JPH08181524A - Driving device for tracking antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Normally, the structure of the electric circuit is simplified because the elevation angle is not adjusted. Since the motor for adjusting the elevation angle is not always driven, a small one is used to reduce the weight of the entire apparatus. [Structure] The plane antenna 1 is rotationally driven by an elevation angle adjusting motor to adjust the elevation angle of the plane antenna 1. A rotating frame 5 equipped with a plane antenna 1 and an elevation angle adjusting motor is rotatably supported by a fixed base 7. The rotating frame 5 is rotationally driven by the azimuth adjusting motor 6 to adjust the azimuth of the planar antenna 1. In this case, the elevation angle adjusting motor drives the planar antenna 1 to adjust the elevation angle only when the area changes, and the power is transmitted from the elevation angle adjusting motor through the worm speed reduction mechanism.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a driving device for a tracking antenna used for receiving satellite broadcasts and communications on a moving body such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a driving device for a tracking antenna used for receiving satellite broadcast radio waves on a moving body such as an automobile, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-13439 previously filed by the present applicant.
There is the No. 8 one. This is a plane antenna, an elevation angle adjustment motor that rotates the plane antenna around the rotation axis for elevation angle adjustment to adjust the elevation angle of the plane antenna, and a plane antenna and an elevation angle adjustment motor that are installed for azimuth angle adjustment. A rotating frame that rotates about the rotating shaft, an azimuth adjusting motor that drives the rotating frame to adjust the azimuth of the planar antenna, and a rotating frame that rotates the rotating frame. It has a fixed base that supports it freely. The elevation angle adjusting motor and the azimuth angle adjusting motor are constantly controlled to control the attitude of the planar antenna.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional example, the elevation angle adjusting motor and the azimuth angle adjusting motor are constantly controlled in order to track the satellite, and the electric circuit section for the control is provided. There is the problem of complexity. Further, if the elevation angle of the plane antenna is always controlled by the elevation angle adjusting motor, a heavy motor having a sufficient driving force is required as the elevation angle adjusting motor, which causes a problem that the weight of the entire apparatus becomes heavy.

Further, in the experiments conducted by the present inventors, the plane antenna has a wide directivity in the elevation angle direction, and it is not necessary to constantly move the elevation angle adjusting motor. If the optimum elevation angle setting is made in the area, it will be used in an automobile or the like. It was found that the slope of the vehicle at the time of turning or turning did not affect reception. Therefore, the tracking antenna having the planar antenna can be used for uniaxial tracking, and tracking in the elevation direction is not necessary.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to adjust the azimuth angle for controlling the azimuth direction in the tracking operation of the tracking antenna for satellite broadcast reception. The function of adjusting the elevation angle with the motor for adjusting the elevation angle and adjusting the angle of elevation with the motor for adjusting the elevation angle are set only for setting the elevation angle in the receiving area, which simplifies the structure of the electric circuit and keeps the motor for adjusting the elevation angle always. Since it does not drive, the weight of the entire device can be reduced by using a small one, the elevation angle set by the worm speed reduction mechanism does not change, and the elevation angle posture of the planar antenna is maintained even if the motor drive power is lost when the power is turned off. Therefore, there is a need for a driving device for a tracking antenna that can shorten the acquisition time when the power is turned on again.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a tracking antenna driving device of the present invention comprises a planar antenna 1 and
An elevation angle adjusting motor 3 for adjusting the elevation angle of the plane antenna 1 by rotating the plane antenna 1 around the elevation adjusting rotation shaft portion 2, and an azimuth angle adjusting device equipped with the plane antenna 1 and the elevation angle adjusting motor 3. A rotating frame 5 that rotates about the rotating shaft portion 4, and a rotating antenna 5 that drives the rotating frame 5 to rotate.
The azimuth angle adjusting motor 6 for adjusting the azimuth angle and the fixed base 7 for rotatably supporting the rotating frame 5 by mounting the rotating frame 5 are provided. 1 is adjusted only when the area changes, and the power is transmitted from the elevation adjustment motor 3 through the worm speed reduction mechanism.

[0007]

According to the above construction, the plane antenna 1 is moved to the elevation adjusting rotary shaft portion 2 by driving the elevation adjusting motor 3.
Is swung around, and the elevation angle of the planar antenna 1 is set to an optimum angle for satellite broadcast reception in the area according to an instruction from the control circuit. When the moving body such as an automobile is running, the rotating frame 5 can be rotated by driving the azimuth adjusting motor 6 to rotate the plane antenna 1 about the azimuth adjusting rotating shaft portion 4. The azimuth angle of the planar antenna 1 can be freely adjusted by an instruction from the control circuit. At this time, since the worm reduction mechanism is used in the power transmission system from the elevation angle adjusting motor 3 to the planar antenna 1, the planar antenna 1
The elevation angle is maintained and the driving force of the elevation angle adjusting motor 3 is not required. This elevation angle is maintained even if the power is cut off after the reception is completed, and when the power is turned on again at the same satellite reception elevation angle, it is not necessary to set the elevation angle again. Only the azimuth adjustment motor 6 is controlled. Thus, the plane antenna 1 can be placed in the optimum attitude for satellite reception. Therefore, the satellite or the like can be automatically tracked even when mounted on a moving body such as an automobile.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, a flat plate-shaped rotating frame 5 made of a metal plate is arranged on an annular fixed base 7 arranged at the center. The frame 5 is rotatable about the azimuth adjusting rotary shaft portion 4. A circular opening 8 is formed in the center of the rotating frame 5, and a rotating base 9 is integrally mounted on the lower surface side of the opening 8 edge. It is rotatably mounted via 10. A support pillar 11 is provided upright on the upper surface side of the opening 8 edge, and a brush 12 is attached to the support pillar 11. A slip ring 13 is provided so as to project upward from the fixed base 7 so that the center thereof is located on the azimuth adjusting rotary shaft portion 4, and the brush 12 is slidably brought into contact with the slip ring 13. Then, the electric power supplied from the power cord can be sent to the brush 12 via the slip ring 13.

An azimuth angle adjusting motor 6 is attached to the rotating frame 5.
The azimuth angle is adjusted by rotating the azimuth angle adjusting motor 6 to rotate the rotating frame 5. A fixed shaft 14 is mounted on the rotating frame 5, and a two-stage gear 15 is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 14. The two-stage gear 15 is formed by integrally providing two gears 15a and 15b having different numbers of teeth. The output gear 16 of the output shaft of the azimuth adjusting motor 6 is meshed with the gear 15a of the two-stage gear 15 on the side having a large number of teeth. The fixed base 7 has a gear 1 so that it is located around the bearing 10.
7 is fixed and the gear 1 with a small number of teeth of the two-stage gear 15
5b and the gear 17 are engaged with each other. Then, when the azimuth adjusting motor 6 is driven, the output gear 16 and the two-stage gear 15
Although the rotation is transmitted to the gear 17 and the gear 17, the azimuth adjusting motor 6 is relatively rotated because the gear 17 is fixed, and the rotating frame 5 is rotated by the rotating frame 5. Rotate around.

The rotating frame 5 is formed of sheet metal as described above, and ribs for reinforcement are formed on each side. An elevation angle adjusting motor 3 is attached to the rib surface 5a on one side, and a worm shaft 19 is connected to an output shaft of the elevation angle adjusting motor 3 via a joint 18. Worm shaft 19
Is rotatably supported by the bearing 20 on the rib surface 5a,
A worm gear 21 is integrally provided on the outer circumference of the worm shaft 19, and the worm wheel 21 is attached to the worm gear 21.
2 is meshed. Rotating shaft 2 of worm wheel 22
Reference numeral 3 is concentric with the elevation angle adjusting rotary shaft portion 2 orthogonal to the worm shaft 19, and is rotatably supported by the rotary frame 5. A mounting plate 24 formed by sheet metal molding is mounted on the worm wheel 22, and the planar antenna 1 is mounted on the mounting plate 24. Worm wheel 22
A bracket 25 is provided on the mounting plate 24 on the side opposite to the side where the is positioned. A rotating shaft 27 coaxial with the elevation adjusting rotary shaft portion 2 is rotatably supported in a bearing hole 26 provided in the bracket 25. Has been done. Then, when the elevation angle adjusting motor 3 is driven, the rotation of the joint 18, the worm shaft 19, the worm gear 21, and the worm wheel 22 is transmitted in this order, the mounting plate 24 rotates in the elevation direction, and the plane mounted on the mounting plate 24 is rotated. The elevation angle of the antenna 1 is set.
The rotating frame 2 has a control circuit section 2 for controlling the operation of the apparatus.
8 is mounted, and the control circuit unit 28 controls the drive of the elevation angle adjusting motor 3 and the azimuth angle adjusting motor 6 and the like. The slip ring 13 is used for power supply and connection of received signals of the device of the present invention. Further, the device of the present invention configured as described above is entirely covered by the radome 29.

The operation of the tracking antenna driving device of the present invention constructed as described above will be described below. When the azimuth adjusting motor 6 is driven, the rotating frame 5 rotates about the azimuth adjusting rotating shaft portion 4, and the azimuth of the planar antenna 1 is adjusted. When the elevation angle adjusting motor 3 is driven, the mounting plate 24 rotates in the elevation angle direction around the elevation angle adjusting rotating shaft portion 2, and the planar antenna 1 mounted on the mounting plate 24 is rotated.
The elevation angle of is set. In the case of the tracking antenna driving device of the present invention, the elevation angle of the planar antenna 1 is changed only by the region, and after setting the elevation angle direction, the tracking antenna of the 1-axis tracking method is used for tracking only by adjusting the azimuth direction. Acts as a drive. Further, since the worm gear 21 and the worm wheel 22 are used as the drive transmission mechanism for setting the elevation angle, the planar antenna 1 maintains its elevation posture even when no drive force is applied to the elevation angle adjusting motor 3. it can. For this reason, the elevation angle adjusting motor 3 can be a small and inexpensive one with a small torque and can be made compact. Further, since the elevation angle posture of the planar antenna 1 is maintained even when the power is turned off, it is possible to shorten the reception reacquisition time by returning to the origin when the power is turned on again.

[0012]

As described above, the present invention includes a planar antenna,
An elevation angle adjustment motor that rotates the plane antenna around the rotation shaft for elevation angle adjustment to adjust the elevation angle of the plane antenna,
A rotating frame that is equipped with a planar antenna and an elevation angle adjusting motor and rotates about an azimuth adjusting rotary shaft, and an azimuth adjusting motor that rotationally drives the rotating frame to adjust the azimuth angle of the planar antenna. And a fixed base that rotatably supports the rotating frame by mounting the rotating frame, and the elevation antenna is driven by the elevation adjustment motor to adjust the elevation angle only when the region changes. In addition, since the power is transmitted from the elevation angle adjusting motor through the worm speed reduction mechanism, the plane antenna is swung about the elevation angle adjusting rotary shaft by driving the elevation angle adjusting motor. The elevation angle of the antenna is set to the optimum angle for satellite broadcast reception in that area, and the azimuth adjustment motor is driven when the moving body such as a car is running to rotate the rotating frame to flatten the plane. The azimuth angle of the plane antenna can be freely adjusted by rotating the antenna around the azimuth angle adjustment rotary shaft, and the function of adjusting the elevation angle with the elevation angle adjustment motor is used in the receiving area. By only setting the elevation angle of, the structure of the electric circuit section becomes simple, and since the motor for adjusting the elevation angle is not always driven, the weight of the entire device can be reduced by using a small one. Also, since the worm speed reduction mechanism is used in the power transmission system from the elevation angle adjusting motor to the plane antenna, the elevation angle of the plane antenna is maintained and the driving force of the elevation angle adjusting motor is not normally required. This elevation angle will be maintained even if the power is turned off after terminating, and it is not necessary to set the elevation angle again when the power is turned on again at the same satellite reception elevation angle.
The plane antenna can be placed in the optimum attitude for satellite reception only by controlling the azimuth adjusting motor, and therefore the satellite and the like can be automatically tracked even when mounted on a moving body such as an automobile.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show an entire embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a sectional view.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the radome of the same is removed.

3 is a cross-sectional view seen from the front of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a mechanism for adjusting the elevation angle of the above.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a mechanism for adjusting the azimuth angle of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Planar Antenna 2 Rotation Shaft for Elevation Adjustment 3 Motor for Elevation Adjustment 4 Rotation Shaft for Azimuth Adjustment 5 Rotating Frame 6 Motor for Azimuth Adjustment 7 Fixed Base

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plane antenna, an elevation angle adjusting motor for rotationally driving the plane antenna around an elevation angle adjusting rotating shaft portion to adjust the elevation angle of the plane antenna, and a plane antenna and an elevation angle adjusting motor mounted on the plane antenna. A rotation frame that rotates about an angle adjustment rotation shaft portion; an azimuth adjustment motor that rotationally drives the rotation frame to adjust the azimuth angle of the planar antenna;
It is equipped with a fixed base that supports the rotating frame rotatably, and the plane antenna is driven by the elevation angle adjusting motor to adjust the elevation angle only when the region changes. At the same time, a drive device for a tracking antenna is characterized in that power is transmitted from an elevation angle adjusting motor through a worm speed reduction mechanism.