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EP02290320A Withdrawn EP1231673A1 (de) 2001-02-13 2002-02-08 Mikrowellenreflektorpaneel

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FR (1) FR2820886A1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112670708A (zh) * 2020-12-10 2021-04-16 深圳市信维通信股份有限公司 一种毫米波天线模组及通信设备

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2708808A1 (fr) * 1993-08-06 1995-02-10 Thomson Csf Radant Panneau déphaseur à quatre états de phase et son application à une lentille hyperfréquence et à une antenne à balayage électronique.
FR2751472A1 (fr) * 1989-04-04 1998-01-23 Thomson Csf Canal dephaseur pour lentille de depointage d'antenne hyperfrequence, et procede d'assemblage d'un tel canal
FR2789521A1 (fr) * 1999-02-05 2000-08-11 Thomson Csf Antenne a balayage electronique bi-bande, a reflecteur hyperfrequence actif

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2751472A1 (fr) * 1989-04-04 1998-01-23 Thomson Csf Canal dephaseur pour lentille de depointage d'antenne hyperfrequence, et procede d'assemblage d'un tel canal
FR2708808A1 (fr) * 1993-08-06 1995-02-10 Thomson Csf Radant Panneau déphaseur à quatre états de phase et son application à une lentille hyperfréquence et à une antenne à balayage électronique.
FR2789521A1 (fr) * 1999-02-05 2000-08-11 Thomson Csf Antenne a balayage electronique bi-bande, a reflecteur hyperfrequence actif

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112670708A (zh) * 2020-12-10 2021-04-16 深圳市信维通信股份有限公司 一种毫米波天线模组及通信设备

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Publication number Publication date
FR2820886A1 (fr) 2002-08-16

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