JPS63142702A - Antenna measuring method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve precision in deciding faults by obtaining the amplitude level of respective elements by using the alteration of a resultant power and deciding with the deviation obtained from total averages. CONSTITUTION:By altering the phases of the phase shifters of the respective elements, the resultant power of a phased array antenna is measured and phase alteration quantity DELTA0 which gives the ratio of the maximum to the minimum r<2> in the alteration of the power level and the maximum value is obtained so as to calculate the amplitude of the respective element antennas. Next the average value a0 is obtained from the amplitude An of the respective elements and difference an=An-a0 is obtained from the average value of the respective element antennas. And in order of the size from smaller an, namely by arranging them in order from the one whose amplitude level is low, the element number less than a specified level is obtained from the average value. The obtained element number is decided as a fault module.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a phased array antenna which is connected to a plurality of elements and electronically scans a beam by controlling the phase of a phase shifter of an optical module. ◎ [Prior art] Figure 2 shows the configuration of a conventional 7-aided array antenna, and in Figure 1 (11 is a module).

(2) is an element antenna, (31 is a test antenna, (
4) is a power distribution and synthesis circuit, (5) is a control circuit, and (6) is a transmitter.

(71 is a receiver, (81 is a computer that controls 9 to 7 joules and processes the received signal of the receiver (7).

Figure 3 shows an example of the module configuration.

In the figure, (1a) is a high power amplifier, (1b
) is a low-noise amplifier, (IC) is a phase shifter, and (1d) is a transmitter/receiver switcher.

Next, the operation will be explained. Figure 2 shows an example of transmission, where the specific signal power generated by the transmitter (6) is transferred to the power divider (
4) to the desired distribution ratio and each module [1
) will be sent to. Then, 9. It is further amplified by a high output amplification (1b) and radiated into space from the element antenna (2).

Obtain the desired antenna characteristics. In the case of reception, it is the same as in the case of transmission, just by replacing the transmitter and receiver and amplifying each module with a low-noise amplifier.

Now, in the above 7 aided array antenna, the module (1) has a high output amplifier (1a) and a low noise amplifier (1
b), phase shifter (1c), etc., the desired antenna characteristics cannot be obtained, so it is necessary to investigate the failed module. As for this method.

In FIG. 2, one module is in an operating state and the other modules are in an inoperative state, and the test antenna (3) receives radio waves radiated from one module to determine the operating state of that module.

Repeat this for each element to find the failed module.
- Check the file.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the conventional method, one module is in the operating state and all other modules are in the non-operating state. Therefore, the isolation between the operating state and the non-operating state of each element becomes a problem, and if the isolation is poor, In addition, when the number of elements is large and the sum of the leakage power from the non-operating elements is equal to or more than the power of the active elements, there is a problem in that failure determination becomes ambiguous.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to improve the accuracy of failure determination of the module (1) and to obtain a measurement method that automatically performs 9 determinations.

[Means for solving problems]

The antenna measurement method according to this invention changes the phase of the phase shifter to kf, measures the change in the combined power of the 7-aided array antenna at that time, determines the amplitude of each element antenna, and determines the average value to be below a specified level. This is a method to determine that a module has failed.

[Effect]

The antenna measurement method in this invention improves the accuracy of module failure determination and automates the 9 determination.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the antenna measurement method of the present invention.

First, the phase of the phase shifter of each element was changed using the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-932667.

Measure the combined power of a phased array antenna.

The maximum-to-minimum ratio r of the power level change and the amount of phase change Δof that gives the maximum value are determined, and the amplitude of each element antenna is calculated.

Next, the average value is determined from the amplitude An of each element. Here, ao is the average value and N is the number of elements. Difference *−: An −21 from the average value of each element antenna is determined.

Next, they are arranged in order of decreasing an, that is, in order of decreasing amplitude level. Then, element numbers below a certain specified level are determined from the average value. this.

It is determined that the module has failed.

Incidentally, in the explanation of this invention, an example of transmission is used, but it goes without saying that the situation of reception is similar to IB). Furthermore, it goes without saying that any configuration of the phased array antenna, its positional relationship with the test antenna, etc. is sufficient as long as the phase can be controlled.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when determining the failure of a module, the amplitude level of each element is determined using the change in one composite power, and the amplitude level of each element is determined based on the deviation from the overall average. The accuracy is the same as above, and since it is done automatically, it has the effect of obtaining a determination in a short time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a measurement method according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a phased array antenna, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a module. In the figure,
(1) is a module, (21t'ifi child antenna,
+31 [Test antenna, (4) is power distribution/synthesis circuit, (5) is control circuit, (61ri transmitter, (7) is receiver, (8) is computer, (fa) is high output amplifier,
(1b) is a Fi low noise amplifier, (1c) is a phase shifter, and (Id) is a transmitter/receiver switcher. In addition, in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Multiple element antennas and a module consisting of a phase shifter, a high-output amplifier, a low-noise amplifier, and a transmit/receive switch are connected to each element antenna, and a power distribution system that distributes the signal from the transmitter to the above modules a phased array antenna to which a synthesis circuit is connected and a control circuit for controlling a phase shifter of the module; a test antenna provided opposite to the phased array antenna; and a receiver connected to the test antenna; In the antenna measurement method for investigating the failure of the module using a computer that controls the control circuit and takes in and processes the received signal of the receiver, the phase of the phase shifter is changed to measure the phase of the phased array antenna. Measure the combined power, find the maximum to minimum ratio r^2 of the power level change and the phase change amount Δ_0 that gives the maximum value,
An antenna measurement method characterized in that the amplitude of each element antenna is calculated from these r and Δ_0, the average value of the entire element is determined, and a module that is below a specified level is determined to be faulty based on the average value.